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| What Boca Raton is like for active adults |
Boca Raton (rhymes with “tone”) is an affluent retirement community – having a home in “Boca” ironically provides a certain cachet. The irony comes from the derivation of the city’s name in Spanish– “rat’s mouth”. The city has benefited from a carefully thought out Master Plan and strict zoning and signage laws that have helped make it a desirable place to live. The Master Plan helped to revitalize decaying areas – some of its features included mass landscaping, expansion of the downtown park, Sanborn Square, and restoration of the old city hall to become a museum. Up until the 1990’s the city was the headquarters of IBM. The city also made headlines in 2001 as the site of the first anthrax attack in the country.
Retirees who can afford it will love living in Boca Raton, where it is possible to live near the water – either the beach or the intercoastal. Or you can choose to live in one of the many gated communities in the town or surrounding area. This affluent city is warm in the winter, has a decidedly upscale town center with world class shopping, and has a rich array of choices for retirement living. The city has many public beaches and parks.
A new downtown shopping center, Mizner Park, was completed over the site of the older Boca Raton Mall. Featuring a landscaped central park between two cobblestone roads (collectively called Plaza Real) with stores only on the outside of the roads, Mizner Park resembles a Mediterranean suburban "town center" with a more contemporary look. It features many restaurants and it has since become a cultural center for the city.
Boca Raton offers apartments near the ocean as well as single family homes. Real estate prices in the area have been on a rollercoaster. Average sales in 2006-7 were in the high $300's, but were just about $300,000 at the beginning of 2008. There is an enormous range of pricing - from the high $20's (tiny condos) to the millions for ocean front property. |
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| What is special about this community |
| • Beautiful white sandy beaches on
• World class shopping in a beautiful environment
• Warm weather all winter – average Jan temperature is in the mid-60’s
• Many housing opportunities for retirees, including high rise apartments near the beach and gated communities to the west
• A Master Plan and strict zoning laws |
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| What is not special about this community |
| • Crowds in season
• Over Development is always a risk |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
| Boca Raton attracts a diverse community with the common denominator that they are generally affluent. With a Jewish population of over 15%, Boca is one of the largest Jewish communities in the U.S. Many residents have retired here from New York City. |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| Business (much of it high-tech), tourism, retail, and real estate are important to the economy |
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| Physical environment |
| Boca Raton is on the southeast coast of Florida, about 30 miles north of Miami. It is flat with the Atlantic Ocean on the East and serious real estate development to the west. Find out more about what it is like to retire in Florida |
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| Cultural environment |
| Mizner Park has since become a cultural center for the city. It is home to the Boca Raton Museum of Art which opened in 2001. In 2002, a new amphitheater was built replacing a smaller one, providing a large-capacity outdoor venue. Two colleges provide cultural opportunities for residents: Palm Beach Community College has a Boca Raton campus, as does Florida Atlantic University, part of the State University System of Florida. Nearby Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Miami have much to offer culturally just a short drive away. |
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| Medical facilities |
| There are 2 hospitals in town: Boca Raton Community Hospital Inc and West Boca Medical Center |
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| Transportation |
| Palm Beach International is 20 miles away, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is 21 miles away.
Several railroads pass through Boca Raton, with the nearest Amtrak passenger service in nearby Deerfield Beach (4 miles). Tri-Rail provides commuter service from Palm Beach County, through Broward County/Boca Raton, and into Miami-Dade County. |
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Active Adult Communities in Boca Raton |
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| Boca Raton Active Communities |
| Facts about BOCA RATON | | State | : FL | | Environment | : Urban,Suburban,Coastal, | | City Population | : 50,001-100,000 | | Median age of Population | : 45-64 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 61 + | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $300,001-$500,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : Less than 2000 | | Total Crime Index | : 81-90 (low) | | Cost of Living Index | : 111-120 (high) | | Culture Index | : 111-120 (high) | | State Sales Tax | : No | | State Income Tax | : Yes | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Boca Raton |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 3.5/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 3.3/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 3.8/5 ( 5 votes cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 3.7/5 ( 3 votes cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 3.6/5 ( 5 votes cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 3.7/5 ( 6 votes cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 3.7/5 ( 7 votes cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 3.8/5 ( 5 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 3 votes cast)
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