Indio

Indio By The Numbers

POPULATION: 93,335 AVE HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $53,669 MEDIAN RENT: $3,300

Indio / California

“Families are moving here because of our parks, schools, and outstanding public safety services. In fact, the Indio Police Department was recognized as one of fifteen cities in the nation to serve as a model for the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.”

– Michael H. Wilson, Mayor (2018)

Railroad To Agriculture

Indio is the largest and oldest city in the Coachella Valley and continues to grow at a more rapid pace than any of its neighboring cities.

Originally a railroad town as a stop between Los Angeles, California, and Yuma, Arizona, Indio quickly grew into its own becoming an agricultural mecca for onions, citrus, and dates. (Dates are a big deal here.) Indio became the “Hub of the Valley” in the early 1900s, with residents that established family roots, schools that were built, and a hospital that was completed to provide medical services.

Today, Indio continues to be the hub of housing, business, and development in the Valley. Its eclectic background shows up in its restaurants, in its festivals, and in its culture. It’s a diverse community that comes together and is successful, preserving its local heritage. Indio celebrates its rich culture with the Coachella Valley History

Museum, several annual festivals, and art displayed throughout the city.

Residents love Indio for its friendly people, the great police department and their community outreach, its heart for the youth and providing unique services just for them. Indio has great schools, the fastest growing community college in California, and is the center of the legal community in the Coachella Valley with its premier law school.

Because of its many festivals, Indio has become a destination spot but retains a small-town feel with peaceful, friendly surroundings. This exceptionally well-managed city continues to evolve with smart planning for the future. Indio’s quality of life, the strength of its economy, and value in real estate make it a great place to live and raise a family.

City Of Festivals

Once touted the Hub of the Valley, Indio is now known as the City of Festivals. And it’s no wonder, drawing more than 1.4 million visitors a year with its variety of events, from music, food and arts festivals, most notably the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

But let’s face it. Not everyone loves Beyoncé, but everyone does love tamales. So first we’ll start by talking about the International Tamale Festival. It is, after all, the largest tamale festival in the world!

Started in 1992, this much-loved event is held every December in Old Town Indio and has drawn as many as 120,000 festival goers in one weekend! Ranked as one of the top 10 “All-American Food Festivals” in the nation by Food Network-TV, tamale lovers fill the streets to sample every type of tamale one can possibly imagine. And it’s not just the tamales they come for. Seeped in its culture, the festival includes a festive holiday parade, Mexican Folkloric dancing, singing, and other live performances. There is even a car show, art and wine garden and a food truck alley for those that want something more with their tamales.

Although the International Tamale Festival draws a large crowd and is rich in tradition, it’s the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, simply known as Coachella, that has really put Indio on the map. Held in April on the gorgeous grounds of the Empire Polo Club, Coachella has morphed from just a weekend to listen to good music to a cultural phenomenon, with incredible art sculptures, fantastic food, and big-name stars. Held over three days for two consecutive weekends, Coachella draws more than 200,000 music and art lovers from around the world.

Add to that the Stagecoach Country Music Festival, Tachevah at the Indio Block Party, and other music events featured at the Empire Polo Club, it’s no surprise Indio received top billing as the number one city in the country for live music by the Matador Network, the world’s largest independent travel publisher.