2010 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data Report
Western Palm Beach County Demographics
Palm Beach County Health Status Summary
State of Florida Profile
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WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY PROFILE
HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: In 2009 there were 506,000 households in Palm Beach County. The average household size was 2.5 people.
Families made up 61 percent of the households in Palm Beach County. This figure includes both married-couple families (45 percent) and other families (16 percent). Nonfamily households made up 39 percent of all households in Palm Beach County. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.
The Types of Households in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Type of household |
Percent of households |
| Married-couple families |
45% |
| Other families |
16% |
| People living alone |
32% |
| Other nonfamily households |
7% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: Twenty-two percent of the people living in Palm Beach County in 2009 were foreign born. Seventy-eight percent was native, including 30 percent who were born in Florida.
Among people at least five years old living in Palm Beach County in 2009, 26 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 60 percent spoke Spanish and 40 percent spoke some other language; 49 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."
GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: In 2009, 85 percent of the people at least one year old living in Palm Beach County were living in the same residence one year earlier; 9 percent had moved during the past year from another residence in the same county, 2 percent from another county in the same state, 3 percent from another state, and 1 percent from abroad.
Geographic Mobility of Residents of Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Residence 1 year ago |
Percent of people age 1 year and over |
| Same residence |
85% |
| Different residence, same county |
9% |
| Different county, same state |
2% |
| Different state |
3% |
| Abroad |
1% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
EDUCATION: In 2009, 87 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 31 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Thirteen percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.
The total school enrollment in Palm Beach County was 278,000 in 2009. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 31,000 and elementary or high school enrollment was 178,000 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 69,000.
The Educational Attainment of People in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Highest Level |
Percent of people 25 years and over |
| Graduate or professional degree |
11% |
| Bachelor's degree |
20% |
| Associate's degree |
8% |
| Some college, no degree |
21% |
| High school diploma or equivalency |
26% |
| Less than high school diploma |
13% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
DISABILITY: In Palm Beach County, among people at least five years old in 2009, 12 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 3 percent of people 5 to 15 years old, to 8 percent of people 16 to 64 years old, and to 34 percent of those 65 and older.
INDUSTRIES: In 2009, for the employed population 16 years and older, the leading industries in Palm Beach County were Educational services, and health care, and social assistance, 19 percent, and Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services, 15 percent.
Employment by Industry in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Type of industry |
Percent of employed people 16 years and over |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining |
1% |
| Construction |
7% |
| Manufacturing |
5% |
| Wholesale trade |
3% |
| Retail trade |
14% |
| Transportation and warehousing, and utilities |
4% |
| Information |
2% |
| Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing |
8% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services |
15% |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance |
19% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation, and food services |
12% |
| Other Services, except public administration |
6% |
| Public administration |
4% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: Among the most common occupations were: Management, professional, and related occupations, 35 percent; Sales and office occupations, 26 percent; Service occupations, 22 percent; Construction, extraction, maintenance, and repair occupations, 9 percent; and Production, transportation, and material moving occupations, 7 percent. Eighty-three percent of the people employed were Private wage and salary workers; 11 percent was Federal, state, or local government workers; and 6 percent was Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers.
TRAVEL TO WORK: Seventy-eight percent of Palm Beach County workers drove to work alone in 2009, 11 percent carpooled, 1 percent took public transportation, and 4 percent used other means. The remaining 5 percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 24.1 minutes to get to work.
INCOME: The median income of households in Palm Beach County was $49,549. Seventy-one percent of the households received earnings and 19 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Thirty-eight percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $17,518. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.
POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: In 2009, 14 percent of people were in poverty. Twenty-two percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 8 percent of people 65 years old and over. Ten percent of all families and 25 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.
Poverty Rates in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Families or people |
Percent below poverty level |
| People age 65 and over |
8% |
| Related children under 18 years |
22% |
| All families |
10% |
| Female householder families |
25% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
POPULATION OF Palm Beach County: In 2009, Palm Beach County had a total population of 1.3 million - 654,000 (51 percent) females and 626,000 (49 percent) males. The median age was 42.9 years. Twenty-one percent of the population was under 18 years and 22 percent was 65 years and older.
The Age Distribution of People in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Age category |
Percent of population |
| 65 and over |
22% |
| 45 to 64 |
26% |
| 25 to 44 |
24% |
| 18 to 24 |
8% |
| Under 18 |
21% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
For people reporting one race alone, 78 percent was White; 16 percent was Black or African American; less than 0.5 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native; 2 percent was Asian; less than 0.5 percent was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 2 percent was Some other race. One percent reported Two or more races. Nineteen percent of the people in Palm Beach County was Hispanic. Sixty-two percent of the people in Palm Beach County was White non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2009, Palm Beach County had a total of 642,000 housing units, 21 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 56 percent was in single-unit structures, 41 percent was in multi-unit structures, and 3 percent was mobile homes. Thirty-three percent of the housing units were built since 1990.
The Types of Housing Units in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Type of housing unit |
Percent of housing units |
| Single-unit structures |
66% |
| In multi-unit structures |
41% |
| Mobile homes |
3% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS: In 2009, Palm Beach County had 506,000 occupied housing units - 365,000 (72 percent) owner occupied and 141,000 (28 percent) renter occupied. Two percent of the households did not have telephone service and 7 percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Thirty-seven percent had two vehicles and another 12 percent had three or more.
HOUSING COSTS: The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,848, nonmortgaged owners $603, and renters $1,108. Fifty-five percent of owners with mortgages, 25 percent of owners without mortgages, and 64 percent of renters in Palm Beach County spent 30 percent or more of household income on housing.
Occupants with a Housing Cost Burden in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2009
| Type of occupant |
Percent paying 30 percent or more of income for housing |
| Owners with mortgage |
55% |
| Owners without mortgage |
25% |
| Renters |
64% |
| |
|
Source: American Community Survey, 2009
The U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces the official population estimates for the nation, states, counties and places, and the official estimates of housing units for states and counties. The population and housing characteristics included above are derived from the American Community Survey.
Notes:
• Detail may not add to totals due to rounding.
• Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. |