Palmdale, CA Demographics

A map of Palmdale's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Hispanic	104,593	104,742	63.5%	61.8%
White	25,478	28,739	15.5%	17.0%
Black	21,015	22,000	12.8%	13.0%
Asian	7,618	7,007	4.6%	4.1%
Multiracial	4,122	5,083	2.5%	3.0%
Native American/Other	1,808	1,879	1.1%	1.1%

Palmdale, California has an estimated population of 164,634, a slight decrease from the 169,450 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 63.5% Hispanic, 15.5% White, 12.8% Black, 4.6% Asian, 2.5% Multiracial, and 1.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Palmdale, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Palmdale has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Palmdale, that probability was 57.0% in 2020 and 55.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Palmdale is ranked the 32nd most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Palmdale was ranked the 32nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Palmdale's White Population

25,478 residents of Palmdale, or 15.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Palmdale is significantly lower than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Palmdale ranks 1334th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmdale's White population has declined by an estimated 11.3%. White residents' share of Palmdale's population has decreased from 17.0% to 15.5%.

Palmdale is more White than neighboring Desert View Highlands (14.1% White), and Littlerock (15.2% White). Palmdale is less White than neighboring Lancaster (23.5% White), Quartz Hill (47% White), and Acton (54.3% White).

Palmdale's Black Population

21,015 residents of Palmdale, or 12.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Palmdale is higher than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Palmdale ranks 44th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmdale's Black population has declined by an estimated 4.5%. Black residents' share of Palmdale's population has remained roughly unchanged at 12.8%.

Palmdale is more Black than neighboring Desert View Highlands (11.1% Black), Quartz Hill (7.9% Black), Acton (0.3% Black), and Littlerock (0% Black). Palmdale is less Black than neighboring Lancaster (19.1% Black).

Palmdale's Asian Population

7,618 residents of Palmdale, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Palmdale is considerably lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Palmdale ranks 544th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmdale's Asian population has grown by an estimated 8.7%. Asian residents' share of Palmdale's population has increased from 4.1% to 4.6%.

Palmdale is more Asian than neighboring Lancaster (4.1% Asian), Quartz Hill (2.4% Asian), Acton (2.3% Asian), and Littlerock (0% Asian). Palmdale is less Asian than neighboring Desert View Highlands (8.3% Asian).

Palmdale's Hispanic Population

104,593 residents of Palmdale, or 63.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Palmdale is significantly higher than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Palmdale ranks 301st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmdale's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of Palmdale's population has increased from 61.8% to 63.5%.

Palmdale is more Hispanic than neighboring Desert View Highlands (62.8% Hispanic), Lancaster (48.2% Hispanic), Quartz Hill (37.6% Hispanic), and Acton (39.1% Hispanic). Palmdale is less Hispanic than neighboring Littlerock (84.8% Hispanic).

Palmdale's Native American/Other Population

1,808 residents of Palmdale, or 1.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Palmdale is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Palmdale ranks 909th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmdale's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 3.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Palmdale's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Palmdale is more Native American/Other than neighboring Desert View Highlands (0% Native American/Other), Lancaster (1% Native American/Other), Quartz Hill (0.8% Native American/Other), Acton (0.3% Native American/Other), and Littlerock (0% Native American/Other).

Palmdale's Multiracial Population

4,122 residents of Palmdale, or 2.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Palmdale is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Palmdale ranks 1181st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmdale's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 18.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Palmdale's population has decreased from 3.0% to 2.5%.

Palmdale is more Multiracial than neighboring Littlerock (0% Multiracial). Palmdale is less Multiracial than neighboring Desert View Highlands (3.6% Multiracial), Lancaster (4.1% Multiracial), Quartz Hill (4.4% Multiracial), and Acton (3.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.