Ranch Style House Guide: Single-Story Homes in Palm Beach County and Where to Find Them

A ranch style house is a long, low, one-story home with a simple roof and an easy flow from room to room. In Palm Beach County, the local version is usually built from concrete block covered in stucco, and you will find plenty of them in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. This guide explains what makes a home a ranch, how Florida's block homes compare with the classic style and where to look if you want everything on one floor.

Key takeaways

• The ranch style took off in California in the 1930s and spread across the country after World War II.
• Most Florida one-story homes are concrete block and stucco, often called CBS, rather than the wood frame ranches seen up north.
• Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens all have large suburban areas with one-story homes, though prices differ widely.
• Single-story living appeals to downsizers and anyone who wants to avoid stairs as they age.
• Check roof age, windows and systems on older ranch homes, since they drive insurance and repair costs.

What is a ranch style house?

The ranch is an American style. Pennsylvania's state historic preservation office, in its guide to suburban house styles, says it began in California in the 1930s and spread across the country. It calls the ranch perhaps the most common home style of the postwar era, with its peak in the 1950s and 1960s.

The common features are easy to spot:

• One story, with a long, low profile close to the ground.
• A low-pitched roof, often with wide overhangs.
• An open or semi-open layout, with living areas on one side and bedrooms on the other.
• An attached garage or carport.
• Sliding glass doors or large windows that open to a patio or yard.

In short, a ranch is built around simple, informal living on one level. That idea fits South Florida well, where outdoor space gets used most of the year.

How Florida block homes compare with a classic ranch style house

Up north, a ranch is often wood frame with siding or brick. Here, most one-story homes are concrete block covered with stucco. Agents and inspectors call this CBS construction. The block walls stand up well to wind, termites and humidity, which is why builders in the region have relied on them for decades.

The roof is another difference. Many Florida ranch homes have hip roofs, which slope down on all four sides. Florida's wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, records roof shape because hip roofs are generally treated as more wind resistant than gables. In addition, you will see more tile and metal roofs here than asphalt shingles on newer or updated homes.

Inside, Florida ranches often have tile or terrazzo floors instead of carpet over wood. Many also have screened patios or pool cages that act like an extra room.

Eras you will see

Older one-story homes from the 1960s and 1970s tend to have smaller rooms, carports or one-car garages and original terrazzo. By the 1980s and 1990s, many suburbs filled with larger one-story homes with two-car garages, split bedroom plans and vaulted ceilings. Newer builds still offer one-story models, often with great rooms, large islands and impact windows.

Where to find a ranch style house in Wellington

Wellington is a large suburban village in central Palm Beach County known for its equestrian community and family neighborhoods. Away from the horse farms, many subdivisions are filled with one-story homes on suburban lots, along with a mix of two-story models.

Prices here run high. According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Wellington had 554 active residential listings with a median list price of $915,000. Active listings had been on the market an average of 124 days. Keep in mind that this median mixes condos and houses and includes large equestrian estates, so a typical one-story home in a standard subdivision may list for less.

For a wider look at the area, read our guide on whether Wellington is a good place to live.

Royal Palm Beach one-story homes

Royal Palm Beach sits just north of Wellington and has many established neighborhoods of single-family homes, along with townhomes and condos. Buyers often look here for a one-story home at a lower price point than nearby Wellington.

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Royal Palm Beach had 244 active residential listings with a median list price of $499,900. Active listings averaged 99 days on market. That smaller inventory means good one-story homes can go quickly, so it helps to have alerts set up before you start touring.

Palm Beach Gardens single-story options

Palm Beach Gardens mixes older one-story neighborhoods near the center of the city with golf and gated communities further west. Many of those communities include one-story villas and single-family homes, which appeal to buyers who want less upkeep.

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Palm Beach Gardens had 799 active residential listings with a median list price of $899,000 and an average of 110 days on market for active listings. As with Wellington, the median includes everything from condos to estate homes, so your target range may look quite different.

Why downsizers want a ranch style house

Single-story living is a top request among buyers who are scaling back. There are no stairs to climb, so the home works as people age. Laundry, bedrooms and the kitchen sit on one level. Moving furniture and cleaning are easier as well.

A one-story home can also be easier to adapt later. For example, you can widen doorways, add grab bars or switch a tub for a walk-in shower without dealing with a second floor. Many buyers also like being able to step straight out to a patio or pool.

If you are planning a move to a smaller home, our downsizing guide walks through timing, pricing and selling your current home first.

Trade-offs to know

One-story homes use more land per square foot than two-story homes. So for the same size house, you may get a smaller yard or pay more for the lot. In addition, older ranches may have lower ceilings and smaller bedrooms than newer two-story models. Weigh those points against the convenience of one level.

Popular updates for an older one-story home

Many buyers pick an older ranch because it costs less than a new build and leaves room to make it their own. If that is your plan, a few updates tend to come up again and again.

• Opening the wall between the kitchen and living room to create a great room. Ask a contractor to confirm whether the wall is load bearing first.
• Replacing old jalousie or single-pane windows with impact glass.
• Uncovering and polishing original terrazzo floors, which are often hiding under carpet or tile.
• Converting a carport into a garage or adding a screened patio.
• Updating bathrooms with walk-in showers and wider doors for easier access.

Most of these jobs need permits from the city or village. In addition, some neighborhoods have HOA rules about windows, garage doors and exterior colors. So before you close, ask for the permit history and the HOA guidelines. That way, you know which projects are simple and which need approvals.

What to inspect on an older ranch style house

Many one-story homes in these areas are several decades old. Before you buy, look closely at the items that drive cost.

1. Roof age and type. Under section 627.7011 of the Florida Statutes, an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old. For older roofs, an inspection showing at least five years of useful life left can help.
2. Windows and doors. Impact glass or rated shutters can lower insurance and protect the home in storms.
3. Electrical panel and wiring. Some older panels raise insurer concerns.
4. Plumbing. Ask what type of pipes the home has and whether they were updated.
5. Air conditioning. Check the age of the system and the ductwork.
6. Wind mitigation report. Ask the seller for a recent one or order your own.

A good inspection and an early insurance quote will tell you more about a home's true cost than the price alone.

How to search for a ranch style house in Palm Beach County

Most listing sites do not tag homes as "ranch." Instead, filter for single-family homes with one story. Then narrow by city, lot size, garage and pool. In addition, you can filter by year built to target certain eras.

It also helps to drive the neighborhoods. You will quickly see which streets are mostly one-story and which mix in two-story homes. Finally, ask your agent to watch for one-story homes before they go public, since some sellers talk to agents before listing.

For the wider market, Palm Beach County's single-family median sale price was $650,000 in August 2026, with 40 median days to contract, according to Miami Realtors.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a ranch and a bungalow?

Both are usually one story. A bungalow is smaller and often has a front porch and a steeper roof. A ranch is longer and lower, with an attached garage and a layout that spreads across the lot.

Are ranch style homes in Florida built from wood?

Most in Palm Beach County are concrete block with stucco, called CBS. Some have wood frame additions or upper gables, so ask your inspector to confirm.

Where can I find a cheaper ranch style house near Wellington?

Royal Palm Beach often lists one-story homes at lower prices than Wellington. Its median list price was $499,900 as of October 1, 2026, per Pure Equity's MLS data.

Is a one-story home a good investment?

One-story homes are in steady demand with downsizers and families. Resale still depends on location, condition, roof age and price, so compare recent sales with your agent.

Sources

• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Ranch style
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, wind mitigation resources (form OIR-B1-1802)
• Florida Statutes, section 627.7011
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report

Selling a one-story home in Wellington or Royal Palm Beach? Downsizers are looking for homes like yours. Get a free home value estimate. Searching for one instead? Set up new-listing alerts for Wellington and nearby towns so you see one-story homes first.