What it's like to live in Royal Palm Beach
Royal Palm Beach is a small city in Florida with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Royal Palm Beach deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 62" of rain per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Royal Palm Beach compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Royal Palm Beach
Based on Royal Palm Beach's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,546
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $90,920 a year
- 52% of Royal Palm Beach renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,540
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,770
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 61% above US
$2,273/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,273 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 run above average, with a median around $437,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $437,700 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 48% below US
171 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1040/100k · Royal Palm Beach Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 18% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°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 & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. 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 (73 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Royal Palm Beach's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above 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 ($2,273/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
See all the data for Royal Palm Beach →·All Florida cities →
Other places near Royal Palm Beach
All Florida guides →Moving to Wellington →
5 mi away · pop. 62,146
Rent $2,562/mo · Income $115,632
Compare with Royal Palm Beach →Moving to West Palm Beach →
6 mi away · pop. 122,290
Rent $1,772/mo · Income $73,446
Compare with Royal Palm Beach →Moving to Greenacres →
8 mi away · pop. 44,373
Rent $1,756/mo · Income $70,491
Compare with Royal Palm Beach →Not sure Royal Palm Beach is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.