At a glance
| Location | Barrier island between Boca Raton (south) and Delray Beach (north) |
|---|---|
| Government | Town of Highland Beach, incorporated 1949, commission-manager |
| Population | 4,295 (2020 census) |
| Area | About 1.29 square miles, of which 0.54 is land |
| Main road | State Road A1A |
| ZIP code | 33487 |
Highland Beach at a glance
Highland Beach is a separate municipality in southeast Palm Beach County, incorporated in 1949 and run under a commission-manager government. It covers about 1.29 square miles, but only 0.54 square miles of that is land. The Atlantic is to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, with State Road A1A running the length of the town.
The town is almost entirely residential, with very little commercial property. Shopping, dining and most services are in Boca Raton or Delray Beach, a short drive over the Intracoastal bridges.
Is Highland Beach a good area to live?
It suits buyers who want to live directly on the ocean or the Intracoastal in a quiet, almost entirely residential town, and who are comfortable with condo living. Wikipedia lists only two businesses in town, both in the building of the Delray Sands Resort, so errands mean a short drive to Boca Raton or Delray Beach.
The main trade-offs are coastal: flood exposure, the cost of insuring and maintaining oceanfront buildings, and Florida's condo safety rules for older towers. The pros and cons below cover them.
Homes and prices in Highland Beach
The 2020 census counted 4,338 housing units, and 43.7% of them were vacant on census day, which mostly reflects seasonal and second-home use. Zillow doesn't publish a separate typical value for Highland Beach in our data. The town shares ZIP code 33487 with part of Boca Raton, and Zillow's typical home value for 33487 was $681,732 in August 2026, up 4.4% on the year.
Oceanfront and Intracoastal condos
Most homes for sale are condos in buildings along A1A. Oceanfront units can sell far above the ZIP figure, so ask a local agent for recent sales in the specific building and floor range.
Single-family homes and townhomes
A smaller number of houses and townhomes sit on the ocean or the Intracoastal. Check the seawall, dock and elevation on Intracoastal lots, and the coastal construction rules on oceanfront ones.
What to check in an oceanfront condo
Under Florida law, condo buildings of three stories or more need a milestone structural inspection by the end of the year they turn 30, then every 10 years. Local officials can require the first one at 25 years for buildings near salt water. Before you make an offer, get:
- The milestone inspection report and any repair plan that came out of it.
- The structural integrity reserve study, the current reserve balance and any special assessments.
- The association's insurance cost and the most recent budget.
- Rules on leasing, pets and renovations, and the approval process.
Our guide to buying a condo in Boca Raton explains these documents in more detail.
Living in Highland Beach
Shops and dining
With almost no commercial property, shopping, dining and most services are in Boca Raton to the south or Delray Beach to the north, over the Intracoastal bridges.
The beach
The beaches are nesting grounds for protected sea turtles, so expect rules on outdoor lighting for oceanfront buildings. Ask the association how it complies.
Schools
The School District of Palm Beach County assigns public schools by street address, not by community name, so check each Highland Beach address in the district's Find My School tool rather than relying on a listing. The district kept its A grade from the state for 2025-26, and 84% of district-run schools were rated A or B. Our Boca Raton schools guide covers choice programs and how to confirm zoning.
Getting around
State Road A1A runs the length of the town, and you reach I-95 by crossing the Intracoastal into Boca Raton or Delray Beach. For longer trips, Tri-Rail's Boca Raton station at 680 Yamato Road has free parking for commuters, and Brightline's downtown station at 101 NW 4th St. runs to Miami and Orlando.
Costs: condo fees, property tax and flood
Condo and association fees
Condo fees, the association's insurance cost and any special assessment for milestone repairs are usually the biggest variable costs. Ask for the budget and reserve study before you compare buildings. The cost of living in Boca Raton page gives wider context.
Property tax
The Town of Highland Beach proposed an operating rate of 3.4227 mills for 2026, plus 0.1648 for debt service, in place of a Boca Raton city rate. The county (4.5000 mills proposed) and the School Board (3.0390 state plus 3.2480 local) appear on every bill. If the home will be your permanent residence on January 1, file for homestead with the Property Appraiser by March 1: the first $25,000 exemption applies to all taxes, and an additional exemption of up to $25,722 (the 2025 figure) applies to non-school taxes. A sale resets the assessed value, so budget from the new value, not the seller's bill. See the Palm Beach County property tax guide.
Flood zone and insurance
Palm Beach County's Office of Emergency Management has separate address lookups for your hurricane evacuation zone and flood zone, and the two are not the same thing. Florida law requires a seller of residential property to give you a flood disclosure at or before signing, saying whether they know of flood damage, have filed a flood claim or received FEMA assistance for the home. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, so get a flood quote as well as a wind quote. The American Flood Coalition, which counts the town as a member, notes that much of Highland Beach's land lies below sea level, so check the elevation certificate for any house or building.
Pros and cons of Highland Beach
Pro: direct ocean and Intracoastal access
The town is a narrow strip between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal, so many homes have water on one side or both.
Pro: a lower town tax rate than Boca Raton
The town's proposed 2026 operating rate of 3.4227 mills sits below Boca Raton's 3.6476, although total bills depend on value and debt service.
Con: flood and storm exposure
Low-lying land and oceanfront buildings raise flood and wind insurance costs and the chance of special assessments.
Con: older condo towers
Buildings that have reached 25 to 30 years face milestone inspections and reserve funding, which can mean large assessments.
Areas to compare
For nearby options, compare Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club for waterfront houses, or downtown condos near Mizner Park. The Boca Raton ZIP code guide compares 33487 with other ZIP codes.
Common questions
Is Highland Beach part of Boca Raton?+
No. Highland Beach is a separate town, incorporated in 1949, with its own commission-manager government. It sits on the barrier island between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway, with Boca Raton to the south and Delray Beach to the north. It shares ZIP code 33487 with part of Boca Raton.
How many people live in Highland Beach, FL?+
The 2020 census counted 4,295 residents and 4,338 housing units. On census day, 43.7% of those units were vacant, which mostly reflects seasonal and second-home use. The American Flood Coalition notes the population roughly doubles in the winter months.
What should I check before buying a condo in Highland Beach?+
Ask for the building's milestone structural inspection report, which Florida requires for condo buildings of three stories or more by the end of the year they turn 30, and the structural integrity reserve study. Also get the budget, reserve balance, any special assessments, the association's insurance cost and the flood zone for the building.
What is the typical home value in Highland Beach?+
Zillow doesn't break out Highland Beach separately in our data. Zillow's typical home value for ZIP 33487, which Highland Beach shares with part of Boca Raton, was $681,732 in August 2026, up 4.4% on the year. Oceanfront condos and houses can sell far above that, so ask a local agent for recent building-level sales.
Does Highland Beach have shops and restaurants?+
Very few. Highland Beach is almost entirely residential, and Wikipedia lists only two businesses in town, both operating from the building of the Delray Sands Resort. For groceries, restaurants and most services, residents drive over the Intracoastal to Boca Raton to the south or Delray Beach to the north.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Highland Beach, Florida (2020 census figures)
- American Flood Coalition: Highland Beach
- Florida Statutes: Section 553.899, mandatory structural inspections for condominium and cooperative buildings
- School District of Palm Beach County: Find My School
- Boca Raton Tribune: Here's how Palm Beach County School District earned top grade (July 2026)
- Palm Beach County Property Appraiser: Homestead exemption
- Palm Beach County Property Appraiser: 2026 proposed millage rates and hearings
- Palm Beach County Office of Emergency Management: Know Your Zone
- Florida Statutes: Section 689.302, disclosure of flood risks
- Tri-Rail: Boca Raton Station
- Brightline: Boca Raton Station
- Zillow Research: Home Value Index and market data, August 2026
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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