My notes on the Mayor’s recent State of the City address and what they mean for buyers, sellers and investors in Palm Beach Gardens.
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An Economic Engine, Not a Bedroom Town
- 64,547 residents across 60 square miles
- 35,612 people commute in to work
- 20,365 commute out to work
- 4,031 live and work in the city
My read: a net inflow of about 15,200 workers lifts the daytime population to roughly 79,800, 24% above the resident count. Every in-commuter is a potential buyer or renter who would rather live closer to work. Source: City of Palm Beach Gardens; commuter data credit Dr. Henry Fishkind. Daytime estimate is mine.
Growth Is Steady, Not Speculative
- About 1,244 new residents per year, roughly 3.4 people a day
- Job growth of 12.1% over the past 5 years, versus a national average of 10.6%
- Projected job growth of 7.9% over the next 5 years, versus a state forecast of 7.5%
My read: outpacing both national and state benchmarks by a modest margin is the healthy kind of growth: demand that absorbs new supply without overheating it. Source: City of PBG; CareerSource data.
5,166 Active Businesses, 652 New This Year
One in eight active businesses opened in the last 12 months. The top segments: professional services (30.2%), medical professionals (13.0%), home-based business (12.3%), legal (9.1%), retail (6.4%), finance (4.6%) and restaurants (4.3%).
My read: professional services, medical and legal firms make up 52% of the business base, which supports office demand. Home-based businesses at 12% point to buyers who need dedicated office space at home.
Avenir Is Delivering
Avenir is a 4,763-acre master-planned community approved for about 3,900 homes and roughly 2.4 million square feet of office, medical and retail space, with about 2,400 acres of preserve. It is expected to be a 20-year project transforming western Palm Beach Gardens.
- 1,613 total certificates of occupancy
- 566 issued in the past year
About 41% of approved homes now have COs, and 35% of those came in the last 12 months. Town Center retail, The Health Park and the Coconut Blvd extension are adding services and access.
My read: this area offers buyers new construction homes from a variety of builders in addition to resale activity, and commercial development will expand services and convenience for existing and new residents.
Commercial and Medical Pipeline
- Florida Power & Light (FPL) Phase II: campus expansion under construction
- PBG Medical Center: new facility at Coconut Palm Plaza
- The Health Park at Avenir: medical office serving the western growth area
- Alan B. Miller Medical Center: a recent addition to the hospital mix in Palm Beach County
- Coconut Crossing: new commercial and medical center under construction
My read: healthcare is clustering. Two new medical projects plus a new hospital point to sustained demand and greater service and coverage for western Palm Beach Gardens and the county.
A Regional Sports Destination
- Dick’s House of Sport: experiential sports anchor in the former Sears location at the Gardens Mall
- SoFi Center: home of TGL, the tech-driven golf league
- Cressey Sports Performance: elite athlete training facility
- PBNAF Iceplex: new ice facility under construction
- Indoor Field House: large-format indoor sports venue under construction
My read: venues bring visitors, tournaments and families. TGL is a strong driver of hotel stays and hospitality services. All of it adds lifestyle choices, retail demand and options for relocating buyers and businesses.
Final Thoughts
- Housing pipeline: 2,522 new residential units are open, under construction, approved or under review, including 263 workforce housing units.
- Safer as it grows: population is up 28% since 2015 while crime per capita has fallen by half.
- Inventory: low housing inventory puts both new construction and existing homes at a premium.
- Transformation: growth in medical, athletic and commercial development continues to transform Palm Beach Gardens into a hub of business and lifestyle.
Buying, selling or investing in Palm Beach Gardens? I turn city data into pricing, timing and acquisition strategy for residential and investment clients across Palm Beach County. Call (561) 632-7705 or email slevine@ipre.com.
Source: City of Palm Beach Gardens, State of the City 2026 (Mayor Dana Middleton). Commuter data credit Dr. Henry Fishkind. Job data CareerSource.
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