What it's like to live in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is a mid-size city in Florida with unemployment below the national average, a highly educated workforce, a growing population, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Palm Beach deals with rent well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, hospital ratings below the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 62" of rain per year
How West Palm Beach compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Palm Beach
Based on West Palm Beach's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,544
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $70,880 a year
- 57% of West Palm Beach renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,420
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 25% above US
$1,772/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,772 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $414,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $414,200 · 57% 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▲ 50% above US
493 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1497/100k · West Palm Beach Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 10% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% 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
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 1.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
39% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 39% 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
29 public schools inside the boundary
There are 29 public schools inside the boundary and 17 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 (80 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Palm Beach's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,772/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near West Palm Beach
All Florida guides →Moving to Riviera Beach →
4 mi away · pop. 38,657
Rent $1,702/mo · Income $68,060
Compare with West Palm Beach →Moving to Royal Palm Beach →
6 mi away · pop. 40,344
Rent $2,273/mo · Income $96,027
Compare with West Palm Beach →Moving to North Palm Beach →
7 mi away · pop. 13,238
Rent $2,010/mo · Income $90,049
Compare with West Palm Beach →Moving to Palm Beach Gardens →
7 mi away · pop. 60,959
Rent $2,417/mo · Income $106,947
Compare with West Palm Beach →Not sure West Palm Beach is the one?
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