Live in Boca Raton or Live in Delray Beach? As a local real estate agent I am frequently asked this very question. Frequently new clients from the northeast will come down looking for a second or third home and have heard great things about the Boca Delray area, but are not sure which town is best for them. The two cities are side by side with Delray Beach sitting above Boca Raton which is the southernmost city in Palm Beach County. There are areas in each that feel like the other one, but the downtown areas are distinctly different as are the personalities of the local residents.

When clients ask me which city is a better place to live, Boca Raton or Delray Beach, I explain to them it’s all about their lifestyle, and less about the name of the town. For example, if the client is an avid golfer and is looking for a country club community, both Boca and Delray have amazing country clubs to live in, it will come down to which is the right club community for that client and their price range. If a client wants to be oceanfront, those are available in both towns too, and so it will depend on the type of day to day activities they wish to do and their personalities, to make that determination of which area is best suited for them.

When asked if it is better to invest in or buy property in Boca vs. Delray, I’ll also explain that it’s more about wanting to be east, central or west. Delray Beach is right above Boca Raton, not as large and more up-incoming in some areas. Clients need to first figure out if their lifestyle needs and property desires will coincide with the realities of everyday life. For instance, if a family needs to be in a school district they like, that reality will dictate which areas they need to be located within. If the buyer is free from obligations then they have many lifestyle options to choose from; Oceanfront and Coastal, Intracoastal Waterway and Waterfront, In-Town Living, Golf and Country Clubs, and Luxury Suburban Gated Communities.

Comparing West, Central & East Boca Raton vs. Delray Beach

West Boca Raton is similar to West Delray Beach. In fact, West Delray Beach shares the same schools as Boca, since those areas are both technically sections of unincorporated Palm Beach County, they are not within the city limits of either of those towns. West Delray Beach is not as developed as West Boca Raton, there is still a lot of agriculture and undeveloped land that will eventually turn into gated communities. West Boca has more amenities like shopping centers and residential communities with almost no more land for future development. Currently the most popular new construction community is The Seven Bridges located in West Delray Beach, just above Boca.

Central Boca Raton is very different when compared with central Delray Beach, which generally refers to the geographic area between the two highways (west of I-95 and east of The Florida Turnpike). Central Boca is a beautiful residential area with numerous luxury country clubs like; Broken Sound, The Polo Club, Woodfield, Boca West, St. Andrews and other luxurious gated communities without golf like; Les Jardins, Le Lac, Fieldbrook Estates as well as major businesses such as; Office Depot, IBM, Lynn University and the very popular Boca Town Center Mall. Whereas central Delray Beach has more affordable housing opportunities, many HOPA (55+) communities and tucked away are some upscale streets and communities like Foxe Chase. Both the look and ambiance of these two towns in the central area are distinctly different.

East Boca Raton and East Delray Beach are quite different as well. Downtown Boca Raton is larger and more developed than that of Delray and has had many new condo towers built such as; Tower 155, 327 Royal Palm and soon to come, The Mandarin Oriental Residences. Downtown Delray Beach is also exploding with new developments but the construction projects are smaller, more affordable and more Delray feeling.

Downtown Delray Beach vs. Downtown Boca Raton

Delray Beach is known for its happening downtown, there is always something going on in the Atlantic avenue area east of Swinton Ave. Frequent art fairs, food events and parades are just a few of the exciting things to find in downtown Delray Beach. Historically Delray has always been a diverse town with an appreciation for the arts. As people stroll down Atlantic Avenue or through Pineapple Grove they find local businesses and artisans of all kinds. Delray has charming historic neighborhoods in town and on the barrier island section. Home buyers have many options in East Delray Beach, like living in The Florida Style Lake Ida neighborhood or along historic Palm Trail.

Downtown Boca Raton is home to Mizner Park, which is a hugely successful redevelopment of Boca’s in-town area where thousands come to dine, shop and enjoy an evening out. Palmetto Park road runs through the middle of the Boca In-Town area and it is here that several new developments have happened and others are underway. Just south of Palmetto is Royal Palm Place which is an older shopping area with cute boutiques and Mediterranean charm. Continue south and the new Via Mizner Development is just breaking ground. By 2021 there will be a new luxurious shopping center next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Live in Boca Raton or Live in Delray Beach

When comparing Boca Raton vs. Delray Beach buyers needs to think about how their personal lifestyles will fit best into one area over the other. When I give clients tours of the area and educate them about the two towns I find that it’s a about 50/50 split between clients that prefer one over the other. Frequently clients will select one because it’s closer to their place of work or because they find the perfect property in one verses the other. Some buyers prefer going to downtown Delray Beach when they go out for the evening, but buy property in Boca Raton because they prefer the lifestyle of Boca for their residence.

While Boca and Delray might be considered one area, the two towns really break up into a series of sub areas, like being west in the gated communities, being east along the water or in one of the down-towns which feel completely different. There is no right or wrong here, for some, one town is just better suited for them than the other, but I personally like them both very much and equally split my time between them.

If you are new or coming to the Boca Delray area and would like additional information about these two amazing cities and learn about the best places to live and play – contact your SipKlein Luxury Agent for more information!