Is South Bay, FL a Good Place to Live?
South Bay is a small town of 4,830 in Florida, with a median household income of $48,438 and a 9.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: South Bay stands out for below-average home prices.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South Bay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All South Bay city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 111.8South Bay's overall cost of living index is 111.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Bay costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | South Bay, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $118,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,058 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $48,438 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
High CrimeSouth Bay's violent crime rate is 1001.8 per 100,000 residents — 164% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
South Bay is served primarily by PALM BEACH. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | South Bay, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | PALM BEACH | — |
| Elementary Schools | 132 | — |
| Middle Schools | 37 | — |
| High Schools | 50 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 16.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 6.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 57.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
South Bay sees average highs of 75.9°F in January and 92.3°F in July, with 55.2 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | South Bay, FL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 75.9°F |
| Average High — July | 92.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | South Bay, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,830 | — |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 26.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 57.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 9.7% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in South Bay
South Bay, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code: