City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

West Palm Beach, FL

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

119,508
Residents
$69,261
Median income
$369,800
Median home
$2,254
Median rent (state)

West Palm Beach - the verdict

West Palm Beach ranks in the 48th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

48th
percentile, household income
74th
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: West Palm Beach, FL

Florida's West Palm Beach is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 119,508 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in West Palm Beach brings in $69,261 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.3%. Typical homes in West Palm Beach are valued around $369,800, and the median resident age is 40.2 years. Educational attainment runs 37.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 230 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 57% from five years earlier. NOAA puts West Palm Beach's yearly average temperature at 75.8°F with 61.8 inches of precipitation per year.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Florida at 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,254 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.2 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

119,508 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$69,261 /yr

Poverty 11.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does West Palm Beach compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 74% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below West Palm Beach's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Florida, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

48thIncome percentile

48th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How West Palm Beach's home value compares nationally

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

$369,800 26th percentile more affordable than 26% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $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. West 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 - West Palm Beach, FL West Palm Beach, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West 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 West Palm Beach, FL median $69,261/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%
West 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 West Palm Beach, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 37.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.6%

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

Population
119,508
Median Income
$69,261
Median Home Value
$369,800
Median Age
40.2
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Labor force participation
60.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
37.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
75.8°F
Annual Precipitation
61.8"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
54
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
115,000 residents120,000 residents125,000 residents130,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 117,493 residents 127,189 residents ▲ +8.3%
West 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)
230
housing units authorized
Single-Family
85
detached homes
Multifamily
145
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 529
2020 511
2021 1,676
2022 1,519
2023 406
2024 230

Permit volume decreased 57% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.9%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
12.1%
Other
3.1%

Based on 59,488 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 West 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

Spring Hill
118,814 people
Clearwater
117,075 people
Lakeland
117,030 people
Brandon
116,365 people
Palm Bay
125,273 people
Pompano Beach
112,212 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Palm Beach's 119,508 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hartford, CT
119,970 people
Fairfield, CA
119,985 people
Berkeley, CA
120,223 people
Wilmington, NC
118,578 people
Billings, MT
118,321 people
Richardson, TX
118,269 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Palm Beach's $69,261 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lansdowne, PA
$69,261 median income
Craig, CO
$69,256 median income
Winterset, IA
$69,268 median income
Kimball, MN
$69,271 median income
Holstein, NE
$69,271 median income
Leesburg, OH
$69,271 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West 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 West Palm Beach, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 44.0% 31.5% 6.2% 15.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24.6% White 44.0% Black or African American 31.5% Asian 2.5% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.2% Two or more races 15.7% 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 West 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
West Palm Beach (this city) 119,508 $69,261
Spring Hill 118,814 $66,557
Clearwater 117,075 $64,440
Lakeland 117,030 $60,947
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Palm Beach, FL?

What is the population of West Palm Beach, FL? +

The population of West Palm Beach, FL stands at 119,508 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In West Palm Beach, the typical household earns $69,261 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Palm Beach? +

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

West Palm Beach's median home value sits at $369,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in West Palm Beach? +

Climate normals put West Palm Beach's yearly average temperature at 75.8°F, 61.8 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 Editorial

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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.