Welcome to Greater Palm Springs, nine vibrant cities — Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage — and five tribal nations surrounded by the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto, and Little San Bernardino mountains.
Also known as the Coachella Valley, this sweet spot of the Southern California desert hums with activity, from world-class events and attractions to innovative businesses advancing ideas in energy, healthcare, and tech. Pair it all with the desert’s dreamy landscape, laid-back vibe, and 360 days of sunshine a year, and it’s easy to see why this perennial oasis has become a hot spot for professionals working remotely as well as a destination for business startups and expansions.
Quality of Life
The No. 1 reason people move to Greater Palm Springs.
Greater Palm Springs is a magnet for remote workers, especially in the tech sector, due to the area’s appealing climate and lifestyle, including its picturesque natural beauty; walkable downtowns; abundance of golf courses, spas, and hiking trails; vast offerings at art, history, and cultural museums; theaters and performing arts centers; art galleries; events and festivals; and attractions, including a desert-centric zoo and an aerial tramway soaring to the top of Mount San Jacinto.
Where to Live
Find your sweet spot.
The ideal place to call home depends on your priorities — lively or quiet, modern or traditional, proximity to the places you go most. Here are prices, from highest to lowest, for the average-size detached home in the nine cities of the Coachella Valley:
Indian Wells (3,450 square feet) $2,273,378
Rancho Mirage (3,175 square feet) $1,343,660
Palm Springs (2,175 square feet) $1,261,065
La Quinta (2,200 square feet) $920,557
Palm Desert (2,200 square feet) $760,122
Indio (2,200 square feet) $655,094
Cathedral City (1,800 square feet) $587,961
Coachella (1,700 square feet) $443,420
Desert Hot Springs (1,600 square feet) $402,240
Source: Esri/David Robinson
Ride Like the Wind
SunLine pass allows employees to ride free or at reduced rates.
Employers looking to attract and retain employees can offer an appealing benefit: affordable transportation. SunLine Transit offers the 31-Day Coachella Valley Employer Pass, which businesses can provide to employees at any subsidized rate, offering unlimited rides on fixed-route buses at a significant discount. The environmentally conscious public bus system’s nine routes link the Coachella Valley from Desert Hot Springs in the northwest to North Shore in the southeast. Various organizations, including private businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, are eligible to participate. Visit sunline.org.
Land Acknowledgment
About the tribes of Greater Palm Springs.
The history of Greater Palm Springs begins long before the Southern Pacific Railroad came into the desert in 1877. Archaeological evidence shows the Cahuilla people have resided in the region for more than 8,000 years. Today, five tribes continue to live in the area:
• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Palm Springs)
• Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians (Coachella)
• Cabazon Band of Mission Indians (Indio)
• Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (Thermal)
• Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians (Coachella)
Photo courtesy adobe stock
Interstate 10 to Prosperity
The freight corridor drives economic development near and far.
Interstate 10 plays a vital role in the local economy, connecting Southern California’s market of more than 22 million consumers to logistics and distribution hubs across the country. The freeway facilitates the movement of goods between Los Angeles and Phoenix, and logistics companies position their operations nearby to take advantage of access to major markets. The portion of I-10 coursing through Greater Palm Springs sees annual average daily traffic volume exceeding 130,000 vehicles, supporting freight, commuters, and drive-market tourism. Infrastructure investments along the corridor, including expansions and enhancements, help support regional growth, attracting more business and residential development.
A Place to Work
Where to go when you need a receptionist, office equipment, and meeting space.
More than half (58 percent) of working adults in the United State work remotely at least part of the time, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This year, an estimated 22 percent of the U.S. workforce (36.2 million people) worked remotely — and, in California, much of that talent is coming to the warm and welcoming communities of Greater Palm Springs. Many will work at home, and others seek out co-workspaces that offer all the modern furnishings, technology, and amenities their businesses need.
Here are seven locations to consider:
• Entrepreneurial Resource Center Palm Desert
• Flannery Exchange Palm Springs
• Fusion Workplaces Palm Desert
• The Hive Coworking Palm Springs
• Palm Springs Co-Work
• The Syndicate Palm Desert
• WorkSpace PS
A Growing Hub for Innovation and Enterprise
The goal: a resilient and future-ready economy.
Governments, business leaders, and partners across Greater Palm Springs are deeply committed to supporting startups, small businesses, and bold new ventures through a robust ecosystem of resources, innovation, and connectivity.
Source: Visit Greater Palm Springs
6 Industries That Make the Desert Tick
Local leaders prioritize diversifying the Greater Palm Springs economy. Here’s a snapshot of key local industries.
1. Agriculture and agribusiness contribute more than $600 million in annual crop value and support thousands of farming, food production, and distribution jobs. Estimates put the total impact at more than $1 billion annually, with crops like dates and vegetables being major contributors.
2. Tourism and hospitality generate an estimated $3 billion annually. Major events such as the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals and the area’s appeal as a vacation destination propel this figure, supporting thousands of jobs in hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment sectors.
3. Healthcare employs more than 30,000 people and generates over $1 billion in annual economic impact. This includes hospital services, outpatient care, and elder care facilities, driven by the area’s large retiree population. Additionally, Greater Palm Springs is seeing more healthcare research, medical entrepreneurship, and medical device innovation.
Tastes & Sounds at Cathedral City Amphitheater.
Photo courtesy cathedral city
Golf action in Greater Palm Springs.
Photo courtesy Visit Greater Palm Springs
Solar farm.
Photo courtesy adobe stock
The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage.
Photo courtesy city of rancho mirage
Eisenhower Health.
Photo courtesy visit greater palm springs
4. Real estate and construction have seen significant growth in the last decade. The impact from real estate activities (including sales, rentals, and construction) is estimated in the hundreds of millions to more than $1 billion annually.
5. Renewable energy, particularly solar, is rapidly expanding in the Coachella Valley. Estimates suggest the sector contributes hundreds of millions annually, including investments in solar farms and related infrastructure.
6. Entertainment and arts, while smaller in direct economic impact compared to other sectors, contributes significantly through events and attractions that drive hospitality
and tourism. The desert attracts artists, designers, filmmakers, and musicians who help the arts and culture sector contribute more than $200 million annually.
Photo courtesy visit greater palm springs
New Adventures in Higher Ed
Colleges expand to accommodate growth and tune the workforce.
College of the Desert has ambitious plans to grow beyond its main campus in Palm Desert. A new Palm Springs campus will open in fall 2027, supporting programs in hospitality management, arts, and health sciences, while the Indio campus has already expanded, adding classrooms and labs for business, technology, and culinary arts classes. In Coachella, COD is stepping up career and technical education.
Meanwhile, CSU San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus is chipping away at its master plan, adding a new, energy-efficient academic building to support courses in business, health sciences, and education and cultivating partnerships with local businesses and organizations to create programs that align with local workforce needs.
Future Rosette Apartments in Rancho Mirage.
Photo courtesy city of rancho mirage
The Future of Affordable Housing
New developments focus on workers and seniors.
The Coachella Valley is making strides to meet demand for housing to accommodate working people, seniors, and low-income populations in the region. City governments encourage new construction of multi-family units and mixed-use developments through policy initiatives, public-private partnerships, and developer incentives such as tax credits, reduced fees, and density bonuses. The outlook:
• More focus: The emphasis on affordable housing will continue, as population growth and economic development drive the demand.
• More inventory: As more affordable housing comes to the market, inventory will grow and provide more options for individuals and families looking to relocate.
• More options: As cities introduce new communities, prospective residents can expect a variety of housing types and price points, improving access to amenities and services.
CV Link.
PHOTO by DAVID FOUTS
CV Link: This is the Way!
The path offers a healthier route across the Coachella Valley.
Signs of CV Link’s progress are popping up from Palm Springs to Coachella, as the valleywide transportation and recreational pathway continues to expand, promoting a safer, healthier alternative to Highway 111. The 40-plus-mile route welcomes residents and visitors to bike, walk, or ride a low-speed electric vehicle (including golf carts) to work, school, shop, dine, and play.
CV Link, a project of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, estimates it will facilitate more than 3 million bicycle and pedestrian trips per year by 2035, offering a variety of benefits, including:
• Less traffic and fewer pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities on Highway 111
• More access to recreation, jobs, and schools
• Better air quality
• Additional health and wellness amenities
• Greater economic vitality
Visit coachellavalleylink.com.
Desert Regional Medical Center.
Photo courtesy visit greater palm springs
Where to Go for Healthcare
These are the top providers in Greater Palm Springs.
Eisenhower Health features a 463-bed hospital in Rancho Mirage and a constellation of primary, urgent, and specialty care centers throughout Greater Palm Springs.
Desert Care Network has multiple hospitals, including Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, as well as urgent and specialty care centers.
DAP Health in Palm Springs focuses on inclusive, innovative, and accessible care, providing medical and behavioral health services to all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
Desert Oasis Healthcare provides primary and immediate care, home health, palliative care, and clinical research studies to more 60,000 patients.
Coachella Valley Behavioral Health in Indio provides clinical treatment for adults who are struggling with mental health concerns and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Here to Help
Support resources for entrepreneurs and innovators in the Coachella Valley.
Caravanserai Alliance for Entrepreneurs helps entrepreneurs with free business coaching, access to capital, and connections to launch, manage, and grow their businesses.
Coachella Valley Small Business Development Center, based in Indio, assembles business owners and experts to offer free consulting, training, advice, and access to capital and resources.
Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center provides workshops and training programs in HR basics, access to capital, and other essential key topics.
Desert Business Association focuses on education, economic development, business networking and promotion, and humanitarian causes that support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Get in Motion Entrepreneurs supports entrepreneurs and businesses by offering Spanish-language training programs aiming to advance economic prosperity and reduce poverty in the Coachella Valley’s Latino community.
Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce, based in Cathedral City, empowers, connects, and elevates Hispanic entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders through networking and educational programs and advocacy for inclusive economic growth.
Palm Desert Entrepreneurial Resource Center (ERC), a partnership between CSU San Bernardino’s School of Entrepreneurship and the city of Palm Desert, offers innovation-focused programs and services and collaborates with other organizations to provide training, technical assistance, and access to resources.
SCORE of Coachella Valley provides free small-business mentoring, low- or no-cost training, and numerous templates and tools to help start or grow a business.
Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, with a chapter in Palm Springs, supports Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners with networking mixers, workshops, and access to influential Black business leaders.
A student works on a circuit board for a robot.
Photo courtesy adobe stock
Event planners find opportunity in local hospitality.
Photo courtesy alamy
Opportunity Knocks
Key industries are seeing a spike in demand for talent. These are the most in-demand professions in Greater Palm Springs:
1. Healthcare: With an aging population, nurses, medical assistants, and specialists, including in mental health and physical therapy, are in high demand.
2. Hospitality and Tourism: As a popular visitor destination, there’s always a need for hospitality management, event planning, and food services professionals.
3. Construction and Skilled Trades: Growth in residential development demands skilled tradespeople — electricians, plumbers, and carpenters — and project managers.
4. Agriculture: This local industry requires farmworkers, agronomists, and supply chain specialists tuned to sustainable practices.
5. Technology and IT: Businesses looking to work smarter in the digital realm need IT support, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence experts, and software developers.
6. Education: Schools need teachers, especially in STEM fields, as well as administrators.
7. Real Estate: Roles in real estate sales, property management, and development are in demand.
8. Renewable Energy: As solar energy systems grow in prevalence, so do specialty jobs in panel installation and maintenance.
