Are you thinking about moving to Palm Beach County, Florida, and want to know more about the area? In this episode of Hearty Home, we’re going to dive into the pros and cons of living in Palm Beach County. We’ll look at everything from the weather to traffic so you can see if Palm Beach County is right for you.
Welcome To Palm Beach County
Before you make the move to Palm Beach County, you're going to get the good and the not-so-good about living here so you’re prepared. I moved to Palm Beach County in 1995 from Connecticut, and I'm a graduate of Wellington High School—go Wolverines—and Florida Atlantic University, go Owls. But I’m not going to tell you the years that I graduated.
Growing up in Palm Beach County was a great experience for me. The diversity, the activities, the community involvement, and the beaches are the best of my memories. So today, I’m going to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of living in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The Weather
The first pro that comes to mind is the weather. Palm Beach County has a subtropical environment, which means it's either hot or it's raining. Our rainy season begins in April and goes until October, and we average about 63 inches of rain during the rainy season. The rest of the country averages about 35 inches.
November to May is our dry season. Temperatures tend to be around 82 to 78, rarely falling below 78 degrees or going above 85. During the summer months of June to October, our temperatures are anywhere from 89 degrees to 77 degrees.
The humidity—which is a definite con—will make it seem like it's a lot hotter. There's a reason we're called the Sunshine State: we get 238 days of sunshine a year, while the rest of the country gets 205 days of sunshine.
An Ideal Location
Now that we know the weather, let's get into the second reason people love living here: the location. We are close to so many great places, and day trips are not out of the question. Palm Beach County is about a four-hour ride from Key West—as long as you time the traffic correctly and depending on the day.
If you're traveling during a holiday, it might take you a little bit longer. If you'd like to go to the upper keys like Key Largo, which is a little bit closer, that's about two hours. If you're looking to head to the West Coast like Tampa, Siesta Key, Bonita Springs, or Port Charlotte, it's about two and a half hours by car.
The Cost Of Living
In addition to Palm Beach County’s great location, the third reason why people love living here is the cost of living. The cost of living is about 22% lower than in the Northeast. Additionally, Florida doesn't pay state income taxes; we only pay federal taxes.
This is why about 1,000 people per day are moving to Florida. They can avoid the high tax states like New York, California, Chicago, and Seattle, just to name a few. You can also check out bestplaces.net for more detailed information about the cost of living.
Humidity And Hurricanes
Now that you know about a couple of the pros, let's get into the cons. First, did you know that Palm Beach, Florida gets super hot and humid in the summertime? August and September are the hottest months of the year, and the summer high temp is 89 degrees. However, the humidity makes it feel like 95.
This means that your AC unit will be working overtime and all the time. Be sure to service your units once a year before the summer hits. If you can deal with the heat, then maybe you won't mind the hurricanes. Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. Peak hurricane season is from the end of August to mid-October.
Prior to hurricane season, you want to make sure that you stock up on water, batteries, gasoline, and other necessities. Also, make sure you have all of your important papers in one place. It's also important to have an evacuation plan in place.
The Traffic
One more thing you need to be prepared for is the traffic. Driving around Palm Beach County is very difficult. This is because Palm Beach County is a very transient area, with snowbirds coming down in the Winter.
This means there are a lot of people on the roads that may not be familiar with where they're going or the routes to take. There is public transportation, but it would be best if you had your own vehicle.
Enjoy Florida Living In Palm Beach County
I hope this gave you some insight into the pros and cons of living in Palm Beach County, Florida. Palm Beach County has many options when looking for a place to live, so feel free to reach out to me and I’d be happy to help you find the perfect spot.
Don't forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Hearty Home, where you’ll find more information on Palm Beach County. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!