THE COACHELLA VALLEY

The Coachella Valley is a place of extraordinary beauty and natural wonder; a year-round playground for the young and young at heart.

This beautiful desert region is home to Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, India Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, and Coachella. Each city offers its own unique flare and distinct personality.

In the greater Palm Springs area, quality is a given. With more than 360 days of sunshine every year; easy access to Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino; and excellent transportation services, it’s easy to see why Greater Palm Springs remains one of the most sought-after lifestyle sanctuaries in California.

RECREATION & EVENTS

Boasting more than 110 golf courses, the Coachella Valley is one of the world’s most popular golf destinations. The region is also propelled by its breathtaking natural environment and world-class cultural and sports events such as ANA Inspiration Tournament (LPGA) and CareerBuilder Challenge (PGA) golf tournaments, BNP Paribas Open (ATP and WTA) tennis tournament, and the two-weekend music juggernaut known as Coachella (Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival). The Palm Springs International Film Festival held in January and the ShortFest held in August rival well-known Sundance and Utah’s film festivals.

One-of-a-kind attractions, such as Palm Springs

Aerial Tramway and The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden, the world-class Palm Springs

Art Museum, and a spectrum of shopping, dining, and recreation options also distinguishes the area for residents and visitors.

Affordable

Affordable housing (in comparison to coastal and other metro areas of California) attracts young families, thereby expanding the skilled workforce. Families here average three people per household, with a median household income of more than $50,000. Population growth has skyrocketed, especially in the East Valley, since 2010 and is expected to continue to climb.

According to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, the projection is a 99.4% increase from 443,401 population in 2014 to a projected 884,000 by 2035.

Education

You’ll find an area that places a premium on education, addressing the quality and capacity of the area’s workforce. Three primary / secondary school districts serve west, central, and east valley students, while College of the Desert — part of California Community Colleges — has about 15,000 students enrolled across three campuses and is expanding to accommodate increasing enrollment. California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert offers several bachelor’s degree programs and 10 master’s degree or credential programs, including degree options for healthcare majors. And the University of California, Riverside has a 20 acre campus in Palm Desert.

Medical

Desert Regional Medical Center, Eisenhower Medical Center, and JFK Memorial Hospital anchor the first-class healthcare community that includes a selection of medical groups and ancillary wellness, rehabilitation, and fitness centers, as well as therapeutic spas.

The Palm Springs region teems with resorts, golf courses, and shopping centers. Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and other artistic communities lie farther north and northeast. To the south, the wildflowers of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park herald the arrival of spring. More refined than Vegas, more laid back than Beverly Hills, and more consistent sunshine than both, it’s no wonder that so many are making this part of the desert their home.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE

Palm Springs, along with the other cities in this guide, is in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert, a division of the Sonoran Desert. Coachella Valley is unique in that it extends 45 miles southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the northern shore of the Salton Sea. It is 15 miles wide from the San Jacinto Mountains to the west and the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east.

Being tucked away amid these mountain ranges gives the valley its famed warm, dry climate. With more than 350 days of sunshine and less than 5 inches of rain per year, sun seekers enjoy the greater Palm Springs area all year-long. Winter temperatures average a comfortable 70 degrees during the day and cool crisp nights are around 40. But not to worry, the area rarely sees freezing temperatures. It does get hot during the summer months with temperatures well into the 90’s and 100’s during the day. The perfect reason to grab a refreshing beverage, a towel and lounge poolside for a quick dip to cool off.