Verified · October 2026
Town of Highland Beach (ZIP 33487)
Entry price range: $500K–$1M
Every claim below links to a dated public source.
The community in brief
Highland Beach at a glance.
Highland Beach is a quiet, upscale barrier-island town on the southern edge of Palm Beach County, roughly 1.1 to 3 miles along A1A with the Atlantic on one side and the Intracoastal on the other, ZIP 33487. Incorporated in 1949 and nearly built out, it is about 67 percent residential and almost entirely oriented toward condominium living: oceanfront and Intracoastal towers dominate, with a limited inventory of custom estates and townhomes. Residents use Boca Raton to the south and Delray Beach to the north for everything the town deliberately does not have.
Real-time availability is confirmed directly with Kelby: listings portals lag, and the best addresses in Highland Beach move before they are published.
Location & boundaries
Boundary-line beach between two cities
Highland Beach runs along A1A on the barrier island, ZIP 33487, with Boca Raton bordering it on the south and southwest and Delray Beach to the north and northwest. The town is roughly 98 percent built out and about 67 percent residential. A1A is the spine; Spanish River Boulevard and Linton Boulevard to the south and north reach the mainland and I-95.
Sources · verified October 2026
Architecture & character
Towers on the ocean, estates behind the dunes
The market is dominated by luxury condominiums in oceanfront and Intracoastal towers, many from the 1980s and 1990s with full-service amenities, plus a limited inventory of custom oceanfront estates and gated Intracoastal homes with private docks. The town has no major shopping or nightlife, and its winter population nearly doubles as seasonal owners arrive. It is quiet, groomed, and locked-and-leave friendly.
Sources · verified October 2026
Market positioning & pricing
Condos from the $400,000s, estates to $30 million
Active listings and closed sales, 2025 to October 2026
Entry-level condos start around $425,000 to $500,000, with most two-bedroom, two-bath units listing from the mid-$500,000s to nearly $2 million. Condos and townhomes closed at a median of about $875,000 to $976,000 in 2026 sources, single-family median list was about $4.95 million, and luxury oceanfront estates can exceed $30 million. HOA fees on the full-service towers are substantial. These are dated figures, not guarantees; confirm the current market with Kelby.
Sources · verified October 2026
Amenities
The beach and the towers' own amenities
- Direct Atlantic beach along the town's ocean frontage
- Intracoastal frontage with dock-oriented homes
- Full-service condo living with pools and concierge in most towers
- Boca Raton's Mizner Park and downtown minutes south
- Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue minutes north
Sources · verified October 2026
Schools
County district by address
Highland Beach public schools run through The School District of Palm Beach County, with assignments set per address and often crossing the Boca Raton line to the south; no single zone was uniformly confirmed in this research, so verify current boundaries with the district before relying on any assignment.
School boundaries change and are set by address, never by community name: verify current boundaries with The School District of Palm Beach County before relying on any assignment.
Sources · verified October 2026
Access & commute
A1A spine, Spanish River and Linton west
A1A runs the town; Spanish River Boulevard and Linton Boulevard reach Federal Highway, U.S. 1, and I-95 to the west. Boca Raton's town centers are minutes south, Delray Beach minutes north, and both Palm Beach International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airports are practical options, each roughly 40 minutes away in normal traffic.
Sources · verified October 2026
HOA, club & restrictions
Tower fees are the price of admission
Condominium associations govern most of Highland Beach, with substantial monthly fees on the full-service towers covering amenities, security, and common areas; the limited single-family inventory has its own covenants. Current fee schedules vary widely by building; confirm with each association before offering.
Sources · verified October 2026
Waterfront, flood zone & insurance
Barrier island, coastal exposure on both sides
Oceanfront and Intracoastal properties sit within FEMA-mapped coastal high-hazard and flood zones, and flood insurance is required for federally backed mortgages in Special Flood Hazard Areas. Premiums scale with elevation, building date, and coverage; verify each property with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and a specialist insurer before offering.
Sources · verified October 2026
New construction & pre-construction
A nearly built-out town
Completed
The town is roughly 98 percent built out, so new construction is limited to estate rebuilds and renovations; current opportunities were not verified in this research. Confirm directly with Kelby.
Sources · verified October 2026
Investment & rental considerations
Vacation rentals need town approval
Highland Beach requires a separate vacation rental registration form and fee for each unit, and a vacation rental cannot operate without town approval; owners must hold a Florida DBPR license plus state and county tax registrations, and the condo association's own documents must permit short-term leases. Confirm the building's rules and the town's current fee before underwriting.
Sources · verified October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Highland Beach.
Where is Highland Beach located?
It is a barrier-island town between Delray Beach to the north and Boca Raton to the south, running along A1A with the Atlantic on one side and the Intracoastal on the other, ZIP 33487.
What kind of housing dominates Highland Beach?
Luxury condominiums in oceanfront and Intracoastal towers dominate, with a limited inventory of custom oceanfront estates, gated Intracoastal homes, and townhomes.
What does a home cost in Highland Beach?
Entry-level condos start around $425,000 to $500,000, most two-bedroom units list from the mid-$500,000s to nearly $2 million, and single-family estates can exceed $30 million, per 2025-2026 sources. Confirm the current market with Kelby.
Can I short-term rent a condo in Highland Beach?
Yes with approvals: the town requires per-unit vacation rental registration and approval, owners must hold a state license and tax registrations, and the condo association must permit short-term leases in its documents.
Nearby communities
Compare Highland Beach with the communities around it.
Provenance
Information reviewed October 2026.
Every claim on this page is drawn from public research and linked to its dated source below. Figures such as asking prices, dues, and school assignments change; where a field could not be verified it reads “Contact for current information” and the answer is one call away. Nothing on this page is a guarantee of price, availability, or school assignment.
- Source
Historical Society Highland Beach
Incorporation, build-out, and residency patterns
- Source
Lang Realty Highland Beach
Housing mix and pricing
- Source
Premier Brokers Highland Beach
Condo medians and single-family figures
- Source
Pearl Antonacci Highland Beach
Listing range
- Source
Homes.com Highland Beach guide
Town character and access
- Source
Town of Highland Beach vacation rental form
Vacation rental registration requirement
- Source
American Flood Coalition Highland Beach
Flood exposure context
- Source
Michelle Sadownick Highland Beach
Owner basics and schools context
Each source above verified October 2026
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