Quick answer: If you love the Palm Beach lifestyle (beaches, upscale shopping, art, dining and a polished coastal feel) but not the price, Boca Raton and Delray Beach deliver most of it for a fraction of the cost. In 2026, the median single-family home on Palm Beach island sold for about $12.25 million. In Boca Raton the median was about $1.04 million, and in Delray Beach about $873,000, according to BeachesMLS data. Both cities are a short drive south of Palm Beach.
I say it lovingly: Palm Beach is one of a kind. But when buyers tell me they are only looking there for the beaches and the restaurants, my first question is always, have you looked at Boca and Delray? Here is why.
2026 Home Prices: Palm Beach vs. Boca Raton vs. Delray Beach
Palm Beach (island) | Boca Raton | Delray Beach | |
|---|---|---|---|
Median single-family sale price | $12,250,000 | $1,042,500 | $872,500 |
Single-family homes sold | 94 | 1,716 | 906 |
Median condo/townhome sale price | $1,660,000 | $365,000 | $240,000 |
Condos/townhomes sold | 256 | 1,773 | 1,587 |
Period | Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2026 | Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026 | Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026 |
Source: BeachesMLS data as reported by PBP Real Estate, retrieved Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2026. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Two things stand out. First, the price gap is enormous: a typical Palm Beach single-family home costs more than ten times a typical home in Boca Raton. Second, there is simply more to choose from. Boca Raton recorded 1,716 single-family sales through September, compared with 94 on Palm Beach island through October. More sales means more neighborhoods, more styles and more price points to choose from.
What You Give Up and What You Keep
You do give up the Palm Beach address, the island's historic estates and the social calendar that comes with it. For some buyers, that is the whole point, and that is completely fair. For everyone else, here is how the lifestyle compares.
Upscale Shopping and Dining
Palm Beach: Worth Avenue and its courtyards and vias.
Boca Raton: Mizner Park, with shopping, restaurants, the Boca Raton Museum of Art and an amphitheater, plus Royal Palm Place a few blocks south.
Delray Beach: Atlantic Avenue and Pineapple Grove, one of the most walkable downtowns in South Florida, running from the Intracoastal almost to the ocean.
Beaches
Palm Beach: Beautiful, but much of the shoreline is private or has limited public access.
Boca Raton: Red Reef Park, Spanish River Park and South Beach Park on the barrier island along A1A, plus the boardwalk at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
Delray Beach: The public beach at the end of Atlantic Avenue, where you can walk from dinner downtown to the sand.
Arts and Culture
Palm Beach: The Society of the Four Arts and its gardens.
Boca Raton: The Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park and concerts and community events at the Mizner Park Amphitheater.
Delray Beach: The Cornell Art Museum and Old School Square, the Arts Garage and the First Friday Art Walk.
Island and Waterfront Living
Palm Beach: The entire town is a barrier island.
Boca Raton: Homes and condos on the barrier island east of the Intracoastal, plus waterfront neighborhoods in east Boca.
Delray Beach: Beachside homes and condos east of the Intracoastal, a short walk or bike ride to Atlantic Avenue.
Holiday Traditions
Palm Beach has the Worth Avenue tree lighting. Boca Raton lights its holiday tree at Mizner Park, and Delray Beach lights a 100-foot tree at Old School Square. See every date in my Boca Raton and Delray Beach events calendar.
How to Use the Savings
When buyers redirect a Palm Beach budget to Boca Raton or Delray Beach, they often use the difference to get:
A larger lot, a newer home or a pool
A waterfront home on the Intracoastal with ocean access
A membership at a country club (see what it costs to join a country club in Boca Raton and Delray Beach)
A seasonal condo on the beach plus a primary home inland
A smaller mortgage, or no mortgage at all
When Palm Beach Is Still the Right Choice
To be fair, Palm Beach is the right fit if you want a historic estate, the island's privacy and security, walkable access to Worth Avenue, or the town's social and charitable scene. It is also one of the most limited markets in the country, with only 94 single-family sales in ten months, which helps protect long-term value. If that is you, I am happy to help you there too.
For a deeper look at all three markets, read my earlier Boca Raton vs. Delray Beach vs. Palm Beach real estate comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a home cost on Palm Beach island in 2026?
The median single-family home on Palm Beach island sold for about $12.25 million from January through October 2026, based on 94 sales. The median condo or townhome sold for about $1.66 million.
How much cheaper are Boca Raton and Delray Beach than Palm Beach?
From January through September 2026, the median single-family home sold for about $1.04 million in Boca Raton and about $873,000 in Delray Beach, compared with about $12.25 million on Palm Beach island.
How far are Boca Raton and Delray Beach from Palm Beach?
All three are in Palm Beach County. Delray Beach is the closer of the two, and both are a short drive south via I-95 or the scenic route along A1A.
Is Delray Beach or Boca Raton more like Palm Beach?
Boca Raton feels more like Palm Beach in polish, with Mizner Park, gated country clubs and luxury waterfront homes. Delray Beach has a more relaxed, walkable beach-town feel centered on Atlantic Avenue.
Thinking About Boca Raton or Delray Beach?
Explore Boca Raton homes for sale and Delray Beach homes for sale, or reach out and I will put together a side-by-side of what your budget buys in each city. Call or text me at 561-888-3115.
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