West Palm Beach FL vs Wilmington DE — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

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

Wilmington, DE

Delaware · Population: 71,124

  • Median HH Income$55,269
  • Median Home Price$327,117
  • Unemployment7.6%
  • Bachelor's+33.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
71,124
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
West Palm Beach
N/A
Wilmington
N/A
Median Age
West Palm Beach
40.2
Wilmington
37.0
Wilmington +
Foreign Born
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
8.3%
White
West Palm Beach
44.0%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
32.4%
Black
West Palm Beach
31.5%
Wilmington
52.3%
Wilmington +
Asian
West Palm Beach
2.5%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
1.6%
Hispanic
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
11.8%
Spanish at Home
West Palm Beach
N/A
Wilmington
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
West Palm Beach
$69,261
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
$55,269
Per Capita Income
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
$38,786
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
$64,087
Unemployment Rate
West Palm Beach
5.4%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
7.6%
Poverty Rate
West Palm Beach
14.8%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
23.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
West Palm Beach
37.6%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
33.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Wilmington
$327,117
Wilmington +
Homeownership Rate
West Palm Beach
50.2%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
46.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
394
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
1991

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
41.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
13.7%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
16.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
18.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Wilmington
12.7%
Wilmington +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
13.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
West Palm Beach
13.0%
West Palm Beach +
Wilmington
16.4%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Wilmington
54.4°F
Wilmington +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
West Palm Beach
62.3 in
Wilmington
49.3 in
Wilmington +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
West Palm Beach
25.0 min
Wilmington
25.0 min
Tie

Which City is Right for You?

West Palm Beach leads in median household income at $69,261, while wilmington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $327,117. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 394 in Wilmington. 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 West Palm Beach & Wilmington