Palm Beach County Rent Report: Median Asking Rents by City and What They Mean for Owners and Investors

Palm Beach County rent depends a lot on the town. As of October 1, 2026, median asking rent ran from under $2,000 in Lake Worth Beach to $9,500 in the town of Palm Beach, according to Pure Equity's MLS data. Several of the larger cities, including West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton, sat between $2,250 and $3,250. This report lists median asking rents for 24 Palm Beach County communities, plus Hobe Sound and Port St. Lucie. Then it compares renting with owning and explains what today's rents mean if you are deciding whether to rent out a home or sell it.

Key takeaways

• West Palm Beach had the most active rentals on the market (2,386), with a median asking rent of $2,250.
• Boca Raton's median asking rent was $3,250, Delray Beach's was $2,650 and Boynton Beach's was $2,755.
• Western suburbs ask more: Wellington's median was $5,000 and Jupiter's was $4,200.
• In August 2026, the county's median single-family sale price was $650,000 and the condo median was $300,000.
• Rent levels alone don't decide whether to rent out or sell. Insurance, taxes, HOA rules and your own plans matter just as much.

How to read these Palm Beach County rent figures

All rent figures below come from Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026. They show the median asking rent of active rental listings in each place. So they reflect what landlords are asking now, not signed leases. They also mix condos, townhouses and houses of every size. As a result, a city with many small condos will show a lower median than a city full of large single-family homes.

Use the numbers as a starting point. For a specific property, compare it with active rentals of the same type, size and condition nearby.

Palm Beach County rent by city

We grouped the communities by their median asking rent, from lowest to highest.

Under $2,500 a month

• Lake Worth Beach: $1,995
• Greenacres: $2,100
• Palm Springs: $2,100
• West Palm Beach: $2,250
• Lake Worth (unincorporated area): $2,400
• Lantana: $2,495

Note that Lake Worth Beach is the city, while "Lake Worth" here means the larger unincorporated area with a Lake Worth mailing address. They are tracked separately.

$2,500 to $3,000 a month

• Riviera Beach: $2,500
• Hobe Sound (Martin County): $2,550
• Atlantis: $2,600 (only 16 active rentals)
• Port St. Lucie (St. Lucie County): $2,600
• Delray Beach: $2,650
• Royal Palm Beach: $2,725
• Boynton Beach: $2,755
• North Palm Beach: $2,800

$3,000 to $5,000 a month

• Boca Raton: $3,250
• Palm Beach Gardens: $3,700
• Westlake: $3,899
• The Acreage: $3,900
• Loxahatchee: $3,995
• Jupiter: $4,200
• Tequesta: $4,425
• Wellington: $5,000

The Acreage and Loxahatchee overlap on the map, so treat their figures as one general area.

Over $5,000 a month

• Highland Beach: $7,250
• Lake Clarke Shores: $8,250 (only 6 active rentals)
• Palm Beach: $9,500
• Manalapan: $37,500 (only 3 active rentals)

The small samples in Atlantis, Lake Clarke Shores and Manalapan can swing a lot from one week to the next. Manalapan in particular is an ultra-luxury market and not a guide to typical rents.

Where the rentals are

Supply is just as useful as price. West Palm Beach had 2,386 active rentals, the most in the county. Boca Raton followed with 2,046, then Delray Beach with 1,432. In addition, Port St. Lucie had 1,130 and Wellington had 976. A large supply gives renters more choice. For a landlord, it means more competition, so pricing and condition matter more.

Rent next to asking prices

Rent means more when you set it next to what homes cost in the same town. Here are six places on Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026. Each line shows the median list price of active listings, then the median asking rent.

• West Palm Beach: $315,000 and $2,250
• Boynton Beach: $334,500 and $2,755
• Port St. Lucie: $429,000 and $2,600
• Boca Raton: $550,000 and $3,250
• Jupiter: $859,495 and $4,200
• Wellington: $915,000 and $5,000

In general, rent does not rise as fast as price. A Wellington home asks nearly three times the West Palm Beach median, yet the median rent is a bit more than twice as high. However, both medians mix condos and houses, so the comparison is rough. Still, it shows why lower-priced towns often look better on a yield basis, while pricier towns tend to attract owners who plan to live there.

Palm Beach County rent vs. owning

Here is a simple way to compare. In August 2026, the median Palm Beach County single-family home sold for $650,000, according to Miami Realtors. With 20% down, the loan would be $520,000. At 7.03%, the 30-year fixed average Freddie Mac reported on September 24, 2026, principal and interest come to about $3,470 a month.

On the condo side, the county median sale price was $300,000. With 10% down, the loan is $270,000, and principal and interest come to about $1,800 a month.

Next, add property taxes, insurance, HOA dues and upkeep. In many buildings and neighborhoods, those can add a large share on top. So a buyer should compare the full monthly cost with rent for a similar home in the same town, not with a county median. Our condo vs. renting guide walks through the other trade-offs, such as how long you plan to stay.

What Palm Beach County rent means for owners

If you own a home and are moving, today's rents can make keeping it tempting. Still, run the full numbers before you decide.

Costs that change when you become a landlord

• Property taxes. The homestead exemption covers only your permanent home. If you move out and rent the home, you can lose it, and the tax bill can jump. Ask the Property Appraiser how it applies to you.
• Insurance. You will need a landlord policy instead of a homeowners policy. See our guide to Florida landlord insurance.
• HOA and condo rules. Many associations limit leases. Check minimum terms, tenant approval and any cap on rentals.
• Local licenses. Some cities, including West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie, require a business tax receipt for rentals.
• Vacancy and repairs. Plan for a month or more between tenants and a repair budget each year.

When selling may be the better move

Selling often makes sense if the rent barely covers your costs, you need the equity for your next home, or you don't want to manage tenants from far away. On the other hand, keeping the home can work if you have a low fixed rate, the numbers show steady cash flow and you are ready to be a landlord. Our cash flow rental property calculator can help you test it.

What these rents mean for investors

Investors often start with a gross rent yield. You take a year of rent and divide it by the price. For example, a home that rents for $2,600 a month brings in $31,200 a year. If it costs $430,000, the gross yield is about 7.3% before any expenses.

That figure is only a first screen. After that, subtract taxes, insurance, HOA dues, repairs, vacancy and management. In Florida, insurance and HOA dues can take a big bite. Also keep in mind the supply picture. In August 2026, condos had 6.7 months of supply countywide, compared with 3.5 months for single-family homes. Higher supply can mean better buying terms, but it can also mean more competition for tenants in condo-heavy areas.

Long-term vs. short-term rentals

Most of the rents above are for yearly leases. Some owners look at short stays instead. That route comes with more rules.

Under section 509.032(7)(b) of the Florida Statutes, a local law may not ban vacation rentals or limit how long or how often they are rented. However, local rules adopted on or before June 1, 2011 still apply. For example, Lake Worth Beach requires rental terms of 60 days or more. In addition, homes rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days need a state vacation rental license from the DBPR. Palm Beach County also charges a 6% tourist development tax on rentals of six months or less.

Condo and HOA rules can be stricter than the city's. So check the documents before you plan around short stays.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Palm Beach County rent?

It varies by city. As of October 1, 2026, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton had median asking rents between $2,250 and $3,250. Western suburbs such as Wellington and coastal towns such as Palm Beach asked more.

Which Palm Beach County city has the cheapest rent?

Lake Worth Beach had the lowest median asking rent at $1,995, followed by Greenacres and Palm Springs at $2,100.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Palm Beach County?

It depends on the home and how long you stay. Compare the full monthly cost of owning, including taxes, insurance and HOA dues, with rent for a similar home nearby.

How does Port St. Lucie rent compare with Palm Beach County?

Port St. Lucie's median asking rent was $2,600 as of October 1, 2026. That is close to Delray Beach and Riviera Beach, while its median list price of $429,000 sat above West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach.

Should I rent out my house or sell it?

Rent can cover costs in some cases, but you may lose your homestead exemption and take on landlord insurance, HOA limits and repairs. Run the full numbers, and compare them with what the sale would net today.

Sources

• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
• Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, Homestead exemption
• Florida Statutes, section 509.032
• Florida DBPR, Vacation rental licenses
• Palm Beach County Tax Collector, Tourist development tax
• City of Lake Worth Beach, Vacation and short-term rentals
• City of West Palm Beach, Business tax
• City of Port St. Lucie, Business tax

Deciding whether to rent or sell? We will put the rental numbers next to what your home would net from a sale today. Check what your home is worth or request an investor property and rental analysis. Looking to buy a rental? Talk with a buyer's agent about rents, rules and returns in your target town.