55 Plus Communities in Palm Beach County: How to Compare

"If you are looking at 55 plus communities Palm Beach County has to offer, compare them on four things: home size, price band, amenities and entry style. Delray Trails is the smaller, lower-priced choice in this group. It offers one-story villas of about 1,305 to 1,308 square feet. Other new 55+ communities in the county offer bigger homes, more amenities and higher prices.

This post is builder-neutral. That means we compare communities from different builders, and we tell you when another one fits you better. Builders cannot link to each other on their own sites. We can.

What You Are Comparing

A 55+ community is a neighborhood for people 55 and older. Each community sets its own age rules. Ask Simon for the exact age rules in writing before you decide.

Here are the four things that matter most.

• Size. Square feet means the air-conditioned living space inside the home.

• Price band. This is the range where homes have recently started.

• Amenities. These are the clubhouse, pool, courts and other shared spaces.

• Entry style. Some communities have a staffed gatehouse. Some do not.

All numbers below came from each builder's own site when we wrote this post. Prices change often. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers.

55 Plus Communities Palm Beach County Buyers Can Compare

This table shows six new 55+ choices side by side. It is a snapshot, not a full list of every community.

Notice the pattern. As the homes get bigger, the price band climbs fast. Delray Trails sits at the bottom of both columns.

Where Delray Trails Fits

Delray Trails is made for a certain buyer. You want one floor. You want a smaller home that is easy to keep up. You want a Delray Beach address and a lower starting price than the rest of this list.

The three plans are the Larkspur, the Hibiscus and the Orchid. All are one story. All have two baths and a one-car garage. Larkspur and Hibiscus have two bedrooms. Orchid has three.

You can see every detail on the Delray Trails community page.

Lennar lists these shared spaces for Delray Trails: a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a fitness center, 13 tennis courts, a pickleball court, trails, an event lawn and an outdoor bar area. Lennar does not publish opening dates for each one. Call to find out what is open today.

Where Delray Trails Is Smaller

Let's be honest. Delray Trails is the smallest home in this table. At about 1,300 square feet, it has less room than every other choice here. The others start around 1,840 square feet and go past 3,000.

If you want a big kitchen, a home office and a guest suite, a villa this size may feel tight. Walk it before you decide. A floor plan on paper can feel very different in person.

The Price Gap Is Smaller Than It Looks

The sticker price at Delray Trails is the lowest in the table. But a smaller home costs less because it has fewer square feet. So we also look at the price for each square foot.

Per square foot, the gap is smaller than the sticker gap. A Cresswind plan costs more in total, and you get more space for that money. So the gap in value is not as wide as the gap in price.

That is why the cheapest sticker is not always the best deal for you. Think about what you will use every day. See how our what's included post explains what comes in a Lennar home.

Who Each Community Fits

Here is a plain guide to each one.

• Delray Trails fits you if you want one story, low upkeep, a Delray Beach address and the smallest budget in the group.

• Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake fits you if you want a larger single-family home. Kolter describes it as the only 55+ community in Westlake. It has nine plans to pick from.

• Regency at Avenir fits you if you want a bigger home and shared spaces like a golf simulator and a ballroom.

• Esprit at Avenir fits you if you want a large single-family home in Palm Beach Gardens and a higher budget.

• Valencia Grand and Valencia Del Mar fit you if you want a staffed gatehouse and a clubhouse of about 43,000 to 44,000 square feet. Both are in Boynton Beach, and both start above $1 million.

What About Layton Pointe and Delray Ridge?

You may see Layton Pointe and Delray Ridge when you search Delray Beach. Toll Brothers builds both. The builder does not describe either one as 55+. Layton Pointe has four- and five-bedroom homes that recently started above $1.5 million. Delray Ridge shows no price on the builder's page, and its five-bedroom homes are over 4,000 square feet.

We list them only for contrast. They are a different kind of home for a different kind of buyer. If you want to stay under that range, they are not the match.

How to Choose in Four Steps

You do not need to pick today. Use these steps.

1. Set your budget first. Include what you want to spend each month.

2. Decide how many square feet you really need.

3. List the shared spaces you will use. Be honest about it.

4. Visit your top two or three. Stand in each living room.

If you are still early in your search, start with our guide to 55 plus communities in Delray Beach. To see what daily life looks like in town, read about living in Delray Beach. For a look at the shops nearby, read about Delray Beach shopping.

Not sure how far you want to be from the beach, parks and fun? Our post on things to do in Delray Beach and our guide to Delray Beach parks can help.

New communities change all the time. Call 561-704-0091 for what is open today, or start with the Delray Trails community page.

Common Questions

Ready to see how Delray Trails stacks up? Call Simon at 561-704-0091, or Compare Your Options - Schedule a Delray Trails Visit. Incentives and pricing change, so ask for today's numbers."