Healthcare
Cleveland Clinic Martin North and Martin South hospitals (Stuart) sit ~10 minutes east; Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital (Port St. Lucie) is 15 minutes west.
Palm City Real Estate
A concentration of master-planned communities from Harbour Ridge to Newfield, A-rated Martin County schools, and direct I-95 and Turnpike access.
Schedule a ConsultationPalm City is an unincorporated community in Martin County, Florida, covering about 22 square miles between the St. Lucie River and Florida's Turnpike. ZIP 34990 holds approximately 26,000 residents and the Treasure Coast's densest concentration of master-planned communities, from established Harbour Ridge to the actively expanding 3,500-acre Newfield. Palm City (Martin County) is distinct from Palm Coast (Flagler County).
At a Glance
- County Martin County (Palm City is unincorporated; Stuart is the county seat)
- ZIP code 34990
- Population ~25,892 (2026 estimate; 2020 Census 25,083)
- Median home price $747,500 Palm City single-family YTD 2026 through March (BeachesMLS Local Market Update, Realtors of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie)
- Median time to contract 106 days Palm City single-family YTD 2026 through March (BeachesMLS Local Market Update, Realtors of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie)
- Master-planned communities ~13 (Newfield in active expansion, Harbour Ridge, Martin Downs, Hammock Creek, Canopy Creek, Cobblestone, Evergreen, Highpointe, Pentalago, Highlands Reserve, Sunset Trace, Monarch, plus others)
- Active builders Mattamy Homes (Newfield, in active expansion), Pulte (Highpointe), plus custom builders. Canopy Creek (Kolter Homes) is fully sold out as of late 2024.
- School district Martin County School District (ranked #4 in Florida by Niche)
- Distance to PBI airport ~39 miles / ~44 minutes south
- Highway access Direct to both I-95 and Florida's Turnpike (Turnpike exit within Palm City)
- Major employers Pratt & Whitney (RTX aerospace), Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, Martin County School District
- Anchor amenity Country club golf (Harbour Ridge two courses, Cape Club at Cobblestone, Hammock Creek Golf Club, plus others)
About Palm City
Palm City was settled around 1912 by farmers establishing citrus groves and fishing outposts along the South Fork of the St. Lucie River. The community celebrated its centennial in 2012, marking 100 years of continuous habitation. Through the mid-twentieth century Palm City remained a small agricultural enclave adjacent to Stuart, the Martin County seat.
Master-planned development arrived in the 1980s. Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club opened on an 885-acre peninsula along the St. Lucie River as the area's first equity country club community. Martin Downs followed with a large-scale golf-and-residential community spanning dozens of sub-neighborhoods. Hammock Creek and Cobblestone added gated golf options through the 1990s and 2000s. Canopy Creek (Kolter Homes) followed in the 2010s with estate-home gated living on half-to-one-acre lots, selling out by late 2024.
Newfield is the defining current development. Mattamy Homes broke ground on the first residential neighborhood (Rosette Park) in August 2024, with an entitled buildout of up to 4,000 homes and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space across 3,500 acres. Designed by Dover, Kohl & Partners as a Traditional Neighborhood Development with a working farm at its center, Newfield was featured in Forbes in August 2025 as Florida's first agrihood + TND. Expected buildout runs 15–20 years.
The honest tradeoff: Palm City carries the Treasure Coast's highest single-family YTD median ($747,500), and time to contract runs longer than Stuart or PSL (106 days YTD vs Stuart 84). Buyers paying the premium typically prioritize Martin County schools (#4 in Florida), low-density character, and direct I-95 / Turnpike access. Most communities are not age-restricted.
Communities in Palm City
Palm City holds the Treasure Coast's densest concentration of master-planned communities, spanning equity country club, gated golf-optional, estate-home, lot-only, and Traditional Neighborhood Development formats. Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club is the area's flagship equity community on an 885-acre peninsula with two golf courses and a marina. Martin Downs anchors the central area with two 18-hole courses and dozens of sub-neighborhoods. Hammock Creek (Lennar), Cobblestone (custom, golf-optional via Cape Club), and Canopy Creek (Kolter, sold out late 2024) cover the gated resale tier. Newfield (Mattamy, in active expansion) brings the only current large-scale new-construction inventory. Highpointe (Pulte) and Pentalago add additional new and lot-based options. Most communities are not age-restricted.
Palm City Market
The Palm City single-family market is tightening on inventory while showing the Treasure Coast's strongest median price growth in early 2026. Months supply dropped from 7.0 to 4.1 over the past year (a 41% reduction), and active inventory fell 35% year-over-year. Pending sales rose 27.4% YTD.
Pricing is the most distinctive Palm City story. The YTD 2026 median is $747,500, up 11.1% from the prior YTD and the highest median on the Treasure Coast. But the YTD average dropped 8.3% to $755,498, indicating the ultra-luxury tier (above $1M) is doing less volume while mid-priced product moves more actively.
Time to contract is the counterintuitive metric: the YTD 2026 median TTC sits at 106 days, up from 56 a year prior. Sale-to-list at 91.7% reflects active price negotiation. Buyers should expect selection in target communities but more pricing flexibility than in lower-tier Treasure Coast markets.
| Single-Family Metric (YTD 2026 through March) | Palm City | Stuart | Port St. Lucie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $747,500 | $580,500 | $420,851 |
| Median Time to Contract | 106 days | 84 days | 74 days |
| Sale-to-List % | 91.7% | 93.6% | 94.4% |
| Months Supply (March 2026) | 4.1 | 3.4 | 4.6 |
| Closed Sales YoY % | +13.7% | +30.8% | -4.0% |
Source: BeachesMLS Local Market Update March 2026 (Realtors of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie). Current as of April 12, 2026. Refreshed monthly.
Schools in Palm City
Palm City is served by Martin County School District (MCSD), ranked #4 in Florida by Niche and one of few districts statewide with no D- or F-rated schools. The district serves approximately 18,347 students across 36 public schools and is headquartered at 500 E. Ocean Blvd in Stuart.
Palm City's K-12 footprint includes three elementary schools within 34990: Bessey Creek Elementary (2201 SW Matheson Ave), Palm City Elementary (1951 SW 34th Street), and Citrus Grove Elementary (2527 SW Citrus Blvd). Hidden Oaks Middle School (2801 SW Martin Hwy) is consistently the highest-rated middle school in Martin County, offering a Cambridge International curriculum and Gifted & Talented programming with enrollment near 1,000 students.
High school attendance is split between Martin County High School (Stuart 34994) and South Fork High School (Stuart 34997), depending on home address. Clark Advanced Learning Center, a magnet program for college-prep students, has earned an A grade for 15 consecutive years.
Attendance boundaries are determined by address and should be verified individually before committing to a specific home.
Lifestyle in Palm City
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Recreation
Nearby Halpatiokee Regional Park offers hiking, biking, and St. Lucie River kayak access. Newfield Farm hosts a monthly farmers market and CSA shares.
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Dining and Shopping
Palm City has no walkable historic downtown; Stuart's is 10 minutes east. Downtown Newfield (planned, 1.5M sq ft mixed-use) is the future commercial core.
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Beaches and Waterways
Palm City borders the South Fork of the St. Lucie River. Harbour Ridge offers a community marina. Hutchinson Island beaches are 12–15 minutes east.
Getting Around Palm City
Palm City offers strong highway connectivity, with direct access to both I-95 and Florida's Turnpike via the Martin Highway (SR-714) interchange. Stuart sits immediately east across the Roosevelt Bridge (~3 miles). Most adjacent Treasure Coast destinations are inside 20 minutes, and Palm Beach County destinations are typically under 50 minutes south.
| Destination | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Stuart (downtown) | ~3 miles | ~10 min |
| Jensen Beach | ~10 miles | ~18 min |
| Hobe Sound | ~12 miles | ~20 min |
| Jupiter | ~18 miles | ~25 min |
| Port St. Lucie | ~20 miles | ~25 min |
| West Palm Beach | ~45 miles | ~50 min |
| Vero Beach | ~50 miles | ~1 hour |
| Palm Beach International (PBI) | ~39 miles | ~44 min |
| Witham Field (SUA) | ~5 miles | ~10 min |
| Vero Beach Regional (VRB) | ~50 miles | ~1 hour |
| Miami International (MIA) | ~100 miles | ~2 hours |
| Orlando International (MCO) | ~110 miles | ~2 hours |
Palm Beach International (PBI) is the practical primary airport, with daily nonstops to the Northeast corridor. Witham Field (SUA) in Stuart, ~5 miles east, handles private and charter aviation. Treasure Coast International Airport (FPR) in Fort Pierce obtained FAA Part 139 commercial certification in October 2024; as of early 2026, no scheduled commercial passenger service operates from FPR.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm City the same as Palm Coast?
No. Palm City is an unincorporated community in Martin County on the Treasure Coast, ZIP 34990, with a population near 26,000. Palm Coast is a separate incorporated city in Flagler County approximately 200 miles north on the Atlantic coast, with its own ZIP codes (primarily 32164) and a population over 100,000. They share neither geography, county, market, nor governance.
What is Newfield, and what other new construction is in Palm City?
Newfield is a 3,500-acre Traditional Neighborhood Development with an integrated working farm (agrihood), master-developed by Mattamy Homes. Up to 4,000 homes and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space are entitled, with buildout running 15–20 years. The first neighborhood (Rosette Park) broke ground in August 2024. Other active new construction includes Highpointe (Pulte Homes). Canopy Creek (Kolter Homes) is fully sold out as of late 2024.
How does Palm City compare to Stuart?
Palm City and Stuart sit ~3 miles apart in Martin County, sharing the same school district and similar property tax environment (Stuart municipal millage 17.39 vs unincorporated Martin 15.58). Palm City is master-planned-heavy with the Treasure Coast's highest single-family YTD median ($747,500); Stuart is predominantly resale with median $580,500. Palm City offers direct access to both I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. Stuart offers a walkable historic downtown that Palm City does not have.
How does Palm City compare to Port St. Lucie?
Palm City and PSL are 20 miles apart but in different counties (Martin vs St. Lucie). Median prices diverge sharply: Palm City YTD $747,500 vs PSL $420,851. Taxes: unincorporated Martin 15.58 mills vs PSL 22.36 mills (the highest in Florida). Schools: Martin County ranks #4 in Florida; SLPS earned its first A grade in 2025. Both have active master-planned new construction (Newfield; Tradition, Riverland, Wylder), but PSL holds much more 55+ inventory.
What property taxes apply in Palm City?
Palm City is unincorporated Martin County, so it carries no municipal millage layer. The total millage rate is approximately 15.58 mills, well below Port St. Lucie's 22.36 mills (the highest in Florida) and slightly below the City of Stuart's 17.39 mills. On a $750,000 taxable value (near the Palm City median), expect roughly $11,685 annually before homestead exemption. Homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap reduce actual liability for primary residences.
What is property insurance like in Palm City?
Palm City is inland Martin County, so insurance premiums fall in the lower end of the county range. Practical estimates: $3,000–$5,500/year for a $400K home with partial mitigation, and $4,000–$7,000/year for $600K–$800K homes. Newer construction with full wind mitigation can run below those ranges. Martin County's overall average homeowners premium is $5,993/year including wind (the wind component alone is $3,486). Flood insurance is separate and required by lenders in AE/VE zones.
What HOA, CDD, and country club dues look like in Palm City?
Palm City HOA and CDD structures vary widely. Cobblestone runs ~$142/month HOA plus CDD assessments. Newfield runs ~$249/month plus CDD. Canopy Creek runs ~$382/month with no formal CDD. Equity country club communities like Harbour Ridge carry mandatory club membership at materially higher monthly costs. Cobblestone offers golf as optional via Cape Club membership rather than mandatory. Always verify HOA, CDD, and club obligations parcel-by-parcel before committing.
Is Palm City a good place to retire?
Palm City consistently draws retirees seeking master-planned low-density living, country club golf, and proximity to Cleveland Clinic Martin Health hospitals. Florida's no state income tax and homestead protections add financial appeal. Tradeoffs: Palm City carries the Treasure Coast's highest single-family median ($747,500), and has fewer dedicated 55+ master-planned communities than PSL. Retirees seeking active-adult amenities at lower prices often look north to PSL; those prioritizing premium master-planned communities and Martin County's tax environment choose Palm City.
Considering Palm City? Let's Get Clarity Together
A 20-minute call covers Palm City's master-planned community options, current market dynamics, and the full cost-of-ownership math for your specific situation. No pressure, no urgency.
Schedule a ConsultationOr call 772-349-2030
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