Best Neighborhoods in Highland Beach: A Data-Backed Comparison

The best neighborhoods in Highland Beach are not neighborhoods in the usual sense. This is a tiny barrier-island town, about 3 miles long, squeezed between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway from Boca Raton to Delray Beach. Most homes are condos in buildings along State Road A1A, with a few single-family enclaves on the water. So the real choice is between building types and sides of the road. This guide compares those options on price, flood and storm risk, association rules, schools and daily convenience.

Key takeaways

• According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Highland Beach had just 151 active residential listings, with a median list price of $980,000. That is a small sample, so a few sales can move it.
• The choice is mainly oceanfront condo, Intracoastal condo or townhouse, or one of a handful of single-family enclaves such as Bel Lido Isle.
• Florida law requires milestone inspections for condo buildings three or more stories tall, starting by the end of the year they turn 30. Read the report before you buy.
• The town is in hurricane evacuation Zone B. Evacuation is mandatory when a Category 2 or stronger storm is expected.
• Highland Beach's 2025 operating millage was 3.4159, plus a 0.1716 debt service rate, per the Property Appraiser.

How we compared the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach

Because the town is so small, we compared types of homes and locations rather than named subdivisions. We used five tests for each.

• Price and home type: high-rise or mid-rise condo, townhouse or single-family home.
• Flood and storm exposure: ocean side or Intracoastal side, elevation and building age.
• Association rules and costs: dues, reserves, assessments, and limits on pets, rentals and renovations.
• Schools: the town has no public schools of its own, so assignments come from the county district.
• Daily convenience: how far you drive for groceries, doctors and dining.

Highland Beach at a glance

The town has about 0.54 square miles of land, and the 2020 Census counted 4,295 residents. It incorporated in 1949. The Historical Society of Palm Beach County describes the population as mostly retirees, and many owners live here only part of the year.

The town runs its own police, library and water utility, and it launched its own fire rescue department in May 2024. There is no downtown or shopping strip inside town limits. As a result, errands mean a short drive north to Delray Beach or south to Boca Raton.

Prices

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, the median list price of active residential listings was $980,000, and the median asking price per square foot was $681. Active listings had been on the market an average of 130 days. There were 125 active rentals at a median asking rent of $7,250. For context, Palm Beach County condos and townhouses sold for a median of $300,000 in August 2026, per Miami Realtors. See current listings on our Highland Beach page.

Oceanfront condo towers

The east side of A1A holds the direct-oceanfront condo buildings. This is the classic Highland Beach purchase: an elevator ride to a unit with Atlantic views and a short walk to the sand. Buildings range from older mid-rises to newer luxury towers. Toscana, Braemar Isle and Ocean Terrace are among the condo communities known for the higher end of the market, so check which side of A1A each unit faces.

The trade-offs are cost and exposure. Oceanfront buildings face salt air, wind and storm surge, so their upkeep, insurance and reserve needs tend to run higher. Dues can vary a great deal between two buildings that look alike from the road. Always compare the budgets side by side.

For financing, the building matters as much as you do. Fannie Mae treats condo projects that need critical repairs as ineligible. If you need a loan, ask your lender to review the building early.

Intracoastal condos and townhouses

The west side of A1A faces the Intracoastal. Buildings here often have boat slips or water views, and some buyers like the calmer water and sunset side. Townhouse communities such as Boca Cove, Highland Beach Club and the Townhouses of Highland Beach give you more of a house feel, often with fewer floors and more private space.

Elsewhere in town, condo communities such as Coronado Ocean Club, Seagate of Highland and Ambassadors East are known as more moderately priced options. Still, "moderate" is relative in a town with a median list price near $1 million. Also, older buildings may face repair bills that turn into special assessments.

Single-family enclaves among the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach

Detached homes are rare here, which is why they draw so much interest. Two areas come up most often.

Bel Lido Isle

Bel Lido Isle is a small enclave of about 70 single-family homes on the Intracoastal side of A1A. Every home has deep-water access by canal, basin or the Intracoastal, with dock space behind the house and no fixed bridges on the way to the ocean. For boaters who want a house rather than a condo, it is one of the main options in town.

Byrd Beach and oceanfront estates

Byrd Beach and a few other stretches hold large waterfront estate homes. These are the top of the local market, and they come up for sale rarely. Buyers at this level should check seawall condition, elevation, roof age and wind features with great care, since each one drives insurance cost.

Condo rules that shape the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach

Since most buyers here are buying into an association, the paperwork matters as much as the view. Florida tightened its condo safety laws after the 2021 Surfside collapse. Under section 553.899 of the Florida Statutes, buildings three or more habitable stories tall need a milestone inspection by December 31 of the year they turn 30, then every 10 years after that. Local officials can require the first one earlier for buildings near salt water.

Before you make an offer, ask for these documents:

• The milestone inspection summary, if the building has had one.
• The structural integrity reserve study.
• Current budget, financial statements and recent board minutes.
• Rules on pets, rentals, guests and renovations.
• Past and planned special assessments.

For insurance basics, our guide to Florida condo insurance explains what the association covers and what your HO-6 policy must cover.

Comparing the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach side by side

• Oceanfront towers: direct beach access, highest exposure to wind and surge, higher dues and reserve needs.
• Intracoastal condos and townhouses: calmer water, some boat slips, a wide price range, building age varies.
• Bel Lido Isle: single-family homes with deep-water docks, very limited supply.
• Estate homes: the highest prices, rare listings, careful inspection needed.

Flood and storms

Every address sits between two bodies of water. Look up the flood zone on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and price flood coverage before you write an offer. Also plan where you would go during an evacuation, since the town is in Zone B.

Taxes

Highland Beach's 2025 operating millage was 3.4159, plus a 0.1716 debt service rate, according to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. County, school and other district rates are added on top. If the home is your permanent residence, file for homestead by March 1.

Schools

The town has no public schools inside its limits. The School District of Palm Beach County assigns students by address, so families should check the zone for each building before they buy.

Daily life in the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach

Life here moves with the seasons. From late fall to spring, buildings fill up, parking gets tighter and A1A carries more traffic. Then, in summer, many units sit empty and the town turns very quiet. If you plan to live here all year, ask each building how many owners are full time. That affects the social life, who serves on the board and who watches the building during storm season.

Errands always mean a drive. Groceries, restaurants, hospitals and shopping are a few minutes north in Delray Beach or south in Boca Raton. For travel, Boca Raton has both a Tri-Rail station and a Brightline station, which makes trips to Miami or Orlando easier without a long drive.

Your spot in town also changes the routine. A unit at the south end puts Boca Raton closer, while the north end is nearer to Delray's Atlantic Avenue. So think about where you will go most often, then favor that end of town.

How to shortlist homes in a town this small

First, pick a side: ocean or Intracoastal. Next, decide between a condo, a townhouse or a single-family home. Then compare two or three buildings on age, reserves, past assessments and rules. Visit once in winter, when buildings are full, and again in late summer, when the town is quiet. Our guide to buying a condo in Florida walks through the steps.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach for boaters?

Bel Lido Isle and the Intracoastal-side buildings with slips are the main choices. Check dock size, water depth and any slip rules first.

Do the best neighborhoods in Highland Beach include single-family homes?

Yes, but not many. Most are in Bel Lido Isle and a few waterfront estate areas, and they rarely come up for sale.

Why are Highland Beach condo fees so different?

Each building has its own age, insurance costs, reserves and repair needs. Two units with similar views can carry very different dues.

Can I rent out a Highland Beach condo?

It depends on the building. Many associations limit leases or require approval, so read the rules before you buy.

Sources

• Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Highland Beach
• BEBR, University of Florida, Florida Population: Census Summary 2020
• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer file for Florida places (land and water area)
• Town of Highland Beach, Departments
• Town of Highland Beach, 2026 hurricane preparation manual
• Highland Beach community list
• Bel Lido Isle community profile
• Florida Statutes, s. 553.899 milestone inspections
• Fannie Mae Selling Guide, ineligible projects
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, 2025 millage rates
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report

Own a condo or home in Highland Beach? See what it could sell for with a free home value report. Shopping for a building? Book a neighborhood tour for Highland Beach and we will help you compare buildings and enclaves.