Palm Beach County today
| Typical value | |
|---|---|
| Single family house | $567,000 |
| Condo or townhome | $241,000 |
What this means
Values in Palm Beach County are still rising: +2.8% in the past year.
Permits January to September 2026: 6,125 homes, 80% more than 2025.
A specific house can rent above or below these figures, so pull rental comps for the address. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Palm Beach County | Compared with Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2025 estimate | 1,575,726 | 6.7% of Florida |
| Growth since 2020 | 5.6% | -3.3 pts |
| Median home value | $447,300 | 25% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,916 | 15% higher |
| Median household income | $83,581 | 12% higher |
| Owner occupied homes | 70.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 24.8% | +3.5 pts |
| Average commute | 26 min | 5% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 9.2% | -5.0 pts |
| Housing units permitted in 2025 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 64% lower |
| Veterans, share of adults | 5.1% | -2.3 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $3,858 | 41% higher |
| Average homeowners insurance with wind | $6,323 |
Census figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; see sources and methods.
Living in Palm Beach County
Three things set apart Palm Beach County: higher than average insurance ($6,323 a year); home values well above the state ($447,300 vs $359,000); and light building (2.7 new units per 1,000 residents in 2025).
Southeast county in the Miami metro, with an urban Atlantic coast of barrier islands and a suburban and rural interior that reaches Lake Okeechobee. County seat: West Palm Beach. Created in 1909.
Most people live in or around West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach. West Palm Beach alone has about 122,290 residents.
What anchors the area
- Colleges: Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton); Lynn University (Boca Raton); Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach); Palm Beach State College (Lake Worth Beach)
- Major teams: Florida Atlantic Owls (NCAA FBS, Boca Raton)
- Commercial airports: Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- Economy: real estate development; agriculture; aerospace; School District of Palm Beach County
- Known for: Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge; Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse; Flagler Museum; Peanut Island
Growth and where it is heading
Population went from 1,492,191 in April 2020 to 1,575,726 in July 2025 (5.6%; Florida 8.9%). Last year alone: +0.1%.
| 2025 building permits | Units |
|---|---|
| Single family | 2,495 |
| 2 to 4 units | 230 |
| 5 or more units | 1,503 |
| Total | 4,228 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 2.7 (well below Florida, 7.6) |
What the regional research shows
Apartment asking rents in Palm Beach averaged $2,612 in July 2026, up 2.5%, the fastest of the three big South Florida counties (Miami Realtors rental report). Palm Beach grew about 5.6% from 2020 to 2025 while St. Lucie, to the north, grew 22.2% (CBS12, Aug 2026).
Regional context lives in the South Florida and Keys investor guide.
Risks to price in
| Year | Hurricane | Category at landfall |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Frances | 2 |
Storms tied to Palm Beach County by landfall or named damage since 2000.
Average homeowners premium with wind: $6,323 a year, about $527 a month (Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, March 2026).
On the coast, flood zone and elevation can matter as much as the price.
33.5% of homes predate 1980, so expect four point inspections and roof questions from insurers. Insurance and inspections
With 19.1% of homes in large buildings, read reserve studies and minutes before buying a condo. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
| Palm Beach County | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes in a FEMA high risk flood zone | 43,577 (8.2%) | 13.3% |
| Homes with federal flood insurance | 69,154 (13%) | 13.7% |
| Insured share inside high risk zones | 43.5% | |
| Flood insurance claims since 2000 | 5,798, $50,097,103 paid | |
| Costliest flood events for insured homes | Other or unnamed flooding ($24,984,546); Hurricane Frances ($11,375,149); Hurricane Jeanne ($4,595,627) | |
| Major federal disasters declared since 2000 | 15 (12 hurricane, 1 biological, 1 severe storm) |
Good news for flood premiums: the county (unincorporated areas) earned CRS class 5, so policies in high risk zones get 25% off. Flood map date: 12/20/24.
Where people work: health care and social assistance (17%), retail (14%), hotels and restaurants (12%), out of 592,227 private jobs in Palm Beach County (2023). Tourism signal: 12% work in hotels and restaurants, close to the state's 13%.
Buying a home in Palm Beach County
| 2026 loan limit, one unit | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA | $667,000 |
| Conforming (above this is jumbo) | $832,750 |
The median priced home fits under the FHA limit with room to spare. FHA limits
Homes cost 5.3 times the median household income here, versus 4.8 statewide. Buyers often need help with cash to close or a lower priced home.
Loans made here in 2025
| Loan type | Loans | Share | Florida share | Average loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 24,082 | 84.8% | 72.2% | $520,521 |
| FHA | 3,305 | 11.6% | 17.8% | $404,821 |
| VA | 991 | 3.5% | 9.9% | $508,582 |
| USDA | 5 | 0% | 0.2% | $15,000 |
| Purpose | Share of 2025 loans |
|---|---|
| Home purchase | 54.4% |
| Cash out refinance | 15.6% |
| Rate and term refinance | 10.7% |
| Home improvement | 9% |
Lending volume grew 7.3% versus 2024, when lenders made 26,443 loans. Conventional loans dominate, a sign of larger down payments and strong credit.
Loans that fit the local numbers
- Conventional: the default choice here (84.8% of 2025 loans).
- FHA: lower scores and higher debt ratios allowed; limit $667,000.
Down payment help and taxes
Down payment help: use the statewide programs from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Typical owner tax bill: $3,858 (0.86%). Homestead and tax caps
Investing in Palm Beach County
DSCR loans often price above this rate. Method. DSCR loans
Run your own numbers
Long term rentals
| Palm Beach County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 29.9% | -2.5 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 36.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 7.3% | -0.3 pts |
Short term rentals
| Item | Here |
|---|---|
| County tourist tax | 6% |
| Plus state sales tax | 6% (plus any county surtax) |
| Homes held for seasonal use | 9.5% (+1.7 pts vs Florida) |
| Commercial airport | Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) |
Vacation rental towns with guides: Delray Beach, Jupiter. Zoning, registration and HOA rules decide if a home can rent nightly. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 45.5% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 31.4% |
| Manufactured homes | 2.8% |
| 2025 loans on 2 to 4 unit properties | 1.2% |
Largest cities and towns in Palm Beach County
Among places with at least 1,000 residents, Boca Raton has the highest median value ($722,700) and Greenacres the lowest ($291,000); Greenacres shows the best rent to price ratio (7.24% gross).
| Place | Population | Median value | Median rent | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach | 122,290 | $414,200 | $1,772 | $73,446 |
| Boca Raton | 100,234 | $722,700 | $2,508 | $106,273 |
| Boynton Beach | 81,435 | $351,100 | $2,041 | $70,074 |
| Delray Beach | 67,979 | $420,300 | $1,961 | $82,041 |
| Wellington | 62,146 | $599,400 | $2,562 | $115,632 |
| Jupiter | 61,883 | $608,600 | $2,381 | $110,240 |
| Palm Beach Gardens | 60,959 | $606,100 | $2,417 | $106,947 |
| Greenacres | 44,373 | $291,000 | $1,756 | $70,491 |
| Lake Worth Beach | 43,365 | $401,200 | $1,545 | $61,200 |
| The Acreage | 40,843 | $524,800 | $1,710 | $109,032 |
Census places, including unincorporated communities. Linked places have their own guide.
Compare with neighboring counties
Palm Beach County has the highest home values in its group; 5 of its 5 neighbors are cheaper by median value.
| County | Median value | Median rent | Growth since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | $447,300 | $1,916 | 5.6% |
| Broward County | $414,600 | $1,907 | 3.5% |
| Glades County | $137,000 | $886 | 9.4% |
| Hendry County | $219,200 | $1,003 | 21.8% |
| Martin County | $432,200 | $1,569 | 4.9% |
| Okeechobee County | $193,000 | $1,082 | 7.5% |
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.
- 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.