Moving to Lake Worth Beach, FL
A younger, older-built coastal city between West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach
Lake Worth Beach is a good place to live for buyers who want to be near the ocean in Palm Beach County without paying Jupiter or Boca Raton prices: the typical home is worth about $442,035 on Zillow's home value index, up 29.6% over five years. The trade-off is old housing, with a median build year of 1969, which shapes your inspection, insurance and renovation budget more than anything else here.
- Typical home value
- $442K Lake Worth Beach, Zillow, September 2026
- Past year
- +1.4%
- Past 5 years
- +29.6%
- Lower third of the market
- $246K typical value
- Upper third
- $653K typical value
Where it is and how people get around
The city sits on the Lake Worth Lagoon in central Palm Beach County, with West Palm Beach to the north and Lantana and Boynton Beach to the south. Until 2019 it was called Lake Worth; residents voted to add "Beach" to the name. The city owns its beach on the barrier island across the lagoon, with a public pier and the beach casino building.
I-95 runs through the west side of the city and Dixie Highway and US-1 run north and south closer to the water. The city has a Tri-Rail commuter rail station, which connects to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Palm Beach International Airport is a short drive north. Downtown is compact, centered on Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue, with restaurants, shops and arts venues within walking distance of older residential streets.
Zillow Home Value Index, mid-tier, seasonally adjusted. Hover to see any date.
Data table
| Month | All homes |
|---|---|
| Dec 2012 | $90,585 |
| Dec 2013 | $121,687 |
| Dec 2014 | $147,031 |
| Dec 2015 | $173,513 |
| Dec 2016 | $197,154 |
| Dec 2017 | $225,352 |
| Dec 2018 | $247,874 |
| Dec 2019 | $264,571 |
| Dec 2020 | $292,535 |
| Dec 2021 | $355,069 |
| Dec 2022 | $431,935 |
| Dec 2023 | $455,011 |
| Dec 2024 | $459,188 |
| Dec 2025 | $434,085 |
| Sep 2026 | $442,035 |
What housing costs, and how it moved
A single-family house is worth about $490,828, up 1.5% over the past year. A three-bedroom runs about $468,268 and a four-bedroom about $627,215. Condos are a much cheaper and weaker segment: the typical condo is worth about $150,566 and fell 4.2% over the year.
Compared with its neighbors, Lake Worth Beach costs more than West Palm Beach ($404,711) and Boynton Beach ($404,476) on the all-homes index, and much more than Greenacres ($280,329) and Palm Springs ($268,845) to the west. It costs less than Boca Raton ($580,267), Wellington ($661,404) and Jupiter ($704,524). The lower third of the local market ends near $245,641 and the upper third starts near $652,868.
- College Park$795K
- Atlantis$653K
- Vernon Heights$622K
- Parrot Cove$594K
- Eden Place$501K
- South Palm Park$470K
- Sunset Ridge$404K
- Lake Worth Corridor$395K
- Lantana$379K
- Sosa/Pineapple Beach$374K
- Mango Groves$365K
- Lake View Heights$364K
Show all 20
- Seminole Manor$358K
- Downtown Jewel$345K
- Whispering Palms$342K
- Tropical Ridge$325K
- Memorial Park$324K
- Bryant Park$324K
- Royal Poinciana$308K
- Lake Osborne$285K
Zillow neighborhood index, the 20 priciest of the largest neighborhoods.
- College Park+50.6%
- Vernon Heights+38.9%
- Tropical Ridge+38.6%
- Royal Poinciana+37.9%
- Parrot Cove+35.6%
- Eden Place+35.2%
- Mango Groves+34.6%
- Sosa/Pineapple Beach+34.5%
- Memorial Park+34.5%
- Sunset Ridge+33.8%
- Whispering Palms+32.9%
- South Palm Park+31%
- Lake View Heights+30.5%
- Lake Worth Corridor+30.2%
- Seminole Manor+29%
Change in the Zillow index over 60 months.
- 1 bedroom$121K
- 2 bedrooms$244K
- 3 bedrooms$468K
- 4 bedrooms$627K
- 5+ bedrooms$798K
Zillow index by bedroom count, all home types.
- Jupiter$705K
- Palm Beach Gardens$696K
- Wellington$661K
- Boca Raton$580K
- Royal Palm Beach$489K
- Lake Worth Beach$442K
- Riviera Beach$410K
- West Palm Beach$405K
- Boynton Beach$404K
- Delray Beach$345K
- Belle Glade$291K
- Greenacres$280K
- Palm Springs$269K
Zillow index.
Cash you need to buy at $442,000
| All cash | Mortgage, 20% down | Foreign national loan, 35% down | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down payment | $442,000 | $88,400 | $154,700 |
| Buyer closing costs | $1,450 | $6,920 | $6,555 |
| Total at closing | $443,450 | $95,320 | $161,255 |
Includes Florida doc stamps on the note ($0.35 per $100 borrowed), the 0.2% intangible tax on the mortgage, the lender's title policy, settlement and recording fees and typical lender fees. Excludes prorated taxes and HOA. For your exact numbers use the closing cost calculator.
Old houses, small lots and historic districts
The Census numbers describe a city built mostly before 1980. The median home dates from 1969, 46.7% of housing units are single-family detached, 19.1% are in buildings with 10 or more units and 3.0% are mobile homes. East of I-95, many streets are lined with small wood-frame and concrete block cottages and bungalows from the early and middle 20th century.
Several neighborhoods are local historic districts. In a historic district, exterior changes such as windows, doors, roofing material and additions usually need city approval before you start. Ask the city's planning and preservation staff what applies to an address before you budget a renovation, because the approved product can cost more than the one at the hardware store.
Who lives here
Lake Worth Beach is younger than most coastal Palm Beach County cities. The median age is 36.6, only 15.1% of residents are 65 or older and just 6.3% of homes are seasonal. For a buyer, that means a year-round town where summer is not empty, local businesses depend on residents more than winter visitors, and neighbors are often working people and young families rather than retirees.
The population is 43,365, which makes it a mid-size city with a small-town downtown. Many buyers of the city's older houses use FHA, VA or conventional loans, and with those loans the lender and appraiser look hard at the condition of the house. If you plan to finance, ask your lender up front what condition issues would stop the loan, since peeling paint, a failing roof or exposed wiring can all come up on an FHA appraisal. A home with an old roof or failing systems can be difficult to finance, which narrows the field of buyers for it and gives a cash buyer or a renovation loan more leverage.
Hurricanes, flooding and insurance in an older city
Insurance is the cost newcomers most often underestimate here, and the age of the housing is the reason. Insurers will want a 4-point inspection on most older homes, which covers roof, plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Original cast iron or galvanized plumbing, an old electrical panel or an aging roof can push a house to a high premium or out of a carrier's appetite entirely. A wind mitigation report on a house with a newer roof, roof straps and impact windows can lower the premium a lot.
Flood risk varies across the city. Low streets near the lagoon sit in higher-risk FEMA zones, while other parts of the city sit higher. Check the FEMA zone of each address and get a homeowners quote, and a flood quote where relevant, before the inspection period ends. Citizens Property Insurance, the state-backed insurer of last resort, is the fallback when private carriers decline.
Taxes and what newcomers get wrong
With no state income tax in Florida, property taxes become a larger part of the budget. The common mistake is assuming the seller's tax bill will be yours. After you buy, the assessed value resets to market value. If the home becomes your permanent residence, the homestead exemption of up to $51,411 in 2026 and the 3% Save Our Homes cap start from your purchase price.
Other surprises: the city runs its own electric utility, so your power bill comes from the city rather than Florida Power & Light; you should ask whether an older house is on city sewer or septic; and parking downtown and near the beach is tight. I tell relocating buyers to spend a weekday and a weekend in the city before choosing a street, because the feel changes a lot block by block.
Questions buyers ask
Is Lake Worth Beach a good place to live?
For buyers who want ocean access and a walkable downtown at mid-range Palm Beach County prices, yes. The typical home is about $442,035 on Zillow's index. Older houses mean higher insurance and inspection costs.
Why did Lake Worth change its name to Lake Worth Beach?
Voters approved the change in 2019. The city wanted to highlight that it has its own public beach on the barrier island.
Is Lake Worth Beach cheaper than West Palm Beach?
Not on the all-homes index: Lake Worth Beach is about $442,035 and West Palm Beach about $404,711. Lake Worth Beach condos are cheap, though, at about $150,566.
Does Lake Worth Beach have a train station?
Yes. The city has a Tri-Rail commuter rail station with service to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
What are the pros and cons of living in Lake Worth Beach?
Pros: its own beach and pier, a walkable downtown, Tri-Rail, and prices below the coastal cities to the north and south. Cons: old housing stock, higher insurance on older homes, falling condo values and tight parking downtown.
Get a shortlist that fits your budget
Tell me what you're looking for and I'll send real listings with the full cost of owning each one: HOA or condo fees, property tax at your price, insurance, and closing costs. No newsletters, no pressure.
- MLS listings, including ones that just hit the market
- Condo budget, reserves and inspection history checked before you offer
- Fully remote if you need it: video tours, e-signing, wire to escrow
Or reach me directly: (754) 203-9632 · [email protected] · WhatsApp on the same number
Work out your own numbers
Data: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, latest month September 2026; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Figures for small areas carry margins of error. These are planning numbers, not an appraisal of any property.