What if your morning started with coffee on an oceanfront terrace and an easy stroll to the sand without crowds or traffic? If you are exploring South Palm Beach County, Highland Beach offers a calm, residential slice of the coast close to Delray Beach and Boca Raton. In this guide, you will learn how daily life flows here, what beach access really looks like, how boaters make the most of the Intracoastal, and what kinds of homes and prices to expect. Let’s dive in.
Where Highland Beach fits
Highland Beach sits on a narrow barrier island along State Road A1A between Delray Beach to the north and Boca Raton to the south. The town promotes a residential character with local services and a low-key feel that many residents value. The 2020 U.S. Census counted 4,295 residents, and the community is small compared with nearby cities. You can browse civic updates and town information on the Town of Highland Beach site.
Beach access and the shoreline feel
A key part of Highland Beach’s day-to-day calm is beach access. For most of the town, there is no general public beach entrance within town limits. Many oceanfront properties and buildings maintain private or deeded access for their residents, which helps create a quieter shoreline experience.
Non-residents usually head to nearby public beaches for a day in the sun. The closest practical option for many locals is Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park, which offers lifeguards and managed access. You can check parking details, lifeguard information, and rules on the city’s page for Spanish River Park.
One change to watch is the long-discussed Milani Park at the south end of town, home to the Yamato Rock outcropping. County planning actions from 2023 through 2025 describe design and permitting activity for a new oceanfront park that would add public beach access, a boardwalk, and managed snorkeling at Yamato Rock. You can read local coverage on the Yamato Rock site context in The Coastal Star and see recent updates on the county’s progress in this Boca Daily News report. If built, Milani Park would shape future public access and may modestly increase activity at the south end over time.
Intracoastal rhythm and boating life
Highland Beach is classic South Florida barrier island, with the Atlantic on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west. Many waterfront condos line the ICW and some communities provide deeded dockage or boat-club access. Mornings often bring fishermen on the water, midday paddlers explore the calm channel, and late afternoons are perfect for yacht watching from a terrace.
Public marina infrastructure inside Highland Beach is limited, so most boat owners berth in nearby cities. You will find transient and annual slip options in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach at facilities like Delray Beach City Marina, Delray Harbor Club, Boynton Harbor Marina, and Mizner Marina in Boca. Use this regional directory to scan slip availability and services across the area: Southeast Florida marinas.
Daily errands, dining, and evenings
Highland Beach has very little in-town commercial activity, which keeps the streets quiet. Inside town limits, the signature oceanfront dining option is Latitudes at the Delray Sands Resort, a favorite for sunrise breakfasts, ocean-view lunches, and date-night dinners. Explore menus and hours for Latitudes.
For most day-to-day errands, you will make a short drive to Delray Beach or Boca Raton. Atlantic Avenue in Delray and Mizner Park and downtown Boca offer grocery options, restaurants, farmers markets, and arts events. Many residents like the pattern of a beach or pool morning, quick midday errands, then a quiet evening on the terrace while the waves do the talking.
Wellness and easy outdoor routines
If you enjoy an active lifestyle, mornings are made for sunrise beach walks and easy runs along A1A. Many condo communities feature fitness rooms, pools, and social spaces that make it simple to keep routines going. You will often see neighbors playing casual tennis or pickleball at on-site courts.
Water is always part of the day. Paddleboarders favor the calm ICW, and snorkelers look for clear-water days. Locals keep an eye on Yamato Rock and other nearby snorkel-friendly parks, with most residents driving a few minutes for lifeguarded beaches or park access when they want a more active outing.
What homes look like here
Most Highland Beach housing falls into three buckets. Each gives you a different way to live close to the water.
Oceanfront condos
Oceanfront condos are the dominant home type in Highland Beach, ranging from boutique mid-rises to larger luxury towers. Many communities highlight private or deeded beach access, pools, fitness centers, and social rooms, and some maintain small ICW parks or marina facilities. Building-level pages, such as the profile for the Townhouses of Highland Beach, show how amenities and rules vary by address.
Low-rise and townhome-style buildings
Smaller oceanfront or ICW buildings and townhome conversions appeal to buyers who want a more intimate, house-like condo feel. These often come with straightforward layouts, convenient parking, and a neighborly scale that feels calm and residential.
Luxury single-family homes
Freestanding oceanfront or Intracoastal single-family homes are rare and command premium values when they hit the market. In a small town, one ultra-luxury closing can influence monthly median figures, so it is smart to look beyond a single headline when you evaluate trends.
Market snapshot and pricing context
Highland Beach is a small market where prices and inventory can move with just a few sales. As of December 2025, Realtor.com reported a median listing price of about $1,022,500. Other trackers, like Redfin, have posted different medians at times based on their data sets and reporting periods. Always check current MLS data for an exact read when you are ready to act.
For context, building pages and recorded listings often show condo options starting in the mid $500,000s and running into the multi-million range for larger or renovated oceanfront residences. Townhome-style condos and boutique buildings can present value compared with direct oceanfront towers. Single-family water properties, when available, typically trade in the multi-million-dollar range. Since HOA policies, rental minimums, and pet rules differ by building, it pays to compare specifics address by address.
Who chooses Highland Beach
If you want a quiet, oceanfront setting with effortless beach access and quick drives to dining and events in Delray Beach and Boca Raton, Highland Beach fits well. The town is active year-round, and the winter season from roughly November through April brings a busier rhythm across South Palm Beach County. Even then, the in-town shoreline stays calmer than the big public beaches nearby, which many residents appreciate.
Smart steps for buyers
Use this quick checklist to streamline your search:
- Clarify your water priority. Oceanfront views, ICW views, or direct dockage drive different building choices and price points.
- Compare HOA rules. Pet policies, rental minimums, guest parking, and beach access vary by community. Review documents early.
- Plan for boat storage. If you want to keep a boat, map out slip options at nearby marinas and confirm availability and rates through a regional directory like Southeast Florida marinas.
- Track public access updates. Follow the progress of Milani Park through local reporting such as The Coastal Star and Boca Daily News.
- Use current data. In a small market, a few sales can shift monthly medians. Confirm pricing and days on market right before you offer.
Getting oriented nearby
When friends visit and you want a classic beach day with lifeguards and amenities, head to Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park for details on parking, hours, and access. For a celebratory dinner close to home, book a table at oceanfront Latitudes. For grocery runs, everyday dining, and culture, Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue and downtown Boca are both a few minutes by car.
Ready to tour the coast
Whether you are considering a seasonal condo, a full-time oceanfront residence, or a quiet ICW-view home base, a local guide who knows each building’s strengths will save you time. If you want discreet access to on- and off-market opportunities, building-by-building insight, and a clear plan from search through closing, connect with Michelle Yales for a personalized consultation.
FAQs
Is there public beach access in Highland Beach?
- Most beach frontage is private or deeded to buildings, and non-residents use nearby public beaches; the proposed Milani Park may add managed public access at the south end once completed, as covered by The Coastal Star and Boca Daily News.
Where can I keep a boat if I buy in Highland Beach?
- Many owners use nearby marinas in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach for slips and storage; scan options and services in this Southeast Florida marinas directory.
What does a typical day look like for residents?
- Think sunrise beach walks, poolside coffee, short drives for errands in Delray or Boca, afternoon paddleboarding on the Intracoastal, and quiet oceanfront evenings.
What types of homes are common in Highland Beach?
- Oceanfront condos are most common, with boutique low-rise and townhome-style buildings also available; luxury single-family waterfront homes are rare and trade at a premium.
How much do homes cost in Highland Beach?
- As of December 2025, Realtor.com reported a median listing price near $1,022,500, with condos often ranging from the mid $500,000s to several million; verify current figures with fresh MLS data before you offer.
