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 to wonderful Spanish revival architecture to luscious green 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 hotspot for America’s rich and powerful, and it remains so today.
Like any city, Boca Raton has a wide variety of enclaves, associations, and neighborhoods, providing all sorts of insular communities to socialize with. However, being the shining jewel of Florida means that every single community will be a beauty to behold, and among the best places to live in the entire nation.
Pearl City – Affordable Downtown Living
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 with 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. Check out homes in Pearl City.
West Boca Raton – Suburban 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. These peripheral developments, which are quite extensive and numerous and rival the size of the city itself, have been unofficially combined into a half-neighborhood, half-distinct community known as West Boca Raton. As the name implies, this community is located to the city’s west, and is not located in the main urban sprawl of Boca Raton. These developments, which are more spaced out, can be thought of as Boca Raton’s unofficial suburban community.
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. Check out homes in West Boca Raton.
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 Mediterrenean 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 – Great Homes in a Prestigious Enclave
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. If you don’t believe us, believe Forbes, who in a 2003 article rated The Sanctuary in the top ten most expensive and exclusive gated communities in the entire nation. While 2003 was some time ago, time did little to change The Sanctuary or its reputation for expensivity or exclusivity. Today, home prices in The Sanctuary go from around three million to around thirteen million.
However, the high costs come with high rewards. 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. The Sanctuary has earned its spot of one of the most exclusive communities in North America, and will likely keep that title for a long time. See homes in The Sanctuary here.
The Oaks – Family-friendly Boca Neighborhood with a Growing Association
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. An added bonus is that this community does not have the hefty community club fees associated with other neighborhoods of its kind, making it just that much lighter on your wallet. Check out some of the homes in The Oaks.
Blue Inlet – High-Class Yacht Paradise
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. Not to mention the homes here are some of the finest in the city, with some even being as large as 12,000 square feet.
Boca Raton Neighborhoods Map
Regardless of where you choose to live in Boca Raton, you will be treated to one of the finest cities on the North American continent. However, before you can delight in your new home, you’ve got to get yourself and all of your prized possessions there in one piece. That’s where Meehan’s Family Moving comes in. With a stellar team of professional and well-trained movers, you can be on your way to Boca Raton without having to worry about conducting a stressful move by your lonesome. If you’re interested, give us a call or fill out our quote form for a quick, easy, and cost-free quote.
