Is Palm Beach Gardens a Good Place to Live? (2026 Guide)

Short answer: yes. Palm Beach Gardens pairs championship golf and two major shopping destinations with big parks, a growing job base and quick access to the beaches in Juno Beach and Jupiter. About 64,500 people live here, and the city keeps adding amenities, from a new hospital campus to new construction at Avenir. The trade-offs: home prices sit above the county average, golf communities can carry club fees, and PGA Boulevard gets busy in season. Here's the full picture for 2026.

Palm Beach Gardens at a Glance

• Population: about 64,547 (University of Florida BEBR estimate, April 2025)
• Single-family median: $1,150,000 in Q2 2026; condos and townhomes $409,000
• Taxes: Florida has no state income tax
• Public schools: the School District of Palm Beach County earned an A for 2025–26
• Golf: home of PGA National and the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic, February 25–28, 2027

Golf Everywhere You Look

Golf runs deep here. PGA National has five courses and hosts the Cognizant Classic on its Champion course every February. BallenIsles adds three more courses inside a private equity club, and newer communities like Panther National keep raising the bar. Read why we love it in 10 reasons we love PGA National.

Shopping and Dining

The Gardens Mall on PGA Boulevard has more than 150 shops, anchored by Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Nearby, Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is a 403,000-square-foot open-air center with Whole Foods, REI, a CMX cinema and Life Time. Add PGA Commons, Legacy Place and the restaurants along PGA Boulevard, and you rarely need to leave town for a night out.

Parks and the Outdoors

The Gardens North County District Park covers 82 acres, including a 23-acre preserve, with lit fields, spray pads, a nature trail and playgrounds. The city also runs an aquatic complex, a tennis and pickleball center and its own GreenMarket. The beaches in Juno Beach are a short drive east, and boaters can reach the Atlantic through the Jupiter or Palm Beach inlets.

Jobs and Healthcare

Carrier Global is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, and employers like TBC Corporation and ZimVie have big footprints here. For healthcare, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on Burns Road has 199 beds, and Jupiter Medical Center broke ground in June 2026 on a second hospital at Avenir, with 29 beds and an emergency department, set to open in early 2028.

Schools

Palm Beach Gardens is served by the School District of Palm Beach County, which earned an A for the 2025–26 school year. The city also has a deep bench of private schools. School zones can change, so confirm the assigned schools for a specific address with the district before you buy.

Getting Around

I-95 and Florida's Turnpike both run through the city, which makes commuting north to Jupiter or south to West Palm Beach easy. President Donald J. Trump International Airport, formerly Palm Beach International, is a straight shot down I-95, and Brightline's West Palm Beach station connects to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando.

Where to Live in Palm Beach Gardens

Choices range from established neighborhoods on the east side to golf communities like PGA National and BallenIsles and new construction in Avenir. See what homes cost in Palm Beach Gardens, and if you're deciding between towns, read Jupiter vs. Palm Beach Gardens.

Is Palm Beach Gardens a Good Place to Live? FAQ

Is Palm Beach Gardens a good place to live?
Yes. It offers championship golf, two major shopping centers, large parks, an A-rated school district, a growing job market and quick access to the beaches, with higher home prices and club fees as the main trade-offs.

Is Palm Beach Gardens expensive?
Compared with the county, yes. The single-family median was $1,150,000 in the second quarter of 2026, while condos and townhomes sold for a median of $409,000.

What is Palm Beach Gardens known for?
Golf, especially PGA National and the Cognizant Classic, plus The Gardens Mall and Downtown Palm Beach Gardens.

Is Palm Beach Gardens close to the beach?
Yes. Juno Beach and Jupiter's beaches are a short drive east.

Thinking About Palm Beach Gardens?

We help buyers compare Palm Beach Gardens neighborhoods all the time, from club rules to commute times. Start with our Palm Beach Gardens guide, then give us a call and we'll put together a short list that fits.

The Meyer Lucas Team serves buyers, sellers, relocators and investors throughout Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Tequesta, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Stuart, Hobe Sound and Palm City.

📞 Call or Text: 561-406-5228
📩 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more and meet the team: meyerlucas.com
🔍 See homes for sale: Home Search