Mount Vernon NY vs West Palm Beach FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Mount Vernon, NY

New York · Population: 72,528

  • Median HH Income$77,171
  • Median Home Price$579,771
  • Unemployment6.9%
  • Bachelor's+35.0%

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Mount Vernon
72,528
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Mount Vernon
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
Mount Vernon
41.9
West Palm Beach
40.2
West Palm Beach +
Foreign Born
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
27.2%
White
Mount Vernon
16.2%
West Palm Beach
44.0%
West Palm Beach +
Black
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
31.5%
Asian
Mount Vernon
2.2%
West Palm Beach
2.5%
West Palm Beach +
Hispanic
Mount Vernon
18.3%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
Mount Vernon
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
$69,261
Per Capita Income
Mount Vernon
$42,158
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
$65,328
Unemployment Rate
Mount Vernon
6.9%
West Palm Beach
5.4%
West Palm Beach +
Poverty Rate
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
14.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Mount Vernon
35.0%
West Palm Beach
37.6%
West Palm Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Mount Vernon
$579,771
West Palm Beach
$399,650
West Palm Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Mount Vernon
42.1%
West Palm Beach
50.2%
West Palm Beach +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
434
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
1736
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
33.2%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
16.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
13.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
West Palm Beach
13.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
West Palm Beach
62.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
8.1 µg/m³
West Palm Beach
7.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Mount Vernon
75.0%
West Palm Beach
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Mount Vernon
38.6 min
West Palm Beach
25.0 min
West Palm Beach +

Which City is Right for You?

Mount Vernon leads in median household income at $77,171, while west Palm Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $399,650. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Mount Vernon. West Palm Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

Compare More Cities

About Mount Vernon & West Palm Beach