West Palm Beach city, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Palm Beach city is a major urban center located in Florida. The total population is 119,508. It ranks as the 18th most populous out of 953 cities and towns in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Palm Beach city is 40.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Palm Beach city is $69,261. This is 3% lower than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $369,800. Housing costs are 14% higher than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 50.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Palm Beach city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 30.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (30.7% vs 14.8%).

Education

37.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 33.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Palm Beach city, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 953 Census-designated places in Florida. For official data, visit data.census.gov.