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One island in Palm Beach County has a median single-family sale price approaching $13 million. Just a few hundred yards north, across a single inlet, another island has a median sale price closer to $1 million. Same Atlantic Ocean. Same Gulf Stream. Same white-sand beaches. The difference is almost entirely the address and in my experience advising buyers here, that gap is exactly where the opportunity lives.
That second island is Singer Island, and I think it's one of the best-value oceanfront markets in all of Palm Beach County. Below I'm sharing why the value gap exists, what you can actually buy here, and why the window may be narrower than most buyers realize.
Where is Singer Island, and why does it cost so much less than Palm Beach?
Singer Island is a barrier peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Palm Beach County, just north of the Town of Palm Beach. Most of it sits within the city of Riviera Beach, while the town of Palm Beach Shores occupies its southern tip. It runs roughly four miles long and about a half-mile wide, with close to five miles of white-sand beach.
Here's the part most people, including many locals, don't know: Singer Island and Palm Beach were once a single landmass. In 1918, engineers dredged the Lake Worth Inlet, and that one cut separated the two islands. One became a globally recognized luxury brand. The other became one of the region's quieter markets.
Another fact worth knowing: the easternmost point in the entire state of Florida isn't in Miami or Palm Beach, it's the southern tip of Singer Island, in Palm Beach Shores, a town often described as one of Florida's best small towns. That position puts the island unusually close to the Gulf Stream, which helps drive warmer water, strong boating, and some of the best fishing in South Florida.
The island nearly became the next Palm Beach. It was named for Paris Singer, heir to the Singer sewing-machine fortune, who partnered with the legendary architect Addison Mizner on plans for a grand resort destination in the 1920s. Then the Florida land boom collapsed, a hurricane hit, and the Depression followed. Palm Beach kept the prestige. Singer Island got overlooked. In real estate, some of the best opportunities show up precisely when two places offer a similar lifestyle but only one carries the global name. That's what happened here.
The Singer Island value gap, by the numbers
Let's deal in real figures rather than impressions.
- The median single-family sale price in the Town of Palm Beach reached roughly $12.9 million in recent reporting.
- Across the inlet, the median sale price on Singer Island sits closer to $1 million and Singer Island is largely a condo market, so a meaningful share of inventory comes in well below that single-family comparison.
Read that again: roughly $12.9 million versus about $1 million. The difference isn't the beach, the weather, or the water, those are effectively the same. The difference is the address. Palm Beach is one of the most recognizable luxury real-estate brands in the world. Singer Island is technically Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores. Same ocean. Same sunrise. Different zip code.
A quick note on the comparison: the Palm Beach figure measures single-family estates, while Singer Island's is a condo-heavy, all-property median. They aren't a perfect apples-to-apples match. But the directional point holds firmly, you can buy an oceanfront lifestyle here for a fraction of what the same lifestyle costs a few hundred yards south.
What makes now different from ten or fifteen years ago isn't Singer Island itself. It's what's happening around it, which I cover in the "why now" section below.
Singer Island's oceanfront condo market
Packed along this four-mile stretch are some of the most view-rich oceanfront condominium buildings in South Florida.
The anchor is the Ritz-Carlton Residences, more than 200 residences across nearly nine acres of direct oceanfront, with concierge service, valet, private beach service, resort-style pools, and full amenities. Pricing runs from roughly the mid-$1 millions into the several-million range. That's the upper end of much of Singer Island. In Palm Beach, that same budget often wouldn't get you onto the island at all.
Beyond the Ritz, the corridor includes buildings like VistaBlue, Oasis, and Amrit. And one of the more notable new projects is 123 Ocean in Palm Beach Shores, a boutique collection of just 27 oceanfront residences designed by the architecture firm Arquitectonica, positioned directly across from the beach.
Projects like 123 Ocean tell you something useful as a buyer. Sophisticated developers don't spend years planning boutique oceanfront buildings because they think a market has peaked, they do it because they believe demand is still growing. In other words, 123 Ocean reads as a vote of confidence in the future of Singer Island and Palm Beach Shores.
Boating and direct ocean access
If you're a boater, this may be the single strongest argument for Singer Island. The Lake Worth Inlet is one of the deepest and most direct ocean inlets in South Florida. From a dock on the Intracoastal side, you can be in the open Atlantic in minutes, no winding canals, no long idle zones, no low fixed bridges. Just direct access.
The winter sailfish run offshore is world-famous, and the marina scene reflects it. Sailfish Marina remains one of the island's iconic gathering places. And the redevelopment activity continues: the former Cannonsport Marina has been transformed into HAVN Residences & Yacht Club, a 36-residence community on the Intracoastal with a 52-slip marina. Again, that's capital being committed to tomorrow's demand, not just today's.
The hidden single-family market most buyers miss
Tucked behind the towers are single-family neighborhoods like Palm Beach Isles, Yacht Harbor Estates, and Pine Point, waterfront homes with private docks and fast ocean access, at values that look attractive next to neighboring luxury markets.
The practical takeaway: for a certain kind of buyer, you can get Palm Beach style water access at Singer Island pricing. A growing number of buyers are quietly figuring that out.
Lifestyle and amenities on Singer Island
This is the part that tends to surprise my clients most. Singer Island isn't just beaches and condos, it's a genuine coastal lifestyle. You've got waterfront mainstays like Sailfish Marina, Johnny Longboats, Mulligan's, Two Drunken Goats, and the Islander Grill, plus the relaxed, low-key feel of a beach town where you can fish offshore in the morning, hit the beach in the afternoon, and have dinner over the water.
The natural amenities are a major draw too: Peanut Island, the Blue Heron Bridge snorkel trail, Phil Foster Park, Manatee Lagoon, and John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, the only state park in Palm Beach County. And when you want something more metropolitan, you're only about 15 to 20 minutes from Palm Beach, downtown West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Worth Avenue, CityPlace, golf, private clubs, and fine dining. It feels like a beach town, but it's connected to a rapidly growing metro area.
Why the opportunity exists right now
The value story on Singer Island isn't new. What's new is the amount of capital flowing into the region around it.
Just 15 to 20 minutes south, West Palm Beach is in the middle of one of the most significant transformations of any mid-size city in America. Major companies have relocated, new office towers are rising, Vanderbilt University is developing a graduate campus downtown, Cleveland Clinic is expanding, and Related Ross is reshaping the urban core. Family offices, hedge funds, technology firms, and executives aren't just visiting anymore, they're moving here, and that creates permanent demand rather than seasonal demand.
That matters because strong real-estate markets don't only grow from the beach inward, they grow when an entire region becomes more desirable across jobs, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Palm Beach became famous. West Palm Beach is becoming more important. And Singer Island sits close enough to benefit from both.
Is Singer Island a good place to buy in 2026?
If you want oceanfront or waterfront living, real boating, and proximity to everything happening in Palm Beach County without paying Palm Beach prices, Singer Island deserves a serious look.
Just across the inlet, Singer Island offers many of the same things, oceanfront living, boating, luxury condos, waterfront homes, walkable beaches, outdoor living, and easy access to the rest of the county. One market is priced as a globally recognized luxury brand. The other is still priced like a regional one.
The question isn't whether more people will discover Singer Island. It's how much longer the value gap lasts.
Frequently asked questions about Singer Island real estate
Where is Singer Island, Florida?
Singer Island is a barrier peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Palm Beach County, just north of the Town of Palm Beach. Most of it lies within Riviera Beach, while Palm Beach Shores occupies its southern tip, which is also the easternmost point in the state of Florida.
Why is Singer Island so much cheaper than Palm Beach?
The two islands offer a very similar oceanfront setting, but Palm Beach carries one of the most recognized luxury real-estate brands in the world, while Singer Island is part of Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores. The price difference is driven far more by address and brand recognition than by the beach, the water, or the weather.
What is the median home price on Singer Island?
The median sale price on Singer Island sits close to $1 million, with much of the market made up of oceanfront and Intracoastal condominiums. By comparison, the median single-family sale price in the Town of Palm Beach has reached roughly $12.9 million.
What are the main condo buildings on Singer Island?
Notable oceanfront condominiums include the Ritz-Carlton Residences, VistaBlue, Oasis, and Amrit, along with newer boutique projects such as 123 Ocean in Palm Beach Shores, a 27-residence building designed by Arquitectonica.
Does Singer Island have single-family homes?
Yes. Behind the condo towers are single-family neighborhoods including Palm Beach Isles, Yacht Harbor Estates, and Pine Point, many with private docks and fast ocean access through the Lake Worth Inlet.
Is Singer Island good for boating?
It's one of the strongest boating locations in South Florida. The Lake Worth Inlet is deep and direct, allowing fast access to the open Atlantic with no low fixed bridges, plus an active marina scene that includes Sailfish Marina and the new HAVN Residences & Yacht Club.
Thinking about Singer Island? Let's talk strategy.
If you'd like help working out whether a condo, a waterfront home, or one of the island's new developments fits your goals and your budget, I'm glad to walk through it with you. As a Palm Beach County real estate broker who has spent years showing and selling on Singer Island, I can help you compare buildings, neighborhoods, and the trade-offs that matter most for your situation.
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