Living in Key West: the island in facts

Living in Key West means life in an island city at the end of the Overseas Highway. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates count 24,999 people in Key West city on July 1, 2025. December averages a 77.7 F high, the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and a City bus costs $2. This page describes the place through public sources: the City of Key West, the Census Bureau, NOAA and the event organisers. Christmas in Key West is an independent planner published by LPE Realty LLC. We are not the City of Key West, Schooner Wharf, the Historic Seaport or any other organiser, and when their published details differ from this page, theirs are the ones to follow.

How many people live in Key West?

• Census Vintage 2025 estimates for "Key West city, Florida": 24,999 on July 1, 2025; 25,607 (2024); 25,768 (2023); estimates base April 1, 2020: 26,437. U.S. Census Bureau: City and Town Population Estimates, Vintage 2025 (sub-est2025_12.csv, Florida)
• Census revised its figures: Vintage 2024 put Key West city at 25,240 for July 1, 2024; Vintage 2025 puts the same date at 25,607. Always cite the vintage and year; use Vintage 2025. U.S. Census Bureau: City and Town Population Estimates, Vintage 2025 (sub-est2025_12.csv, Florida); Vintage 2024 sub-est2024_12.csv
• Census Vintage 2025: Monroe County, Florida 80,406 on July 1, 2025 (estimates base 82,871). U.S. Census Bureau: City and Town Population Estimates, Vintage 2025 (sub-est2025_12.csv, Florida)

The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates for Key West city, Florida are 24,999 on July 1, 2025, 25,607 for 2024 and 25,768 for 2023, from an April 1, 2020 estimates base of 26,437. Monroe County is estimated at 80,406 on July 1, 2025, from a base of 82,871.

One caution on these figures. The Bureau revised its July 1, 2024 number for Key West between its Vintage 2024 and Vintage 2025 releases, so two published figures for the same year can disagree. We quote Vintage 2025 throughout, and any population figure you read should carry its vintage and date.

Where the island sits

• The City of Key West Visitors page: "Visit the southernmost point in the continental United States." City of Key West: Visitors
• Key West Express calls Key West "the Southernmost Point of the United States"; the City says "the southernmost point in the continental United States". Florida State Parks calls Fort Zachary Taylor "the southernmost state park in the continental United States". Always say "continental". Key West Express; City of Key West: Visitors
• The City of Key West facilities directory lists "Mile Marker 0" at "490 Whitehead Street". City of Key West: Facilities, Mile Marker 0

The City of Key West’s visitors page says: “Visit the southernmost point in the continental United States.” Key West Express drops the word continental, and Florida State Parks calls Fort Zachary Taylor the southernmost state park in the continental United States. We keep the City’s wording. The City lists Mile Marker 0 at 490 Whitehead Street.

The Southernmost Point Buoy has a temporary home. The City’s buoy page says that on September 4, 2025 a temporary buoy was set up at 1499 Duval Street while seawall and roadway repairs are under way. The City has not published a date for the buoy’s return.

Climate in the cooler months

• Same NOAA normals: November average high 81.0 F, low 72.2 F, precipitation 2.05 inches; January average high 75.8 F, low 65.5 F, precipitation 1.83 inches. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012836 (Key West International Airport)
• NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Key West International Airport (USW00012836), December: average high 77.7 F, average low 68.3 F, mean 73.0 F, precipitation 2.16 inches. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012836 (Key West International Airport)
• NOAA National Hurricane Center: "The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30." NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology

NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for Key West International Airport give November an average high of 81.0 F and low of 72.2 F, December 77.7 F and 68.3 F, and January 75.8 F and 65.5 F. December’s rain normal is 2.16 inches. The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so the holiday season begins as it ends. The full winter picture is on the weather page.

Getting around without a car

• City of Key West: "The City of Key West Department of Transportation provides public transit services throughout Key West, Stock Island, and up to Marathon, Florida." Information line "305-600-1455"; "Buses may be delayed at times due to heavy seasonal traffic." City of Key West: Transportation (KWDoT)
• City of Key West: "Key West Rides On-Demand is an innovative form of transportation that will replace the North and South Lines". "This is a bus stop-to-bus stop service". Hours "Monday" to "Sunday 6 AM" to "8 PM", "(No service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day)." Booking help: "305-809-3910". City of Key West: Key West Rides On-Demand Bus Service
• City of Key West Bus Fares: "Effective July 7, 2025", City "One Way" $2 full fare, "One Day Pass" $4, "7-Day Pass" $8; Keys (Lower Keys) one way $4. "One Day Super Pass Valid on City and Lower Keys Routes $ 12". Payment by "cash and credit card via Token Transit" (Key West Rides page). City of Key West: Bus Fares

The City’s Department of Transportation runs public transit across Key West, Stock Island and up to Marathon. Key West Rides On-Demand replaced the North and South Lines with a stop to stop service, Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 8 PM, with no service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Fares are $2 one way, $4 for a One Day Pass and $8 for a 7-Day Pass. The City’s Parking Department sells residential parking permits, $39.13 a year for City residents. For flights, Monroe County owns and operates Key West International. Details on getting here and parking.

The island’s winter calendar

• keywestchristmas.org: "The 21st Annual Harbor Walk of Lights", "Lighting up every evening through New Year's Eve." and "Harbor Walk of Lights is on every night from Thanksgiving eve through New Year's eve!" It is part of the "Key West "Bight" before Christmas" celebration at the Key West Historic Seaport and Key West Bight Marina. Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
• Sloppy Joe's: "The idea and implementation of the conch shell is by local artist Tobias McGregor. In 1993, McGregor approached Sloppy Joe's Management about the New Year's Eve plan." "The conch shell redesign was done by Toby in 2005." The bar is at "201 Duval Street" and has "been located at the corner of Duval and Greene since 1937." Sloppy Joe's Bar: Events and home page
• Old Island Restoration Foundation: "Our 67th Annual Key West Home Tours is a four-month series offering access to privately owned historic Key West homes." Dates: "December 29-30, 2026 (Tuesday & Wednesday)", then Jan. 22-23, Feb. 12-13 and March 12-13, 2027. "Homes are open from 1:00pm until 4:00pm each day". "Every ticket includes access to that month's four featured private homes and the Oldest House." Old Island Restoration Foundation: Key West Home Tours Info & FAQ
• Sunset Celebration: "Sunset Celebration is a nightly arts festival at Mallory Square in Key West, Florida." "Each night around one hour before sunset masses of people, both locals and tourists alike, flock to the water's edge". The history page says the Key West Cultural Preservation Society, Inc. was formed "in 1984" and "negotiated a lease with the City of Key West with the understanding that CPS would manage Sunset". Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square (Key West Cultural Preservation Society)

Key West’s holiday season runs on long-standing traditions, and their counts are published. In 2026 the Harbor Walk of Lights reaches its 21st year, Schooner Wharf’s Lighted Boat Parade its 35th, Sloppy Joe’s conch shell drop its 33rd and Bourbon St. Pub’s high heel shoe drop its 29th. Sloppy Joe’s says local artist Tobias McGregor brought the conch shell idea to the bar in 1993.

The calendar does not stop at New Year’s. The Old Island Restoration Foundation calls its 67th Key West Home Tours a four-month series: Dec. 29-30, 2026, then Jan. 22-23, Feb. 12-13 and March 12-13, 2027. Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square runs nightly, managed by the Key West Cultural Preservation Society, which its history page says was formed in 1984. That steady run of dated events through the winter gives repeat visitors a reason to come back. See holiday events, New Year’s Eve and the inn and home tours.

City services over the holidays

• The City of Key West calendar lists City office closures for Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026), the day after (Nov. 27), "Christmas Extension" (Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026), Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25, 2026) and New Year's Day (Friday, Jan. 1, 2027), "All city facilities". City of Key West: Calendar event notice

The City calendar lists all City facilities closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026) and the day after, on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25, and on New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. The full holiday list is on the December calendar.

What this page leaves out

We describe the island, not the people who live on it. There are no home prices, market figures, school ratings or comments on who lives where on this page. Fair housing rules apply to everything we publish.

This guide is published by LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage. If you are weighing a move to Key West, the phone line at the foot of every page reaches the brokerage.

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Key West: Visitors