Survey Shows High Marks for Dining, Safety, and Lifestyle in Downtown West Palm
April 17th, 2025
Study from Marshall Marketing shows that residents and visitors overwhelmingly view Downtown West Palm Beach as fun, appealing, and safe
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 17, 2025) — Downtown West Palm Beach’s (DowntownWPB) reputation as a fun and exciting destination continues to rise as local residents, particularly young professionals moving into the region, conveyed overwhelming satisfaction with the area’s dining, entertainment, safety, and appeal. This was the conclusion of a recent study commissioned by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to gauge resident experiences and overall sentiments about enjoying the downtown West Palm Beach way of life.
The study was conducted by Marshall Marketing in November 2024 and asked 800 residents 18 or older in Palm Beach, Martin, Saint Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties about their visits to DowntownWPB over the past year.
Marshall asked respondents to give their opinions on entertainment, dining, safety, and lifestyle aspects of DowntownWPB. Topline findings from this questioning included:
When respondents who visited DowntownWPB three or more times in the past year were asked to rate their satisfaction with specific experiences in DowntownWPB, the vast majority gave EXCELLENT rankings for the following:
- Restaurants (70%)
- Landscaping / curb appeal (68%)
- Entertainment (62%)
- Feeling safe (60%)
- Cleanliness (54%)
60% of those surveyed had visited DowntownWPB at least once in the past year, with 33% having visited 3 or more times.
Respondents who visited DowntownWPB most often represented white collar and women professionals (60%) and Singles/Achievers (44%) demographics.
While “Excellent” satisfaction ratings increased across all categories with both first-time and frequent visitors when compared to the 2023 survey, the largest satisfaction jump was with respondents’ appreciation of DowntownWPB’s Security Ambassadors, which increased by 12%.
DowntownWPB’s high marks from residents comes on the heels of the City of West Palm Beach being named the winner of 2025 Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice® Best of the Best Awards for Destinations, which recognized the best places to travel based on reviews and ratings by travelers.
“The survey findings echo what we hear time and again from locals and visitors alike: the more time you spend in Downtown West Palm Beach, the more there is to love,” said DDA Executive Director Teneka James-Feaman. “Whether it’s our top-class dining and entertainment scene, or the artistic and well-maintained public spaces, the survey results are a testament to the successful lifestyle programming, civic initiatives, and beautification efforts that the DDA and our partners have undertaken to cement Downtown West Palm Beach as a hub of enjoyment for all who spend time here.”
Among other findings:
- New Resident Influx: Residents who have lived in the region for five years or less now account for nearly one-fifth of the population.
- Youth Movement: Demographic groups identified as Singles (Adults 18-54) and Achievers (College Graduate Adults 25-64) are the second and third-most populous resident groups in the West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce market, accounting for 19% and 17% of the local population, respectively.
“As more finance companies establish a presence in Downtown West Palm Beach, the professionals and new residents they attract to our region are not only boosting our economy – they’re redefining what it means to live, work, and thrive here,” James-Feaman added. “Just as we take stock of out-of-town visitor feedback, this survey helps us understand what truly resonates with those who experience downtown daily. It allows the DDA and our partners to invest with purpose – creating a downtown that grows with its people and becomes even more magnetic for both talent and businesses.”
For more information about the DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit DowntownWPB.com or call the DDA at (561) 833-8873.
About the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority
The West Palm Beach DDA is an independent taxing district created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Its mission is to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant Downtown for our residents, businesses and visitors through the strategic development of economic, social and cultural opportunities.
###
Media contact: Tony Theissen
rbb Communications
[email protected]