1st Advantage MortgagePalm Beach County households have a median income of $83,581 and median rent of $1,916 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Palm Beach County
- How much Palm Beach County households make
- The Palm Beach County job picture
- What it costs to live in Palm Beach County
- Towns and communities in Palm Beach County
- Counties near Palm Beach County
- Debt-to-income at Palm Beach County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Palm Beach County
- People and households in Palm Beach County
- Steps before you apply in Palm Beach County
- Lender oversight for Palm Beach County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Palm Beach County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Palm Beach County's population at 1,533,806; only 2 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,964 square miles of land, or about 781 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 59 places in the county (39 incorporated, 20 census-designated); the largest is West Palm Beach, with about 122,290 residents, or 8% of the county.
How much Palm Beach County households make
The median household income in Palm Beach County is $83,581; statewide it is $74,568, so Palm Beach County runs 12% above Florida as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Palm Beach County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.4% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.7% | +4.7 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.519 here. A household earning below the $83,581 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Palm Beach County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Palm Beach County residents work in education and health care and 16% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 16% locally and 14% for Florida. The survey's unemployment rate for Palm Beach County averages 5.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Palm Beach County workers | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.7% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.5% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Palm Beach County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,916 in Palm Beach County versus $1,669 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62% of renter households here. Home values center on $447,300, or 5.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 70%. Median construction year: 1986.
| Housing | Palm Beach County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,916/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $447,300 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 62% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Towns and communities in Palm Beach County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 59 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 62% of Palm Beach County residents live in one of the 59. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,001 in Belle Glade to $226,563 in Gulf Stream. Rent is cheapest in Belle Glade ($898) and steepest in Highland Beach ($3,501). City guides exist for the linked Palm Beach County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach | city | 122,290 | $73,446 | $1,772 | 21 mi |
| Boca Raton | city | 100,234 | $106,273 | $2,508 | 29 mi |
| Boynton Beach | city | 81,435 | $70,074 | $2,041 | 24 mi |
| Delray Beach | city | 67,979 | $82,041 | $1,961 | 26 mi |
| Wellington | village | 62,146 | $115,632 | $2,562 | 11 mi |
| Jupiter | town | 61,883 | $110,240 | $2,381 | 28 mi |
| Palm Beach Gardens | city | 60,959 | $106,947 | $2,417 | 22 mi |
| Greenacres | city | 44,373 | $70,491 | $1,756 | 19 mi |
| Lake Worth Beach | city | 43,365 | $61,200 | $1,545 | 24 mi |
| The Acreage | CDP | 40,843 | $109,032 | $1,710 | 14 mi |
| Royal Palm Beach | village | 40,344 | $96,027 | $2,273 | 14 mi |
| Riviera Beach | city | 38,657 | $68,060 | $1,702 | 25 mi |
| Palm Springs | village | 27,356 | $61,739 | $1,669 | 22 mi |
| Belle Glade | city | 16,972 | $48,001 | $898 | 14 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Palm Beach County
Distances run center to center, from Martin County at 30 miles out to Okeechobee County at 58. Income ranges from $45,870 in Glades County to $82,943 in Martin County; none of these neighbors top Palm Beach County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | - | $83,581 | $1,916/mo | 70% |
| Martin County, FL | 30 mi | $82,943 | $1,569/mo | 80% |
| Broward County, FL | 32 mi | $77,633 | $1,907/mo | 64% |
| Hendry County, FL | 44 mi | $56,393 | $1,003/mo | 74% |
| Glades County, FL | 50 mi | $45,870 | $886/mo | 85% |
| St. Lucie County, FL | 50 mi | $71,457 | $1,585/mo | 79% |
| Okeechobee County, FL | 58 mi | $57,984 | $1,082/mo | 74% |
Debt-to-income at Palm Beach County's medians
How much room does a median Palm Beach County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Palm Beach County: $6,965
- 28% goes to median rent ($1,916)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,079 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Palm Beach County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Palm Beach County
Based on the Palm Beach County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 42% of Palm Beach County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 62% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Palm Beach County
Degree holders: 41% of adults over 25. 13.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Palm Beach County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.5% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.2% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Palm Beach County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Steps before you apply in Palm Beach County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Palm Beach County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Florida.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Palm Beach County
Consumer lenders serving Palm Beach County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Florida that is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Florida guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
Guides that cover parts of Palm Beach County:
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Boca Raton, FL
- Delray Beach, FL
- Wellington, FL
- Jupiter, FL
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Florida state guide
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Beach County a high-income county?
Its $83,581 median ranks 8th of 67 Florida counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Palm Beach County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,916 against $1,669 statewide, and 62% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Palm Beach County?
By population: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Wellington. The county has 59 Census places in all.
Does living in Palm Beach County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Palm Beach County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Palm Beach County check a lender's license?
With the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.