The Town FilesSouth Bay, Florida
City in Palm Beach County · population 4,860 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,300
- Household income
- $51,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 37.8
South Bay is a city of 4,860 people in Palm Beach County, Florida. The median home is worth $142,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better transit than 91% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 79% of Florida towns.
How South Bay ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Bay is worth $142,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $51,417, which is more affordable than 94% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,085 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Bay | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,085 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $51,417 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Bay
| People | South Bay | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in South Bay
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 51.8°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 124 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bay since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 19, 1958 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 17, 1968.
Severe weather in Palm Beach County since 1996
Palm Beach County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| December 13, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4680: Hurricane Nicole |
| November 8, 2022 | Tropical Storm | EM-3587: Tropical Storm Nicole |
| September 29, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4673: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County had 666,889 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,246 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in South Bay itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in South Bay
1 public school with 273 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSENWALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 273 | 13.7 |
Towns near South Bay
- Belle Glade, FL4.3 mi · 16,698 people · home $163,100
- Pahokee, FL10.2 mi · 5,524 people · home $152,300
- Clewiston, FL13.3 mi · 7,327 people · home $239,200
- Montura, FL22.3 mi · 3,343 people · home $124,400
- Loxahatchee Groves, FL28.4 mi · 3,355 people · home $583,200
- Indiantown, FL28.7 mi · 6,560 people · home $204,900
- The Acreage, FL28.9 mi · 41,654 people · home $524,800
- Wellington, FL29.0 mi · 61,637 people · home $599,400
South Bay questions
Is South Bay, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Bay scores better for retirees than 3% of Florida towns and quieter than 49%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in South Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in South Bay is valued at $142,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,417, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,085 a month.
What is the weather like in South Bay?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 51.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South Bay get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 19, 1958. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)