Delray Beach, Florida
What It Is Like to Retire in Delray beach
Delray Beach is a very popular and upscale retirement community on the east coast of Florida. The town and environs extend from a barrier island on the ocean to the connecting mainland and west nearly to the Everglades. The result is a charming, vibrant, and decidedly upscale community of 60,500, but with many affordable condos in west Delray. 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. There is a new plan to open up views of the ocean from the main street which will make it obvious what a beautiful beach this town has. Your Topretirements.com editor thinks that Delray Beach is a very desirable place; it is one of his favorite Florida towns. Delray Beach offers apartments/condos near the ocean as well as single family homes. Attractions include excellent shopping, many highly-rated restaurants, and one of the nation’s leading mystery book stores, Murder on the Beach. The city has outstanding public beaches. Proximity to additional attractions in nearby Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Miami give ready access to top cultural events, major shopping, leading museums and major league sports venues. There are 2 municipal golf courses in town, plus many private ones in the area often open to the public. One public course, The Delray Beach Golf Club, a Donald Ross design, was named one of America’s Best Value Courses by Golf Magazine. Kings Point, a gated 55+ community in west Delray, boasts two Robert Trent Jones-designed golf courses available to the public.
Where to Retire in Delray beach and Home Prices
Active adults will love living in Delray Beach, where it is possible to live near the water – either the beach or intra-coastal and its system of connecting canals - and enjoy a walkable downtown. Delray Beach has a rich array of choices for retirement living. Housing options include apartments, homes, condos, and town houses. The median home value was $357,584 in mid-2023, according to Zillow.com. However, homes near the beach and in the downtown will go for much more, easily going into the millions.
What Is Special about Delray beach
Two miles of beautiful white sandy beaches, unusually livable downtown, and warm weather all winter makes Delray Beach special (the average Jan temperature is in the mid-60s). They're many upscale as well as affordable 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. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is in nearby Fort Lauderdale. The Delray Beach Tennis Center has hosted several major international tennis events.
What Is Not Special about Delray beach
• Crowds in season • Hurricane season • Crime rate higher than average
Who Will Like Retirement in Delray beach
Delray Beach attracts a diverse community that enjoys living in a dynamic small town.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Tourism, retail, medical and real estate are important to the economy.
Climate and Physical Environment
Delray Beach is on the southeast coast of Florida, about 40 miles north of Miami and 15 miles south of West Palm Beach. The terrain is flat, lushly green and floral, with the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Everglades several miles to the west.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Delray Beach 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. Art & Jazz on the Avenue is a popular event held several times per year. The Downtown Delray Beach Arts District features galleries and cultural organizations. The Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old Square has a huge and beautiful complex right downtown with very a busy schedule. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a very popular Delray attraction. There are plenty of good restaurants around town including Dada. There are many hotels as well, as this is a popular tourist destination.
Crime
Crime in Delray Beach is more than a third higher than the national average, much of it burglaries and thefts.
Medical facilities
The Delray Medical Center is located in Delray Beach. Other hospitals are located nearby in Boynton Beach and Boca Raton.
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. Delray Beach is below average in walkability if you live out of the concentrated downtown, but great within that area.
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