Boca Raton, FL vs Palm Beach, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Boca RatonBoca Raton, FL | Palm BeachPalm Beach, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Elite | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Very Safe | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 21.6 minutes, the average commute in Boca Raton, FL is shorter than the 26.8-minute average in Palm Beach, FL, a difference of 5 minutes, according to 2023 Census figures. Palm Beach's median household income of $175,078 is 70% higher than Boca Raton's $102,722, placing Palm Beach in the 96th percentile and Boca Raton in the 79th percentile. The poverty rate in Boca Raton is 9.4%, which is 2.9 percentage points higher than Palm Beach's 6.5%, with Boca Raton in the 38th percentile and Palm Beach in the 22nd percentile. Work-from-home rates also differ substantially: 37.6% of Palm Beach workers work from home, 17.3 percentage points higher than Boca Raton's 20.3%, placing Palm Beach in the 99th percentile and Boca Raton in the 84th percentile.
Population figures show a large gap, with Boca Raton's 98,833 residents making it 10.7 times larger than Palm Beach's 9,234, putting Boca Raton in the 88th percentile and Palm Beach in the 28th percentile. Average household size in Boca Raton is 2.3, 34% larger than Palm Beach's 1.7, with Palm Beach in the 1st percentile. The nearest large city to Boca Raton is 43 miles away, while Palm Beach's nearest large city is 1,028 miles away, a difference of 985 miles, with Palm Beach in the 87th percentile and Boca Raton in the 38th percentile.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 21492nd pctl | 37998th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boca Raton, FL 214; Palm Beach, FL 379; Palm Beach is 77% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $660,10090th pctl | $1,996,70099th pctl | Median home value: Boca Raton, FL $660,100; Palm Beach, FL $1,996,700; Palm Beach is 3.0 times higher. |
| Median rent | $2,33495th pctl | $1,84987th pctl | Median rent: Boca Raton, FL $2,334; Palm Beach, FL $1,849; Boca Raton is 26% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $102,72279th pctl | $175,07896th pctl | Median household income: Boca Raton, FL $102,722; Palm Beach, FL $175,078; Palm Beach is 70% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $128,24692nd pctl | $387,92499th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boca Raton, FL $128,246; Palm Beach, FL $387,924; Palm Beach is 3.0 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $188,52192nd pctl | $570,24899th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boca Raton, FL $188,521; Palm Beach, FL $570,248; Palm Beach is 3.0 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Boca Raton, FL C-; Palm Beach, FL F; Boca Raton is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Palm Beach needs about
$132,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 214 vs 379). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.3%59th pctl | +1.3%59th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $72,54293rd pctl | $211,812100th pctl | Per-capita income: Boca Raton, FL $72,542; Palm Beach, FL $211,812; Palm Beach is 2.9 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 9.4%38th pctl | 6.5%22nd pctl | Poverty rate: Boca Raton, FL 9.4%; Palm Beach, FL 6.5%; Boca Raton is 2.9 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.6 min38th pctl | 26.8 min73rd pctl | Average commute: Boca Raton, FL 21.6 min; Palm Beach, FL 26.8 min; Palm Beach is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 20.3%84th pctl | 37.6%99th pctl | Work from home: Boca Raton, FL 20.3%; Palm Beach, FL 37.6%; Palm Beach is 17.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | Economic opportunity: Boca Raton, FL B+; Palm Beach, FL A+; Palm Beach is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 7815th pctl | 14729th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boca Raton, FL 78; Palm Beach, FL 147; Palm Beach is 89% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 87727th pctl | 1,09936th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boca Raton, FL 877; Palm Beach, FL 1,099; Palm Beach is 25% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Very Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Florida, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Florida →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 43 mi38th pctl | 1,028 mi87th pctl | Nearest large city: Boca Raton, FL 43 mi; Palm Beach, FL 1,028 mi; Palm Beach is 985 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Fair | Target proximity: Boca Raton, FL D+; Palm Beach, FL B-; Palm Beach is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 1,076 mi96th pctl | 1,078 mi96th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi1st pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Distance to coastline: Boca Raton, FL 0 mi; Palm Beach, FL 1 mi; Palm Beach is 75% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 98,83388th pctl | 9,23428th pctl | Population: Boca Raton, FL 98,833; Palm Beach, FL 9,234; Boca Raton is 10.7 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,38782nd pctl | 2,43269th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boca Raton, FL 3,387; Palm Beach, FL 2,432; Boca Raton is 39% higher. |
| Median age | 45.887th pctl | 69.7100th pctl | Median age: Boca Raton, FL 45.8; Palm Beach, FL 69.7; Palm Beach is 23.9 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.4%88th pctl | 68.4%93rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boca Raton, FL 60.4%; Palm Beach, FL 68.4%; Palm Beach is 8.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.326th pctl | 1.71st pctl | Average household size: Boca Raton, FL 2.3; Palm Beach, FL 1.7; Boca Raton is 34% larger. |
More about Boca Raton's residents · Palm Beach's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Boca RatonBoca Raton, FL | Palm BeachPalm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+2 | D+4 |
| 2024 presidential | D +2.0 pts | D +5.0 pts |
Full politics data: Boca Raton · Palm Beach
Moving between Boca Raton and Palm Beach
- Median rent: $2,334 in Boca Raton, $1,849 in Palm Beach
- Median home value: $660,100 in Boca Raton, $1,996,700 in Palm Beach
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 214 in Boca Raton, 379 in Palm Beach
- Median household income: $102,722 in Boca Raton, $175,078 in Palm Beach
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $188,521 in Boca Raton, $570,248 in Palm Beach
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Boca Raton, 3.3% in Palm Beach
- Average commute: 21.6 min in Boca Raton, 26.8 min in Palm Beach
- Violent crime per 100k: 78 in Boca Raton, 147 in Palm Beach
Weigh these by what matters to you
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More places like Boca Raton and Palm Beach
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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