Population 1,533,806 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Palm Beach County
Household size in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.80 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.95 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.97 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.67 | 2.80 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.00 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Palm Beach County average 2.67 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the Miami area overall, where it has 2.80 people. Household size has crept up from 2.61 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.6 | 39.9 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.6 | 40.9 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.4 | 41.9 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.8 | 42.8 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.9 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.8, Palm Beach County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 43.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 14.3% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 14.2% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 13.3% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 13.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Palm Beach County as they are nationally: 11.8%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in the Miami area as a whole (13.2%). The single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Palm Beach County
Renters in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 34.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 37.9% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 40.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.9% | 39.5% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +5.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Palm Beach County rent their homes (29.9%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 45.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.5 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 15.4% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 15.3% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 13.1% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 10.9% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −4.5 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Palm Beach County: 13.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.1 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1979 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1979 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1980 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1983 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Palm Beach County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,309 | $1,256 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,333 | $1,306 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,619 | $1,586 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,192 | $2,112 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$882 | +$856 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in Palm Beach County pays $2,192 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $882 a month from 2006–10, a 67% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 37.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only one other Florida county has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Palm Beach County
Bachelor's degrees in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 29.1% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 29.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.0% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 37.1% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +8.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Palm Beach County than nationally: 40.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.1 points, in line with the national trend. Few Florida counties have a higher share of college graduates: only five of 67.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.2% | 83.0% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.0% | 84.2% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 85.6% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 87.4% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Palm Beach County is close to the national rate: 88.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Palm Beach County
| Period | Palm Beach County | Miami area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −3.8 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Palm Beach County is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.8 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Palm Beach County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 2.67 | 45.8 | 11.8% | 29.9% | 13.5% | 1987 | $2,192 | 40.2% | 88.7% | 5.3% |
| Broward County | 2.76 | 42.2 | 12.8% | 36.4% | 10.8% | 1982 | $2,116 | 36.9% | 90.4% | 5.3% |
| Martin County | 2.50 | 51.1 | 7.4% | 20.4% | 17.1% | 1987 | $1,757 | 36.9% | 92.2% | 4.9% |
| St. Lucie County | 2.75 | 45.3 | 13.0% | 21.4% | 11.6% | 1995 | $1,825 | 26.2% | 88.6% | 6.5% |
| Miami-Dade County | 2.91 | 41.5 | 14.3% | 47.8% | 9.4% | 1981 | $2,065 | 35.4% | 84.5% | 4.7% |
| Okeechobee County | 2.64 | 42.1 | 13.1% | 26.1% | 17.8% | 1989 | $1,105 | 15.5% | 79.4% | 4.9% |
| Hendry County | 2.92 | 36.8 | 19.8% | 26.4% | 11.7% | 1993 | $1,172 | 13.7% | 68.0% | 4.1% |
| Glades County | 2.52 | 48.6 | 11.9% | 14.9% | 25.0% | 1993 | $892 | 14.0% | 76.6% | 5.6% |
| Indian River County | 2.46 | 53.1 | 9.1% | 19.9% | 15.5% | 1993 | $1,650 | 32.9% | 91.7% | 4.5% |
| Highlands County | 2.28 | 52.1 | 9.0% | 21.4% | 18.3% | 1986 | $1,160 | 20.7% | 86.3% | 6.8% |
| Collier County | 2.56 | 51.8 | 8.4% | 23.4% | 23.3% | 1998 | $2,053 | 39.8% | 89.3% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Riverside County, CA · Queens County, NY · Oakland County, MI · Cuyahoga County, OH · San Bernardino County, CA · Hillsborough County, FL · Montgomery County, MD · Prince George's County, MD · Hennepin County, MN · Philadelphia County, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Palm Beach County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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