Retiring in West Palm Beach, FL

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

89°/58°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$405,069

Housing (Typical Value)

574.2

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

Is West Palm Beach Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 119,508, West Palm Beach offers a smaller-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Moderate city size
Low earthquake risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated riverine flooding risk
Elevated coastal flooding risk
Elevated tornado risk
Elevated hurricane risk

Potential advantages. FEMA and NOAA assign a lower risk designation to earthquake.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 89°F. Annual precipitation is 63.6 inches. The reported violent crime rate is 574.2 per 100,000, 60% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 2162.5 per 100,000, 23% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding, coastal flooding, tornado and hurricane.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)89°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)58°F

Annual snowfall0"

Annual precipitation63.6"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$405,069near the US median of $371,774

Median gross rent$1,709/mo22% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate574.2 /100,00060% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate2162.5 /100,00023% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate28.5 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalWest Palm Hospital (4.5 mi)

Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)

Primary care accessStrong (1,244 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index12.8/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population119,508Classified as a smaller city

Elevation16 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively High

Coastal floodingRelatively High

TornadoRelatively High

HurricaneVery High

WildfireRelatively Moderate

EarthquakeVery Low

Ice stormsN/A

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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