City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Key West, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Key West - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

25,824
Residents
$78,532
Median income
$816,300
Median home
$2,504
Median rent (state)

Key West - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Key West lands in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
95th
percentile, home value
92nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Key West, FL

Florida's Key West is a small city, with 25,824 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Key West households earn a median of $78,532 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.3%. Typical homes in Key West are valued around $816,300, and the median resident age is 46.5 years. About 41.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 27 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Growing), up 13% from five years earlier. NOAA puts Key West's yearly average temperature at 78.8°F with 43.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,504 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Florida's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 91.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

25,824 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$78,532 /yr

Poverty 5.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Key West compare to other US cities?

Where Key West sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 95% pricier than other cities
Median rent 92% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Key West against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Key West's strongest outlier among Florida cities

Among the 930 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Key West ranks #1 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Key West only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#336 of 903
63rd percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 930
99th percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#41 of 894
95th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#605 of 930
34th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#229 of 930
75th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Key West's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$816,300 5th percentile more affordable than 5% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Key West $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Key West, FL Key West, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Key West, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Key West, FL median $78,532/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Key West, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Key West, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
25,824
Median Income
$78,532
Median Home Value
$816,300
Median Age
46.5
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Labor force participation
62.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
78.8°F
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
24,500 residents25,000 residents25,500 residents26,000 residents26,500 residents27,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,364 residents 24,999 residents ▼ -5.2%
Key West's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
27
housing units authorized
Single-Family
18
detached homes
Multifamily
9
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 24
2020 18
2021 12
2022 21
2023 216
2024 27

Permit volume increased 13% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
57.4%
Carpool
7.0%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
4.9%
Work from Home
10.3%
Other
20.3%

Based on 14,965 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Key West sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,504/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Sebastian
25,759 people
Fish Hawk
25,945 people
Palm
25,699 people
Pace
25,630 people
Immokalee
25,624 people
South Bradenton
25,585 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Key West's 25,824 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Grandview, MO
25,821 people
Fort Washington, MD
25,843 people
Terrytown, LA
25,844 people
Derby, KS
25,801 people
Fort Hood, TX
25,786 people
Ballenger Creek, MD
25,866 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Key West's $78,532 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

South Haven, IN
$78,530 median income
Franklin Springs, GA
$78,542 median income
Pleasant Plains, IL
$78,542 median income
Leonardville, KS
$78,542 median income
Stoughton, WI
$78,517 median income
Chillum, MD
$78,513 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Key West, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Key West, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 66.7% 12.1% 14.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.3% White 66.7% Black or African American 12.1% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 4.5% Two or more races 14.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Key West compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Key West (this city) 25,824 $78,532
Sebastian 25,759 $68,863
Fish Hawk 25,945 $133,142
Palm 25,699 $117,689
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Key West, FL?

What is the population of Key West, FL? +

The population of Key West, FL stands at 25,824 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Key West, FL? +

In Key West, the typical household earns $78,532 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Key West? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Key West; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Key West, FL? +

The median home value in Key West is $816,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Key West? +

The average annual temperature in Key West runs 78.8°F, 43.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.