Key West's standout: few places in the country are easier to get around without a car. Overall it grades C, 345th of 634 graded towns in Florida. It is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns and it has 13 miles of trail. Its weakest subject is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.0 million, 11.6 years of the Key West area’s $88K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 94% of U.S. towns, with 21 places on the National Register. 65% of working residents work locally in Key West, where Florida’s towns sit at 5% and U.S. towns at 8%. On hazard risk, just 40 of Florida’s 779 towns do worse. Its National Register listings include Ernest Hemingway House and Fort Zachary Taylor.

StrongestA⁺Walkability AHistory AOutdoorsWeakestD⁻Cost of living D⁻Hazard risk C⁻Safety

What makes Key West stand out

Where Key West beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Ernest Hemingway House

HistoryA

Settled in 1828

20 places on the National Register

A history going back 198 years.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns

14.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD⁻

Hurricanes and coastal flooding at the top

FEMA National Risk Index.

Ernest Hemingway House · National Register of Historic Places

Key West’s story

198 years in pictures

Ernest Hemingway House is one of 4 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1828, comes before those of 95% of the Florida towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 688 in 1840, a low of 688 in 1840, 26,444 in 2020. The archive holds 17 old photos and papers going back to 1861 and 3 maps from 1943 on.

20 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1828Key West is settled

Explore the history →

How Key West grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida), ordered by how far Key West is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 2%), so the C overall blends very different results.

WalkabilityEPA walkability 15 of 20; 10.8% of households have no carA⁺Open →Cost of livingD⁻Open →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listD⁻Open →SafetyC⁻Open →HealthLower Keys Medical Center 2.3 miles awayA⁻Open →SchoolsBOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors7% conserved landAOpen →History31 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life7.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

ClimateMild winters, 91° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market$1.02M typical home, up 0.3% in a year; 167 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 46.1–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Ernest Hemingway House and 10 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Key West. Close and well known come first.

All 13 attractions →

in town MuseumErnest Hemingway House

in town LandmarkSouthernmost point buoy

in town State parkFort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

in town MuseumHarry S. Truman Little White House

in town MuseumMartello Gallery-Key West Art and Historical Museum

in town MuseumMel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Ernest Hemingway House: Andreas Lamecker, CC BY 2.5 · Southernmost point buoy: Radomianin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain · Harry S. Truman Little White House: Bubba73, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martello Gallery-Key West Art and Historical Museum: Averette at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 · Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum: Averette, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Key West: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Key West, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerUtility Board of the City of Key West, F15.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterFkaa - Florida Keys R.o. Plants water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Key West’s trash rules yet

SchoolsMonroe County School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Florida you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereMonroe Supervisor of ElectionsMonroe County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025

ZIP code3304033040 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 17, 2025.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Key West.

Key West has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Florida and has a long record of flood insurance claims.

HousingCost of living grade D⁻

Key West’s grade for cost of living is a D−

At 11.6 years of the Key West area’s $88K median household income, the typical home (about $1.02M) costs more against local pay than in 97% of Florida towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. The typical value, about $1.02M, is 8% below its April 2024 peak.

The median rent in Key West is $2,220 a month.

$1.02MZillow home value

	Key West	Florida towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	49%	72%	73%
Median rent	$2,220 a month	$1,647 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Key West$1.02M

Florida$375K

Market temperature

167

days on market

94.1%

sale-to-list price

+0.3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageKey West’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsAbout the same as a year ago Years of income to buyA typical home costs 11.7 years of income Rents$2,220 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsB

On state tests, Key West’s schools beat 63% of Florida districts

Its public schools are run by the Monroe school district. Three of its 17 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

63%of FL districts it outscoresBSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Horace O'Bryant SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8	Grades PK–8	1,011	B⁻
Key West High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,337	B⁻
Sigsbee Charter SchoolTop results in townGrades K–8	Grades K–8	531	A⁻

Full pageKey West’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsMONROE Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Every school17 schools · Horace O'Bryant School Questions“Are Key West’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within FL on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsA

Key West has set aside 6.6% of its land for conservation

Key West’s trail density is 1.8 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, at 818 acres.

#29for trails in FL

	Key West	Florida towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	1.8 miles per square mile	0.4	0.4
Conserved land	6.6%	3%	4.3%

6.6%

conserved · 304 of 4,605 acres

13 mi

of trails · 1.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park	0.8 mi	55
2. Harvey Rest Beach Park	0.5 mi	20
3. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary	0.4 mi	818

Full pageKey West’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map13 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.8 miles of trail · Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Conserved land6.6% conserved · 304 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Key West?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D⁻

Very high risk in Key West, with hurricanes at the top

4,086 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 279 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 95% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 4,086 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Key West.

95risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

HurricanesCoastal floodingInland flooding

4,086

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageKey West’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claims4,086 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters13 federal disasters · Paid out in Key West Get ready0.3 events a year, on average · Ready for hurricanes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

SafetyC⁻

More crime per resident in Key West than in 76% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes fell from 627 to 446 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

24%of U.S. towns report more crimeC⁻Safety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Key West3.5

Florida2.6

U.S.3.6

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Key West22.6

Florida12.6

U.S.17.7

24th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

35th

percentile among FL towns

violent crimes reported in 2024

558

property crimes reported in 2024

Full pageKey West’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type3.5 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighbors1 bordering town Questions“Is Key West, FL safe?”

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police

HealthA⁻

Key West’s grade for health is an A−

26% of Key West adults have obesity. Key West beats the Florida average on 10 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 18% of Key West adults binge drink.

76%healthier than U.S. townsA⁻Health Grade

	Key West	Florida towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	26%	32%	35%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	18%	15%	16%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	17%	18%	23%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	15%	16%	17%

31 measures vs. Florida

10 better20 too close to call1 worse

What stands out	Key West	FL
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	10.1%	12.7%
Fewer uninsured adults	13%	15.9%
More binge drinkers	17.9%	14.6%

Lower Keys Medical Center

2.3 mi away · emergency room

1 of 3

care shortages: mental health

74th

percentile among FL towns

Full pageKey West’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore binge drinkers Hospitals & doctors nearby2.3 miles to an ER · Lower Keys Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than FL on 10 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

A typical January night in Key West is milder than in the typical Florida or U.S. town

January nights average 64.8°, milder than in 100% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 90.3°. The Key West Nas weather station, 6 miles away, records that about 80 days a year reach 90°: more than most of the country, but fewer than 92% of Florida places with climate records.

Only 1 of the 638 Florida towns we compare have a higher January low than Key West. Key West has warm winters and warm summers. Snow is almost unheard of.

91°summer high

	Key West	Florida towns	U.S. towns
January low	65°F	51°F	22°F
July high	90°F	91°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter66–77°

Spring72–83°

Summer79–90°

Fall75–85°

+1.5°

vs. the 20th-century average

91°

typical summer high

Full pageKey West’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 90°, January lows 65°Rain & snow42″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingMostly a cooling bill Then and now+1.5° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Who lives here

More middle-aged adults than Florida overall

Adults 35 to 64 are 45% of residents (38% statewide); children under 18 are 15% of residents (20% statewide). 41% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Key West. Key West has lost 5.4% of its people since 2020, down to 24,999 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

46.1median age · FL 42.6

	Key West	Florida towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	15%	20%	22%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	41%	31%	29%
Median age	46.1 years	42.4 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	22%	20%	18%

Key WestFloridaUnited States

FLU.S.

Ages · share of residents

18%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma7%

High school27%

Some college18%

Associate’s7%

Bachelor’s25%

Graduate16%

Women and men · all residents

47% women, 53% men

About 111 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.3 points). Across Florida, 50.9% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Key West
	Key West	FL	U.S.
Under 10	9%	10.3%	11.6%
10 to 17	6.1%	9.2%	10.3%
18 to 24	4.1%	8.1%	9.1%
25 to 34	14%	12.7%	13.7%
35 to 44	15.3%	12.7%	13.2%
45 to 54	12.3%	12.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	17.7%	13.4%	12.7%
65 to 74	12.8%	11.7%	10.2%
75 and older	8.9%	9.6%	7%
No diploma	7%	10.1%	10.4%
High school	27.1%	27.2%	26%
Some college	17.5%	18.5%	19.1%
Associate’s	7.1%	10.1%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	24.9%	21.3%	21.6%
Graduate	16.4%	12.9%	14.1%

Full pageKey West by the numbersOpen the page

Ages46.1 median age · 22% are 65 or older Schooling41% have a four-year degree Homes49% own their home · Homeowners Income$87K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

Key West stands out in Florida and nationally: the average trip to work there is shorter

The average commute for its 12,283 working residents takes 14.8 minutes, against 28 across Florida.

Among 638 Florida towns, just 7 have a lower average trip to work than Key West. Since 2013, Key West has added 2,093 jobs, to 16,814 in 2023. The top destinations are Stock Island (2%), Miami (1%) and Marathon (1%).

65%work in town

	Key West	Florida towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	15 minutes	27 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$87,000	$73,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Key West65%

Stock Island2%

Miami1%

Marathon1%

Fort Lauderdale1%

2 mi

median commute distance

16,814

jobs based in Key West

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns

Full pageKey West’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here16,814 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work65% work in Key West Commute times15 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 2 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Key West

20pages on Key West

The big questions

SchoolsBBeat 63% of FL districts · 17 schools SafetyC⁻3.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthA⁻Better than FL on 10 of 31 CDC measures Cost of livingD⁻$1.02M typical home · up 0.3% in a year Work & commuteB$87K median household income · 16,814 jobs here Natural hazardsD⁻FEMA risk higher than 95% of U.S. communities · hurricanes

Out and about

OutdoorsA13 mi of trails · 7% conserved land PlacesAttractions13 nearby · Ernest Hemingway House under 1 mi LibraryA⁻May Hill Russell Library CollegesThe College of the Florida Keys, in town

The story

HistoryASettled 1828 · 20 on the National Register Famous people31 born in Key West Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 55 residents Climate91° summer highs

Day to day

News3 recent stories about Key West WeatherHandbookZIP code 33040, 33041, 33045 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Key West

The College of the Florida KeysCommunity college · Public · Key WestIn town$3,276 in-state tuition

About 4 of every 100 Key West residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

By the sea

Key West lives by the ocean

Coastal flooding makes up 15% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.

15%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding

99thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally

4,086paid flood-insurance claims since 1978

13storm & flood disasters paid out here

On the water

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap

Landmarks

20 places in Key West on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Ernest Hemingway HouseNational Historic Landmark

Fort Zachary TaylorBuilt 1845 · National Historic Landmark

HA. 19 (Japanese Midget Submarine)National Historic Landmark

Ingham (USCGC)National Historic Landmark

Famous people from Key West

31 notable people were born in Key West.

See all 31 →

David RobinsonAmerican basketball player · born 1965

Fats NavarroAmerican jazz trumpeter · 1923–1950

Stepin FetchitAfrican-American actor · 1902–1985

Richard N. RichardsAmerican astronaut · born 1946

Cintio VitierCuban writer · 1921–2009

Jim GabarraAmerican soccer player-coach · born 1959

About Key West

Island and city in Florida, United States

Official town website ↗

Key West (Spanish: Cayo Hueso [kaʝo ˈweso]) is a coral cay island in the Straits of Florida, at the southernmost end of the U.S. state of Florida and its outlying Florida Keys archipelago. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it constitutes the City of Key West. For thousands of years, Key West and the surrounding islands were inhabited by various Native American tribes. The island's first recorded European contact occurred in 1513, when an expedition led by Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León circumnavigated the Florida Keys amid his voyage along the coast of Florida, though no permanent sett…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1828
Area: 7.2 sq mi
Elevation: 13 ft
ZIP code: 33040, 33041, 33045
Area code: 305

Key West’s neighbors

One town shares a border with Key West.

Explore the map →

Stock IslandKey West

Stock Island

E · 2% of Key West workers commute here

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	FL rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Key West	#345	C	D⁻	C⁻	B	A⁻
Stock Island	#324	C	D	—	B	B

Stock Island reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Key West with a neighbor →

Questions about Key West

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Key West, FL a good place to live?

Key West grades C overall, better than 31% of U.S. towns and #345 of 634 in Florida. It grades A− for health, C− for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Key West, FL expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.

What is Key West, FL known for?

31 notable people were born here, including David Robinson and Fats Navarro.

Post to Key West

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