About Palm Beach

Popular with tourists and sharing a name with the town on the barrier island, the county’s 1.3 million strong population swells considerably during the holiday season. If you are contemplating moving to Palm Beach, expect hot and humid summer highs of 90°F (32°C). The months of May through to October are characterized by convective thunderstorms and tropical downpours. The winter months are less humid and sunnier and, while the top temperatures are likely to reach 82°F (28°C), occasional cold fronts do see temperatures at times plummet to 50°F (10°C) for a day or two.

The county has a reputation as a retirement area, and while this is true of some towns (the town of Palm Beach has a median age of 67), the diversity of ages across the county is more normalized, with an average of 42 years in 2010. The county also boasts a huge expatriate community, with over 23% of residents born outside of the US.

Finding Accommodation in Palm Beach

If you are contemplating a move to Palm Beach County, there is a wealth of accommodation and areas to choose from. For metropolitan living, the towns of Jupiter and West Palm Beach offer a variety of restaurants, bars and all the hustle and bustle of a city lifestyle, while Palm Beach town itself is full of affluence, luxury and golden beaches.

The property prices in Palm Beach County are undergoing a steady incline, with the average home value for an admittedly diverse county topping 205,800 USD in February 2015. The rental market is relatively average by US standards, with a one-bedroom city center apartment likely to cost in the region of 750 USD a month, rising to 1,100 USD for a three-bedroom apartment in a similar location. Properties outside of the city center benefit from a slightly reduced price, although the premium for city center properties is not as marked in Palm Beach County as other US locations.

The crime rate index for the county places it amongst the top 60% of US cities for safety, with violent crimes in 2014 numbering only 7. By contrast, property crime is markedly higher across the county, with a 2013 study naming the city of West Palm Beach as the highest crime area in Palm Beach County.

Visas for the USA

When applying for visas to move to the US, it is important that you do your research. There are a variety of options available, many dependent on your profession, skill set and employment status. A US employer can apply for an immigration visa for an international employee providing they fall into one of five preference categories. The requirements for these categories are based largely on skill, training and profession.

If you already hold a Green Card, then you are eligible to apply for immigration visas for a spouse and any unmarried children. If you are being sponsored by an employer, your spouse and any children under the age of 21 can apply for immigration visas alongside you.

For more information, please see our article on US visas.