Living in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-size city in Florida
West Palm Beach is a mid-size city in Florida, home to about 120,000 people, with 1.1 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is West Palm Beach a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.92% property tax
- Easy flying: DJT is 5 mi away
- Strong healthcare: 1 top-rated (4–5★) hospital within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 14 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 11 within 9 mi
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Higher crime: violent crime is 2.0× the US rate (FBI 2019)
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how West Palm Beach ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in West Palm Beach: common questions
What is the cost of living in West Palm Beach?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $471k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,920 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 114, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in West Palm Beach?
Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.92% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is West Palm Beach safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.0× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in West Palm Beach?
West Palm Beach is warm all year: winter days average around 76°F and summer days around 89°F.
Does West Palm Beach get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 14 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.21 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to West Palm Beach?
The nearest major airport is DJT, about 5 mi away.
How West Palm Beach scores
Each bar compares West Palm Beach with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is West Palm Beach right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.