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Lake Worth Beach, Florida, proves to be three of the most confusing words in the name of a city I’ve ever seen.
The technical name of the city is currently Lake Worth Beach.
It was just Lake Worth until 2019 when the word “beach” was added.
However, there are unincorporated parts of the city that still go by Lake Worth.
The U.S. Census only knows it as Lake Worth Beach.
There is also a Lake Worth, Texas, so overall it’s just confusing.
As long as you have the words “Lake” and “worth” and “Florida” in a search, you should get to the right spot.
The name isn’t the only confusing part of this beautiful beach spot.
There’s the Lake Worth Beach Casino Building, a focal point of the community, which doesn’t have a casino in it.
It was a derelict building for years before it was restored in 2013.
It’s a good thing we’ve got a white, sandy beach to sit on while we sort all this out.
I thought this quote from a resident was a great one, to sum up, Lake Worth Beach, “Lake Worth Beach is a multi-cultural, multi-generational experience where acceptance and love are promoted every day.”
This is a city where you have to be open-minded and accepting of all people.
It’s ethnically and culturally diverse and hosts one of the largest gay pride parades in the region.
Warnings & Dangers in Lake Worth Beach
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
The city has been overseen by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office since 2008 when the local police department was disbanded. At the time, crime rates were skyrocketing. Crime rates have dropped dramatically, but they are still high. Overall, there's a medium risk here.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
The TriRail commuter train is a great way to travel through all the South Florida counties. Palm Tran is the bus system through Palm Beach and there's a route through Lake Worth Beach. County-regulated taxis and rideshares are also available. All options are safe with low risk while riding, but TriRail says there has been a spike of thefts and graffiti at the stations, so while you're waiting be vigilant.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
There was one pickpocket report in 2020, but the take was $5,000! A great reminder to never have large sums of money or valuables in your purse or wallet. The overall theft rate is one in 44 and that's enough to give this a medium risk.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
There's a medium risk in this hurricane-prone area that is also ripe for thunderstorms in the summer. Flash flooding and dangerous lightning can ruin an adventure. Keep a weather app handy to watch the skies, especially in the afternoon and early evening.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The robbery rate is four times the national average and 62% of the robberies that did happen were "highway robbery", which means it happened on or near a road most likely against a traveler. There's a medium risk, but it's the higher end of the risk range. Keep your belongings closed and secured and only bring what you need. If you do get robbed, don't fight back. It's not worth your life to protect your backpack.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
The entire Miami and Palm Beach metro areas would be a medium risk, simply because of the population that would be impacted by an attack. With all the important ports and high-profile attractions, it's important to be aware of your surroundings and report anything that appears suspicious.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
There's a medium risk of a scam here. They are mostly targeted at locals via phone, but there are some rental house scams and online websites offering great deals that turn out to be frauds. Also, don't ever believe someone who says they have a winning lottery ticket but can't cash it because they are in the country illegally. This scam reigns over a good portion of South Florida.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
The rape rate here is twice the national average. Women should proceed with caution in this area due to all the crime rates. Let's call it a medium risk. There are amazing parts of Lake Worth Beach and some dangerous parts, so always go with a buddy if you can, and don't go into strange neighborhoods at night.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
There's a low risk in tap water here. The city has taken steps over the past five years to update the system to provide even better water more consistently. The city is also vigilant in sending out boil orders if there is contamination.
Safest Places to Visit in Lake Worth Beach
One of the main reasons the city and voters changed the name from Lake Worth to Lake Worth Beach was to highlight the beautiful beach in the area and also to disassociate themselves from some of the unincorporated parts of the city that fed the high crime numbers.
So, let’s start at the beach.
The main draw here is the newly-renovated pier and casino building right on the beach.
The city wanted to keep the word Casino in the name to honor the 1920s history of this majestic building.
There is no casino there now, but it is quickly turning into one of the top wedding destinations in Palm Beach because of the grand ballroom.
Downtown Lake Worth is called the Historic Old Town Commercial District.
Charming shops and eateries line the streets and every February this community hosts the Street Painting Festival, where artists draw all over the sidewalks and streets in stunning displays of artwork.
Lake Osbourne, just west of the city limits, is a great place for freshwater fishing or kayaking.
There is a campground here as well.
If you are wondering if there is a “Lake Worth” in Lake Worth Beach, there isn’t.
There is a Lake Worth Lagoon north of the city.
Places to Avoid in Lake Worth Beach
There seems to be a trend in South Florida that the most dangerous parts of a city are along the I-95 corridor.
The same holds true in Lake Worth Beach.
When you cross over the causeway to the beach, go south.
The northern part has a much higher crime rate.
The south part is also where the casino and pier are located.
Stay north of Lake Avenue if you can.
There’s no reason to be in those neighborhoods unless you have family or friends there.
While there are a lot of exciting things to do here, the main attractions are pretty clearly marked.
The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office has done a great job of lowering gang violence across the county and in Lake Worth, but it’s still a problem.
One sign of gangs is the graffiti they leave behind marking their territory.
If you come across a graffiti-filled area, you should go the other way.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Lake Worth Beach
- To cut down on the amount of graffiti, the sheriff launched an eradication program. Graffiti is cleaned as soon as possible after it’s reported and inmates from the jail are used to clean it up. You can report any sightings of graffiti at pbso.org.
- You can download the Park Mobile app to learn about parking requirements, pay for parking, and get a beach parking decal. It’s an easy way to learn about parking before you are searching for a spot. The parking is not free in any part of downtown or the beach.
- Do not back into parking spaces. This is a hard and fast rule in several Florida communities. This is due to the danger of destruction of property or plants and the concern about hitting people walking behind you. Deputies are strict about this. When I lived in Sarasota, we had a parking area with the same rules and during my hour walk with a dog, I saw 4 people get tickets for backing into parking spots.
- In a city with Lake and Beach in its name, you can bet there’s some good fishing. In Florida, there are separate licenses for saltwater and freshwater fishing, so be sure you get the right one (or both) before you cast a line. You can easily do this at the Florida Fish and Wildlife website.
- Check the flags at the beach before you get in the water. They are an easy way to see what the water conditions are like. A green flag means safe water, a yellow flag is a medium risk, a red flag means only strong swimmers should get in the water, and a double red flag means the water is off-limits. A purple flag means there is dangerous marine life, but you’ll need to ask a lifeguard what the danger is. It could be anything from jellyfish to sharks.
- Riptides are common in places like Lake Worth Beach. You can’t see them in the water, but they can quickly carry a swimmer away. If you get caught in a riptide, it’s imperative you don’t try to swim against it. You should swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and then you can safely swim back to the beach.
- Between April and June, there is a risk of Sea Lice. I strongly recommend asking the lifeguard if Sea Lice is present before going in the water. The lice are really larvae of jellyfish. They are too small to see with the naked eye, but they live in shallow waters and can be embedded between your skin and bathing suit. Friction causes them to sting and they can leave a nasty, painful rash behind. It’s always a good idea to shower immediately after swimming to avoid a breakout.
- Red Tide is another concern in the Florida waterways. That’s an algae bloom that infests the water and kills fish which then wash up on shore and rot in the sun. The smell is like nothing I’ve smelled before. It’s just a rotten smell of death. It can ruin a beach day and, depending on the beach breeze, it can blow inland. Do not get in the water if there is Red Tide and if you have respiratory issues, stay away.
- Alligators live in various freshwater lakes, canals, and rivers across Florida, including Lake Worth Beach. Sometimes the alligators will make it to a golf course or neighborhood. If you see an aggressive alligator, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program at (866)392-4286. You don’t need to report one in the water just minding its own business, that’s just the way of life in Florida. Always assume freshwater has alligators. They don’t go into salt water, so you’ll rarely see one near the beach.
- John Prince Park is a popular spot for tourists in Lake Worth Beach, but it’s also a place where you might see a lot of homeless people. A homeless camp is set up in one area. You should avoid going near there. The city is working to help the homeless, but as with most communities, there’s no quick fix. It’s also illegal for people to panhandle at major intersections.
So... How Safe Is Lake Worth Beach Really?
This is a city of 42,000 with an incredibly high crime rate overall.
Crime rates were dropping until 2018 when the numbers surged back up.
Through 2020, the numbers were slowly going down in some areas, but not enough to make a big difference.
There’s a gang problem here.
There’s a drug problem here.
Palm Beach County is one of the top counties for opioid overdoses and deaths in the state.
Where there are drugs, crime follows, and vice versa.
Let’s break it down in easier terms.
Here are the chances of you being a victim of a crime in Lake Worth Beach, Florida:
- Violent Crime: 1 in 102 (61% higher than the national average)
- Robbery: 1 in 301 (Four times the national average)
- Aggravated Assault: 1 in 181 (Nearly twice the national average)
- Theft: 1 in 44 (1.5 times the national average)
- Rape: 1 in 1241 (Twice the national average)
You can stay safer in Lake Worth Beach by staying near the beach, the lake, or the downtown district.
Those places are what most people come to visit here anyway.
A lot of crimes happen in lower-income communities.
The city is going through gentrification, but there are still pockets of heavy crime.
How Does Lake Worth Beach Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Lake Worth Beach | 76 |
| Baltimore | 56 |
| Boston | 67 |
| Washington DC | 56 |
| New York City | 67 |
| Detroit | 56 |
| San Diego | 67 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
Useful Information
Visas
The Visa is handled at the airport, cruise ship, or port of entry. There is nothing additional needed to be in Lark Worth Beach.
Currency
You'll use the U.S. Dollar here and we can't stress it enough — don't carry large amounts of cash with you. Download the apps that you can to pay for things via your mobile device. Use a credit card for purchases for identity theft protection.
Weather
You'll love the weather in Lake Worth Beach most of the time. From November through April you'll have highs in the 70s and lows in the 60s. May through October you'll see highs in the 80s, getting progressively warmer through the summer. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with August and September being the time the tropics usually heat up. There are also plenty of severe thunderstorms in the summer. Always bring rain gear and be prepared to sweat in the humidity year-round.
Airports
The West Palm Beach Airport is the best option, just 8 miles away. The Fort Lauderdale airport is 52 miles away. The Miami airport is 64 miles away.
Travel Insurance
It's a great idea to get travel insurance when visiting Lake Worth Beach as the weather is so unpredictable and gets severe enough to cause travel delays.
Lake Worth Beach Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 23 |
| Low °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 19 |
| High °F | 73 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 81 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 84 | 81 | 77 | 73 |
| Low °F | 63 | 64 | 68 | 70 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 75 | 72 | 66 |
Wanting to look up beach conditions before going
Know before you go about beach conditions & flags should include a link or name of a site to look up the beach conditions & flags.
Not safe and no one in charge
Drug addicts, gangs patrolling streets and incredibly loud music goes unchecked by authorities. Looked up statistics and Rape rates are twice the National average! Stay away and do not buy here. It’s scary.