Boca Raton vs. Delray Beach for Retirement in 2026: Cost & 55+ Community Guide
You picture palm trees, warm ocean air, and winters without snow boots. Then reality sets in. What will it cost you? Will your health care providers be close by? And when you need long-term care services one day, will you be prepared?
There are many options available in Florida. Picture two sun-drenched neighbors, just ten miles apart, each promising flip-flop winters and palm-tree mornings. Boca Raton projects polished country-club elegance, while Delray Beach hums with Atlantic Avenue energy. The question you might ask, “Which one fits our lifestyle and budget?”
Retirees continue to compare Boca Raton and Delray Beach because both offer sunshine and coastal living—but at very different price points and lifestyle tempos. With rising housing costs and growing awareness about aging-in-place planning, choosing the right city matters more in 2026 than ever.
Here’s how the two cities stack up using the latest available data.
Both cities are in Florida's Palm Beach County, about 10 miles apart. Both enjoy mild winters averaging in the mid-70s and share hurricane season from June through November. Boca Raton is larger and slightly younger. According to the Data USA profile, about 99,000 residents live there, with a median age just under 46 and a median home value near $660k. Delray Beach tops out around 67,000 people, skews older at 52, and posts median home prices closer to $387k. Those two numbers sum up the split: Boca favors upscale living; Delray stays more approachable.*
*Home values vary by source and neighborhood; 2025–2026 listing data show continued volatility due to insurance and inventory shifts.
Key takeaway: Boca skews younger and more affluent. Delray skews older and more budget-accessible.
Why So Many Retirees Are Considering These Cities in 2026
Three forces are driving interest:
1. No State Income Tax
Florida continues to attract retirees because it has no state income tax. Social Security, pensions, and retirement withdrawals are not taxed at the state level. For someone drawing $80,000 annually from retirement accounts, that can mean thousands saved each year compared with high-tax states.
Sales tax is simple. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, you pay seven percent on most purchases, with six percent going to the state and one percent to Palm Beach County. Property taxes feel similar in both ZIP codes because Boca and Delray fall under the same county umbrella. Boca’s city millage rate is a bit higher to fund parks and public safety, but on a $500k home the difference is only a few hundred dollars per year.
Florida also skips estate and inheritance taxes. Retirees who claim Homestead plus the optional Senior Exemption can shave thousands off annual property bills. Combine these breaks, and it is clear why financial planners consistently call the Sunshine State “retirement friendly.”
These are states where retirees are most likely to pay significant income tax on withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, and other taxable retirement accounts — making Florida’s zero state income tax a major financial advantage:
- California – Top rate ~13.3%
- Hawaii – Top rate ~11.0%
- New York – Top rate ~10.9%
- New Jersey – Top rate ~10.75%
- Oregon – Top rate ~9.9%
- Minnesota – Top rate ~9.85%
- Vermont – Top rate ~8.75%
- Colorado – Flat rate ~4.40%, but notable because Colorado taxes all retirement income at that flat rate and has limited exclusions
- Connecticut – Top rate ~6.99% (with limited retirement income exemptions)
- Rhode Island – Top rate ~5.99% (with modest exemptions on retirement income)
Note: Top marginal rates apply at higher income levels. Effective tax burdens depend on total income, filing status, and available deductions/exemptions. Some states exempt portions of retirement income (pensions and Social Security), reducing the tax that many retirees actually pay.
2. Lifestyle Without Winter
Both cities offer walkable beaches, golf, pickleball, arts, and strong social calendars. As more retirees prioritize health and social engagement, climate plays a bigger role in longevity decisions.
Spend an afternoon people watching and each city’s personality jumps off the sidewalk. Boca Raton feels curated: wide streets, manicured medians, and clubhouses filled with card games, lectures, and charity galas. Life often orbits the gated community gatehouse, with pickleball at dawn, a session at FAU’s Lifelong Learning Institute after lunch, and dinner at an on-site grille before calling it a night.
Ten minutes north, the tempo shifts. Delray Beach works like one big front porch. Atlantic Avenue rolls out cafés, galleries, and live-music patios where snowbirds and locals mingle until late. You can walk from condo to beach to happy hour without circling for parking. Festivals dot almost every calendar square, so saying “yes” to art walks, craft fairs, or a Tuesday night drum circle comes naturally.
3. Health Care Access
Palm Beach County has one of the strongest hospital networks in South Florida.
Major facilities include:
- Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital
- Delray Medical Center
- West Boca Medical Center
- Bethesda Hospital East
For retirees, proximity to cardiology, oncology, and orthopedic services matters. Access reduces stress—and travel time—if health changes.
Planning to age in place? Both cities host multiple Continuing Care Retirement Communities, letting you shift from independent living to assisted or skilled care without changing your address. Add SilverSneakers gyms, strong caregiver support groups, and beach parks that lend free wheelchairs, and it is clear why many retirees say they moved for the weather but stayed for the wellness.
There are many in-home caregivers, adult day care centers, assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes available as well. Use the LTC News Caregiver Directory to search based on zip code.
In short, your doctor, your rehab center, and your next fitness class are all closer than your favorite seafood shack. That peace of mind lets you focus on pickleball scores, not blood-pressure readings.
Top 55+ Communities in Boca Raton
Choosing a community in Boca is less about “Will I find amenities?” and more about “Which flavor of resort life fits me?” Options stretch from entry-level condos to genuine five-star country clubs, all framed by year-round landscaping that looks postcard-ready.
Century Village anchors the budget side. Roughly 8,000 condos encircle lakes, pools, and a 125,000-square-foot clubhouse. Prices start in the low six figures, and the monthly fee covers nearly everything but groceries, making it a wallet-friendly entry to Boca living.
Prefer a villa without country-club dues? Whisper Walk delivers. One-story attached homes line quiet streets, HOA fees stay reasonable, and neighbors swap garden tips at the pool instead of tee times.
At midrange, Boca Lago pairs spacious two-bedroom condos with optional golf membership. You get fairway views and a lively social calendar without signing a mandatory equity check, a rare combo in this city.
At the luxury peak sits Boca West. Four championship courses, multiple spas, and six on-site restaurants turn ordinary Tuesdays into vacation days. Entry-level condos begin around $300k, but the real ticket is the $90k club buy-in plus annual dues. For retirees who crave Michelin-level dining and tournament-ready pickleball, that price feels worthwhile every sunrise.
In short, Boca lets you dial the lifestyle from “value-packed and lively” to “private-jet chic.” Decide how much you want to golf, dine, and network, and the right gatehouse will appear.
Top 55+ Communities in Delray Beach
If Boca is a showcase of polished clubs, Delray offers a sampler tray. You can land a condo for the cost of a midsize SUV or splurge on resort-level single-family homes, all inside a city that still feels neighborly.
Kings Point leads the affordability parade. About 7,000 condos, three clubhouses, and two par-three golf courses create a built-in social network for under $100k. Residents joke it is a cruise ship on dry land, except the shuffleboard courts never close.
Move up the scale and Huntington Lakes checks plenty of boxes. Two-bedroom condos hover around $200k, the renovated clubhouse hosts Broadway-style shows, and pickleball camaraderie spills into evening wine tastings.
Craving something newer? Valencia Sound answers with modern homes, sleek fitness studios, and a café that turns out perfect lattes after morning yoga. Expect to invest mid-six figures plus roughly $650 in monthly HOA dues, but no mandatory golf buy-in keeps costs predictable.
Finally, Harbour’s Edge delivers waterfront living paired with continuing care. Entrance fees are steep, yet the promise of seamless medical support wrapped in boutique-hotel amenities attracts planners who value certainty as much as ocean views.
Altogether, Delray proves you do not need a seven-figure budget to enjoy year-round sunshine and a full dance card. The real question is whether you prefer bingo in the ballroom, sunrise Zumba, or cocktails on a lakefront balcony—because Delray’s 55-plus scene serves all three.
Housing Costs: Premium vs. Range
Boca Raton: Upscale Living
- Entry-level 55+ condos (e.g., Century Village): low $100,000s
- Gated golf communities: $500,000 to well over $1 million
- Luxury country clubs: equity buy-ins can exceed $90,000
HOA fees and mandatory club memberships are common. Insurance premiums remain a major budgetary factor in 2026 due to pressure on the South Florida property market.
Delray Beach: Broader Price Spectrum
- 55+ condos in communities like Kings Point: under $100,000 possible
- Midrange active-adult condos: $200,000–$350,000
- Newer construction homes: $600,000–$900,000
Most Delray communities do not require mandatory golf equity buy-ins, which keeps entry costs more predictable.
Property Taxes, Insurance, and Transaction Costs
Both cities fall under Palm Beach County.
- Combined sales tax: 7 percent (6 percent state + 1 percent county)
- No estate or inheritance tax in Florida
- Homestead exemption available for primary residents
Real estate commission structures have shifted since the 2024 National Association of Realtors settlement. A 2024 commission-rule study by SquareFoot Homes (Palm Beach County) estimates that moving Palm Beach County deals from the long-standing 6 percent total commission to the 3 percent structure now allowed after the NAR settlement would trim roughly $15,000 off the closing costs of a $500,000 home.
Retirees eyeing a 2026 move should double-check any projections that still assume the old 6 percent rule.
Insurance remains a wild card. Windstorm and flood premiums can materially change ownership costs. Always request a current insurance quote before finalizing a purchase.
Lifestyle: Club Living vs. Walkable Energy
Boca often feels structured and private.
- Gated communities
- Country-club social calendars
- Manicured neighborhoods
- More suburban layout
Delray feels compact and energetic.
- Atlantic Avenue nightlife
- Walk-to-dinner convenience
- Art festivals and live music
- Smaller-town atmosphere
Ask yourself:
Do you prefer organized club programming or spontaneous downtown strolls?
Health Care and Long-Term Care Considerations
Moving to Florida for retirement is only part of the equation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 56 percent of Americans turning 65 will need long-term services and supports that meet the federal definition of needing help with two or more activities of daily living or cognitive impairment.
Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care beyond limited skilled-care periods. Considering the financial impact of long-term care costs is critical in retirement planning.
Using the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator, Palm Beach County assisted living costs in 2026 are around the average cost in Florida. Home care and assisted living costs range from $4,000 to $6,000 a month, plus surcharges added to assisted living costs. Nursing home care can cost more than $10,000 a month, depending on the level of need.
Whether you choose Boca or Delray, planning for care matters just as much as planning for golf.
Long-Term Care Insurance policies can provide tax-free benefits to pay for care at home, in assisted living, or in nursing facilities. Without a plan, retirees often rely on personal savings or family caregivers. However, many retirees who move to Florida still have family elsewhere. Family members, even if they live close by, are often untrained and unprepared for the role of caregiver.
Before relocating, ask:
- If your health changed tomorrow, how would you pay for care?
- Would your chosen community allow you to age in place?
- Does the HOA permit private caregivers in the home?
Which City Fits You?
Choose Boca Raton if you:
- Prefer structured, country-club living
- Want upscale amenities
- Value lower crime statistics
- Are comfortable with higher entry costs
Choose Delray Beach if you:
- Prefer walkable downtown life
- Want more housing price flexibility
- Enjoy festivals and nightlife
- Prefer communities without mandatory golf equity
Both offer sunshine. Both offer health care access. Both require realistic budgeting.
The real question is not which beach town looks better in photos. It’s which one supports your lifestyle—and your long-term financial security.
Final Thought
Retirement is not just about warm winters. It is about sustainability. Before you decide between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, run the numbers. Use the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator. Review home owners and auto insurance premiums. If you don’t yet have Long-Term Care Insurance don’t wait until you move. Get LTC Insurance quotes based on your age and health now. LTC Insurance will be good anywhere you love in the United States. Understand HOA obligations. Plus, discuss potential moves with your family and get their input.