2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

West Palm Beach

Florida (FL)

Best for: Professionals, retirees and remote workers who want coastal beauty, a real downtown, airport convenience and Palm Beach County amenities.

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability79.3/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population127,189

Median Home$414,200

Median Rent$1,772

Median Household Income$73,446

Cost of Living~111.8 (US=100; 2024 MSA)

Average Commute23.4 min

Unemployment~4.5% metro (Jul 2026)

Metro AreaMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

79.3overall

Housing & Financial Reality50.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living72.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability64.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity86.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness87.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place95.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion65.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape91.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging91.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment79.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture93.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity90.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionModerate. I-95 and seasonal traffic create friction, but the city's compact core and shorter commute make daily life easier than many South Florida peers.

Weekend EscapeExcellent. Atlantic beaches, Palm Beach, Lake Worth Lagoon, boating and natural areas are minutes away.

WalkabilityAbout 40/100 citywide Walk Score. Some neighborhoods are meaningfully more walkable than the citywide number suggests, but a car remains useful for many trips.

Airport AccessExceptional. Palm Beach International Airport sits immediately west of the city and is one of Florida's easiest major airports to use.

Outdoor AccessExcellent. Waterfront paths, beaches, boating, parks and year-round recreation are strong lifestyle advantages.

Healthcare AccessStrong. Good Samaritan and other Palm Beach County medical systems provide substantial local and regional care.

Air QualityGenerally good with coastal airflow, though heat, humidity, traffic and occasional regional air-quality events remain factors.

Third Places / Social LifeExcellent. Clematis Street, The Square, waterfront events, restaurants, arts and nearby Palm Beach create a strong social/cultural scene.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Improving

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

West Palm Beach stands out in the 2027 MNM Livability Index for airport; downtown; waterfront; beaches; arts; restaurants; shorter commute; regional healthcare. The city does not score well simply because of one headline statistic: its profile reflects housing, everyday ease, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure together. The clearest tradeoffs are housing costs; seasonal traffic; hurricane/flood exposure; insurance; income inequality across neighborhoods.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

West Palm Beach feels polished and increasingly urban, with a waterfront core that offers more walkable social life than many Florida cities of similar size.

STRENGTHS