Poverty and living standards in West Palm Beach, Florida: official figures
14.1% of residents of West Palm Beach (16,767 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 321st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Florida: 12.6%).
How many children live in poverty in West Palm Beach?
22.4% of children under 18 in West Palm Beach lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (4,691 children), 202nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Florida: 16.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in West Palm Beach?
By age, the poverty rate in West Palm Beach was 23.5% for children under 6 and 13.6% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in West Palm Beach live in deep poverty?
7,096 people in West Palm Beach, 6.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 391st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in West Palm Beach are cost-burdened?
59.2% of renting households in West Palm Beach spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (14,906 households), 155th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Florida: 60.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in West Palm Beach spend half their income on rent?
29.9% of renting households in West Palm Beach spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 226th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow West Palm Beach compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
West Palm Beach ranks 321 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 318 | Asheville | 14.3% |
| 319 | Warner Robins | 14.2% |
| 320 | Columbia | 14.2% |
| 321 | West Palm Beach | 14.1% |
| 322 | Nashville | 14.1% |
| 323 | Redding | 14.1% |
| 324 | West Haven | 14.1% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
West Palm Beach ranks 202 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 199 | Waterloo | 22.5% |
| 200 | Bloomington | 22.5% |
| 201 | Indianapolis | 22.4% |
| 202 | West Palm Beach | 22.4% |
| 203 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 22.4% |
| 204 | Council Bluffs | 22.3% |
| 205 | Lake Havasu City | 22.3% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
West Palm Beach ranks 391 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 388 | Urban Honolulu | 6.0% |
| 389 | Great Falls | 6.0% |
| 390 | Pocatello | 6.0% |
| 391 | West Palm Beach | 6.0% |
| 392 | Missoula | 6.0% |
| 393 | Boca Raton | 6.0% |
| 394 | Brockton | 6.0% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
West Palm Beach ranks 155 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 152 | Brentwood | 59.3% |
| 153 | Los Angeles | 59.3% |
| 154 | Sanford | 59.2% |
| 155 | West Palm Beach | 59.2% |
| 156 | Peoria | 59.1% |
| 157 | Eugene | 59.1% |
| 158 | Grand Prairie | 59.1% |
More on West Palm Beach: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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