Thinking about living in West Palm Beach? This South Florida city offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful residential architecture, outdoor activities in warm weather, and more. The best neighborhoods in West Palm Beach boast budget-friendly homes, low crime rates, and excellent amenities, providing a high quality of life for residents of all ages. If you’re moving to South Florida, check out these five safe, affordable neighborhoods in West Palm Beach!
Is West Palm Beach a Safe Place to Live in 2025?
Yes, West Palm Beach is a safe place to live. Though the city’s crime rates are higher than the national average, WPB remains safer than 49% of Florida cities and 46% of U.S. cities. Not to mention, there are a variety of good neighborhoods in West Palm Beach that offer particularly safe streets, including Flamingo Park, Grandview Heights, and more.
Downtown
- Home Price: $490,000 median purchase price; $1,596 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 71% of West Palm Beach neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Want to live in a fun neighborhood right in the heart of West Palm Beach? Downtown has a little something for everyone. This highly-walkable neighborhood offers quick access to beautiful parks like South Cove Natural Area, along with a great nightlife and entertainment scene. Residents also flock to the all-in-one shopping and dining experience at CityPlace, a Mission Revival-style town hub. Downtown offers an opportunity to settle down in modern high-rise condos and charming Mediterranean-style homes while taking advantage of convenient public transportation options like the West Palm Beach Trolley System to see other areas of the city.
Things to Do in Downtown West Palm Beach
Pack your picnic blankets and chairs for the Sunday on the Waterfront concert series at Meyer Amphitheatre. Sign up for a comedy class or attend an improv show with featured artists like Arnez J. and Gabriel Iglesias at Palm Beach Improv Comedy Theatre. Enjoy a picnic by the water under the trees at Trinity Park. Peruse retail stores like Lululemon, Tommy Bahama, and Sur La Table, attend weekly outdoor yoga classes, or dance to live music events at The Square. Start off your morning with a Cappuccino, Chai Latte, or Berry Smoothie at Subculture Coffee. Dig into seafood delicacies like Lobster Bisque, Hamachi Crudo, or Calamari at E.R. Bradley’s Saloon. Find a table on the patio and order dishes like Citrus Glazed Salmon, Grilled Fish Tacos, or Tuna Poke at Avocado Grill. Or indulge in popular Italian dishes like Beef Short Rib Genovese, Mista Di Mare, or Gnocchi at Lynora’s WPB, a favorite local Italian restaurant in West Palm Beach.
Q: What are the safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach?
A: One of the safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach is Downtown West Palm Beach. Here, in addition to safe streets, you’ll find a variety of popular attractions and entertainment options, including parks, live music venues, and more. Other top neighborhoods in West Palm Beach with low crime include Flamingo Park and Grandview Heights.
Flamingo Park
- Home Price: $1,055,400 median purchase price; $1,622 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 71% of West Palm Beach neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Historic Flamingo Park is a fantastic WPB neighborhood for families and young adults alike. Being near the heart of West Palm and the waterfront means residents get to enjoy a laid-back lifestyle surrounded by views of the city, coast, and beautiful Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Mission-style architecture. Not only are residents near fun downtown attractions, but trendy restaurants, cafes, parks, and the beach are all easily accessible by foot. Those who travel frequently also have convenient commutes through several major highways and quick access to Palm Beach International Airport. As one of the safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach, Flamingo Park also attracts families with a broad selection of schools in the area—including The Greene School and Palm Beach Day Academy.
Things to Do in Flamingo Park
Go on a self-guided walking tour to explore the neighborhood’s iconic historical homes—or visit the historic home of Ralph and Ann Norton and marvel at monumental sculptures at nearby Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. Sign up for art classes like Wheel Throwing 101, Introduction to Jewelry, Mixed Media Acrylic Painting, and more at Armory Art Center. Jog, walk your furry friend, or have a picnic under the banyan trees at the neighborhood’s namesake, Flamingo Park. Enjoy brunch with Italian dishes like Shakshuka, Buccan Mushroom Pizza or Diavola Pizza at Grato. Dig into classic Greek dishes like the Famous Traditional Gyro, Chicken Souvlaki, or Spanakopita a few blocks away at Souvlaki Grill. Go all out for a special occasion with dishes like Ginger Glazed Calamari, Lemon & Herb Roasted Chicken, or Horseradish Crusted Salmon at Table 26°. Or end your night with locally-brewed beers like Ocean Minded, Sunshine State of Mind, and Freshest at Civil Society Brewing Company.
Q: What’s the best affordable neighborhood in West Palm Beach?
A: One of the best areas to live in West Palm Beach that also offers affordable housing is Grandview Heights. Perfect for singles and young professionals, this area boasts budget-friendly rental options while also providing quick access to higher education, museums, and other top amenities.
Grandview Heights
- Home Price: $480,300 median purchase price; $1,298 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 71% of West Palm Beach neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals
Looking for an affordable West Palm Beach neighborhood with great amenities? Grandview Heights is the place for you! Residents are close to great restaurants, parks, museums, and other fun things to do in Downtown WPB! Plus, commuting to other areas of town for work is easy with quick access to major highways like U.S. Route 1 and I-95. Not to mention, Palm Beach Atlantic University is within walking distance to budget-friendly condos and rentals, making Grandview Heights a perfect WPB neighborhood for singles and young professionals! Additional housing options in this West Palm Beach neighborhood range from spacious Spanish Colonials to affordable Craftsman homes.
Things to Do in Grandview Heights
Go for a bike ride, play tennis, or start a game of pickup basketball at Howard Park and Community Center. Explore over 8,200 collections of paintings and sculptures by artists from around the world or attend Art After Dark every Friday at Norton Museum of Art, one of the best places to visit in West Palm Beach. Take your furry friend to play and meet other pups at City Paws Dog Park. See the Miami City Ballet, Broadway musicals like Wicked, pop orchestra performances, and more at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Order brunch dishes like Sourdough Scramble Toast or a Mahi Mahi Sandwich with a Horchata Latte at HIVE Bakery & Cafe. Stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a modern food hall with ten vendors serving everything from bubble waffles to pizza at Grandview Public Market. Dine on Cavatelli Pasta, Black Grouper Moqueca, or Braised Wagyu Short Rib at Galley—which locals consider to be one of the best restaurants in West Palm Beach. Or sip on handcrafted beers on tap like the Butterscotch Cream Ale and Chocolate Cherry Porter at nearby Ookapow Brewing Company.
Q: Is West Palm Beach safe?
A: Yes, West Palm Beach is considered a safe place to live. In fact, WPB is safer than 49% of Florida cities, and many residential areas offer a strong sense of community. Some of the safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach to check out are Grandview Heights, Flamingo Park, and Downtown West Palm Beach—all of which have great parks, restaurants, and affordable housing options as well as low crime rates.
Southside
- Home Price: $395,700 median purchase price; $1,351 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 62% of West Palm Beach neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
With incredible waterfront properties along Lake Worth Lagoon and easy access to the beach, Southside is an ideal place to settle down! Known as SoSo—short for “South of Southern”—to locals, this quiet neighborhood is located just 15 minutes outside of Downtown West Palm Beach. Residents are within walking distance of unique restaurants, and there’s no shortage of fun outdoor activities—including golfing, biking, or walking along Flagler Drive for great views of the waterway—making this area a top retirement destination. But families are also drawn to Southside with the pull of top-rated schools in the area, like South Olive Elementary School, Conniston Community Middle School, and Forest Hill Community High School.
Things to Do in Southside
See 190 species of animals like monkeys, jaguars, and tigers, meet capybaras and flamingos up close, or feed lorikeets at Palm Beach Zoo. Bring the whole family to view science exhibits on the Fisher Family Science Trail, spot native fish in the aquariums, or sign your kids up for Nights at the Museum at Cox Science Center and Aquarium. Play 18 holes with friends on the gentle slopes or practice putting at the historic West Palm Beach Golf Course—a former PGA Tour site! Take your dog for a walk or go for a jog at Summa Beach Park. Grab brunch with friends and order Tofu Scramble, Raw Wild Berry Pancakes, or a Curry ‘Tuna’ Sandwich at vegan hotspot, Darbster. Try the Texas Burger, California Chicken Club, or Beer Brined Pork Sliders at the retro Dixie Grill & Bar. Enjoy dishes like Polipo Alla Brace, Rughetta E Parma, or Escarola Con Scalogno Dolce while sipping wine at a great Italian restaurant in West Palm Beach, Cafe Sapori. Get your dessert fix with Fresh Apple Crisp, Callebaut Belgian Chocolate Ice Cream, or even dessert wines like Canasta Cream Sherry at Rhythm Cafe.
Q: Is West Palm Beach or Palm Beach more expensive?
A: West Palm Beach is less expensive than Palm Beach. While the cost of living in West Palm Beach is 15% higher than the national average, the cost of living in Palm Beach is 126% higher than the national average. When deciding whether you’d like to live in West Palm Beach vs Palm Beach, it’s important to conduct thorough research and consider your budget.
Villages of Palm Beach Lakes
- Home Price: $196,844 median purchase price; $1,434 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 50% of West Palm Beach neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Slightly removed from the city center, Villages of Palm Beach Lakes is surrounded by waterways and golf courses, cozy coffee shops, great restaurants, and other fun things to do in West Palm Beach. On top of that, Lake Mangonia and Banyan Cay Resort And Golf provide residents a relaxing retreat right outside the neighborhood. Residents can find budget-friendly waterfront housing in a safe community, with access to great schools like Seminole Trails Elementary School, Bear Lakes Middle School, and Palm Beach Lakes Community High School. Additionally, commuters have easy access to the rest of the city with Florida 809 and I-95 on either side of the neighborhood.
Things to Do in Villages of Palm Beach Lakes
Hit the links and practice your swing, relax at the poolside Tiki Bar, or have weekend brunch in the clubhouse at Bear Lakes Country Club. Go swimming, get in a game of tennis, or play sand volleyball at Perini Park. Catch your favorite baseball team during Spring Training, or attend seasonal events like the Clean Culture Car Show and Light the Night Celebration Walk at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Go on a 70-foot vertical plunge down the Brain Drain, twist and turn on a multi-person raft, or test your surfing skills at Rapids Waterpark. Catch a game on the big screen while enjoying casual Spanish dishes like Calentado Paisa, Chorizo con Arepa, or Yuca Frita/Fried Cassava at La Fonda Sports Bar. Grab some Teriyaki Salmon, Ramen Soup, or Singapore Noodles at Fresh Element. Get out with the family and try Spicy Falafel, Grilled Chicken Gyro, or a Family Platter at Your Greek Cousin. Or order a New York Strip or Shrimp Scampi Linguini with a side of Parmesan Hand-Cut Fries to share at Raindancer Steakhouse.
Q: Is there affordable housing in West Palm Beach?
A: Yes, there are several West Palm Beach neighborhoods that offer budget-friendly housing options! Looking to buy a home? Villages of Palm Beach Lakes stands out as one of the best places to live in West Palm Beach due to its low housing costs. For renters, Southside and Grandview Heights are great places to search for affordable living options.
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
