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Indio vs Hemet

44 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+88% in Indio) and trails (3.2× in Indio).

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Indio, CAHomes around $509KCalifornia · 91,950 people
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Hemet, CAHomes around $444KCalifornia · 91,326 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Indio places higher on 16 of 22 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $510 more a month in Indio

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Indio$3,090/mo
Typical home $509K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $1,437/mo · Housing →
Hemet$2,580/mo
Typical home $444K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $1,575/mo · Housing →

The difference: $510 a month, about $6,100 a year, between Indio and Hemet.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
IndioHemet
Snow a year0″0″
January low47°F40°F
July high106°F95°F
Growing season (days)365d315d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)94th96th
Outdoors & history
IndioHemet
Trails25 mi8 mi
Conserved land3.2%8.8%
Settled1873—
Archive photos14—
Famous people born here2224
Community
IndioHemet
Library hours a week38 hrs34 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

44 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Indio ↔ Hemet44 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

IndioHemet
People
Population 91,950Highest 91,326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +17.2%Highest CA: +6.1% +14.2%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 38.6±1.1Lowest about the CA average 39.8±1.7Highest 5% above CA
Hemet and Indio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.8%±1.6Highest CA: 22% 23.1%±1.7Lowest CA: 22%
Indio and Hemet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.6%±1Lowest CA: 15.7% 21.8%±1.3Highest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20.5%Highest CA: 37.1% 15.5%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.5%±0.8Lowest CA: 7.6% 5.6%±1Highest CA: 7.6%
Hemet and Indio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $77,167±$6kHighest 22% below CA $57,719±$3kLowest 42% below CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $458,400±$10kHighest 38% below CA $352,200±$13kLowest 52% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,437±$53Lowest 29% below CA $1,575±$71Highest 23% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,559Highest 11% below CA $2,431Lowest 53% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57.9%±6.3Lowest CA: 55.3% 62.2%±4.2Highest CA: 55.3%
Hemet and Indio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.5%Lowest CA: 12% 14.9%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67.1%Highest CA: 55.9% 62.3%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 2000Highest 24 yrs newer than CA 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 20% below CA 36 minHighest 27% above CA
Work from home 5.1%±1Lowest CA: 17.2% 11.5%±1.6Highest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 16.3%Highest 12.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 28.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.58Highest 0.57Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Palm Desert (11%)San Jacinto (5%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HemetFew work in Indio
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.2%Lowest 8.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 25.2 miHighest 7.8 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.8 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 14Highest 13Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 83.2Highest 73.2Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #462 of 574 in CA#389 of 574 in CA
School district Coachella Valley Unified · Desert Sands UnifiedHemet Unified
High school in town Indio HighWest Valley High
Students per teacherat that high school 23.6Highest 20.7Lowest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Indio neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 6d

New to Indio Schools

1 neighbor in Indio can answer.

Hemet neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hemet’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Indio and Hemet

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Indio

Towns like Indio

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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