Cost of Living in Wellington: Housing, Insurance, Taxes and Everyday Expenses

The cost of living in Wellington starts with the house, and in this equestrian and family suburb, prices cover a wide range. You will find 1980s and 1990s homes on quiet streets, gated golf communities and horse farms, all inside one village. Beyond the price, owners pay county and village taxes, a drainage assessment, utilities, HOA dues and insurance. This guide covers each line with current figures, then builds a sample monthly budget.

Key takeaways

• According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Wellington had 554 active residential listings with a median list price of $915,000.
• The village's operating tax rate is 2.47 mills, which Wellington's budget calls the 4th lowest among Palm Beach County municipalities.
• Most residents also pay the Acme Improvement District assessment. It is $275 per unit for fiscal 2027, and a parcel up to 1.49 acres counts as one unit.
• Acme also owns the water and wastewater utility that serves most of the village. Utility rates rose 10% in fiscal 2026.
• On a sample $915,000 purchase with 20% down, principal, interest and estimated taxes come to about $6,245 a month before insurance, HOA dues and utilities.

Cost of living in Wellington at a glance

Wellington became a village on December 31, 1995. It grew out of the Acme Improvement District, which was created in 1953 to drain and manage the land. Today it is known for horses, parks and youth sports, and it sits in western Palm Beach County near State Road 7.

For most owners, the order of costs runs like this: the mortgage, then taxes, then insurance and HOA dues, and then utilities. Everyday costs such as groceries and gas are close to the rest of the county. However, the winter horse show season affects traffic, rents and restaurant crowds from January through March.

Housing and the cost of living in Wellington

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Wellington had 554 active residential listings. The median list price was $915,000, and the median list price per square foot was $384. Those active listings had been on the market an average of 124 days.

That median needs context, though. These are asking prices, and they mix condos, family homes and large equestrian estates. A handful of horse properties can pull the figure up, so it says less about a typical family home than you might think. Our Wellington page shows what is listed today.

For county context, Miami Realtors reported a $650,000 median sale price for Palm Beach County single-family homes in August 2026, with 3.5 months of supply. Condos and townhouses had a $300,000 median.

Rents and the horse show season

The same data showed 976 active rentals with a median asking rent of $5,000. That number includes seasonal rentals for the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International, which skew it higher. So if you plan to rent before you buy, look at annual leases in the neighborhoods you like, not the overall median.

Property taxes and the cost of living in Wellington

Wellington's own rate is low by county standards. Its fiscal 2026 budget kept the operating rate at 2.47 mills, and the Property Appraiser's 2026 table lists the same proposed rate. One mill equals $1 for each $1,000 of taxable value.

However, the village rate is only a slice of the bill. In fact, Wellington's budget says the village, Acme and solid waste collection together make up about 18% of a typical homeowner's total tax bill. The rest goes to these 2026 proposed county-level rates:

• Palm Beach County operating and debt service: 4.5210 mills.
• County fire rescue: 3.4581 mills. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue serves Wellington.
• County library: 0.5491 mills.
• School Board, state and local: 6.2870 mills combined.
• Children's Services Council and Health Care District: 1.1469 mills combined.
• South Florida Water Management District levies and F.I.N.D.: about 0.26 mills.

Together with the village rate, that comes to roughly 18.7 mills. These are proposed rates from the Property Appraiser's table, last updated August 19, 2026. As of October 1, 2026, the Property Appraiser had not posted final 2026 rates, so confirm the adopted rates on your November tax bill.

A worked example from the village

Wellington's budget shows how its own share works. It uses a home with a $450,000 assessed value and $50,722 in exemptions, for a taxable value of $399,278. At 2.47 mills, the village portion comes to $986.22 for the year. The budget also notes that 70% of residential parcels claim homestead, and the average taxable value of those homes is $420,000.

Homestead, Save Our Homes and HJR 1-F

A homestead exemption can take up to $50,000 off the taxable value of your main home, although the second $25,000 does not apply to school taxes. Save Our Homes then caps yearly increases in assessed value, and the 2026 cap is 2.7%. Keep in mind that a buyer starts fresh, since the home is reassessed after the sale.

A proposed amendment, HJR 1-F, is also on the November 2026 ballot. If voters approve it, the non-school homestead exemption would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. However, the Florida Senate says new Florida residents after December 31, 2026 would receive $50,000 for four years first. For more, see our guide to property taxes in Florida.

The Acme assessment and solid waste

Most Wellington owners see two or three non-ad valorem lines on the tax bill. The biggest local one is usually Acme. The district assesses for stormwater management and infrastructure upkeep, and its rate is $275 per unit for both fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027.

Units follow acreage. A parcel up to 1.49 acres counts as one unit, 1.50 to 2.49 acres counts as two, and so on. So a typical suburban lot pays one unit, while a horse farm pays several.

Next, there is trash. Wellington's budget lists non-ad valorem charges for the county Solid Waste Authority and for Wellington's own solid waste collection. For fiscal 2026, the residential curbside rate went up $10 to fund garbage and vegetation pickup twice a week. Check the current bill for the exact amounts.

Utilities and the cost of living in Wellington

Acme owns and runs Wellington's water and wastewater utility. It serves most village residents, plus some homes just outside the limits. The fiscal 2026 budget raised utility rates by 10% to pay for system work, including new water meters and a move to all-membrane treatment.

Electric costs depend on the home's size, the age of the AC and whether there is a pool or barn. So ask the seller for 12 months of water and electric bills. Those show the summer peak, which matters more than any average.

HOA dues and community fees

Many Wellington neighborhoods have their own HOAs, and dues vary widely. A basic association may cover common areas and an entry gate. By contrast, some gated and golf communities carry higher dues and, in some cases, club fees. Our post on gated communities in Wellington covers several of them.

Before you make an offer, get the HOA budget, the rules and any planned special assessments. Also ask whether club membership is required or optional. That one answer can change the monthly cost by a wide margin.

Insurance for family homes and horse farms

Insurance depends heavily on the roof, the windows and the age of the home. A 1990s house with an original roof often costs more to insure than a newer one with impact glass. For that reason, ask for a wind mitigation report, since the Office of Insurance Regulation explains how those features can earn premium credits.

Horse properties add more questions. You will want coverage for barns and fencing, and often farm or equine liability. Meanwhile, check the flood zone for every address on FEMA's map. If you expect to use Citizens, its flood rule reaches all policies on January 1, 2027.

The trend has eased somewhat. In September 2026, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved several rate cuts and said recent filings averaged a -4.8% change over 30 days. Still, get your own quote during the inspection period.

A sample monthly budget for the cost of living in Wellington

This example uses the village's median list price. It assumes a $915,000 purchase, 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at 7.03%, Freddie Mac's average for the week of September 24, 2026.

• Loan amount: $732,000.
• Principal and interest: about $4,885 a month.
• Estimated property tax with homestead: about $16,300 a year, or roughly $1,360 a month, using the rates above.
• Acme assessment: $275 a year for a lot up to 1.49 acres, or about $23 a month.
• Solid waste charges, insurance and HOA dues: use the actual bill, quotes and association budget.
• Water, sewer and electric: use the seller's last 12 months of bills.

So this owner spends roughly $6,270 a month before insurance, HOA dues and utilities. Without homestead, the tax line rises. Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate, not a quote. The Property Appraiser sets value as of January 1, and taxable value may differ from price.

How a lower-priced home changes the math

Many Wellington buyers shop well below the median, in townhomes or older single-family streets. The same math scales down. Because taxes and the loan both track price, a home at half the median cuts those two lines roughly in half. However, insurance and HOA dues do not scale the same way, so quote them for each home.

How Wellington compares with nearby towns

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, the median list price was $499,900 in Royal Palm Beach and $749,000 in Westlake. Wellington, at $915,000, ran higher, partly because of its equestrian estates.

Operating tax rates also differ. The 2026 proposed rates are 2.1500 mills in Royal Palm Beach, 2.4700 in Wellington and 4.6000 in Westlake. Even so, special districts and HOA dues can change which place costs less for a given home. If you are still choosing, read whether Wellington is a good place to live.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cost of living in Wellington high?

Housing makes it higher than the county average. The median list price was $915,000 as of October 1, 2026, compared with a $650,000 county single-family median sale price in August 2026. On the other hand, the village tax rate is among the lowest in the county.

What is the Acme assessment in Wellington?

It is a non-ad valorem charge for stormwater management and infrastructure. For fiscal 2027 it is $275 per unit, and a parcel up to 1.49 acres counts as one unit.

Who provides water in Wellington?

The Acme Improvement District owns and runs Wellington's water and wastewater utility, which serves most residents.

Does the horse show season raise the cost of living in Wellington?

It mostly affects rents and traffic. Seasonal rentals for the Winter Equestrian Festival push asking rents up, while year-round owners feel it as busier roads and restaurants in winter.

Are HOA fees common in Wellington?

Yes, many neighborhoods have HOAs, and gated or golf communities can cost more. Read the association budget and rules before you buy.

Sources

• Village of Wellington, Fiscal Year 2026 Budget in Brief
• Acme Improvement District, unit count and assessment history
• Acme Improvement District, utilities
• Acme Improvement District, overview
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, 2025 final and 2026 proposed millage rates
• Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, areas served
• Palm Beach County Library System, library district municipalities
• Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Village of Wellington
• Florida Department of Revenue, Save Our Homes assessment limitation
• Florida Senate, HJR 1-F homestead exemption release
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, September 2026 rate decreases
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, wind mitigation resources
• Citizens Property Insurance, flood insurance requirement
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• Freddie Mac, mortgage rates for the week of September 24, 2026
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
• Wellington International

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Tax rates, assessments and insurance rules change, so confirm the numbers for your own situation with a licensed professional.

Own a home in Wellington? If you are thinking of selling, start with a free home valuation built on recent closed sales in your neighborhood. If you are moving to the village, request a free relocation consultation and our agents will help you compare real homes, HOA dues, taxes and insurance. Talk with our team.