Home to nearly 100,000 people and the southernmost city in Palm Beach County, Boca Raton is one of the wealthiest cities in Florida if not the country — and it shows. From yachts in the sea and wonderful Spanish revival architecture to world-class golf courses, everything about Boca Raton screams wealth and class. Originally incorporated in the ‘20s, Boca Raton’s convenient position for US radar and intelligence networks quickly led to it becoming a hot spot for America’s rich and powerful, and it remains so today.
If you’re considering calling this beautiful city home, exploring Boca Raton neighborhoods is a great place to start. There are many fantastic Boca Raton communities to choose from, including affordable neighborhoods, luxurious communities with sandy beaches, and master-planned gated communities packed with amenities. Here are some of the best places to live in Boca Raton to get you started.
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Downtown Boca Raton – One of the Best Neighborhoods in Boca Raton for Young Professionals
Downtown Boca Raton is a vibrant hub of fun and luxury. The Boca Raton Museum of Art is a true gem, showcasing stunning exhibits and thrilling educational programs. The area is also home to a variety of exciting entertainment venues, from live music venues to trendy restaurants and bars, all within walking distance. Mizner Park, one of the best high-end malls in the city, is in the heart of Downtown Boca Raton. Millennials and young professionals will find an abundance of luxury condos and high-end living spaces.
You’ll also enjoy great nearby attractions and a range of luxury communities in the downtown area. It’s adjacent to The Resort Golf Course Boca Raton Resort & Golf. Just south of downtown is Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, a prestigious country club community.
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Pearl City – Affordable Downtown Living in One of the Oldest Neighborhoods in Boca Raton
Long before Boca Raton came to be one of the most beautiful and affluent cities in the southern United States, when the city and its signature resorts were only a figment in the imagination of Addison Mizner, this neighborhood was platted in 1915, initially intended to be the residence of the blue-collar African-Americans working for the planned resort. Theorized to have been named for the Hawaiian pearl pineapple, which had been grown in the area for some time, Pearl City is a historic African-American community, even having a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. on the grounds of Ebenezer Baptist Church in the neighborhood’s northeastern corner. For some time, the community suffered from a crime epidemic, but since the 2000s, has made a slow and steady comeback.
Pearl City stands apart from other neighborhoods in Boca Raton due to its affordability. Houses are exceptionally less expensive than most of the other property, with the catch being that they aren’t as beautiful or well-furnished as something you’d find elsewhere in the city. That being said, Pearly City is an excellent choice for the home buyer on a budget.
West Boca Raton – Suburban South Florida Living with Great Schools
It may surprise you to know that most of Boca Raton, as indicated in our postal service, isn’t actually in the city of Boca Raton itself. There are dozens of large Boca neighborhoods and communities outside of the city limits that together rival the size of the city itself. Collectively, the area of West Boca Raton includes developments inside the city limits and unincorporated communities west of the city center.
You can think of West Boca Raton as the city’s unofficial suburban community. It’s home to some of the best neighborhoods in Boca Raton for families with many communities to choose from.
Just because West Boca Raton isn’t “official” doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty to offer. The area notably contains dozens of prestigious private schools, particularly Jewish institutions. The area’s developments house some of the more expensive homes in the city, and as a testament to the area’s quality, the Florida senator Ted Deutch lives in the Boca Falls development, and has his office in the Boca West development, both contained within the West Boca Raton neighborhood.
Like most of the city, this area won’t go easy on your wallet, but in terms of living a quiet, relaxed, suburban life, West Boca Raton is the best neighborhood by far.
Addison Estates – Private and Affluent Boca Neighborhood
Containing only 15 homes, Addison Estates is certainly a small development but is highly desired for its beautiful properties and insular communities. The development itself is actually located on the grounds of the world-famous Boca Raton Resort and Club, and all the amenities of the club, including the greens and courts, are mere steps away. The development itself also boasts its own amenities, including swimming pools, home theaters, and home gyms. A short drive will take you right into the heart of Boca Raton, with plenty of shopping and activities to excite you to your heart’s content.
Most of the homes here were built during a period of development in the 1990s. The properties are best described as “palatial”, truly impressive in size, with homes often sizing up to 4,000 to 9,000 square feet, and making one feel as if they’re in their very own noble palace. Additionally, Addison Estates’ beauty is enhanced by its explicitly Mediterranean style, which runs counter to Boca Raton’s more Spanish styles and gives the neighborhood a unique flavor. If you’re looking for the high life and quick access to attractions and activities, there are few neighborhoods better than Addison Estates. Check out homes in the Addison Estates.
The Sanctuary – Affluent Gated Community in Boca Raton
The Sanctuary, located right on the Gulf Stream waterway, is a contender for the most prestigious, affluent, and highly sought-after neighborhoods in the entire city of Boca Raton. In 2003, Forbes rated The Sanctuary among the top ten most expensive and exclusive gated communities in the entire nation. This gated neighborhood remains a prestigious and affluent community known for its large estates and fabulous amenities.
The Sanctuary’s amenities are unmatched, as you’d expect from a community so high-class. From around-the-clock patrols of both the streets and the waterway by well-trained guards, to a 23-slip marina, to a 27-acre wildlife and avian natural preserve that also doubles as a screen against prying eyes from the Intracoastal.
You can check out other gated communities in Boca Raton with our complete guide.
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The Oaks at Boca Raton – Family-Friendly Boca Raton Neighborhood
A family’s dream come true, The Oaks are part of the wider West Boca Raton neighborhood area but deserves its own spotlight. By far one of the largest of the developments of the city, The Oaks has a whopping 470 Mediterrenean-inspired homes contained within it, and is gaining new ones every day from custom builds for discerning buyers, and the entire development takes up 282 acres. Most of these homes are from 2002, when the development was first established, but as previously mentioned, custom builds are common, and there’s no sign of The Oaks’ expansion being halted anytime soon.
What makes this neighborhood family-friendly, you ask? For one, this community is zoned to some of Boca Raton’s finer schools, including Sunrise Park Elementary, Eagles Landing Middle School, and Olympic Heights Community High School. If zoning and schools aren’t enough for you, the complex also includes amenities of particular interest to the kids, like tennis and basketball courts, plenty of open space and swimmable water for fun days out, and more, all secure behind two manned entrances, a security gate, and plenty of walls.
As an added bonus, The Oaks does not have the hefty community club fees associated with other neighborhoods of its kind.
Blue Inlet – High-Class Yacht Paradise on the Water
Blue Inlet is up there with The Sanctuary in terms of affluence and wealth, but it sets itself apart in numerous ways. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, Blue Inlet is best known for its deep water access, allowing for private docks and seawalls perfect for yachts upwards of eighty feet in length. Single-family estate homes in the Blue Inlet neighborhood feature up to 12,000 square feet of living space.
Blue Inlet is next to Harbour East, a similar waterfront community. The two are often considered a single neighborhood with a combined 121 single-family homes along six canals and waterways, each with direct ocean access. The communities are next to Mizner Park and not far from Downtown Boca Raton.
Boca Del Mar – One of the Largest Boca Raton Neighborhoods With Family-Friendly Amenities
Boca Del Mar is a sprawling 2,350-acre master-planned community home to more than 21,000 people. While it’s not technically located in the city of Boca Raton, it’s usually considered one of the city’s many neighborhoods. Boca Del Mar is so large that it’s actually divided into dozens of Boca Raton communities like Fairways, Captiva, Whitehall, Colony Woods, and Pineapple Walk.
You’ll find many family-friendly neighborhoods in the area. Boca Del Mar students attend Del Prado Elementary School, part of the Palm Beach County School District.
Boca Raton Hills – Quiet Residential Neighborhood in East Boca
The Boca Raton Hills neighborhood is a great choice if you’re looking for affordable Boca Raton real estate. This residential neighborhood in East Boca Raton has no homeowners’ association fees, a rarity in the area. Residents love the large, private lots, tree-lined streets, and peaceful atmosphere. The community has everything ranging from modest ranch homes to larger estate homes.
You will be just minutes from the Boca Town Center Mall, Mizner Park, and Downtown Boca Raton. Families can appreciate that Boca Raton Hills is zoned for some of the best schools including J.C. Mitchell Elementary School and Boca Raton High School, a highly-rated magnet school.
Boca Raton Neighborhoods Map
As you can see, Boca Raton offers many beautiful neighborhoods for families, young professionals, and seniors alike. Whether you’re interested in upscale golf course estates or you’re looking for affordable neighborhoods in Boca Raton, you’ll have plenty of options available.
Once you have chosen one of these Boca Raton neighborhoods to call your own, Meehan’s Family Moving is here to help. With a stellar team of professional Boca Raton movers, you’ll be settled into your new home in no time. Give us a call at (561) 904-6000 to get started with a free, personalized moving quote.
