St. Petersburg FL 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)
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
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
St. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
119,508
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Petersburg
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
St. Petersburg
43.1
West Palm Beach
40.2
West Palm Beach +
Foreign Born
St. Petersburg
10.1%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
St. Petersburg
19.4%
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Asian
St. Petersburg
3.1%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
2.5%
Hispanic
St. Petersburg
9.3%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
St. Petersburg
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | 119,508 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 40.2 | West Palm Beach + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 27.2% | West Palm Beach + |
| White | 66.2% | 44.0% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 19.4% | 31.5% | West Palm Beach + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 2.5% | St. Petersburg + |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 24.6% | West Palm Beach + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Petersburg
$73,118
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
$69,261
Per Capita Income
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
$44,508
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Petersburg
$65,328
West Palm Beach
$65,328
Tie
Unemployment Rate
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
5.4%
Poverty Rate
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
14.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Petersburg
41.3%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
37.6%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $73,118 | $69,261 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Income | $49,823 | $44,508 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $65,328 | Tie |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 5.4% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7% | 14.8% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.3% | 37.6% | St. Petersburg + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Petersburg
$331,500
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Homeownership Rate
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
50.2%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $331,500 | $399,650 | St. Petersburg + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 50.2% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
324
West Palm Beach
324
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
1453
West Palm Beach
1453
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 324 | Tie |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1453 | Tie |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
32.7%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.2%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Petersburg
16.6%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
11.1%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
16.6%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.4%
St. Petersburg +
West Palm Beach
13.0%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 29.1% | West Palm Beach + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 13.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 16.4% | West Palm Beach + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 16.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.6% | 13.3% | West Palm Beach + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 13.0% | St. Petersburg + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
West Palm Beach
62.3 in
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 75.4°F | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 62.3 in | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach
7.2 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Petersburg
75.0%
West Palm Beach
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | Tie |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
West Palm Beach
25.0 min
West Palm Beach +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.8 min | 25.0 min | West Palm Beach + |
Which City is Right for You?
St. Petersburg leads in median household income at $73,118, while st. Petersburg offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $331,500. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, 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%.
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