Named for the area’s large groves of desert fan palms, Thousand Palms is bordered by an expansive desert preserve to the east and the greater Palm Springs cities to the west. The predominantly residential neighborhood offers 55+ communities and single-family homes in a laidback desert setting. Within Riverside County’s Coachella Valley, Thousand Palms offers convenient access to outdoor recreation and shopping, as well as attractions throughout the greater Palm Springs area. Thousand Palms hosts communities of Spanish Revival homes situated close together on small lots decorated with rocky, drought-tolerant landscaping. There are two senior living communities for residents aged 55 and up with Homeowners’ Associations. Tri-Palm Estates has mobile homes built from the 1960s through the 80s, while Ivey Ranch Country Club has Spanish Revival ranch styles built between 1980 and 2004. Properties in Tri-Palm Estates usually cost between $120,000 and $250,000, while homes in Ivey Ranch cost between $320,000 and $400,000. Spanish Revival single-family ranches without HOAs are in the northern portion of the neighborhood. Usually built in the 1980s and 90s, these cost between $300,000 and $500,000. Homebuyers can occasionally find contemporary Spanish Revivals built in the last five years for $485,000 to $800,000. The Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve is located 5 miles northeast of the neighborhood. As its name suggests, the preserve features dense groves of towering palms in the middle of the desert. There are several trailheads throughout the area; residents can explore dry, rocky landscapes or lush palm forests on boardwalks. For more laidback recreation, there’s Thousand Palms Community Center and Park, which offers martial arts and dance classes. The park features a playground and soccer and baseball fields. Those living in Tri-Palm Estates and Ivey Ranch Country Club benefit from access to golf courses and pools. Children may begin at Della S. Lindley Elementary, which earns a B rating from Niche. Students advance to C-plus-rated Desert Springs Middle and continue learning at B-rated Desert Hot Springs High, which is ranked second in Niche’s ranking of standout high schools in the Palms Springs area. The high school offers numerous work-based learning options to encourage career preparation. At the school’s Renewable Energy Academy of Learning, students learn about the sustainable energy field through hands-on experiences. “The greater Palm Springs area is a great place to retire, but it also attracts families and young professionals since there are a lot of attractions and activities in the area,” says Jason Cochran, a Realtor with eXp Realty who has served the greater Palm Springs area for 20 years. Country club residents benefit from community activities, like exercise classes, bingo nights and golf. For major concerts and basketball games, the newly opened Acrisure Arena, an indoor event space with an 11,000-person capacity, is 3 miles southeast of Thousand Palms. There are seasonal attractions throughout the area. The Indian Wells Winterfest has skating and holiday lights, and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has winter and Halloween events. Numerous shopping locations are situated a mile south in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage. To shop for groceries and household goods, locals can go to Walmart or Costco. Clark's Nutrition and Natural Foods Market has organic produce and grass-fed meat. “There are convenient shopping plazas nearby, but most people will end up in downtown Palm Springs if they’re looking to shop around at local businesses,” Cochran says. Closer to home, locals can go to Goody’s Café for all-day breakfast combos and sandwiches. Taqueria San Miguel offers Mexican seafood and margaritas. For craft beer and trivia nights, there’s Coachella Valley Brewing Company, which practices farm-to-table brewing. SunLine Transit Agency services the greater Palm Springs area. Route 4 runs from Palm Desert to Palm Springs; stops in Thousand Palms are located along Monterey Avenue and Ramon Road. There are limited sidewalks on residential roads, but locals can walk to some amenities depending on their location in the neighborhood. However, locals depend on personal vehicles to go to work and run errands. Interstate 10 carves through the neighborhood’s southern border. Learn more on the Thousand Palms city guide.