The Town FilesSouth Beach, Florida
Community in Indian River County · population 3,703 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $900,700
- Household income
- $193,594
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 68.3
South Beach is a community of 3,703 people in Indian River County, Florida. The median home is worth $900,700, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Florida towns, more upscale than 99% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Florida towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- #9 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Florida
- #15 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Most Remote Workers
- #17 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
- #18 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Places in America
- #19 in 50 Places in America With the Most Remote Workers
How South Beach 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 Beach is worth $900,700, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $193,594, which is more affordable than 46% of Florida towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 98.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Beach | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $900,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $193,594 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 98.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.0% | — |
Who lives in South Beach
| People | South Beach | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 68.3 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 55.9% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.5% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 46.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in South Beach
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 51.2°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Beach since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on October 9, 2024 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1975.
Severe weather in Indian River County since 1996
Indian River County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| 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 Indian River County
Indian River County had 57,522 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,991 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in South Beach itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Towns near South Beach
- Florida Ridge, FL3.1 mi · 21,302 people · home $287,900
- Lakewood Park, FL4.1 mi · 12,510 people · home $268,400
- Vero Beach South, FL5.8 mi · 28,020 people · home $335,200
- Vero Beach, FL6.2 mi · 16,354 people · home $391,900
- Fort Pierce North, FL7.1 mi · 6,904 people · home $167,600
- Gifford, FL8.9 mi · 5,511 people · home $236,000
- Indian River Shores, FL9.8 mi · 4,241 people · home $1,132,000
- West Vero Corridor, FL10.0 mi · 10,039 people · home $216,400
South Beach questions
Is South Beach, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Beach scores better for retirees than 99% of Florida towns and quieter than 95%. 55.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 68.3).
How much does a house cost in South Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in South Beach is valued at $900,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $193,594, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in South Beach?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 51.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South Beach get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on October 9, 2024. 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)