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Living in
Riviera Beach.
About
Life in Riviera Beach
Living in Riviera Beach means dealing with the full South Florida climate experience—warm to hot most of the year with a genuinely wet season from May through October that brings daily thundershowers, though they're usually brief. The cost of living is moderate by South Florida standards, with median home values around $354,500 and median rent near $1,702 monthly, paired with a median household income of $68,060 and relatively low unemployment at 4.6%. The community is predominantly African-American with deep historical roots, and you'll find good walkability in certain areas, though you'll likely need a car for most errands and commuting.
Riviera Beach at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.4%
Foreign-Born
23.4%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.4% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Riviera Beach: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Riviera Beach, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (24.2%), and 9.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.6%
of households
Married Couples
34.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
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 about average for FL
Rent, home values, and income in Riviera Beach
Rent and home values here are close to the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
64.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
42.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
114.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,224
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
22.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $409,986 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Riviera Beach and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Riviera Beach is 0.7 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Riviera Beach 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
Commute24.7 min avg
How Riviera Beach residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Riviera Beach, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT)
Medium hub4.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 49 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 144% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Riviera Beach runs 144% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
802.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,615.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Riviera Beach 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 Riviera Beach, 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
Riviera Beach is about 3% 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 Riviera Beach, 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
Riviera Beach is about 3% of Palm Beach County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 57°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Riviera Beach has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and warm winters (avg low 57°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
81°/65°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/70°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
75°/57°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
61.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
55
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°F | 56°F | 3.38" |
| Feb | 75°F | 57°F | 2.64" |
| Mar | 77°F | 60°F | 3.76" |
| Apr | 81°F | 64°F | 3.18" |
| May | 84°F | 69°F | 6.36" |
| Jun | 88°F | 73°F | 9.22" |
| Jul | 89°F | 75°F | 7.23" |
| Aug | 89°F | 75°F | 8.28" |
| Sep | 88°F | 75°F | 8.38" |
| Oct | 85°F | 71°F | 5.96" |
| Nov | 80°F | 65°F | 3.85" |
| Dec | 75°F | 60°F | 3.76" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
W Palm Beach VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Neurobehavioral Hospital of the Palm Beaches-north
Psychiatric · 2 mi away · Magnonia Park
St Mary's Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · West Palm Beach
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Palm Beach Gardens
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.
Education17.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach's student/teacher ratio is 17.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Riviera Beach (within 15 miles)
Palm Beach Atlantic University
5.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,603 students · in-state tuition $42,250 · 56% graduate · median earnings $55,772 (10 yrs after entry)
South University-West Palm Beach
9.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 251 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 39% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (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, 84 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Big Cypress National Preserve (84 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Cypress National Preserve
National Preserve
84 mi awayBiscayne National Park
National Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach Public Library
2129 North Congress Avenue, Riviera Beach
Cities Near Riviera Beach
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Riviera Beach?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Riviera Beach FAQ
Is Riviera Beach, Florida affordable?⌄
Riviera Beach's median rent is $1,702/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $68,060/year. Median home value is $354,500.
Is Riviera Beach, Florida safe?⌄
Riviera Beach's violent crime rate was 802 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2616 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Riviera Beach, Florida?⌄
Riviera Beach has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Riviera Beach, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Riviera Beach is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,702/month and median household income is $68,060/year. The median home value is $354,500. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Riviera Beach, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Riviera Beach is 25 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