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About Palm City, FL

About Palm City, FL

A bedroom community offering luxury and a family-friendly environment

Palm City is a picturesque bedroom community that blends leisure and luxury along the St. Lucie River. This attractive destination of more than 26,000 comprises 16 square miles of lush landscape, punctuated by golf courses and green spaces. Nestled between Port St. Lucie, Stuart and Jupiter, Palm City appeals to homebuyers who desire modern amenities amid the tranquil landscape of the Treasure Coast. “It’s great for commuters, but it also has great schools and a variety of housing,” says Barabra C. Smith of Keller Willams, who has been serving Martin County for more than 35 years. “You have a lot of families living there, a lot of professional families.”

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Residents of Palm City enjoying Florida's cooler temperatures.
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A gazebo in the down town area of Palm City, FL.
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Palm City has a variety of air subdivision homes with a small lake.
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Kids enjoying an evening bike ride in Palm city.
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St. Lucie River, golf courses are centers of activity

The river forms the community’s eastern border and provides residents with easy access to nautical adventures, including the chance to fish for snook and tarpon in the sportfish-heavy waters and larger gamefish in the open waters of the nearby Atlantic. Boaters have direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. By car, the beachfront is less than 8 miles away. The community’s many golf options are anchored by the public Osprey course at Martin Downs Country Club, which was built in the early 1980s. The semi-private Hammock Creek Golf Club opened in 1996, and the private Banyan Creek Golf Club debuted in the 2010s. The Village Club & Preserve features 10 acres of resort-style amenities maintained primarily by volunteers. Several community parks offer recreational and leisure activities in a variety of settings, including the riverfront. The Patio at Palm City is the newest green space. It opened in the summer of 2024 on Mapp Road in an area designated for future development as the community’s downtown.

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Palm City resident heading out for a boat ride.
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Palm City has Pendarvis park pier near the water.
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Palm City, FL has a variety of condos and boat piers.
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The golf course and lake in Palm City, FL.
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Golf course and waterfront homes are prominent

Housing is highlighted by gated and non-gated communities offering either golf course access or waterfront living. Boats and private docks dot the community’s riverfront. Contemporary custom homes on spacious lots in subdivision settings are common. Front yards are often graced by palm trees, and pools are a standard backyard amenity. The median sales price is $650,000, but that encompasses more affordable alternatives such as condos, attached villas and townhouses. “There are a lot of very nice homes in Palm City,” Smith says, “but you’re probably going to pay 700,000 and up, up, up for those homes.” The largest waterfront homes and acreage homes in equestrian communities west of the city limits typically list from $1 million-plus to the mid-$2 millions. The risk of flooding within the city limits ranges from major to severe, so homebuyers should be aware that insurance rates will reflect that aspect of coastal living. Wind damage, especially during hurricane season, is also a risk, even for outlying areas.

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Palm City has many different styles of single-family homes.
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Palm City has many different styles of single-family homes.
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Locals can go boating in Palm City, FL.
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Palm City has Pendarvis park pier near the water.
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Three elementaries, Hidden Oaks Middle School are all highly rated

Students are served by the Martin County School District, which Niche gives an A-minus and rates as the sixth-best in the state. Martin County offers school choice, but Palm City Elementary, Citrus Grove Elementary, Bessey Creek Elementary and Hidden Oaks Middle School are all community schools that earn an A-minus from Niche. South Fork and Martin County high schools in Stuart are also rated A-minus.

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Martin County High School's mascot is a tiger.
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Welcome Hidden Oaks Middle School signage, and parking lot.
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Bessey Creek Elementary School is a public school in Palm City, FL.
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Citrus Grove Elementary School.
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Townie's Tavern is a popular local stop; downtown Stuart is a charming destination nearby

Palm City’s vast dining options are what you would typically find in a much larger place. Highly-rated destinations that offer everything from seafood to steak to saganaki are concentrated along the Martin Downs Boulevard commercial corridor, but restaurants and grocery stores are also located along Mapp Road and Martin Highway. The latter is home to Townie’s Tavern, a popular gathering place that features live music. Martin Downs Boulevard provides quick access to the downtown Stuart riverfront. “It’s really easy to get downtown,” Smith says. “Palm City is kind of spread out, but if you’re on the east side, you’re really close. Downtown Stuart has lots of restaurants and interesting shops. It’s very charming.”

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The garden round about during the day in Palm City down town area.
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The Palm City Grill in Palm City, FL is a community favorite amongst many restaurants.
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Palm City has benches on the street for public transportation and leisure.
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sw high meadows ave and sw martin downs blvd intersect 2
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A car-dependent community with convenient access to Florida's Turnpike, I-95

Residents who don’t enjoy the luxury of remote work can commute easily to nearby cities. Martin Downs Boulevard, also known as Florida 714, provides a quick trip across the river to Stuart. “You also have access to Florida’s Turnpike and Interstate 95,” Smith says. Both connect to Port St. Lucie and Jupiter. Martin County Transportation has been studying a possible expansion into Palm City, but as of now, the community is car-dependent.

Martin County Sheriff's Office serves the community

As a census-designated place, law enforcement for the community is provided by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, headquartered in neighboring Stuart.

Matt Pallister
Written By
Matt Pallister
Tyler Hall
Video By
Tyler Hall

Neighborhood Map

Palm City by the Numbers

24,719
Population
$679K
Average Housing Value
83
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Palm City, FL

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Citrus Grove Elementary School
#1 Citrus Grove Elementary School
A-
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Bessey Creek Elementary School
#2 Bessey Creek Elementary School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Palm City Elementary School
#3 Palm City Elementary School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Felix A. Williams Elementary School
#4 Felix A. Williams Elementary School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Morningside Elementary School
#5 Morningside Elementary School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Rivers Edge Elementary School
#6 Rivers Edge Elementary School
B-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Crystal Lake Elementary School
#7 Crystal Lake Elementary School
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Savanna Ridge Elementary School
#8 Savanna Ridge Elementary School
C+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Parkway Elementary School
#9 Parkway Elementary School
C
Niche
6
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Hidden Oaks Middle School
#1 Hidden Oaks Middle School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Stuart Middle School
#2 Stuart Middle School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Southport Middle School
#3 Southport Middle School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School
#4 Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Northport K-8 School
#5 Northport K-8 School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Southern Oaks Middle School
#6 Southern Oaks Middle School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Jensen Beach High School
#1 Jensen Beach High School
A
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Martin County High School
#2 Martin County High School
A-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
South Fork High School
#3 South Fork High School
A-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Port St. Lucie High School
#4 Port St. Lucie High School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Milton Koster
(772) 783-4014
Milton W. Koster – The Koster Team | RE/MAX of Stuart

Milton Koster leads The Koster Team at RE/MAX of Stuart, proudly serving Florida’s Treasure Coast. With over 40 years of local experience in Martin and St. Lucie counties, Milt brings deep market knowledge and a strong commitment to client success.

Originally from East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Milt relocated to the Treasure Coast where he raised his family and built his real estate business. In 1985, he founded Milton W. Koster Real Estate Investments (now KosterLand), helping buyers acquire undeveloped land in Port St. Lucie with easy owner financing—no credit checks or qualifying required.

Since 2015, Milt has been with RE/MAX, specializing in residential homes, waterfront lifestyle properties, and vacant land. He is supported by his wife and assistant, Debbie, ensuring personalized service from start to finish.

Explore Milt’s List at www.MiltsList.com for trusted local vendors, service providers, and community resources.

Read over 100 5-star reviews at www.KosterTeam.com!

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.