D

Lake Worth, FL

Source:

Affordability Score: 42/100

Population: 215,808 · 6 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Lake Worth, FL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes covering 215,808 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (42/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $78,900, median home value of $395,016, median rent of $1,879 per month, and 29.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $2,254 per month (studio $1,788, 1BR $1,901, 3BR $2,920, 4BR $3,388). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,860 per year, consuming 20% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, commute, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 6.5% and poverty 13.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$78,900
Median household income
Education D
29.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.0x
Home value $395,016 vs income
Commute F
29 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$2,254/mo
2BR fair market rent (34% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$15,860/yr
Center-based infant care (20% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$78,900
▲ 27% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,629
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Poverty Rate
13.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$395,016
▲ 44% vs national
Median Rent
$1,879/mo
Owner Occupied
67.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,254/mo
▲ 88% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,788
1BR
$1,901
2BR
$2,254
3BR
$2,920
4BR
$3,388

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
29.7%
▼ 0 ppt vs national
High School+
57.4%
Median Age
41.5
Avg. Commute
29 min
▲ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,860/yr
20% of income
Toddler (Center)
$12,753/yr
Preschool (Center)
$11,440/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,196/yr

What This Means

Lake Worth, FL receives an overall affordability grade of D (42/100), aggregated from 6 ZIP codes with a total population of 215,808. Challenges include housing and commute and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Lake Worth ZIP Codes
View all 6 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Lake Worth, FL affordable?
Lake Worth, FL receives an overall affordability grade of D (42/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $78,900. Median home value is $395,016.
What is the cost of living in Lake Worth?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,879/mo. 2BR fair market rent $2,254/mo. Infant childcare $15,860/yr. Median home value $395,016.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →