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Living in
Palm City.
Palm City is an unincorporated community in Martin County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Palm City
This is a quiet, established suburb where you'll find an older, more settled crowd—expect a median age of 51 and plenty of retirees alongside working families. Employment is steady with a 4.2% unemployment rate, though your commute will likely average about 29 minutes depending on where you work. You're in Florida, so expect hot, humid summers and the occasional intense rain, but you're positioned conveniently between Stuart to the east and the broader Port St.
Palm City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
52.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Foreign-Born
7.4%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.4% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Palm City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palm City, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (12.9%), and 5.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.4%
of residents
65 and Older
28.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.9%
of households
Married Couples
66.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
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 21% above FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Palm City
In Palm City, rent runs 21% above the FL average, and home values are 57% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,643
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
89.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $622,346 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Palm City
Unemployment in Martin County, which includes Palm City, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Palm City: Martin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Martin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Palm City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.8 min avg
How Palm City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palm City, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Witham Field (SUA)
Regional airport · few flights3,519 passengers boarded in 2025
- 36 mi
President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT)
Medium hub4.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 76 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 55% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Martin County Sheriff's Office, which covers Palm City, runs 55% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
146.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
604
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Martin County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Martin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Martin County, which includes Palm City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 8 | Tornado | $14.9M |
| 2023 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Tropical Storm | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Flash Flood | $700,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,700 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Martin County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Martin County, which includes Palm City, is typically good — 290 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
290
per year
Moderate Days
75
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Martin County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 58°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palm City has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and warm winters (avg low 58°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
82°/66°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/71°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
76°/58°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
62.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
81
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°F | 56°F | 3.01" |
| Feb | 76°F | 59°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 78°F | 61°F | 3.76" |
| Apr | 82°F | 67°F | 3.56" |
| May | 86°F | 71°F | 5.66" |
| Jun | 89°F | 74°F | 7.44" |
| Jul | 91°F | 76°F | 6.08" |
| Aug | 91°F | 76°F | 8.49" |
| Sep | 89°F | 75°F | 8.28" |
| Oct | 85°F | 72°F | 6.46" |
| Nov | 80°F | 65°F | 4.16" |
| Dec | 76°F | 60°F | 3.21" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palm City
Uninsured
4.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Palm City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Stuart
Coral Shores Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 4.7 mi away · Stuart
St Lucie Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Port Saint Lucie
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.
Education17.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palm City
Palm City's student/teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 47.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palm City (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 112 students · in-state tuition $9,518 · 36% graduate · median earnings $41,247 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Cypress National Preserve, 96 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palm City
Palm City has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Cypress National Preserve (96 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Cypress National Preserve
National Preserve
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palm City
Cummings Library
2551 S.W. Matheson Avenue, Palm City
Cities Near Palm City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palm City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palm City FAQ
Is Palm City, Florida affordable?⌄
Palm City's median rent is $2,013/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $125,820/year. Median home value is $563,400.
Is Palm City, Florida safe?⌄
Palm City is policed by the Martin County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 147 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 604 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palm City, Florida?⌄
Martin County, which includes Palm City, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palm City, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Palm City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,013/month and median household income is $125,820/year. The median home value is $563,400. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palm City, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Palm City is 32 minutes, which is longer than 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