Lake Worth Beach today
What this means
Values in Lake Worth Beach are still rising: +1.5% in the past year.
Builders are busier: 232 homes permitted so far in 2026, up 115%.
Treat these as area figures and confirm rent with comps. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Lake Worth Beach | vs Palm Beach County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,970 (2025 estimate) | ||
| Growth since 2020 | 4.1% | -1.5 pts | -4.8 pts |
| Median home value | $401,200 | 10% lower | 12% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,545 | 19% lower | 7% lower |
| Median household income | $61,200 | 27% lower | 18% lower |
| Owner occupied homes | 45.9% | -24.2 pts | -21.7 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 15.1% | -9.7 pts | -6.2 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 27 | 1% higher | 4% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 4.8% | -4.4 pts | -9.4 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $3,439 | 11% lower | 26% higher |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in Lake Worth Beach
Palm Beach County city on the Lake Worth Lagoon about 63 miles north of Miami, incorporated in 1913 and renamed Lake Worth Beach in 2019.
As an incorporated city, Lake Worth Beach sets its own zoning inside Palm Beach County.
Known for: historic downtown; Lake Worth Beach Casino and pier; Lake Worth Playhouse
Development and roads: Served by a Tri Rail station since 1989.
Next to the rest of Palm Beach County, fewer homes are owner occupied (45.9% vs 70.1%); the population is younger (15.1% age 65 or older vs 24.8%); household incomes are lower ($61,200 vs $83,581) and the Census median rent is $1,545, below the county's $1,916.
Closest matches on price and rent: South Miami Heights ($407,100, $1,605), Fort Myers ($384,500, $1,580), Hollywood ($410,600, $1,653).
Growth and housing
Population went from 42,228 in 2020 to 43,970 in 2025 (4.1%), versus 5.6% for Palm Beach County.
| 2025 building permits | Lake Worth Beach |
|---|---|
| Single family | 9 |
| 5 or more units | 91 |
| Total units | 108 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 2.5 |
Median year built: 1969. The housing mix is 46.7% detached houses and 27.5% larger buildings. Average household size is 2.75.
Fewer newcomers from out of state than the county average (1.6% vs 2.5%).
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $6,323 a year |
| Hurricanes tied to Palm Beach County since 2000 | Frances (2004) |
| Coastal county | check flood zone and elevation per address |
Older homes (74.8% built before 1980) draw insurer questions about roofs and wiring. Inspections
Condo towers and big complexes (12.5% of homes) mean assessments and building approval matter. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
Flood premiums in Lake Worth Beach get a 20% discount in high risk zones because the city holds CRS class 6. 91 flood claims ($897,516) have come from Lake Worth Beach since 2000. Countywide, 8.2% of homes sit in a FEMA high risk zone; the Palm Beach County guide has the full flood, storm and jobs picture.
Buying a home in Lake Worth Beach
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $667,000 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $401,200 |
Homes cost 6.6 times median household income here (Palm Beach County 5.3, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: the default for buyers with solid credit and 5% or more down.
- FHA: the Lake Worth Beach median of $401,200 fits under the $667,000 limit.
Investing in Lake Worth Beach
Long term rentals
| Lake Worth Beach | vs Palm Beach County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 54.1% | +24.2 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 6.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 37.7% | +0.9 pts |
Short term rentals
Vacation home share is below the county (6.3% vs 9.5%), so nightly demand here is thinner.
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 6% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Confirm zoning, registration and HOA rules for the exact address. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 46.7% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 27.5% |
| Manufactured homes | 3% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.