Best Places to Retire on Florida's Southeast Coast: Boynton Beach vs. Delray Beach vs. Jupiter vs. Port St. Lucie

Some of the best places to retire in Florida sit on the southeast coast, between Boca Raton and the Treasure Coast. This guide compares four of them: Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter and Port St. Lucie. Each one is measured the same way, on cost, healthcare access, 55+ housing, taxes, storm risk and daily life. No single town wins on every point. So use the comparison to find the trade-offs that fit you.

Key takeaways

• Florida's constitution bars a state income tax on residents who are natural persons, which helps retirees with pensions and investment income.
• Boynton Beach and Delray Beach have the deepest 55+ choice of the four, from older condo villages to new gated communities.
• Jupiter costs the most of the four and has fewer age-restricted communities, but it has an independent, not-for-profit hospital in town.
• Port St. Lucie offers newer homes for less. The St. Lucie County single-family median was $402,500 in August 2026, compared with $650,000 in Palm Beach County.
• Insurance and flood zones can change the math more than price. Check both before you choose a street.

How we compared the best places to retire in Florida

Retirement lists often rank whole states or big metro areas. That is a fine start, but it does not tell you much about a specific town. So we used six measures that matter to most people who move here after 55.

1. Cost: home prices, plus the ongoing bills for taxes, dues and insurance.
2. Healthcare: a full-service hospital in or near town.
3. 55+ options: how many age-restricted communities are nearby, and what kind.
4. Taxes: state and property tax rules that apply to retirees.
5. Storm and flood risk: how exposed homes are, and what that does to insurance.
6. Lifestyle: beaches, downtowns, golf and travel time to family.

Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Jupiter are in Palm Beach County. Port St. Lucie is in St. Lucie County, north of Martin County on the Treasure Coast.

Florida taxes for retirees

The tax picture is similar in all four towns, so it helps to cover it first. Article VII, section 5 of the Florida Constitution limits state taxes on the income of natural persons who live here. In practice, Florida has no state personal income tax. That means pensions, Social Security, IRA withdrawals and investment income face no state income tax.

Property tax is where you will feel local rules. If the home is your permanent residence, a homestead exemption can cut its taxable value by up to $50,000. Also, Save Our Homes limits how much the assessed value of a homestead can rise each year. The cap is 3% or the change in the CPI, whichever is lower. For 2026, that figure is 2.7%. File for homestead by March 1 after you buy.

Voters will also decide Amendment 3 in November 2026. If it passes, the homestead exemption for non-school taxes would rise in 2027 and 2028. Ask the property appraiser how it would apply before you count on it.

Boynton Beach: one of the best places to retire in Florida for 55+ choice

Boynton Beach has long been a magnet for retirees. Its 55+ choices run from older villa and condo communities, such as Palm Beach Leisureville, to new luxury homes such as GL Homes' Valencia Grand. According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, the median list price of active residential listings in Boynton Beach was $334,500.

For healthcare, Bethesda Hospital East sits on South Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach. It is part of Baptist Health and offers 24-hour emergency care, heart and vascular care, cancer care, orthopedics and an inpatient rehab unit.

Boynton suits a buyer who wants a large, social 55+ community at a mid-range price. On the other hand, many of the older communities are condos or villas with dues. So read the budget and reserve study before you buy.

Delray Beach: downtown life and older condo villages

Delray Beach pairs a busy downtown along Atlantic Avenue with many older 55+ condo villages. It also has communities such as Rainberry Bay and the Lakes of Delray condominiums. Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026 put the median list price of active residential listings in Delray Beach at $278,000, the lowest of the four towns here.

Delray Medical Center serves the city and the surrounding area, and Boca Raton's hospitals are a short drive south. As a result, healthcare access is strong here.

Delray is a good fit if you want walkable restaurants and the beach, but still need a lower entry price. However, the lowest prices tend to come with the oldest buildings. Ask about milestone inspections, reserves and special assessments in any condo you consider.

Jupiter: the priciest of the best places to retire in Florida on this list

Jupiter, at the north end of Palm Beach County, has beaches, the Loxahatchee River and the Jupiter Inlet. It is also the most expensive of the four towns, with a median list price of $859,495 for active residential listings as of October 1, 2026, per Pure Equity's MLS data. And it does not have the large clusters of age-restricted communities found in Boynton Beach or Delray Beach. Most retirees here buy in regular neighborhoods, golf communities or condos.

Healthcare is a strong point. Jupiter Medical Center, founded in 1979, calls itself the region's only independent, not-for-profit hospital. It offers emergency care, surgery and rehab, with a focus on heart care, cancer care and orthopedics.

Jupiter fits a buyer who puts water access and a quieter town first and has the budget for it. Still, coastal and riverfront homes often sit in higher-risk flood zones. That can add a flood policy to your monthly costs.

Port St. Lucie: more new house for the money

Port St. Lucie gives retirees the most new construction per dollar on this list. In August 2026, the St. Lucie County single-family median was $402,500, per Miami Realtors. In comparison, Palm Beach County's was $650,000. Condos in St. Lucie County had a median of $320,000.

Port St. Lucie has many 55+ communities, and many of the newer ones are gated single-family communities, such as Del Webb at Tradition, PGA Village Verano and Cascades at St. Lucie West. For care, Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital is on SW Innovation Way, with a 24-hour emergency department.

The trade-off is distance. Port St. Lucie is farther from the Palm Beach airport and from family who live in South Florida. Also, much of the city is suburban, so you will drive for most errands. Our Port St. Lucie page has more on the local market.

Hurricane, flood and insurance risk

Every town on this list faces hurricane risk, so you cannot avoid it by choice of city. Instead, compare risk street by street. Elevation, distance from the water, roof age and building codes all play a part.

Start with the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. FEMA says homes in high-risk flood areas with government-backed mortgages must carry flood insurance. Then get a homeowners quote early. The state's average homeowners premium was $3,736 in September 2026, per Florida Realtors. On the bright side, several insurers won approval for rate cuts that month.

A newer home built to current code, like many in Port St. Lucie, often costs less to insure than an older coastal home. That can offset some of the price gap between towns.

A simple plan for choosing your town

Numbers help, but a visit tells you more. So use a short plan before you sign anything.

1. Write down your monthly budget, including dues, property tax, insurance and flood coverage.
2. List the doctors and specialists you see now. Then check which hospitals and clinics in each town take your plan.
3. Visit each town in summer as well as in winter. Traffic, crowds and heat change a lot by season.
4. Tour at least one 55+ community and one regular neighborhood in each town, so you can compare.
5. Ask for insurance quotes on two or three real addresses before you make an offer.
6. Think about the next move too. A home that sells easily later gives you more options if your health or plans change.

Many retirees also rent for a season first. That gives you time to learn a town before you buy, and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.

The best places to retire in Florida, side by side

• Boynton Beach: mid-range cost, the widest 55+ choice, hospital in town, many condo and villa dues.
• Delray Beach: lowest entry prices in older condo villages, a walkable downtown, strong hospital access.
• Jupiter: highest cost, few age-restricted communities, top water access, an independent not-for-profit hospital.
• Port St. Lucie: lower prices for newer homes, many gated 55+ communities, longer drive to South Florida.

If your budget is the main limit, also read our guide to the most affordable places to retire in Florida.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best places to retire in Florida on the southeast coast?

It depends on your budget and priorities. Boynton Beach and Delray Beach lead on 55+ choice, Jupiter leads on water access, and Port St. Lucie leads on newer homes for the price.

Does Florida tax retirement income?

Florida has no state personal income tax, so it does not tax pensions or Social Security at the state level. Federal taxes still apply.

Is Port St. Lucie cheaper than Palm Beach County for retirees?

For houses, yes. In August 2026, the St. Lucie County single-family median was $402,500, while Palm Beach County's was $650,000.

Which of these towns has the most 55+ communities?

Of the four, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach have the most choice, from large older condo villages to new gated communities. Port St. Lucie has many newer gated options. Jupiter has the fewest.

How do I check flood risk before I buy?

Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Then ask for the seller's flood disclosure and get an insurance quote during your inspection period.

Sources

• Florida Constitution, Article VII, section 5
• Florida Department of Revenue, Save Our Homes assessment limitation
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, homestead exemption
• CBS Miami, homestead exemption on the November 2026 ballot
• Pure Equity, Boynton Beach market data (MLS, October 1, 2026)
• Pure Equity, Delray Beach market data (MLS, October 1, 2026)
• Pure Equity, Jupiter market data (MLS, October 1, 2026)
• GL Homes, Valencia Grand (55+)
• Leisure Lake Circle Condominium Association, Palm Beach Leisureville
• Rainberry Bay Master Association
• Lakes of Delray
• Del Webb at Tradition Homeowners Association
• Kolter Homes, PGA Village Verano
• Cascades at St. Lucie West
• Baptist Health, Bethesda Hospital East
• Jupiter Medical Center, about
• Cleveland Clinic, Tradition Hospital
• FEMA, flood insurance
• Florida Realtors, home insurance rate cuts (September 2026)
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 report
• Miami Realtors, St. Lucie County August 2026 report

Selling your current home to retire on the coast? Find out what it would sell for with a free home valuation, so you can plan your budget. If you are buying, ask our agents for a curated 55+ community shortlist in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter or Port St. Lucie. Talk with our team.