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Living in
Belle Glade.
About
Life in Belle Glade
Living in Belle Glade means embracing life in what locals call "Muck City"—a working agricultural community in the heart of South Florida's farming belt, where sugarcane and the land define the economy and culture more than any tourist draw ever could. The cost of living is genuinely affordable compared to the rest of Palm Beach County, with median home values around $163,100 and rent averaging $898 a month, which makes homeownership realistic for working families, though the job market is tight and wages reflect agricultural and service-sector work rather than white-collar opportunities. The community itself is diverse and deeply rooted, with a significant Latino population (particularly Haitian and Cuban communities), English and Spanish both woven into daily life, and strong family networks that keep people here across generations.
Belle Glade at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.3%
Foreign-Born
27.4%
Broadband Internet
71.6%
of households
Population Growth
+3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.4% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Belle Glade: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Belle Glade, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (34.7%), and 26.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.8%
of households
Married Couples
34.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Belle Glade
In Belle Glade, rent runs 46% below the FL average, and home values are 55% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
114.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,467
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $291,030 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Belle Glade and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Palm Beach County, which includes Belle Glade, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Belle Glade: Palm Beach County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Palm Beach County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Belle Glade is about 1% of Palm Beach County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Belle Glade Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area
Commute25.6 min avg
How Belle Glade residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Belle Glade, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 35 mi
President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT)
Medium hub4.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 53 mi
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Major hub15.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 231% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Belle Glade runs 231% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,089.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,494.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Belle Glade Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 30 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Palm Beach County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Palm Beach County, which includes Belle Glade, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 30 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | Drought | $78,500 |
| 2024 | 23 | Hail | $81.4M |
| 2023 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $387,000 |
| 2022 | 31 | Funnel Cloud | $418,500 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,000 |
| 2020 | 51 | Flood | $39,000 |
| 2019 | 36 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35,000 |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Palm Beach County, county-wide
Belle Glade is about 1% of Palm Beach County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Palm Beach County, which includes Belle Glade, is typically good — 279 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
279
per year
Moderate Days
86
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Palm Beach County, county-wide
Belle Glade is about 1% of Palm Beach County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 54°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Belle Glade has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 54°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
86°/61°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
78°/54°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
124
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
135
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76°F | 52°F | 2.27" |
| Feb | 79°F | 53°F | 1.90" |
| Mar | 82°F | 57°F | 3.03" |
| Apr | 86°F | 61°F | 2.14" |
| May | 89°F | 66°F | 4.55" |
| Jun | 91°F | 71°F | 9.49" |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 7.01" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 8.63" |
| Sep | 91°F | 72°F | 7.29" |
| Oct | 87°F | 67°F | 4.26" |
| Nov | 81°F | 60°F | 2.55" |
| Dec | 78°F | 56°F | 2.10" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Belle Glade
Belle Glade has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
18.2%
of residents
Lakeside Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Belle Glade
Belle Glade's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Cypress National Preserve, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Belle Glade
Belle Glade has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Big Cypress National Preserve (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Cypress National Preserve
National Preserve
56 mi awayBiscayne National Park
National Park
88 mi awayEverglades National Park
National Park
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Belle Glade
Belle Glade Branch
725 Nw 4th St, Belle Glade
Cities Near Belle Glade
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Belle Glade?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Belle Glade FAQ
Is Belle Glade, Florida affordable?⌄
Belle Glade's median rent is $898/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,001/year. Median home value is $163,100.
Is Belle Glade, Florida safe?⌄
Belle Glade's violent crime rate was 1090 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1495 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Belle Glade, Florida?⌄
Palm Beach County, which includes Belle Glade, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Belle Glade, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Belle Glade is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $898/month and median household income is $48,001/year. The median home value is $163,100. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Belle Glade, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Belle Glade is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from