Indio is one of California’s fastest growing cities and is located in the East part of the Coachella Valley between La Quinta and Coachella. It is the oldest city in the Coachella Valley, having been incorporated in 1930. The city grew from a Southern Pacific Railroad station founded in 1876. Indio has the largest population of all the Coachella Valley cities at approximately 95,548. The median household income in Indio is $79,372 and the cost of living is lower than the California average, but higher than the National average. The median age is approximately 38.8 and the homeownership rate is 68.3%. Indio is considered one of the fastest growing cities in the region, drawing people of all ages and backgrounds and is a more affordable city compared to other parts of California, making it an attractive option for first-time buyers and investors.  Indio is also one of the few cities in the Coachella Valley that allows short-term rentals.

Indio is in the Desert Sands Unified School District and there are 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools. College of the Desert is the East Valley’s community college that is located downtown.

Utilities available in Indio include Imperial Irrigation District (IID) for electricity, which is less expensive than it’s counterpart in the West Valley, Southern California Edison. The other utilities are So Cal Gas, and Indio Water Authority.

Named the City of Festivals, Indio has become a favorite destination for foodies and music lovers, attracting more than 1 million people each year for its multiple mainstream events, including the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

The city is a major date-growing region, home to the historical Shields Date Garden, and also hosts the annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.

Indio is broken up into three different areas: South of Highway 111 is where you will find the fairgrounds, the Empire Polo Club, luxury communities, such as The Orchard and Madison Estates, and adult communities like Trilogy.

The area between Highway 111 and the 10 freeway, known as Central Indio / Downtown, and what many locals call the “old North Indio.” That is where you will find the Riverside County courthouse, municipal center, and jail on Highway 111. “Downtown” is where you will find City Hall, the public library, the community college, College of the Desert East Campus. Downtown Indio is where you will find the weekly “Food Truck Friday” event and many festivals throughout the year like the International Tamale Festival, the BBQ Festival, and Asada Fest. Towards the North is the Indio Sports Complex - a 38 acre park featuring 11 soccer fields, 2 baseball fields, a football field and more. Central Indio has a mix of older homes, gated communities, country clubs, and adult communities.

North of the 10 freeway was developed in the early 2000’s and is home to over 20 gated HOA communities, the Coachella Valley’s only night-lighted golf course, and the majority of the shopping options.

Some of the shopping in Indio is a Walmart, Petco, Tilly’s, Skechers, Ulta, Marshall’s, Tractor Supply, CVS, and Walgreens. North Indio is also home to two casinos: Fantasy Springs and Spotlight 29, and the Worldmark Resort by Wyndham that provide entertainment and dining options as well as one of only two bowling alley’s in the Coachella Valley. Along the 10 freeway is where you will find the Coachella Valley’s second largest auto mall - the I-10 Auto Mall with nine brands.

Grocery stores in Indio include the Coachella Valley’s only Winco and Vallarta supermarket. There is a Ralph’s, Stater Bro’s, Food 4 Less, El Super, and Cardena’s.

Some of my favorite local places to eat that you won’t want to miss are Gabino’s Creperie - featured on Dining, Drive-Ins, & Dives, Luna’s Bar & Grill, Italica - one of the Valley’s only speakeasy’s, Indio Taphouse, and Arriola’s - the oldest Tortilleria in the Coachella Valley in operation since 1927. Some of my other favorites are El Tapatio for tacos, Unique Bite Eatery, and Lala’s Waffles, Crepes, and Shakes. Indio Brewing is Indio’s first and only Brewery.

Click here for the Local Guide I created to discover all of my local favorite places to eat and things to do!