Cost of Living in Palm Beach County, Florida
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Palm Beach County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Palm Beach County ranks #3,003 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 4%)
Sourced county brief
Palm Beach County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,916 Per Month
In Palm Beach County, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,916 per month during the 2020-2024 ACS period, a figure that is $612 above the Florida unweighted county mean of $1,304. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was recorded at 36.8%, which is 4.0 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 32.8%. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $447,300, and the median selected monthly owner costs across all units were $1,624. These owner metrics are both above the state unweighted county means of $284,325 for value and $1,039 for monthly costs. Renter-household median income in the county was estimated at $60,689. The rent-to-income findings utilize the official ACS B25071 GRAPI data, representing a snapshot of renter conditions. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Palm Beach County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 36.8% of renter household income in Palm Beach County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,916 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,624. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $76,640 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Florida unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,304 per month. Palm Beach County's $1,916 median is 47.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Palm Beach County
Rent Burden
27.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,950
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.3%
of gross income
The median home in Palm Beach County may be a stretch
Median home value is $447,300. Estimated monthly cost: $3,571 vs. your max of $1,950.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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