Highland Beach vs. East Boca Waterfront

Waterfront homes in Highland Beach, Florida

Two of the most asked-about waterfront markets in Palm Beach County sit right next to each other. Highland Beach is a small beach town between Boca Raton and Delray Beach. East Boca Raton is a network of canal and Intracoastal neighborhoods just minutes from downtown. Both put you near the ocean, but they offer very different lifestyles and very different homes. Here is how they compare.

Highland Beach: Beach-Town Living

Highland Beach covers about one square mile on the barrier island, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. About 4,000 people live there year-round, and the population roughly doubles in the winter. A1A is the main road through town, and there is no downtown of its own. For shopping and dining, residents head to Boca Raton or Delray Beach.

  • Mostly condos. Most homes in Highland Beach are condos along A1A, many with direct ocean or Intracoastal views. Buildings such as Toscana offer full-service, resort-style living.
  • Few single-family homes. Houses are limited mainly to oceanfront estates on South Ocean Boulevard and small Intracoastal enclaves such as Bel Lido.
  • Best for: buyers who want to be on the beach, prefer a quiet setting, or want a lock-and-leave condo for the season.

East Boca Raton: Boating and Neighborhood Living

Waterfront homes in east Boca Raton

East Boca is built around the water. Its neighborhoods are laced with deep-water canals that lead to the Intracoastal and out through the Boca Raton Inlet, and many homes have private docks. Downtown Boca Raton and Mizner Park are minutes away.

By the Numbers

Single-family homes

 Highland BeachEast Boca Raton
Homes for sale743
Asking price range$3.7M to $39.9M$1.4M to $34M
Homes sold, past 12 months1274
Average asking price of homes soldAbout $8.3MAbout $8.7M
Average asking price per sq ft, homes soldAbout $1,590About $1,460
Months of supplyAbout 7About 7

Condos and townhomes

 Highland BeachEast Boca Raton
For sale120117
Sold, past 12 months178164
Average asking price of units soldAbout $1.2MAbout $1.9M
Average asking price per sq ft, units soldAbout $660About $890
Months of supplyAbout 8About 9

What the Numbers Say

For houses, east Boca has far more choice. East Boca has about six times as many waterfront homes for sale and six times as many sales as Highland Beach. Highland Beach houses are rare, and most of those for sale today are on the ocean.

For condos, Highland Beach can be the better value. The two markets have about the same number of condos for sale, but Highland Beach condos sold for about 25% less per square foot, and many Highland Beach buildings sit right on the beach. East Boca's higher prices include luxury buildings near downtown and the inlet.

Both markets favor prepared buyers. With seven to nine months of supply, buyers have time to compare. For condos in either town, review each building's reserves, inspection reports and any planned assessments before you make an offer.

Search Both Markets

Get Highland Beach or East Boca Updates by Email

Still deciding? I can email you new listings, price changes and closed sales for Highland Beach, east Boca Raton, or both, so you can watch the two markets side by side. Send me a note telling me which one and I will set up your updates.

Contact Susan J. Penn at London Foster Realty: 954-557-5993
Email: susanjpennpa@gmail.com
Website: susanjpennrealtor.com

Source: Live MLS data pulled October 13, 2026. Highland Beach figures cover all single-family homes and all condos and townhomes in the town. East Boca Raton single-family figures cover homes with ocean access in Boca Raton zip codes 33431, 33432 and 33487, and East Boca condo figures cover waterfront condos and townhomes in 33432. Prices are asking prices. Months of supply compares homes for sale with the past 12 months of sales. Figures change daily. Town facts: Southeast Florida Flood Coalition: Highland Beach.