Palm Beach County is the third-most populous county in Florida and the 25th most populous county in the United States. It’s home to gorgeous beaches, exciting nightlife, captivating nature sights, excellent schools, and ample job opportunities. So, it’s no surprise if you’re thinking of moving here. Of course, before you do, there are a few things you should know about.
Basic Facts about Palm Beach County
- Population: 1,497,987
- Land area: 1,969.76 square miles
- Beaches: 47 miles
- Housing Units: 713,787
- Median monthly owner costs, including mortgage: $1,858
- Total employer establishments: 51,563
- Public schools: 179
- Largest city: West Palm Beach
Statistics from US Census Bureau
Tax Savings in Palm Beach County
Who doesn’t love saving money on taxes? Relocating to Palm Beach from another state may get you tax benefits you’ve never had before.
- The Florida homestead exemption saves you money on your property tax bill. If the home you’re buying in Palm Beach will be your primary residence, you may qualify. The exemption could knock hundreds of dollars off your property tax bill each year.
- Florida residents don’t pay any state income tax. Depending on where you’re moving from, the tax savings are substantial. The money saved could be put toward the purchase of your new Palm Beach County home or enjoying the many amenities Florida has to offer.
The Best Public Schools in Palm Beach County
If you’re relocating to Palm Beach County with your kids, you’ll be happy to know that there are many excellent public schools. The School District of Palm Beach County serves 197,000 students, making it the 10th largest school district in the United States.
Here are some fast facts about the school district:
- 179 district-operated schools
- 28 dual-language schools
- 335 choice, career, and technical education programs
- 95.9% graduation rate in 2021 at district-operated schools
- 13,080 classroom teachers
Something else that makes this district unique is its Controlled Open Enrollment policy. Students can apply for and attend a school outside of their attendance zone. This can give you access to the best schools in the district, even if you live in a different attendance zone. You will just need to be able to provide transportation if the school is outside of your zoning district.
The following towns have some of the best public schools in Palm Beach County. Click on the town name to view information from GreatSchools.org about the local schools.
Colleges and Universities in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County hosts more than 10 college and university campuses, including several large public and private institutions.
- Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida International University
- Keiser University
- Lynn University
- Nova Southeastern University
- Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Palm Beach International College
- Palm Beach State College
- South University
- Southeastern College
Becoming a resident of Palm Beach would make your children eligible for in-state tuition and fees. An excellent perk considering Florida is number two on the list of states with the lowest in-state tuition for public colleges.
Popular Towns in Palm Beach County
No matter where you move to in Palm Beach County, you’ll still have easy access to the county’s most popular towns.
Delray Beach is a small city with around 70,000 inhabitants. The downtown area is known for its eclectic community and vibrant art scene. Enjoy visiting galleries, boutiques, and the beach. The east of the city offers three miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, including a 2-mile-long beach.
Boca Raton, the second-largest city in Palm Beach County, features beautiful Mediterranean-inspired architecture. The town has five miles of Atlantic coastline and 47 parks with space to exercise, hike, and explore. Business is booming in Boca Raton with more than 30 corporate headquarters calling this city home.
Jupiter, the northernmost town in Palm Beach, offers nature activities for the whole family. From kayaking along the Loxahatchee River to exploring rehabilitated wildlife at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary to watching sea turtles at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, there’s no shortage of fun in this coastal town.
Palm Beach is a 16-mile-long, half-mile-wide island known for its wealth and extravagance. Here, you’ll find some of Florida’s nicest restaurants, hotels, shops, and beaches. In fact, HGTV recently named Palm Beach as the fourth best beach in Florida.
West Palm Beach is a world-famous city rich in art, culture, and history. Outdoor malls, art galleries, live performances, a bustling downtown, museums, nature and wildlife preserves, golfing, and boating keep residents and tourists occupied. With a population of 117,415, West Palm Beach is the largest city in the county.
Utilities in Palm Beach County
Utilities cost less in Palm Beach County compared to the average cost of utilities in Florida and the United States. Although utility providers may vary depending on where you move to, expect bills from FPL and the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Dept.
FPL or Florida Power & Light is the largest power utility in Florida. It supplies electricity to Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Water Utilities Dept handles potable water and wastewater utilities. You can view current residential rates on the Palm Beach County Water Utilities webpage.
Transportation in Palm Beach County
Getting where you need to go in Palm Beach County is simple. Two expressways and eight major highways serve the county. The Tri-Rail commuter train connects Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, and Mangonia Park communities. West Palm Beach and Delray Beach are also home to stops for Amtrak’s Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains, both of which connect New York to Miami. Five airports, including Palm Beach International airport, make vacationing and business travel a breeze. A public transit bus system, Palm Tran, serves the county too.
Job Opportunities in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has ample job opportunities for new and current residents. There are approximately 62,323 companies in the county that provide goods and services. That number includes the 75 companies with corporate headquarters in Palm Beach County, such as ADT, Misfits Gaming, Office Depot, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Many industries thrive here, including life sciences and healthcare, information technology, financial services, and distribution logistics. Education is a thriving industry too, seeing as the School District of Palm Beach is the largest employer in the state with approximately 22,600 employees.
Some other top employers in Palm Beach County include:
| Company | Industry | Approximate # of Employees |
| Tenet Coastal Division Palm Beach County | Health Care | 6,505 |
| Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners | Government | 5,686 |
| NextEra Energy, Inc Headquarters | Utilities | 5,119 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Higher Education | 3,113 |
| Boca Raton Regional Hospital | Health Care | 3,052 |
| Veterans Health Administration | Health Care | 3,000 |
| HCA Healthcare | Health Care | 2,806 |
| The Breakers | Hotel | 2,300 |
| Bethesda Hospital East & West | Health Care | 2,282 |
| Florida Crystals Corporation Headquarters | Agriculture | 2,000 |
Leisure & Recreation Activities in Palm Beach County
Sports
Whether you hope to play or watch sports, Palm Beach has you covered. The St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins host spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. During the regular season, you can enjoy minor leagues games from their affiliate teams, the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals. Residents of Palm Beach also love watching the Florida Atlantic Owls play Division I basketball and football.
If you prefer playing sports, Palm Beach is home to 160 golf courses and 86 county parks. You can also bike, boat, fish, and enjoy other water activities year-round. You’ll find local youth and adult sports leagues here too.
Travel
Other areas of Florida are easily accessible from Palm Beach, making day trips and vacations easy. Disney World, Universal Studios, and other Orlando theme parks are only a 2.5 hour drive away. Miami, another popular vacation destination, is just an hour away. Or, if you’re interested in getting further away from home, the watersports and nightlife in Key West are a five hour drive away.
Tourist Attractions
When you move to Palm Beach, you get to enjoy the many amenities that attract tourists from around the globe. This includes a number of shopping malls, restaurants, public beaches, and water activities. Some popular tourist destinations include:
- Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
- Lion Country Safari
- Palm Beach Zoo
- Rapids Water Park
- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
- Blue Heron Bridge scuba diving
Find a Beachfront Property in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has 47 miles of Atlantic coastline. Along there, you’ll find lots of beachfront homes and condos ranging in price from relatively affordable to super expensive. Whatever your budget, the real estate team at SquareFootHomes can help you locate the waterfront—or water adjacent—Palm Beach County home of your dreams. They’ll work with you throughout the entire home buying process, making your home-owning journey as simple as possible.
