# Palmetto Bay — Miami / South Florida family neighborhood fact pack

Source: https://familyhomefinder.com/places/miami/palmetto-bay
Last updated: 2026-04-30

## Headline
Rank #3 pick in our family home-search sample report for this metro.

## Schools (NCES Common Core, NCES CCD 2022-23)
- BEL-AIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Elementary, grades PK-5, 319 students, 76% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/miami/bel-aire-elementary-school-0374
- COLONIAL DRIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Elementary, grades PK-5, 284 students, 71% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/miami/colonial-drive-elementary-school-0394
- CORAL REEF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Elementary, grades PK-5, 740 students, 32% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/miami/coral-reef-elementary-school-0399
- ROBERT RUSSA MOTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Elementary, grades PK-5, 177 students, 82% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/miami/robert-russa-moton-elementary-school-0469
- DR. HENRY E. PERRINE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS (Elementary, grades K-5, 550 students, 59% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/miami/dr-henry-e-perrine-academy-of-the-arts-0494
- PINE LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Elementary, grades PK-5, 376 students, 81% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/miami/pine-lake-elementary-school-0497

## Climate (NOAA 1991-2020 normals at MIAMI KENDALL TAMIAMI EXEC AP, 6.3 mi)
- Annual mean: 76.2°F (low 67°F / high 85°F)
- Precipitation: 56.1 in/yr

## Seismic (USGS NSHM)
- 2%-in-50yr PGA: 0.018g — Low band (NSHM E2014B)

## Flood (FEMA NFHL)
- Zone: AH — SFHA, mortgage flood insurance required

## Crime (FBI CDE 2023, Palmetto Bay Police Department)
- Violent: 178 per 100k
- Property: 1,938 per 100k

## Air quality (EPA AirNow at Miami, 2026-05-02)
- AQI 65 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5

## Census ACS (ACS 5-year 2023)
- Median household income: $80,364
- Median home value: $478,300
- Family-with-kids share: 78%
- Population (ZCTA): 69,605

## Sold comps (top 3 by recency)
- $925,000 · 3/2 · 1,910 sqft · Mar 21, 2026 · 8540 SW 168th St, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 (https://www.redfin.com/FL/Palmetto-Bay/8540-SW-168th-St-33157/home)
- $1,050,000 · 4/2.5 · 2,180 sqft · Feb 11, 2026 · 16331 SW 84th Ave, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16331-SW-84th-Ave-Palmetto-Bay-FL-33157/)
- $895,000 · 3/2 · 1,830 sqft · Jan 19, 2026 · 17440 Old Cutler Rd, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 (https://www.redfin.com/FL/Palmetto-Bay/17440-Old-Cutler-Rd-33157/home)

## Verdict
Best schools, longest commute, tightest budget fit. If the bilingual piece can be community-and-home rather than school-based, Palmetto Bay is the upgrade play. If bilingual education is non-negotiable in the school itself, Westchester wins.

Pros: Strongest K-12 public pipeline of the three top zones (Coral Reef → Palmetto MS → Palmetto Senior, all A-rated); Mature canopy, suburban feel, excellent for a young child; Higher elevation = lower flood/sea-level risk than Cutler Bay or Coconut Grove.
Cons: Stretch on $900k — bullseye sits at $925k-$1.05M for the 3/2 stock that fits; No formal dual-immersion Spanish program at zoned schools — bilingual is heritage-only; Sofia’s Brickell commute is 35-50 min at peak — the longest of the top 3.

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