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County in Florida

Palm Beach County, Florida

Palm Beach County is a county in Florida with 1,533,806 residents, No. 3 of 67 by population. In Palm Beach County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $667,000, and a typical home is worth $447,300. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($2,349 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $45.17 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $447,300

    +25% vs. Florida +34% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Palm Beach
    • Florida
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $2,349 a month

    +20% vs. Florida +34% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Palm Beach
    • Florida
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $667,000

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Palm Beach
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.86% of value per year

    +13% vs. Florida −9% vs. U.S.

    $3,858 a year for the typical owner

    • Palm Beach
    • Florida
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$475,754
2.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,673 a month
3.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Palm Beach County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $3,680 a month: 53% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $157,717 a year; the typical income here is $83,581. The typical home value is 25% more than in Florida overall. The typical property tax is $3,858 a year (about 0.86% of home value), higher than in Florida. This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

62% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (2026 data).

Only here

What sets Palm Beach County apart

  1. Palm Beach County has the highest typical rent in its area: $1,916, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Broward County ($1,907).

  2. Palm Beach County has the highest typical home value in its area: $447,300, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Martin County ($432,200).

  3. Palm Beach County has the 3rd highest typical rent of the 67 counties in Florida ($1,916).

  4. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Palm Beach County rose 71% on FHFA's index, faster than in Florida (60%).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Palm Beach County rose 2.3%; in Florida, it fell 0.9%.

  6. At 0.86%, Palm Beach County ranks 5th among the 67 counties in Florida for the highest effective property tax rate.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Palm Beach County

What homes there are in Palm Beach County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Palm Beach County; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 46%, less than in Florida (55%).

Year built

In Palm Beach County, half of the homes were built before 1986; in Florida, before 1988.

In Palm Beach County, 12% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 51% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 56% in Florida.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for this county is $667,000, and about 72% of owner-occupied homes in Palm Beach County are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 70% of rented homes in Palm Beach County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this county ($2,349).

With a mortgage

$2,383 a month

Florida: $1,959 a month

Without a mortgage

$951 a month

Florida: $673 a month

Owners with a mortgage

52%

Florida: 56%

Owning costs more in Palm Beach County: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,383 a month; in Florida, $1,959. Without one, $951.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Palm Beach County rose 58% since 2015–2019, less than in Florida (67%).

The typical rent in Palm Beach County rose 37% over the same time; in Florida, it rose 42%.

The typical household income in Palm Beach County rose 32%: less than home values (+58%) and rent (+37%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePalm Beach CountyFloridaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.3%7.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.5%1.4%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.3%3.3%3.4%
People per household 2.492.512.53
Drive alone 70%70%69%
Carpool 10%9%9%
Public transit 2%1%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%3%
Work from home 15%16%15%
Other means 2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Florida, the rental vacancy rate in Palm Beach County is 7.3%.

In Palm Beach County, 3.3% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Florida.

By size, households in Palm Beach County look like those in Florida: 2.49 people on average.

To get to work, 70% of workers in Palm Beach County drive alone; in Florida, 70%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Palm Beach County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $447,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 53% of the typical household income here, which is $83,581 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $157,717 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Palm Beach County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $15,656 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,680

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$439,198
Total interest
$631,903
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,554 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,950 a month

  • Tight

    $1,950 to $2,507 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,507 a month

    Your payment · 53%

Compared with the typical household income in Palm Beach County ($83,581 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,680
Principal & interest$2,975
Property tax$321
Home insurance$186
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$198

You need at least $15,656 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Palm Beach County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Palm Beach County compares with Florida and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Palm Beach County rose 139% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Florida United States
In 2025 +1.2% −0.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +71% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +139% +127% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Palm Beach County compared with Florida and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Palm Beach $447,300
  • Florida $359,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Palm Beach $1,916
  • Florida $1,669
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Palm Beach $83,581
  • Florida $74,568
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Palm Beach compared with Florida and the United States
MeasureHereFloridaU.S.
Residents1,533,80622,416,077334,922,499
Typical home value$447,300$359,000$332,700
Typical household income$83,581$74,568$80,734
Typical rent$1,916$1,669$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$2,349$1,962$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$45.17$37.73$33.65
Typical property tax$3,858$2,730$3,119
Effective tax rate0.86%0.76%0.94%
Households that own their home70%68%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent62%60%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$667,000$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Florida shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Palm Beach County

For a typical $447,300 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $3,680 $15,656 $439,198 7.18% FHA MIP · $198 $29,075 580
Conventional, 5% down $3,598 $22,365 $424,935 7.18% PMI · $212 $35,784 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,931 $89,460 $357,840 7.18% None $102,879 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,345 $67,095 $380,205 8.18% None $80,514 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

Everything about buying in Palm Beach County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Palm Beach County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $667,000 $832,750
2 units $853,900 $1,066,250
3 units $1,032,150 $1,288,800
4 units $1,282,700 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Palm Beach County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Palm Beach County, the typical owner pays $3,858 a year: about 0.86% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Florida and less than the national average.

  • Palm Beach 0.86%
  • Florida 0.76%
  • United States 0.94%

What Florida publishes Homestead exemption (Florida Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Florida

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Palm Beach County 8.2% of homes (43,577) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 43% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Palm Beach County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Palm Beach County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

In Palm Beach County, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as relatively high.

That rating combines the loss FEMA expects with social vulnerability and community resilience.

In all, FEMA estimates natural hazards cause about $519 million in losses a year in Palm Beach County, across buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects hurricane to do the most damage to buildings: about $254 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. HurricaneVery high $254 million a year
  2. Inland floodingRelatively high $167 million a year
  3. TornadoRelatively high $7.1 million a year
  4. Coastal floodingRelatively high $6.8 million a year
  5. WildfireRelatively moderate $2.9 million a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Palm Beach County in zone 1A: hot and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Winter

    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$28.19$18.44 and $38.86
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$27.77$19.41 and $36.06
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$27.90$19.00 and $38.57
Roofers$23.09$16.31 and $30.28
Carpenters$24.79$18.51 and $34.87
Painters, construction and maintenance$23.31$18.19 and $31.55
Maintenance and repair workers, general$22.26$16.93 and $34.91

According to BLS, an electrician earns about $28.19 an hour in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL area; a plumber, about $27.77.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Palm Beach County

The typical rent in Palm Beach County is $1,916 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

62% of renter households in Palm Beach County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 34% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,907 $36.67 $76,280
1 bedroom $2,008 $38.62 $80,320
2 bedrooms $2,349 $45.17 $93,960
3 bedrooms $3,052 $58.69 $122,080
4 bedrooms $3,523 $67.75 $140,920

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Palm Beach County

Programs and counseling in Palm Beach County

There are 8 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Palm Beach County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A small yellow wooden house with a porch beside the railroad tracks in Tampa, Florida.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Florida down payment programs

  1. Florida Assist (FL Assist)

    Florida Housing second loan with no interest and no monthly payments, repaid when you sell or refinance

    First-time buyers only. Run by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

    Deferred Verified November 5, 2026

  2. Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage

    Florida Housing second loan for the down payment, with monthly payments over 30 years

    First-time buyers only. Run by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

    Repayable Verified November 5, 2026

  3. HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage

    Florida Housing forgivable second loan, only with its conventional mortgages

    First-time buyers only. Run by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Florida programs

Help in Spanish in Palm Beach County

5 of the 8 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • West Palm Beach Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (561) 655-8530
  • Palm Beach County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (561) 684-2160

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Palm Beach County. The full list is on the Florida counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Credit Card MGMT Svcs, Inc DBA Reversemortgagehelper.org and Debthelper.com

    1325 N Congress Ave, West Palm Beach · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (561) 472-8000

  • Housing Partnership, Inc.

    2001 W Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (561) 841-3500

  • Real Estate, Education and Community Housing, Inc.

    8409 N Military Trl Ste 112, West Palm Beach · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (561) 491-1670
See every agency in Florida

Places

Cities in Palm Beach County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

See all 23 cities of Palm Beach County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Palm Beach County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Palm Beach County in 2026?

Palm Beach County has an FHA limit of $667,000 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $853,900, for 3 it's $1,032,150 and for 4 it's $1,282,700. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Palm Beach County?

The typical home value in Palm Beach County is $447,300 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Florida it's $359,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County has a typical rent of $1,916 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,349 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Palm Beach County?

About $45.17 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $93,960 a year, so the fair market rent of $2,349 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).