Overview
Palm Springs is a popular retirement location in Southern California, just east of Los Angeles. Residents enjoy the sunny weather by taking trips out to the mountains, canyons, and all that’s going on in the city. Palm Springs is also home to plenty of resorts, hotels, shopping centers, and tourist attractions.
Climate and Geography
A desert resort city of Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is located in Southern California. Residents can expect a hot desert climate which means temperatures in the mid 70s and 80s all year long. Palm Springs experiences more rainfall than the U.S average and shorter winters as well.
Palm Springs is a surban-complex, so it offers the modern architecture of a thriving city while still having plenty of nature such as greenspaces, mountains, and canyons.
Recreation, Culture & Entertainment
Palm Springs is a popular retirement location due to its sunny weather, but also because residents love taking advantage of all the outdoor activities that the city has, such as biking, hiking, and golf. Active adults enjoy some landmarks like the Indian Canyons, Coachella Valley Preserve, and plenty of botanical gardens.
There’s also the Palm Springs Air Museum and Palm Springs Art Museum for those looking for an exciting tour of the city’s history and artifacts. If residents want to catch a show they can go to the Annenberg Theatre, Camelot Theatre, and Palm Canyon Theatre.
The city is known for their stylish hotels and spas so the option to relax in luxury is always there. Another local appeal is the vibrant downtown area of Palm Springs where residents can find the main shopping district along Palm Canyon Drive. Here. they’ll find vintage boutiques, interior design shops, restaurants, and more.
Cost of Living & Taxes
Much like the rest of California, Palm Springs has a generally higher cost of living than the national average, but it’s less pricey than the state average. The cost of homes and housing is higher than the national average as well. Other categories, such as groceries, have the same average cost compared to the state and nationwide, but the cost for utilities and transportation is higher than both.
California is known as being one of the least tax-friendly states in the country. The state does have an income tax but there is no tax on Social Security. The city of Palm Springs adds a 3.25 percent tax onto the state’s 6 percent rate.
Health Care
There are three hospitals and medical centers within Palm Springs. They are the Desert Regional Medical Center, Eisenhower Medical Center, and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital. Each of these hospitals are ranked high performing in at least two procedures by U.S News.