The neighborhood
Highland Beach is a compact oceanfront town on a narrow barrier island between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, a strip of A1A with the Atlantic on the east and the Intracoastal on the west. The town is essentially a row of oceanfront condominium buildings with a handful of single-family homes and no downtown.
Established, quiet, and tightly held, Highland Beach appeals to buyers who want year-round or seasonal oceanfront living without the pace of the neighboring cities. Private beach access and ocean views are the draw.
The housing stock is overwhelmingly direct-oceanfront condominiums, from established mid-century towers to current-generation buildings, with a small number of homes on the quieter streets. Inventory is limited and turnover is slow.
Because the town is small and most activity happens inside its buildings, Highland Beach pricing is best understood building by building. We work the towers individually, because view, floor, and building condition drive value more than any town-wide statistic.
What to know
The character of Highland Beach.
Oceanfront condos
A narrow strip of direct oceanfront residences.
Quiet town
A small, established, low-key community.
Central position
Between Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
Tightly held
Limited inventory in a discreet market.
City & community overview
Highland Beach at a glance.
Highland Beach is a compact oceanfront town of about 4,300 residents on a narrow barrier island between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, with the Atlantic on the east and the Intracoastal on the west. It is essentially a community of oceanfront condominium buildings: established towers along A1A, a small number of single-family homes, no commercial downtown, and a deeply residential character. Privacy, views, and low turnover define the town.
Highland Beach's population was estimated at 4,311 as of July 1, 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau annual estimate), up from 4,295 at the 2020 Census.
Neighborhoods & districts
- The direct-oceanfront condominium towers along A1A
- The Intracoastal-view condominiums on the west side of A1A
- The town's limited single-family residential streets
History
Highland Beach incorporated in 1949, making it one of the older incorporated towns on this stretch of coast. Its founders wanted a quiet, residential oceanfront community, and the town has stayed true to that plan: no commercial district, a small town hall, and a largely private residential base ever since.
Commercial districts & employment
Highland Beach has no commercial district and no major employers; its economy is entirely residential. Residents use the shops, restaurants, and services of Boca Raton to the south and Delray Beach to the north.
Accessibility & getting around
Highland Beach sits on A1A between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, with Congress Avenue, Federal Highway, I-95, and the Florida Turnpike a short drive west. Palm Beach International Airport is about 30 minutes north and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International about 30 minutes south.
Market overview
The Highland Beach market, in numbers and context.
Figures below are drawn from the cited sources and reporting periods. Markets move, so treat any number as a snapshot, not a promise. We verify current activity, comparable sales, and pricing for the specific property you are considering.
Median sale price (most recent month)
$795,000
Redfin, most recent month, down 2.2% YoY
Median sale price (trailing 12 months)
$995,000
Homes.com, down 13% YoY
Housing mix
Oceanfront condos
The town is mostly direct-oceanfront and Intracoastal-view condominiums
Sales volume
Thin
Few homes trade in a given month; medians vary by building and period
Single-family vs condo
Condo-led market
Home sales are rare; most activity is in the oceanfront buildings
Typical days on market
Not consistently published
Contact for current information
Highland Beach is a thin, condo-led market. Redfin reported a median sale price of about $795,000 for the most recent month (down 2.2% year over year), while Homes.com's trailing-twelve-month median was about $995,000. The spread is the market itself: a single month of sales in a few buildings moves this town's median far more than it would a larger city's.
Activity is concentrated in the oceanfront buildings, where view, floor, size, and building condition drive value more than street location. Single-family sales are rare and the town's market statistics should be read with that mix in mind.
Building-level evidence matters more than town-wide medians: association health, assessments, and per-building comparables. For the building you are considering, we pull its own sales history. Contact for current information.
Data source
Redfin; Homes.com
Reporting period
Most recent month through trailing 12 months, 2026
Updated
October 2026
Where to look
Neighborhoods and communities in Highland Beach.
Each area has its own character, housing stock, and price point. We verify gated status, waterfront access, and association details for the specific property you are considering, since these vary street by street.
The oceanfront towers
The direct-oceanfront condominium buildings along A1A, from established mid-century towers to current-generation residences with private beach access.
The Intracoastal-view buildings
The condominiums on the western side of the strip with views over the Intracoastal and the Boca Raton skyline at sunset.
The single-family streets
The town's limited single-family homes, which sit on the quieter streets and are among the rarest product in the town.
Luxury opportunities
Luxury real estate in Highland Beach.
Highland Beach's luxury segment sits in the oceanfront towers: direct ocean views, wide quiet beachfront, and current-generation amenities. Pricing is building- and view-driven, spanning from accessible direct-oceanfront condominiums into the multi-million range for the best penthouses and large floor plans. Private, quiet, and low-turnover, the town suits buyers who want the oceanfront without the resort pace of the bigger cities.
Property types
- Direct-oceanfront condominiums with beach access
- Intracoastal-view condominiums
- Penthouse and upper-floor residences with view premiums
- Current-generation and renovated tower units
- The town's rare single-family homes
- Oceanfront second homes and winter residences
What buyers should evaluate
- View, floor, and exposure, the dominant value drivers in the towers
- Building condition, reserves, and pending assessments
- Flood zone, elevation, and insurance on the oceanfront
- Hurricane readiness and impact windows
- Association rules on rentals, pets, and renovations
- Resale evidence in the same building
Lifestyle
How people actually live in Highland Beach.
Coastal Town
Lifestyle, dining & recreation
Living well in Highland Beach.
The beaches, parks, dining, shopping, and culture that shape day-to-day life here. We list established places and districts; confirm hours and current programming before you visit.
The beach
Highland Beach's oceanfront is quiet and uncrowded, with town beach access points along A1A.
Mizner Park & downtown Boca Raton
Dining, shopping, and the amphitheater are a short drive south.
Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach
The shops, galleries, and restaurants of Delray's downtown are minutes north.
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
The Boca Raton nature center's boardwalks and sea turtle program are nearby.
The Intracoastal
The town's western edge faces the waterway, with boating access and sunset views across to Boca Raton.
Schools, healthcare & getting around
The essentials in Highland Beach.
Schools
Highland Beach is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. The town's coastal zone maps to Blue Lake Elementary, Omni Middle School, and Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton, per the district's 2025-26 feeder patterns. Assignments are address-specific; we verify the feeder pattern for any property.
Healthcare
Highland Beach sits between Boca Raton Regional Hospital (Baptist Health) and Delray Medical Center, with urgent care centers and pharmacies along Federal Highway in both cities.
Transport & airports
Highland Beach sits on A1A between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, with Congress Avenue, Federal Highway, I-95, and the Florida Turnpike a short drive west. Palm Beach International Airport is about 30 minutes north and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International about 30 minutes south.
Waterfront, insurance & ownership
What to weigh before you buy in Highland Beach.
Highland Beach is oceanfront by definition, and condominium ownership here brings flood, insurance, and building considerations that are central to every purchase. We review these for every property before you commit.
FEMA flood zones
The town lies within FEMA flood zones on both the ocean and Intracoastal sides. We verify the current FEMA map and elevation certificate for the unit you are considering.
Flood & homeowners insurance
Flood and wind coverage are significant on the oceanfront and separate from each other. Premiums vary by zone, elevation, floor, and building construction.
Hurricane preparedness
We review impact glazing, building elevation, and each tower's storm and assessment history before you commit.
Condo association health
Reserves, pending assessments, and financials are critical in the oceanfront buildings. We review the documents for every building you consider.
Building rules
Rental restrictions, pet rules, renovation approvals, and age or use requirements vary by building and affect value and lifestyle. We itemize them in advance.
Beach & coastal access
Beach access points, erosion, and any coastal permits are verified directly for the building and its property line.
Community FAQ
Highland Beach real estate FAQ.
The questions buyers and sellers ask most about Highland Beach: the market, condos, new construction, waterfront, schools, lifestyle, and the specifics of buying and selling here. Every answer reflects how we actually work this neighborhood.
Browse all South Florida FAQsWhat is the real estate market like in Highland Beach?
Highland Beach is a thin, condo-led market. Redfin's most recent monthly median was about $795,000 (down 2.2% year over year) and Homes.com's trailing-twelve-month median was about $995,000. Few homes trade each month, so town-wide numbers move with a handful of buildings. Contact for current information.
Are there single-family homes in Highland Beach?
Very few. The town is overwhelmingly a community of oceanfront and Intracoastal-view condominiums, with only a small number of single-family homes. When they appear, they are among the rarest listings on this stretch of coast.
What drives value in Highland Beach condominiums?
View, floor, and exposure matter most, followed by the building itself: its age, condition, reserves, and assessments. Two units in the same building can differ by hundreds of thousands of dollars based on floor and orientation, which is why we price from building-level comparables.
What schools serve Highland Beach?
The town is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. The coastal zone maps to Blue Lake Elementary, Omni Middle School, and Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton, per the 2025-26 feeder patterns. Assignments are address-specific; we verify the feeder pattern for any property.
How does Highland Beach compare with Boca Raton and Delray Beach?
Highland Beach is far smaller, quieter, and entirely residential, with no downtown of its own. Its oceanfront trumps both neighbors' beach access in some buyers' eyes, while the restaurants, shops, and culture of Boca Raton and Delray Beach are minutes in either direction.
Is Highland Beach a good place for a winter residence?
Yes, the town has a long tradition of seasonal oceanfront residents. Verify the specific building's rental and use rules if you plan to share the residence or lease it part of the year, and review carrying costs including insurance before you commit.
Community guides · Highland Beach
Communities in and near Highland Beach.
2 researched community profiles across Palm Beach County, each with sourced pricing, restrictions, flood and insurance notes, and buying guidance.
Beachside life is the beach at the door: sunrise swims, park runs, and sunset decks, with downtown Boca and Mizner Park minutes west for dining and culture. Towers range from full-service seasonal residences to year-round family buildings.
Boca Raton Beachside
Oceanfront towers and A1A beach homes from Boca's south to north beaches.
Read the guide
Tropic Isle life is water-first: launch from your own dock, run the canals to the Boca Inlet, and keep the beach and Atlantic Avenue minutes away for everything else. It is the least land-locked neighborhood in Delray.
Tropic Isle
Intracoastal waterfront homes on fingertip canals at Delray's south end.
Read the guide
Work the market
Make Highland Beach part of your plan.
Whether you are buying, selling, or investing, let us know what you are considering in Highland Beach and we will respond with the evidence that matters: current activity, comparable values, and available opportunities, public or off-market.
Highland Beach and South Florida FAQsInquire about Highland Beach
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