Palm Beach vs. Treasure Coast for Retirement: Cost, Taxes, Health Care and Pace

Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast is one of the most common questions we hear from people planning to retire in Florida. Both sit on the Atlantic, share the same state tax rules and are an easy drive apart. Yet they feel different day to day. Palm Beach County has more of everything, including traffic and prices. The Treasure Coast, which covers Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, is quieter and in many places costs less. This guide compares the two on cost, taxes, health care, lifestyle and pace, using four places retirees often look at: Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Hobe Sound and Port St. Lucie.

Key takeaways

• In August 2026, the single-family median was $650,000 in Palm Beach County, $656,900 in Martin County and $402,500 in St. Lucie County, per Miami Realtors.
• Condos tell a different story. Medians were $300,000 in Palm Beach County, $277,500 in Martin County and $320,000 in St. Lucie County.
• Florida has no state income tax, and the homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap work the same in every county. Local tax rates differ by city.
• Palm Beach County has more hospitals and specialists close by. The Treasure Coast is served by Cleveland Clinic's hospitals in Stuart and Port St. Lucie, among others.
• Pick the pace you want first, then the price. Retirees who want city amenities often stay south. Those who want space and quiet often look north.

Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast: where each one is

Palm Beach County runs from Boca Raton in the south to Jupiter and Tequesta in the north. It has dozens of cities and towns, an international airport in West Palm Beach and a large job base.

The Treasure Coast starts right at the county line. Hobe Sound, in southern Martin County, sits just north of Jupiter and Tequesta. Next come Stuart, then Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County, and Vero Beach and Sebastian in Indian River County. For a full primer, see our guide to towns near Stuart, Florida.

In practice, many retirees compare the northern end of Palm Beach County with the southern Treasure Coast. That is a short drive. For example, Jupiter and Hobe Sound are neighbors, yet they feel quite different.

Home prices: Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast

Price is the first thing most people check. Here are the August 2026 numbers from Miami Realtors, which reports for all three counties.

• Palm Beach County: single-family median $650,000, 40 days to contract, 3.5 months of supply. Condo median $300,000, 69 days, 6.7 months.
• Martin County: single-family median $656,900, 56 days, 3.4 months. Condo median $277,500, 84 days, 5.5 months.
• St. Lucie County: single-family median $402,500, 54 days, 4.9 months. Condo median $320,000, 82 days, 7.6 months.

So the Treasure Coast is not cheaper everywhere. Martin County, which includes Hobe Sound and Stuart, now has a single-family median slightly above Palm Beach County. St. Lucie County, home to Port St. Lucie, is where the big savings on houses show up.

Condos flip the picture a bit. The St. Lucie County condo median was above Palm Beach County's in August. Palm Beach County has a much larger stock of older condos, many in 55+ buildings, which pulls its median down. If you plan to buy a condo, compare buildings, not county medians.

New homes and 55+ communities

Port St. Lucie has a lot of newer building west of I-95. Riverland, by GL Homes, has Valencia 55+ neighborhoods. Tradition has its own 55+ sections, such as Del Webb and Telaro. In Palm Beach County, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach are long-time centers for 55+ living, with many established communities west of I-95. Our guide to who can live in a 55+ community covers the age rules.

Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast property taxes

Florida has no state income tax, which helps retirees in every county. The homestead exemption can cut the taxable value of your main home by up to $50,000. Also, the Save Our Homes cap limits how much the assessed value of a homestead can rise each year to 3% or the change in the CPI, whichever is lower.

Those rules apply statewide. What changes is the local millage rate. Each county, school board, city and special district sets its own. In Palm Beach County, city rates alone ranged from 1.92 mills in Royal Palm Beach to 8.13 mills in West Palm Beach for 2025, per the Property Appraiser. Boynton Beach was 7.75 mills and Jupiter was 2.39 mills. Martin and St. Lucie counties have their own layers.

So compare the actual tax bill on each home you like. A county's median price matters, but the tax rate on a specific address matters more. Ask your agent for the current bill and check the Property Appraiser's estimator for your new taxable value.

Portability if you already own in Florida

If you own a Florida homestead now, you may be able to carry part of your Save Our Homes benefit to a new home, up to $500,000. That works across county lines. You must file with the new county's Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year you claim the new homestead.

Health care in Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast towns

For many retirees, the hospital question settles the Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast debate. Palm Beach County has more hospitals, more specialists and more large medical groups within a short drive. In Boynton Beach, for example, Baptist Health Bethesda Hospital East is close to many 55+ communities. Jupiter has Jupiter Medical Center.

The Treasure Coast is not short on care, but distances can be longer. Cleveland Clinic runs Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie and two hospitals in Stuart, Martin North and Martin South. Hobe Sound residents often use the Stuart hospitals or head south to Jupiter.

Before you buy, check the drive time from each home to your doctors, the nearest emergency room and any specialist you see often. Also check which hospitals your Medicare plan covers.

Lifestyle and pace: Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast

This is where the two areas differ the most. Here is how the four places on many retirees' lists compare.

Boynton Beach

Boynton Beach sits in southern Palm Beach County. In the 2020 Census, 22.7% of its residents were 65 or older. It has a long history of 55+ living, a marina and inlet, and quick access to Delray Beach dining and the beaches. Traffic on the main roads can be heavy in season.

Jupiter

Jupiter sits in northern Palm Beach County, with 61,047 people in the 2020 Census. It is known for golf, boating, beaches and spring training at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. It feels more relaxed than the southern part of the county, but home prices are among the higher ones in the area.

Hobe Sound

Hobe Sound is a small, unincorporated community in Martin County. It had 13,163 residents in 2020, and 34.1% were 65 or older, per the Census Bureau. The median age was 56.9. Jonathan Dickinson State Park sits on its southern edge, and Jupiter Island is across the water to the east. Shopping and dining are limited, so many residents drive to Jupiter or Stuart. Inventory is small, which means good homes can be scarce.

Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie is the largest city on the Treasure Coast, with 204,851 people in the 2020 Census. It has lots of newer homes, 55+ communities in Tradition and Riverland, and Mets spring training at Clover Park. Much of the city is suburban, so you will drive for most errands. It is also the most affordable of the four for single-family homes.

Getting around and staying connected

Both areas depend on cars. I-95 and Florida's Turnpike run through both, so Port St. Lucie to West Palm Beach is a common drive. However, rush-hour traffic in southern Palm Beach County can be slow.

For flights, Palm Beach International in West Palm Beach is the main airport for both areas. From Boynton Beach or Jupiter it is close. From Port St. Lucie it is a longer trip. If family visits often, factor that in.

Think about distance from family, too. A move north may add an hour to a visit from children or grandchildren who live in Broward or Miami-Dade.

Insurance, storms and flood risk

Both areas face hurricanes, and insurance costs matter in each. The average Florida homeowners premium in the admitted market was $3,736 in 2026, according to Florida Realtors. Your quote will depend on the home's age, roof, wind features and flood zone, not just the county.

Check the FEMA flood map for each address, and ask the seller for the flood disclosure Florida now requires. Newer homes with current wind codes often cost less to insure, which is one reason many retirees look at newer communities in Port St. Lucie and western Palm Beach County.

How to choose: Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast

Start with how you want to spend a typical week. If you want restaurants, culture, many doctors and an airport close by, Palm Beach County usually fits. If you want quiet, nature and more house for the money, the Treasure Coast is worth a close look.

Next, set your budget. If you are selling a home now, find out what it will bring. Then compare three or four homes in each area on total monthly cost: mortgage if any, taxes, insurance, HOA and any CDD fee.

Finally, spend time in both places before you decide. Visit in summer as well as in season. The drive, the heat and the crowds feel different in August than in February. Our guide to the most affordable places to retire in Florida may help you widen the list.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Treasure Coast cheaper than Palm Beach County?

For single-family homes in St. Lucie County, yes, by a wide margin. Martin County's single-family median was about the same as Palm Beach County's in August 2026. Condo prices were similar across all three counties.

Do property taxes differ in Palm Beach vs Treasure Coast counties?

The state rules are the same, including homestead and the Save Our Homes cap. Local millage rates differ by county and city, so compare the bill on each home.

Which is better for health care?

Palm Beach County has more hospitals and specialists nearby. Port St. Lucie and Stuart have Cleveland Clinic hospitals, but some trips to specialists may be longer.

Is Hobe Sound part of Palm Beach County?

No. Hobe Sound is in Martin County, just north of Jupiter. Many residents shop, dine and see doctors in northern Palm Beach County.

Sources

• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
• Miami Realtors, Martin County August 2026 market report
• Miami Realtors, St. Lucie County August 2026 market report
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, 2025 millage rates
• Florida Department of Revenue, property tax exemptions
• Florida Statutes, s. 193.155 (Save Our Homes)
• Florida Realtors, Florida approves more home insurance rate cuts
• Florida Statutes, s. 689.302 flood disclosure
• Cleveland Clinic, Tradition Hospital
• U.S. Census Bureau, Hobe Sound CDP, 2020 Census profile
• University of Florida BEBR, Florida Population: Census Summary 2020
• U.S. Census Bureau, Boynton Beach city, 2020 Census profile
• MLB, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter
• Treasure Coast House Hunters, Riverland vs. Tradition
• New York Mets, spring training at Clover Park

Selling a home to fund your retirement move? Start with a free home value report so you know your budget in either area. Buying? Request a curated 55+ community shortlist for Palm Beach County or the Treasure Coast from a Pure Equity agent.