West Palm Beach vs Fort Lauderdale: The Numbers, Side by Side
Deciding between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale? Skip the anecdotes — here is every measurable difference between the two markets (anchored on their core counties): home values and list prices, property taxes at each side’s verified millage, insurance, rents, growth, investor yield and migration — each figure from the named source that produced it.
The head-to-head table
| Metric | West Palm Beach | Fort Lauderdale |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value (Zillow) | $473,295 | $424,261 |
| Median list price | $496,200 | $381,950 |
| 1-yr value change | -1.2% | -3.6% |
| 5-yr value change | 5.7% | 5.1% |
| Median days on market | 77 days | 82 days |
| Active listings | 11,072 | 14,870 |
| Listings with a price cut | 16.0% | 16.5% |
| Typical millage (property tax) | 18.72 mills | 19.84 mills |
| Avg Citizens insurance | $1,753/yr | $1,561/yr |
| Typical rent (ZORI) | $2,662/mo | $2,517/mo |
| Modeled monthly cost to own | $2,844/mo | $2,581/mo |
| Gross cap rate | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Net migration (people/yr) | -1374 | -13129 |
| Residential permits (2025) | 4,228 | 2,690 |
Bold marks the side a cost-or-yield metric favors. Values from Zillow research series, Realtor.com Economic Research, verified county millage, Citizens Property Insurance filings, Zillow Observed Rent Index, IRS SOI migration and Census permits; all change over time.
What the table actually says
On price, Fort Lauderdale is the cheaper market — typical values run about $49,034 lower than West Palm Beach.
On carrying costs, West Palm Beach has the lower typical millage and Fort Lauderdale the lower average Citizens premium; the own-versus-rent gap is narrower in Fort Lauderdale.
On momentum, West Palm Beach shows the stronger 1-year value change (-1.2% vs -3.6%); five-year growth favors West Palm Beach.
For rental investors, Fort Lauderdale carries the higher gross cap rate (7.1% vs 6.8%).
On demand, IRS migration data shows West Palm Beach gaining more net residents per year (-1,374 vs -13,129).
The costs people forget to compare
Two Florida specifics matter more than the sticker gap. First, property tax RESETS to your purchase price when you buy — compare the two markets at YOUR price with the property tax calculator, not at the sellers’ current bills. Second, insurance varies more by home age, construction and distance-to-coast than by county average — quote the specific home. The buyer closing costs calculator builds both into a real cash-to-close for either market.
Dig deeper on Fort Lauderdale
Run the numbers in Broward County
- Find the best agent in Broward County
- Get a cash offer in Broward County
- Broward County housing scorecard
- What would selling net you
- Buyer closing costs calculator
Common questions
Is West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale cheaper to buy a home?
Which has lower property taxes, West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale?
Which is better for rental investors?
A factual comparison of market data only, from the sources named above as of 2026-06-16; figures change over time and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. It describes markets, not people, and is not advice about where anyone should live. Equal Housing Opportunity.