What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In West Palm Beach, Florida?
The state of Florida is rich in gorgeous seaside locales. You can find them all throughout the Sunshine State and they all stand out as fun places to live in. For this article, we’ll be shining the spotlight specifically on West Palm Beach.
So, what can you expect if you decide to take up residence in West Palm Beach? Is that a move that will work out well for you?
West Palm Beach is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in all of Florida. It also features a lively nightlife scene as well as a packed events calendar. Sadly, hurricanes and high crime rates negatively impact the experience of living there.
You won’t find many other cities in the United States that can rival West Palm Beach’s natural beauty. Now, find out if that gorgeous city can double as a suitable home for you and your family by reading on.
Related Guide: The Safest Neighborhoods In West Palm Beach
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What Are the Perks of Living in West Palm Beach, FL?
Moving to West Palm Beach could end up being the best decision you ever make. The reasons listed below will give you more motivation to make that decision.
Natural Beauty
Saying West Palm Beach is beautiful really doesn’t do it enough justice. It’s the kind of place you must see for yourself.
John D. McArthur Beach State Park is one of the places you definitely have to check out. It’s a picturesque pocket of paradise tucked into West Palm Beach. Pay a visit to that beach for a nice swim, some surfing, or perhaps even snorkeling.
Juno Beach is yet another favorite hangout spot for West Palm Beach residents. Head there if you want to take your pet dog along for a beach outing. Time your visit right and you may even see some sea turtles in the area. Several other beaches are located close to West Palm Beach. The city can offer more than just those sandy shores though. If you want to get to know the animals in the area better, you can visit specific spots in the city.
The Grassy Waters Nature Preserve brings people closer to an ecosystem they likely don’t see often. It’s a place teeming with life and natural wonder. Don’t forget about McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary as well. Residents who want a closer look at Florida fauna will want to schedule a visit there sooner rather than later.
Lively Locale
As a resident of West Palm Beach, you’ll soon discover that the city is a popular venue for big events. You will find that there are exciting events to take part in all throughout the year in West Palm Beach.
Among the biggest events in the city is SunFest. The annual event is a celebration of great music in South Florida. The event is an extended live concert featuring some world-renowned musicians. Artists such as The Roots, Ed Sheeran, and Cyndi Lauper have performed at SunFest previously. As you can probably tell, different musical genres are also featured during SunFest.
International recording artists paying a visit to West Palm Beach is a fairly common occurrence. That’s just one of the many perks of living there.
Apart from SunFest, other notable events on the city’s calendar include film festivals and shows dedicated to vehicles. The city also hosts a yearly fair that features some of the most incredible culinary creations from all over the world.
By the way, you don’t have to wait for those big events to live it up in West Palm Beach. If you’re just looking to have a good time, feel free to take part in the city’s nightlife scene. Visit the clubs in the city and party the night away!
Diverse and Delectable Food Options
One of the most underrated aspects of living in Florida is the cuisine you get to enjoy there. Regional cuisines tend to take on a life on their own. That’s certainly happened in West Palm Beach.
Unsurprisingly, West Palm Beach’s proximity to the water means that high quality seafood is widely available there. Seafood caught that morning could be on your plate by lunchtime. Several restaurants in the city specialize in seafood to take full advantage of the city’s location.
Cuban cuisine is also well represented in West Palm Beach. You can find numerous Cuban restaurants in downtown West Palm Beach and they all offer sumptuous dishes for you to try. Whether you’re looking for a Cuban sandwich, Ropa Vieja, or something sweet like flan, you can find it in the city.
The food scene in West Palm Beach also features numerous restaurants that specialize in other popular cuisines. No matter what kind of food you want, you can satisfy your cravings while dining in the city.
Presence of Professional Sports
West Palm Beach does not have its own pro sports team, but fans will still be glad to live there. You can get your fill of live sports if you are a resident of the city.
Every spring, some MLB teams play their spring training games in the area. The teams in question include the Houston Astros, the Miami Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Washington Nationals. Visit either Roger Dean Stadium or FITTEAM Ballpark to catch some Major Leaguers getting ready for the season.
If you didn’t get enough sports action during spring training, you can always make a short drive to a nearby city. Miami is just a little over an hour away and you can head there to catch several pro teams in action. The city is home to the aforementioned Marlins, the NBA’s Miami Heat, the NHL’s Florida Panthers, and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Residents can also look forward to touring sports making a stop in West Palm Beach. ATP and PGA Tour events take place in the city from time to time.
What Are the Pitfalls of Living in West Palm Beach, Florida?
West Palm Beach sure seems like a great place to live in doesn’t it? We’re not here to disprove that notion.
Instead, we want to also tell you about the downsides of living there. By doing so, we hope you can make a more informed decision regarding any potential move.
Hurricane Season
It’s hard to complain about the kind of natural environment you’re getting in Florida. The weather is pleasant most of the year and there are beautiful locales all over the place. Still, there is one specific aspect of the environment in Florida that is not quite as favorable to residents.
That one aspect we’re referring to is the threat of hurricanes. Several powerful hurricanes have hammered Florida over the years and that isn’t expected to change anytime soon. If anything, the effects of climate change could lead to even stronger hurricanes reaching the shore.
As a resident of West Palm Beach, you need to adequately prepare for hurricanes. Install whichever items can help protect your home against hurricanes and maintain your property regularly. Doing those things should help mitigate the impact of a passing hurricane.
Preparing emergency rations is also a smart move if you’re a Florida resident. You never know how hard a hurricane will hit your home so it’s best to be ready for any scenario.
Criminal Activity
Hurricanes can destroy your home, but criminals can rob it clean. You need to keep an eye out for those criminals if you’re moving to West Palm Beach.
Neighborhood Scout notes that the property and violent crime rates for West Palm Beach are worse than the numbers for Florida. The gaps are pretty wide too.
It’s unfortunate that criminal activity is so rampant in a city such as West Palm Beach, but that’s reality. Many other Florida cities are affected by that same problem. Keep those crime rates in mind when deciding if you want to move your young family to West Palm Beach.
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Related Questions
How High Are the Cost of Living Expenses in West Palm Beach?
Since West Palm Beach is a tourist town, you’re probably expecting cost of living expenses there to be quite high. Sure enough, the cost of living expenses there are indeed higher than average, but they’re not too bad. House prices in West Palm Beach are higher than the median mark for Florida, but the gap is not enormous. Additional expenses such as groceries and utilities are also close to the nationwide average.Do note however that transportation expenses in West Palm Beach are way higher than the country-wide mark. Take a moment to plan out your regular commute so you can save as much money as possible. The cost of living in Florida is high, and that is certainly true in West Palm Beach.
Is the Economy in West Palm Beach in Good Shape?
The economy in West Palm Beach has weathered the storm brought about by recent events and has mostly remained stable. Unemployment in the city remains low relative to the rest of the country, which is a very encouraging sign.Another positive sign for West Palm Beach is its projected growth rate. The city’s job market is expected to outpace the rest of the country when it comes to growth. West Palm Beach could turn into an even more impactful part of Florida’s economy in the years to come.
Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.
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