City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Palm Beach, FL

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

9,234
Residents
$175,078
Median income
$1,996,700
Median home
$2,254
Median rent (state)

Palm Beach - the verdict

Palm Beach ranks in the 97th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

97th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
88th
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: Palm Beach, FL

Palm Beach is a small town in Florida, home to 9,234 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Palm Beach households earn a median of $175,078 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.8%. Home values in Palm Beach run a median of $1,996,700, and the median resident age is 69.7 years. 68.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 31.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 25 residential building permits were authorized in Palm Beach (Construction Slowdown), down 40% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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 $2,254 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Florida, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.2 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

9,234 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$175,078 /yr

Poverty 2.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Palm Beach compare to other US cities?

Here's how Palm Beach stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 97% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 88% 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 Palm Beach against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Palm Beach's strongest outlier among Florida cities

Among the 894 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Palm Beach ranks #8 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Palm Beach only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#14 of 903
98th percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#121 of 930
82nd percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#8 of 894
99th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#770 of 930
17th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#22 of 930
98th 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.

97thIncome percentile

97th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Palm Beach's home value compares nationally

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

$1,996,700 1st percentile more affordable than 1% 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%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Palm Beach $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 - Palm Beach, FL Palm Beach, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Palm Beach, 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 Palm Beach, FL median $175,078/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%
Palm Beach, 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 Palm Beach, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 68.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 31.7%

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

Population
9,234
Median Income
$175,078
Median Home Value
$1,996,700
Median Age
69.7
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Labor force participation
31.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
68.4%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,200 residents9,300 residents9,400 residents9,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,238 residents 9,423 residents ▲ +2.0%
Palm Beach's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
25
housing units authorized
Single-Family
25
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 42
2020 50
2021 25
2022 26
2023 22
2024 25

Permit volume decreased 40% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
44.8%
Carpool
1.1%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
7.2%
Work from Home
37.6%
Other
8.2%

Based on 2,753 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 Palm Beach sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,254/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Brooksville
9,235 people
Orange Park
9,062 people
Micco
9,053 people
Citrus Hills
9,044 people
Lake Park
9,005 people
Indian Harbour Beach
8,991 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Palm Beach's 9,234 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Plymouth, MI
9,234 people
Oakville, CT
9,233 people
Sugar Grove, IL
9,233 people
Conshohocken, PA
9,235 people
Shawano, WI
9,236 people
McFarland, WI
9,230 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Palm Beach's $175,078 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Demarest, NJ
$175,078 median income
Mettawa, IL
$175,074 median income
Jamestown, CO
$175,125 median income
Baxter Estates, NY
$175,125 median income
Nissequogue, NY
$175,000 median income
Woodmere, NY
$174,942 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Palm Beach, 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 Palm Beach, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.0% White 91.4% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 5.9% 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 Palm Beach 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
Palm Beach (this city) 9,234 $175,078
Brooksville 9,235 $47,796
Orange Park 9,062 $74,564
Micco 9,053 $46,809
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Palm Beach, FL?

What is the population of Palm Beach, FL? +

The population of Palm Beach, FL stands at 9,234 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Palm Beach, FL? +

Palm Beach households earn a median of $175,078 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Palm Beach? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Palm Beach; 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 Palm Beach, FL? +

Palm Beach's median home value sits at $1,996,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.