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Palm Beach County, FL

Boynton Beach-Delray Beach

RANK #459 / 996 NAT  ·  #1 / 41 FL  ·  POP 1,494,805

1YR FORECAST: -0.8%

5YR OUTLOOK: +24%

Palm Beach County's housing market is projected to grow -0.8% over the next year, tracking near the national average.

[01] Why Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County, Florida, is often recognized for its distinctive coastal towns, such as Palm Beach, known for its historic estates and upscale shopping along Worth Avenue, and Jupiter, a popular spot for families and celebrities. Located on Florida's southeastern coast, the county is part of the Miami metropolitan area and is approximately 46 miles north of Fort Lauderdale and 73 miles north of Miami. The community offers a blend of urban centers and natural landscapes, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Everglades. Residents and visitors have access to 47 miles of beaches, as well as numerous parks and nature preserves like Green Cay Nature Center and Okeeheelee Park, which provide opportunities for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing. The climate allows for year-round outdoor recreation. Commute options include Palm Tran bus services, Tri-Rail, and the high-speed Brightline train, connecting to other South Florida cities.

Life in Palm Beach County attracts a mix of young professionals, families, and retirees, drawn by the outdoor environment and diverse communities. The School District of Palm Beach County is one of the largest in the nation and Florida, with highly rated public schools. The economy has experienced growth, with significant investment in commercial and residential development. While specific projects are numerous, broad sectors like finance, technology, healthcare, and logistics contribute to the area's economic landscape. The county's population has expanded, with notable growth in younger demographics, contributing to a dynamic environment.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.0x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.0%

Below national median

Home Prices
-4.3%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
5.1

Favorable climate & terrain

Price/Rent
12x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 5.0x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Palm Beach County School District Education
    10,000+
  2. 2
    Florida Atlantic University Education
    5,000+
  3. 3
    Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners Government
  4. 4
    Tenet Healthcare Corporation (Coastal Division) Healthcare
  5. 5
    NextEra Energy, Inc. (Parent company of Florida Power & Light) Energy
  6. 6
    Baptist Health South Florida Healthcare
    2,500+
  7. 7
    Veterans Health Administration Healthcare
  8. 8
    HCA Florida Healthcare Healthcare
  9. 9
    Jupiter Medical Center Healthcare
  10. 10
    The Breakers Palm Beach Hospitality
    1,000+

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Palm Beach County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
1,494,805
+0.92% YoY
Median Household Income
$76,066
Median Home Value
$368,300
-4.31% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,700
Average Annual Pay
$77,246
+3.2% YoY
Employment
666,889
+1.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2065
Near national average
Migration Inflow
2.09%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
38.8%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$530,000
Days on Market
93
Slower market
Months of Supply
7.7
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
94.9%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
5.1%
Listings w/ Price Drops
24.5%
Building Permits (2024)
4,089
Single-Family Permits
2,897

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

C
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
6.3
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
12.6
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
95.4
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Near national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
42.3
Good
Good Air Days
73%
798 of 1,095 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
1
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
43
2022
41
2023
43
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$2,648M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Project Tango AI Data Center Campus
PBA Holdings (Palm Beach Aggregates & Phillips Inc.)
$1,000M Proposed
Renewable Energy Facility 2 (Waste-to-Energy)
Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County
$600M Operating
Avenir Master-Planned Community
Various (DiVosta, Toll Brothers, Kenco Communities)
$500M Under Construction
FPL Solar Energy Centers (Holopaw, Silver Palm, Sabal Palm, Hibiscus)
Florida Power & Light Co.
$298M Operating
Singer Island Gateway
Continuum Company
$150M Proposed
Central Park Commerce Center (Warehouse component)
WPB Logistics Owner LLC (TPA Group)
$100M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.0% 34 percentile
Population Growth +0.9% 69 percentile
Income Growth +10.4% 85 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.3% 29 percentile
Home Price Change -4.3% 4 percentile
Rent Growth +1.7% 29 percentile
Price/Rent 12x 70 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palm Beach County, FL a good place to move to?

Palm Beach County scores 54/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#459). Median household income is $76,066 and job growth is running at +1.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.

Is Palm Beach County affordable?

Palm Beach County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $368,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,700/month on average.

Is Palm Beach County growing or shrinking?

Palm Beach County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.3% clip. Home values shifted -4.3% in the past year.

Are people moving to Palm Beach County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.09% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Palm Beach County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Highlands County, FL 49 Martin County, FL 46 Volusia County, FL 37 Santa Rosa County, FL 36 St. Lucie County, FL 35 Seminole County, FL 33 New York County, NY 52 Suffolk County, NY 57