Delray beach : Florida

What Delray Beach is like for active adults

Delray Beach is a very popular and upscale retirement community on the east coast of Florida. The town extends from a barrier island to the connecting mainland. The result is a charming, vibrant, and decidedly upscale community of 64,000. A Master Plan developed by the city resulted in an extensive renovation of the downtown area. The renovation has been extremely successful – small town charm has been preserved, traffic moves on streets that are also pedestrian friendly, and the community’s residential and commercial opportunities are booming as a result.

Delray Beach offers apartments near the ocean as well as single family homes. Attractions include excellent shopping, restaurants, and of the nation’s leading mystery book store, Murder on the Beach. The American Orchid Society is a popular draw. The city has many outstanding public beaches. Proximity to the attractions of Fort Lauderdale and Miami give ready access to culture, big-time shopping, and major league sporting events. There are 2 municipal golf courses in town. One of them, The Delray Beach Golf Club, a Donald Ross design, was named as one of America’s Best Value Courses by Golf Magazine.

Active adults 55+ will love living in Delray Beach, where it is possible to live near the water – either the beach or intercoastal and its system of connecting canals - and enjoy a walkable downtown. Delray Beach has a rich array of choices for retirement living. Retirement housing options include apartments, homes, condos, and town houses. Real estate prices in the area fell quite a bit between 2006 and 2009. The median sales price in 2009 was about $150,000, which reflects many short sales and mortgage defaults.

Here is more information on what is like to retire in Florida. Photo of Cason Cottage Museum courtesy of Wikipedia and Donald Albury.

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What is special about this retirement community

• Beautiful white sandy beaches • Unusually livable downtown • Warm weather all winter – average Jan temperature is in the mid-60’s • Many upscale housing opportunities for retirees, including high rise apartments near the beach • Three time selection as an All-America award city, based on its citizens’ participation • Broward Center for the Performing Arts

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What is not special about this retirement community

• Crowds in season • Hurricane season

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What kinds of people like retiring here

Delray Beach attracts a diverse community that enjoys living in a dynamic small town.

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Local economy is driven by

Tourism, retail, and real estate are important to the economy.

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Climate and Physical Environment

Delray Beach is on the southeast coast of Florida, about 40 miles north of Miami. It is flat with the Atlantic Ocean on the East.

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Cultural environment

Delray Beach’s has many artists and galleries in residence. The Delray Beach Public Library has 250,000 volumes and free and ample parking. The Delray Beach Cultural Alliance, Delray Beach Chorale, and the Delray Beach Playhouse are important cultural institutions. Nearby Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Miami have much to offer culturally.

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Medical facilities

The Delray Medical Center is located in Delray Beach. Other hospitals are located nearby in Boynton Beach and Boca Raton.

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Transportation

Several railroads pass through Delray Beach. Amtrak provides passenger service to other cities on the Atlantic coast, and Tri-Rail provides commuter service from Palm Beach County, through Broward County/Delray Beach, and into Miami-Dade County. Palm Beach International is 15 miles away, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, 28 miles away, is one of the fastest growing airports.

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Facts about DELRAY BEACH

State: FL
Environment: Suburban,Coastal,
City Population: 50,001-100,000
Median age of Population: 25-44
Avg Jan Temperature: 61 +
Median HH Income: 41,001-60,000
Average Home Price (MLS): $100,000-$200,000
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: Less than 2000
Total Crime Index: <80 (Very low)
Cost of Living Index: 91-100 (slightly below average)
Culture Index: 111-120 (high)
State Sales Tax: Yes
State Income Tax: No
Name of the Guide: jack

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