Founded in 1893 by industrialist Henry Morrison Flagler, West Palm Beach is the oldest incorporated municipality in southeast Florida. It began as a “workers city,” housing those who serviced Flagler’s oceanfront resort community, Palm Beach. Today, this city of more than 125,000 is the largest in Palm Beach County. It is anchored by more than a dozen historic districts lined with palm trees and striking Mediterranean-style architecture, such as Grandview Heights and El Cid. The city also offers the cultural and recreational amenities of a modern coastal destination. “It’s a beautiful place that provides everything you need,” says Adriana Fabbri Kerns, the founder of Concierge Properties in nearby Wellington. “The city has a lot of high-end shopping and restaurants, there’s a lot of activities you can do with children and there’s quite a bit of nightlife. But it’s not like Miami. The city is more quaint, and it’s not as crowded. People move here for the relaxed lifestyle.”
The beaches of West Palm Beach welcome visitors from all over the world.
Palm Beach Lakes South residents can enjoy the yearly boat show in West Palm Beach.
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Downtown West Palm Beach an active part of city's tourism industry
The variety of attractions that make the city so appealing provides a strong foundation for the city's primary industry – tourism. Filled with hotels, restaurants and boutique stores, Downtown West Palm Beach provides a centralized location for visitors to enjoy contemporary works at the Norton Museum of Art, see a show at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and interact with one of Florida’s most intriguing creatures at Manatee Lagoon. Golf courses and easy access to the water add to the city’s appeal as a tourist destination. West Palm Beach is at the forefront of a countywide industry that accounts for more than 66,000 jobs and brings in $4.6 billion annually. The unemployment rate in West Palm Beach is 3.8%, lower than the national average.
Kravis Center is the main hub for arts and events in West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach offers its visitors a gorgeous and scenic waterfront experience.
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Historic Clematis Street, City Place are premier downtown destinations
There are four distinct retail and entertainment districts in West Palm Beach. The oldest and most significant is Historic Clematis Street. Filled with restaurants and boutique shops, the downtown destination stretches five blocks from Rosemary Avenue to Flagler Drive on the Intracoastal Waterway. The district’s architecture tells the story of the city, with styles from the 1890s to the present day. “The city has done a nice job of maintaining its historic culture and creating very popular destinations,” says Ryan Jennings, a real estate agent who has sold dozens of properties in the city. Clematis By Night is a weekly concert series that has been part of the city’s entertainment scene for more than three decades. The district is also the site of Sunfest, Florida’s largest waterfront music and arts festival. It is held each May and attracts more than 100,0000 visitors.
Nearby City Place is an urban oasis for work and play. The upscale shopping and dining district includes several contemporary workspaces, and it hosts regular community events at Rosemary Square. Northwood Village, north of downtown, is a trendy district with a Bohemian vibe that has been featured in publications as varied as The New York Times and Southern Living. Antique Row, in the Southland Park neighborhood, combines the historic architecture of Clematis Street with one of the country’s largest collections of antique stores. Tangier Outlets, west of downtown, offers an array of additional shopping options. KONRO stands out among the city’s dining destinations. Michelin-starred chef Jacob Bickelhaupt and his sommelier wife, Nadia, opened the intimate, upscale restaurant in 2023. They are also its entire service staff. More entertainment is available at Meyer Amphitheater and the iTHINK Financial Amphitheater. The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros play their minor league games at the city’s CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Music under the stars at Clematis by Night in West Palm Beach.
A violinist entertains pedestrians on Clematis street in West Palm Beach..
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The city's 24 courses are part of the "Golf Capital of the World"
Neighboring Palm Beach is home to such golf luminaries as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, so it’s no surprise that Palm Beach County is known as the “Golf Capital of the World.” West Palm Beach is home to 24 courses – two public, seven municipal and 15 private. West Palm Beach does not have as many golf communities, but Lands of the President is a historic neighborhood with an 18-hole golf course, and The Club at Ibis is a relatively new gated community built around three Nicklaus-designed layouts. More than 75 courses are within 20 miles of the city. The PGA Tour’s annual Cognizant Classic is held at the nearby PGA National Resort & Country Club.
The city’s waterfront location provides an array of recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy quick and easy access to the Lake Worth Lagoon, an estuary that separates West Palm Beach from Palm Beach. Starting with the Manatee Lagoon educational center on its northern end, the 20-mile stretch along the Intracoastal Waterway is an appealing spot to canoe, kayak, fish and bird-watch. Two inlets provide boaters and deep-sea anglers with access to the open waters of the Atlantic. Peanut Island Park is a popular spot adjacent to Manatee Lagoon, and neighboring Palm Beach has two public beaches on the oceanfront. Mangonia Lake and Clear Lake are two connected inland bodies of water. The city has more than 50 parks and is home to Grassy Waters Preserve, a 23-square-mile ecosystem that appeals to nature lovers. The preserve takes up most of the city’s west side and provides its freshwater supply.
There are many golf courses to enjoy throughout West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach nature lovers enjoying Grassy Waters Nature Preserve.
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Flamingo Park, Northwood among historic residential districts
The median price of homes here is around $400,000, slightly less than the state average. “It’s very affordable compared to other large cities in the state, especially in South Florida,” Jennings says. “The homes are well-built, and the price points are very good.” The city’s mix of housing is highlighted by the historic homes concentrated in neighborhoods on the east side of the city such as Flamingo Park and Northwood. “More affordable options can be found in these established neighborhoods, and families are drawn to the area by its historic charm and lower price tags,” says Lisa Mastronardi, a local Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty Inc. Moving west, midcentury homes are prominent in neighborhoods developed after World War II, and newer homes are featured in amenities-filled master-planned communities, the focus of the city’s modern development. The largest and most expensive homes are found along the downtown waterfront in historic neighborhoods such as El Cid and South End . Luxury condos can be found along the waterfront as well in communities such as Northwood Shores . Low-rise inland condos offer the most affordable alternative.
The cost of living in West Palm Beach is higher than the national average but lower than cities such as Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The city’s housing market slowed considerably in 2024, but a decrease in interest rates is expected to increase activity moving into 2025. West Palm Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency has numerous projects mapped out to repurpose and modernize different areas across town. The Tamarind Avenue Streetscape Project is projected to be completed in 2025 and includes improved infrastructure along with new sidewalks, lighting and landscaping. As with most Florida coastal communities, severe weather is a concern. Residents should be aware that the risk of flooding and wind damage from hurricanes will be reflected in insurance rates. Certain parts of the city suffered damage from the remnants of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall almost 200 miles away on the other side of the state. According to the FBI's Crime Data Explorer, the reported rates of crime in West Palm Beach are slightly higher than national and state averages.
Stunning Mediterranean Revival home with exquisite landscaping in West Palm Beach.
Flagler South is a luxurious condominium option in West Palm Beach.
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A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts is rated A-plus by Niche
The Palm Beach County School District earns a B-plus from Niche. It is the fifth-largest district in the state and 10th-largest in the United States. It is also the county’s largest single employer, with 23,000 employees serving about 190,000 students. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade can apply to one of the area’s choice or career and technical education programs, where select students can take part in interest-specific programs at their home school or travel to another district school for their preferred course of study. A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in downtown West Palm Beach is a high school that earns an A-plus from Niche. The Benjamin School and Oxbridge Academy are popular private options that earned an A-plus from Niche.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of Arts is internationally renown located in West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach Day Academy is a school overlooking the intracoastal waterway in West Palm Beach.
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Convenient travel by bus, train, car and bike
Palm Tran bus routes and the free West Palm Beach Trolley offer easy access to public transportation throughout the city. Residents can catch the Brightline and Tri-Rail commuter trains downtown for commutes to other major cities in South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The Tri-Rail stops at the region’s major airports, including Palm Beach International on the southern edge of the city. Interstate 95 provides convenient travel throughout the region. Thirty-nine dedicated bike routes are designed to encourage less car travel. Good Samaritan Medical Center north of downtown is one of six large-scale facilities that make up the Palm Beach Health Network.
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