Delray Beach, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Delray Beach is a mid-sized community located in Florida, within Palm Beach County. The total population is 67,979. It ranks as the 53rd most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Delray Beach is 51.3 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 13.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Delray Beach is $82,041. This is 10% higher than the state median of $74,568. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $420,300. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 63.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Delray Beach is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 29.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (29.0% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (11.2%) is well below the state average of 27.4%.

Education

43.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%. Notably, 16.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Delray Beach, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.