What it's like to live in North Palm Beach
North Palm Beach is a small city in Florida with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Palm Beach deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, hot summers, and very rainy.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Hot summers
- Very rainy — 72" of rain per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How North Palm Beach compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Palm Beach
Based on North Palm Beach's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,020
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $80,400 a year
- 48% of North Palm Beach renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$102,600
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $51,300
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 42% above US
$2,010/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,010 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $513,000. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $513,000 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Palm Beach County is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Palm Beach County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 66% below US
111 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 437/100k · North Palm Beach Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 60°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 39% above US
50% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Big Cypress National Preserve (86 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Palm Beach's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,010/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (22% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
See all the data for North Palm Beach →·All Florida cities →
Other places near North Palm Beach
All Florida guides →Moving to Riviera Beach →
3 mi away · pop. 38,657
Rent $1,702/mo · Income $68,060
Compare with North Palm Beach →Moving to West Palm Beach →
7 mi away · pop. 122,290
Rent $1,772/mo · Income $73,446
Compare with North Palm Beach →Moving to Palm Beach Gardens →
7 mi away · pop. 60,959
Rent $2,417/mo · Income $106,947
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