What it's like to live in West Park
West Park is a small city in Florida with county unemployment below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Park deals with rent well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Low college degree attainment
- High rent burden for renters
How West Park compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Park
Based on West Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,028
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $80,560 a year
- 68% of West Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$68,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,060
- Homes cost 5.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 43% above US
$2,014/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,014 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 $340,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $340,600 · 68% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Broward County is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Broward County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 61% above US
645 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 1855/100k · West Park Police Department · 2020 data
Getting around▲ 26% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.7 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; 8% 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 61°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 61% below US
14% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
0 public schools inside the boundary
No public school is located inside the boundary; students attend schools in the surrounding district. There are 2 private schools inside it.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Biscayne National Park (34 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Park's strongest point is county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($2,014/mo) equals 37% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near West Park
All Florida guides →Moving to Ives Estates →
2 mi away · pop. 28,506
Rent $2,110/mo · Income $72,239
Compare with West Park →Moving to Hallandale Beach →
3 mi away · pop. 41,854
Rent $1,653/mo · Income $52,340
Compare with West Park →Not sure West Park is the one?
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