West Palm Beach, Florida
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching West Palm Beach, FL.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in West Palm Beach, FL?
For relocators asking how much West Palm Beach costs: the housing index sits at 124 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $369,800 and rents near $1,709. Local median income is about $69,261 and unemployment recently ran 4.8% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 24 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 761.5 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 124U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $369,800U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,709U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $69,261U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.8%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 761.5per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 89°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how West Palm Beach compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 127,744City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $69,261Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year12% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 124ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year24% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $369,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year22% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,709City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year27% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20260.6 pts above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 24 minNear catalog avg (25 min)Catalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 487% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 761.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)36% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3751per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)25% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 89°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 60°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals25.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 61.7 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals86% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 228As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
West Palm Beach grew 26.7% from 100,813 in 2010 to 127,744 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is West Palm Beach, FL expensive compared to the U.S. average?
West Palm Beach's housing cost index is 124 versus 100 nationally — above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($369,800 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,709 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 124 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $369,800 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,709 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in West Palm Beach, FL?
Typical ownership costs center near $369,800, while median gross rent is about $1,709 a month. Against a median household income of $69,261, rent alone is roughly 30% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $369,800
- Median rent $1,709/month
- Median household income $69,261
What is the job market like in West Palm Beach, FL?
County unemployment recently ran 4.8% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in West Palm Beach is about $69,261 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.8% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $69,261
How long is the typical commute in West Palm Beach, FL?
Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 48/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 24 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 48/100
Is West Palm Beach, FL safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 761.5 per 100k and property about 3751 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 761.5 per 100k
- Property 3751 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in West Palm Beach, FL?
Normals show summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 60°F, about 61.7 inches of rain, and roughly 228 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 89°F
- Winter low 60°F
- 61.7 in rain · 228 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in West Palm Beach, FL?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, Northwood, Flamingo Park — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- Northwood
- Flamingo Park
West Palm Beach (pop. 127,744) sits in Florida. Households here report a median income near $69,261; our housing-derived cost index is about 124 (above the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $369,800 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Subtropical summers, hurricane planning, and no state income tax loom large. With about 61.7 inches of rain a year, wet-season drainage and mold checks are worth asking about. Commutes average near 24 minutes one-way, with walkability near 48/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 4.8% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates near 761.5 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Downtown and Northwood, then compare against Flamingo Park once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare West Palm Beach with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- Northwood
- Flamingo Park
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (West Palm Beach city, 1600000US1276600) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Palm Beach County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00012844 WEST PALM BEACH INTL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19