South Bay FL city hall01, 2011
South Bay’s story
107 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,050 in 1950, 4,860 in 2020. The archive holds 19 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1970 on.
- 1919South Bay is settled
South BayFL
Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
5,140
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$227K
−0.1% in a year
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Jobs based here
931
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#509 of 634 in FL
Is South Bay a good place to live?
South Bay earns a D, 509th of 634 graded towns in Florida, mostly because of incomes and health. The median household income is $51K, and 32% of residents live below the poverty line. Residents are less healthy than 92% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. In its favor, it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 91% of U.S. towns. 32% of residents live below the poverty line in South Bay, against 11% in Florida’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Only 12 of Florida’s 134 towns score lower on safety. South Bay's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 99% of U.S. towns.
What makes South Bay stand out
Where South Bay beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 91% of U.S. towns
6.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1919
A long history
A history going back 107 years.
31 measures vs. Florida
3 better6 too close to call22 worse
| Widest gap | South Bay | FL |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 32.5% | 12.7% |
Worth knowing · HealthD
Less healthy than 93% of U.S. towns
Trails FL on 22 of 31 CDC measures, beats it on 3
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave South Bay for work
Where South Bay’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
931jobs based in South Bay
6%of working residents work in town
40 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How South Bay grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida), ordered by how far South Bay is from typical.
Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 91% of comparable towns) to D− for jobs and income (better than 3%), so the D overall blends very different results.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →HealthLakeside Medical Center 4.9 miles awayDOpen →SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.9 of 20; 14.3% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5 miles of trails; 0% conserved landB−Open →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 92° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 37.8; 9% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to South Bay: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in South Bay, and how to reach them.
PowerFPL14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPalm Beach County System 11No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have South Bay’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections herePalm Beach Supervisor of ElectionsPalm Beach County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Mar 2024
ZIP code3349333493 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 South Bay.
South Bay trades lower home prices for longer drives to work and has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, but it reports violent crime at about twice the Florida rate.
OutdoorsB−
0.3% of South Bay is conserved land
5.2 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The trail density in South Bay is 1.3 miles per square mile.
#66for trails in FL
| South Bay | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.3% | 3% | 4.3% |
0.3%
conserved · 9 of 2,511 acres
5.2 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tanner Park | 0.2 mi | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
South Bay’s schools rank ahead of 68% of Florida districts
Its public schools are run by the Palm Beach school district. Its two schools are below.
68%of FL districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosenwald Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 267 | C− |
| Hillside Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 12 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within FL on state tests and graduation
HealthD
More of South Bay’s adults smoke cigarettes than in the typical Florida or U.S. town
23% of adults smoke cigarettes in South Bay. Only 5 of the 636 Florida towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than South Bay. 37% of adults get no exercise outside work in South Bay.
8%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| South Bay | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 13% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 37% | 36% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 15% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 14% | 8.1% |
31 measures vs. Florida
3 better6 too close to call22 worse
| What stands out | South Bay | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Fewer adults with high cholesterol | 33.8% | 39% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 32.5% | 12.7% |
Lakeside Medical Center
4.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
7th
percentile among FL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyD
Crime per resident in South Bay is higher than in 91% of U.S. towns
Violent crime runs at 6 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Florida rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D. Reported crimes fell from 162 to 81 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
South Bay’s violent crime rate is 6 per 1,000 residents.
9%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| South Bay | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6 per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 9.6 per 1,000 residents | 12.6 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
South Bay6
Florida2.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
South Bay9.6
Florida10.7
U.S.15.5
9th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
9th
percentile among FL towns
31
violent crimes reported in 2025
50
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B
A typical South Bay home is worth about $227K
Homes are within reach (about $227K for the typical one, B for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 40 miles. At 3 years of the Miami metro’s $77K median household income, the typical home (about $227K) costs less against local pay than in 88% of Florida towns; that ratio is one input to its B for cost of living.
The typical South Bay home is worth about $227,000, about the same as a year ago, 40% below the Florida typical home. 60% of South Bay households own their home.
$227KZillow home value
| South Bay | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 60% | 72% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,085 a month | $1,647 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
South Bay$227K
Florida$375K
−0.1%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
With 0.7 jobs for every working resident, most of South Bay’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave South Bay for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, South Bay has lost 101 jobs, to 931 in 2023. The top destinations are Belle Glade (11%), Palm Springs (9%) and West Palm Beach (6%).
6%work in town
| South Bay | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.5% | 5% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In South Bay6%
Belle Glade11%
Palm Springs9%
West Palm Beach6%
Fort Lauderdale4%
40 mi
median commute distance
931
jobs based in South Bay
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 91% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
South Bay has mild winters and hot summers
The Belle Glade weather station records that about 124 days a year reach 90°, more than in 98% of U.S. towns. January nights average 53.9°, milder than in 99% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 92.1°.
South Bay has warm winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
92°summer high
| South Bay | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 54°F | 51°F | 22°F |
| July high | 92°F | 91°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter56–77°
Spring63–85°
Summer73–92°
Fall68–86°
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in South Bay, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingCold waves
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about South Bay
20pages on South Bay
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 68% of FL districts · 2 schoolsSafetyD6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than FL on 3 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB$227K typical home · down 0.1% in a yearWork & commuteD−$51K median household income · 931 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 56% of U.S. communities · hurricanes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of South Bay; the nearest are
South University-West Palm BeachUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Royal Palm Beach33 mi$18,145 tuitionFlorida Atlantic UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Boca Raton44.8 mi$4,879 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 South Bay residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida.
About South Bay
City in Florida, United States
South Bay is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is the westernmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, South Bay had a population of 4,860. While the current estimates place South Bay's population in the incorporated city limits at more than 4,000 people, surrounding areas increase the population figures to 54,000 people in a 25-mile (40 km) radius and more than 1.4 million in a 50-mile (80 km) radius.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 20 ft
- ZIP code
- 33493
- Area code
- 561
Questions about South Bay
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is South Bay, FL a good place to live?
South Bay grades D overall, better than 14% of U.S. towns and #509 of 634 in Florida. It grades D for health, D for safety and B+ for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is South Bay, FL expensive?
That is 3 years of the area's median household income ($76,527 across the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.