What Are The 7 Safest Neighborhoods In West Palm Beach?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

With its mild climate and beautiful waterfront views, West Palm Beach is a great place to visit at any time of the year. With its plentiful lakes, glistening shoreline, golf clubs, and trails, it’s the perfect destination for those who love the outdoors. There are plenty of museums, restaurants, and other cultural landmarks to entice travelers as well, including the Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society, and the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium.

The two safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach, Florida are Pineapple Park-Ibis and River Walk. These two neighborhoods have very high median household incomes, low unemployment rates, and low crime rates. The other safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach are the Water Catchment Area, South Side, Old Northwood, Pinewood, and Northwood Shores. The low crime rates in these areas make them very safe places to live.

Take a look at the 7 safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach!

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7 Safest Neighborhoods in West Palm Beach

The city of West Palm Beach has higher crime rates than Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, and South Palm Beach. However, that’s not to say that every neighborhood in West Palm Beach is unsafe. In fact, many places in West Palm Beach are safe even compared to the national average crime rate. The 7 neighborhoods listed here are the safest in the West Palm Beach city area, and are great destinations for your next vacation or your next home.

1. Pineapple Park-Ibis

  • Population: 3,034
  • Median Income: $117,923
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 1,805 (estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate: .5%

The #1 safest neighborhood in West Palm Beach, Florida is Pineapple Park-Ibis. It is dotted with bodies of water and golf clubs, and is 10.7 miles away from West Palm Beach.

The crime rate in the Pineapple Park-Ibis neighborhood is estimated to be 1,805 incidents per 100,000 people. That is less than half of the West Palm Beach crime rate. Violent crime in Pineapple Park-Ibis is also less than half of what is seen in the city.

The median household income in this neighborhood is very high, more than double the West Palm Beach, Florida, and U.S average.

As a result, the cost of living is high as well. The median home value is $535,100, 221% higher than the Florida average.

2. River Walk

  • Population: 916
  • Median Income: $62,851
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 1,906 (estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

6.6 miles west of West Palm Beach is the neighborhood of River Walk. The streets of the River Walk neighborhood are all surrounded by water, leading to its name. It is just south of the Apoxee Trail.

There are an estimated 322 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 people, less than half of West Palm Beach’s rate of 762. The overall crime rate in River Walk is also less than half of the city’s.

Unemployment in River Walk is very low. Residents of this neighborhood also enjoy an average income that exceeds those of the city, state, and country.

Rental prices in River Walk are very high: a staggering $2,086 per month. Average home value is also quite high at $281,000.

3. South Side

  • Population: 6,777
  • Median Income: $70,430
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 1,341 (estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate: 5.2%

The third safest neighborhood in West Palm Beach is South Side, just under 4 miles from the city. It sits along the Lake Worth Lagoon and is north of the College Park Historic District.

The crime rate in South Side is actually lower than the first two safest neighborhoods in West Palm Beach. However, its violent crime rate is just slightly higher at 423 per 100,000 people. Still, this translates to only a .4% chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

The unemployment rate in South Side is lower than the city’s rate, though a tad above the state’s average unemployment rate. Median household income is higher than average on both accounts.

The median home value and median rental prices are $283,614 and $854, respectively.

4. Water Catchment Area

  • Population: 8,480
  • Median Income: $72,049
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 3,149(estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate: 4.4%

The largest neighborhood on this list is the Water Catchment Area neighborhood. It is 8 miles away from West Palm Beach and has a number of amenities available to residents, including shopping centers and places to stay.

There are an estimated 3,149 incidents of crime in the Water Catchment Area neighborhood per 100,000 people. Over 80% of this is property crime, with only 531 incidents of violent crime.

The average income in Watch Catchment Area is agreeable, and the unemployment rate is also low by all standards. The cost of living is high. The median home value in this neighborhood is $233,183, 40% higher than the Florida average. Rentals are also slightly more expensive than normal at $1,077 per month.

5. Old Northwood

  • Population: 852
  • Median Income: $54,346
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 3,506 (estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate:

Less than two miles from West Palm Beach is the Old Northwood neighborhood. Public service locations, places of worship, restaurants, and other shopping centers are in convenient proximity to this neighborhood.

The Old Northwood crime rate is lower than the West Palm Beach crime rate. In this neighborhood, you have a 1 in 29 chance of becoming a victim of a crime.

Residents of this small neighborhood have a median household income of $54,346, above the West Palm Beach and Florida averages. Unemployment is 4.9% of the population, which is better than the city rates.

The Old Northwood cost of living is high for both home buyers and renters. The median home value is $266,350 and the median rent price is $996.

6. Pinewood

  • Population: 2,835
  • Median Income: $32,598
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 2,107 (estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate: 14.6%

The Pinewood neighborhood is 3 miles from West Palm Beach. It sits on the shoreline near the Palm Beach inlet, and is a great spot for those who love watersports and outdoor activities.

There are an estimated 2,107 incidents of crime per 100,000 people in the Pinewood neighborhood. This is pretty evenly divided between property and violent crime, giving residents a 1 in 48 chance of becoming a victim of any crime.

The median household income in Pinewood is lower than both the city and state average. Its unemployment rate of 14.6% is also very high.

Cost of living in Pinewood, however, is very low. The median home value in Pinewood is $153,067 and the median rent price is $931 per month.

7. Northwood Shores

  • Population: 757
  • Median Income: $46,625
  • Crime Rate Per 100,000 People: 4,201 (estimate)
  • Unemployment Rate:

The #7 safest neighborhood in West Palm Beach is Northwood Shores. It is the least populated neighborhood on this list and is only 1.8 miles from the city.

The crime rate in Northwood shores is lower than that of West Palm Beach. Of its estimated 4,201 incidents of crime per 100,000 people, over 80% are property-related. There are only 709 incidents of violent crime in Northwood Shores per 100,000 people.

The median household income in Northwood Shores is similar to that of the city, and slightly lower than the state average. Unemployment is high at 7.3%.

The cost of living in the Northwood Shores neighborhood is a bit higher than average. The median home value is $227,000, 36% higher than the Florida average.

Is West Palm Beach Safe?

The crime rate in West Palm Beach, Florida is 79% higher than the state average. Its crime rates are also 81% higher than the national average. There are an estimated 4,512 incidents of crime per 100,000 people: 762 incidents of violent crime and 4,231 incidents of property crime. Overall, you have a 1 in 23 chance of becoming a victim of a crime.

Crime in the area has decreased slightly. In recent years, the crime rate has dropped by 4%. Crime is also generally concentrated in very specific areas of the city, to the very north, south, and west of the region. The majority of neighborhoods, therefore, are rather safe to visit.

Most of the neighborhoods listed above have a lower violent crime rate than West Palm Beach, and all have a lower overall crime rate.

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What’s The Verdict?

Crime in West Palm Beach is higher than the national average, though crime in the city has decreased in recent years. The majority of crime in the area is property crime. The 7 neighborhoods listed here have lower overall crime rates than West Palm Beach, and most have lower violent crime rates than the city. Any of these neighborhoods are safe places for you to call home, or just for a great waterfront vacation.

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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