Where to live in Palm Beach

01 The one that ticks every box

Boca Raton

If your wish list includes beach, schools, golf, dining, and safety — all at once — Boca is the county's most complete answer. It doesn't rely on one thing: it's beach AND clubs AND a walkable downtown AND family communities.

The market spans accessible condos to Intracoastal mansions. Each part of the city is its own lifestyle, which gives you room to grow without leaving town.

Paola's take

It's the city where Paola has lived for almost three decades and raised her family. Her summary: when a client can't decide on a city, Boca almost always makes the final list — because it does many things well at once.

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02 The social avenue

Delray Beach

Delray works like a true village by the sea: the beach at one end, Atlantic Avenue running through the middle, and a social life that happens on its own — dinner on a Tuesday, live music on a Thursday, a market on Saturday.

The market has a split personality: historic cottages and condos near the ocean to the east, and private clubs and family communities west of I-95. That variety is its big advantage as an investment.

Paola's take

For Paola, Delray is the city that best blends beach and social life without needing a car. Her typical advice: first decide whether your life will be "on the avenue" or "near the avenue" — that one answer filters half the map.

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03 A bit of everything, without the markup

Boynton Beach

Boynton is the answer when you want to be near the beach without paying to live on it: the inlet gives you direct ocean access, and Delray and Boca are minutes away when you want their scene.

To the west, the master-planned Canyon corridor and Valencia-style 55+ communities concentrate family and active-adult life with resort amenities.

Paola's take

Paola calls it "the smart-budget city": the same money that buys less next door buys more house, more yard, or more amenities here — 10 minutes from Delray's social life.

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04 The family home base

Wellington

Wellington feels like a town drawn around family life: planned communities, parks everywhere, sports leagues, and some of the most sought-after schools in the county.

And in winter, the other face: the continent's most important equestrian festival turns the town's south end into a world capital of the sport — with an estate market in a league of its own.

Paola's take

Paola's advice: don't rule Wellington out because of the horses, and don't choose it only for them. Most of her clients here don't ride — they come for big lots, schools, and a community that genuinely works for kids.

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05 The city on the way up

West Palm Beach

West Palm stopped being "the city across the bridge from Palm Beach" and became its own growth story: class-A offices, northeastern financial firms, and residential towers redrawing the waterfront skyline.

For living, it offers the county's most complete urban menu: a new amenity condo, a historic home in El Cid or Flamingo Park, or a quiet residential neighborhood out west — each at its own price point.

Paola's take

For Paola, WPB is the county's appreciation play: high-income jobs arriving, limited waterfront supply, and historic districts that have already proven they can re-rate.

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06 Convenience, incorporated

Palm Beach Gardens

Palm Beach Gardens is the northern county's benchmark: pristine communities around legendary golf courses, The Gardens Mall as the shopping capital, and an urban orderliness you notice at every roundabout.

Its strength isn't one thing but the sum: golf + schools + nearby beach + airport in 20 minutes. Communities like Alton and Avenir add the county's newest construction to the equation.

Paola's take

Paola sums it up as "the frictionless city": golf, schools, airport, mall, and beach, all under 20 minutes. The convenience is what wins people over — and what holds the value.

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07 The bohemian by the sea

Lake Worth Beach

Historic cottages, murals, art festivals, and a pier the locals love: Lake Worth Beach keeps the original beach-town flavor other cities lost — at prices that still let you in near the ocean.

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08 The practical west

Royal Palm Beach

Quiet streets, the huge Commons Park, and homes with real backyards at prices the coast no longer offers. The sensible pick for families who want space without drama.

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09 The ocean, privately

Highland Beach

Three miles of A1A between Boca and Delray devoted almost entirely to oceanfront living: luxury condos with private beach access and Intracoastal homes, without tourist traffic.

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10 The city that feels like a club

Atlantis

A fully incorporated city — with its own police force — where streets wind between golf courses and lakes. Private-club feel, impeccable upkeep, and a central location near hospitals and the airport.

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