West Palm Beach, FL Local Data & Statistics

State: FL

Total population: 122,290 Household income: $73,446 Rent: $1,772

Overview

Total population

122,290

Rent

$1,772

Year built

1988

Household income

$73,446

Per capita income

$48,223

Poverty rate

14.1%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

57.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Florida

Total population

122,290

Adults over 25

90,224

Total households

52,522

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$73,446

Per capita income

$48,223

Poverty rate

14.1%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Rent over 30% of income

57.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,772

Year built

1988

Households that rent

49.5%

Households that own

50.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

39.8%

Black

32.8%

Asian

2.7%

Two or more races

17.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

24.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

75.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.7%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

13.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

28.5%

High school graduate or GED

21.4%

Some college or associate degree

10.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of West Palm Beach, FL with: Florida United States

West Palm Beach, FL

Total population122,290

Rent$1,772

Year built1988

Household income$73,446

Per capita income$48,223

Poverty rate14.1%

Unemployment rate2.9%

Florida State

Total population22,416,077

Rent$1,669

Year built1988

Household income$74,568

Per capita income$42,609

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWest Palm Beach, FL	StateFlorida	CountryUnited States
Total population	122,290	22,416,077	334,922,499
Rent	$1,772	$1,669	$1,413
Year built	1988	1988	1980
Household income	$73,446	$74,568	$80,734
Per capita income	$48,223	$42,609	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.1%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of West Palm Beach, FL, Florida and United States →

Summary for West Palm Beach, FL

West Palm Beach is located in Florida.

Rent & Income

In West Palm Beach, the typical monthly rent is $1,772 and the typical household income is $73,446. Rent here is higher than both Florida and the U.S., and household income is similar to Florida and lower than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 14.1%, which is higher than in both Florida and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 49.5% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 57.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 39.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is lower than both Florida and the national rate.

West Palm Beach, FL — Rent vs Household Income

West Palm Beach, FL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How West Palm Beach, FL compares in Florida (59 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,772	33 / 59	from lower rent	$1,246 – $2,851
Household income	$73,446	28 / 59	from higher income	$46,195 – $139,825
Poverty rate	14.1%	35 / 59	from lower poverty	6.1% – 30.8%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	17 / 59	from lower unemployment	2.1% – 4.5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Florida with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for West Palm Beach, FL

Rent

Rent prices put West Palm Beach in 33rd place among 59 large communities in Florida. Across Florida, rents range from $1,246 in Winter Haven, FL up to $2,851 in Weston, FL.

Household income

Looking at household income, West Palm Beach places 28th out of 59 significant areas. Incomes across Florida range between $46,195 in Gainesville, FL and $139,825 in Weston, FL.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, West Palm Beach ranks 35th out of 59 large places. Statewide rates vary from 6.1% in Weston, FL to 30.8% in Gainesville, FL.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, West Palm Beach ranks 17th out of 59 significant areas. Across Florida, unemployment varies from 2.1% in Miami Beach, FL to 4.5% in Daytona Beach, FL.

💰 Rent in West Palm Beach, FL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,772 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in West Palm Beach, FL

Annual Household Income: $73,446

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in West Palm Beach, FL

Estimated Rate: 14.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in West Palm Beach, FL

In West Palm Beach, FL, households that rent: 25,986 (49.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	25,986	49.5%
Owner-Occupied	26,536	50.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in West Palm Beach, FL

In West Palm Beach, FL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 14,906 (57.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	14,906	57.4%
Other renter households	11,080	42.6%
Total renter households	25,986	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in West Palm Beach, FL

Less than High School: 25,757 people (28.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 19,288 people (21.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,821 people (10.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 35,358 people (39.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 90,224

📊 Unemployment Rate in West Palm Beach, FL

Estimated Rate: 2.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

College Station, TX122,280 Independence, MO121,944 Clovis, CA122,719 Arvada, CO122,835 Rochester, MN121,638 Lafayette, LA121,537 Ann Arbor, MI121,179 Concord, CA124,260 Round Rock, TX124,288 Berkeley, CA120,223

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.