Living in Deerfield Beach, Florida
A beach town in northern Broward where the pier, the intracoastal, and an old Florida beach culture share the calendar
Deerfield Beach, FL: Quick Facts
Updated September 2026What is the median home price in Deerfield Beach?
The median sale price was $299,300 for all home types as of July 2026 (Redfin). That makes Deerfield Beach the most affordable oceanfront town among the destinations on this site.
How far is Deerfield Beach from the beach?
The beach is the city's eastern edge. The municipal fishing pier and beachfront parks are along A1A, minutes from most addresses.
What are property taxes like in Deerfield Beach?
Broward County's effective rate is about 0.94% of home value (SmartAsset, based on 2023 data). Deerfield Beach's own median effective rate is about 1.61% (Ownwell, 2026) because it includes city, county, school, and special district millage.
Is Deerfield Beach expensive to live in?
By South Florida beach-town standards, no. The July 2026 median sale price of $299,300 (Redfin) is the lowest on this site's beach list, and Florida has no state personal income tax.
How do residents get back to New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is about 25 minutes south and Palm Beach International (PBI) about 30 minutes north, both with direct service to Newark and other NJ airports. Tri-Rail has a Deerfield Beach station.
The Welcome
A Welcome to Life in Deerfield Beach
Living in Deerfield Beach means trading the Bergen County commute for a morning coffee with the Atlantic in the foreground: the municipal fishing pier, the beachfront parks, and an easygoing beach town rhythm that still sits inside the Fort Lauderdale metro. It is the most affordable oceanfront option among the towns on this site, which is exactly why NJ relocators keep landing here.
The median sale price was $299,300 for all home types as of July 2026 (Redfin, July 2026), a figure that puts the beach within reach in a way that coastal Palm Beach County towns to the north usually cannot match. In exchange you get a city that is still building its downtown: the Federal Highway corridor is where the redevelopment, the breweries, and the new restaurants are concentrated.
The adjustment from New Jersey is mostly about pace. Mornings start with the pier and the beach, weekends fill with the intracoastal waterway, and the drive back north for family visits runs through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport about 25 minutes south. Hurricane season planning and flood zones are part of the routine here, covered with sourced numbers later in this guide.
Key Numbers for Deerfield Beach
Median Sale Price
$299,300
All home types (Redfin, July 2026)
Property Taxes
~0.94%
Broward County effective rate (SmartAsset, 2023 data)
State Income Tax
0%
Florida has no state personal income tax
Airport Access
FLL 25 min
PBI 30 min; direct NJ flights from both
Every figure above carries a named source and as-of date. See the Data Sources list at the bottom of this page.
Where You Could Live
Neighborhoods and Areas in Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach is really a beachside strip, a downtown corridor, and a set of inland neighborhoods stacked east to west. Which band you choose changes your daily life far more than the city boundary itself.
The Beachside Strip (east of Federal Highway)
Condo towers, beachfront parks, and the fishing pier define this narrow band between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Daily life runs on beach time: sunrise walks, weekend surf, and the pier as the neighborhood anchor.
The Downtown / Federal Highway Corridor
The city's redevelopment corridor runs along Federal Highway, where new restaurant and retail space is replacing older storefronts. Closest to the beach amenities while still being an easy drive to everything else.
The Central Inland Neighborhoods
Established single-family neighborhoods between Federal Highway and I-95 with a mix of older Florida ranch homes and renovated properties. Quiet streets, mature trees, and quick access to both the beach and the highway.
The Western Communities (west of I-95)
Newer single-family communities with larger lots and a more suburban layout, including the golf-front neighborhoods around Deer Creek. Farther from the beach, closer to schools, shopping, and the Sawgrass Expressway.
A Week in the Life
Daily Life in Deerfield Beach
A regular week in Deerfield Beach is built around the water: the beach handles the sunny afternoons, the Intracoastal Waterway handles the boats, and the downtown corridor handles the evenings. None of it requires much planning.
Parks & the Outdoors
The beach is the city's front yard. The municipal fishing pier and the beachfront parks along A1A anchor daily recreation, and the Intracoastal Waterway provides the calmer water for kayaking, paddleboarding, and small boats. The city's inland parks handle the ball fields and playgrounds.
On the Water
Between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, water is never far away. Residents keep boats in the intracoastal marinas, fish from the pier, and run the beachfront trail in the early morning. From any address in the city, the beach is a short drive east.
Dining & Local Spots
The dining scene mixes old Florida beach bars with a newer wave of downtown spots. Local favorites include JB's on the Beach (jbsonthebeach.com), The Whale's Rib (whalesrib.com), Little Havana Restaurant (littlehavanarestaurant.com/deerfield-beach), and Luigi di Roma Italian Ristorante (luigidiroma.com), with the Federal Highway corridor adding new options year after year.
Shopping
The downtown Federal Highway corridor is where Deerfield's new retail and dining are concentrating, while the big-box shopping of Boca Raton is a short drive south for groceries and errands. Most daily needs are met without crossing the county line.
Events & Community Life
The pier and beachfront parks host the community events that anchor the local calendar, and the downtown corridor adds seasonal street gatherings as it redevelops. The city's event flyers show a calendar built around the beach and the water rather than big venues.
Getting Around
Getting Around, and Getting Back to New Jersey
By Air
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is approximately 25 minutes south and Palm Beach International (PBI) is about 30 minutes north; both offer direct service to Newark and other NJ-area airports. The choice typically comes down to schedule and fare for each trip north.
On the Road
I-95 runs through the city, with Hillsboro Boulevard and Federal Highway carrying the east-west and north-south traffic. Driving to Bergen County is approximately 10 to 11 hours via I-95.
Transit
Tri-Rail has a Deerfield Beach station, connecting to the regional airports and the rest of Broward and Palm Beach. Brightline's Boca Raton station is a short drive south for the train to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach. A car still handles most everyday errands.
The Numbers
Cost of Living: NJ vs. Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach is the value option for beach living in this guide. Florida has no state personal income tax, and the two most current figures available put the median sale price at $299,300 (Redfin, July 2026) and Broward County's effective property tax rate at about 0.94% of home value (SmartAsset, based on 2023 data), both well below typical Bergen County numbers.
Housing Overview
The July 2026 median sale price of $299,300 (Redfin) sits far below the beach towns to the north. The market spans older condominiums on the beach, renovated single-family homes downtown and inland, and newer construction west of I-95.
Utilities
Florida Power & Light (FPL) is the dominant electric utility, and summer air conditioning is the biggest driver of electric bills. Water and sewer service is provided through city utilities, and internet and cable come from the usual national providers. Totals depend mainly on home size and cooling habits.
Insurance Considerations in Deerfield Beach
Florida insurance pricing is moving in different directions depending on policy type and region. Ask a licensed Florida insurance agent what applies to the specific property you are considering. Published regional averages put Florida's average annual homeowners premium at $8,292 in 2025, the highest of any state and up 18% from 2024, against a U.S. average of about $2,948 at the end of 2025 (Insurify's Insuring the American Homeowner Report, March 2026). The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Insurance Information Institute, as reported in May 2026, dispute headline figures like that and cite a state average of about $3,815 a year for a standard policy that includes wind (USA TODAY Network-Florida, May 4, 2026). As a coastal Broward city, flood zone and wind considerations apply to most Deerfield Beach properties.
Consult your carrier or licensed Florida insurance agent for current rates and coverage options.
Florida insurance pricing is moving in different directions depending on policy type and region. Ask a licensed Florida insurance agent what applies to the specific property you are considering.
Property Taxes in Deerfield Beach
Broward County's effective property tax rate is about 0.94% of home value (SmartAsset, based on 2023 data), while Deerfield Beach's own median effective rate is higher, about 1.61%, because it combines city, county, school, and special district millage (Ownwell, 2026, based on Broward County assessment records). Florida homesteaded properties receive the Homestead Exemption, which can reduce taxable value by up to $50,000, and the Save Our Homes amendment caps annual increases in assessed value at 3%. Property tax figures are informational only and are not a promise of savings; consult a licensed CPA or Florida tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Bergen County, NJ (context)
~2.3%
Effective rate used across this site for comparison. On a $600,000 home: ~$13,800/year.
Deerfield Beach / Broward County, FL
~0.94%
Effective rate of home value, Broward County (SmartAsset, based on 2023 data). Deerfield-specific median effective rate is ~1.61% (Ownwell, 2026).
Florida has no state personal income tax. Homesteaded properties receive the Florida Homestead Exemption (up to $50,000 of taxable value) and the Save Our Homes cap on annual assessed value increases (3%). Property tax content is informational only and is not a promise of savings; consult a licensed CPA or Florida tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Schools & Education
Public schools in Deerfield Beach are part of Broward County Public Schools. The following is a factual list of schools with no ratings or rankings.
- Deerfield Beach High School: a public high school located in Deerfield Beach (Broward County Public Schools)
- Public elementary and middle schools are located throughout the city within Broward County Public Schools
- Florida Atlantic University's main campus is in nearby Boca Raton, about 20 minutes south
Your Deerfield Beach Relocation Playbook
Moving from New Jersey to Deerfield Beach follows the same path as any NJ-to-FL move: research and budgeting first, then property selection, financing, the sale of your NJ home, and the final transition. The full NJ to FL Relocation Checklist walks through every step from 12 months out to after the move.
The Southbound Advisory Council Approach
Scott Selleck's Southbound Advisory Council is designed specifically for NJ-to-FL relocators. From your first conversation, you receive a structured timeline, vetted agent referrals in your destination market, and ongoing support through every phase of the move.
Questions About Living in Deerfield Beach?
Deerfield Beach is the value pick for NJ relocators who want the ocean without the Palm Beach County price tag. I can help you compare it against the other beach towns on this site.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deerfield Beach
What is the median home price in Deerfield Beach?
The median sale price was $299,300 for all home types as of July 2026 (Redfin). That makes Deerfield Beach the most affordable oceanfront town among the destinations on this site.
How far is Deerfield Beach from the beach?
The beach is the city's eastern edge. The municipal fishing pier and beachfront parks are along A1A, minutes from most addresses.
What are property taxes like in Deerfield Beach?
Broward County's effective rate is about 0.94% of home value (SmartAsset, based on 2023 data). Deerfield Beach's own median effective rate is about 1.61% (Ownwell, 2026) because it includes city, county, school, and special district millage.
Is Deerfield Beach expensive to live in?
By South Florida beach-town standards, no. The July 2026 median sale price of $299,300 (Redfin) is the lowest on this site's beach list, and Florida has no state personal income tax.
How do residents get back to New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is about 25 minutes south and Palm Beach International (PBI) about 30 minutes north, both with direct service to Newark and other NJ airports. Tri-Rail has a Deerfield Beach station.
Data Sources
Every figure on this page carries a named source and as-of date. The list below is the full set of sources used on this page. Figures may change; always confirm current data at the source before making decisions.
- Redfin, Deerfield Beach housing market data (median sale price $299,300 for all home types, July 2026), redfin.com
- SmartAsset, Florida Property Tax Calculator (Broward County effective rate ~0.94%, based on 2023 data)
- Ownwell, Deerfield Beach property tax profile (median effective rate ~1.61%, 2026, median home value $274,525)
- Insurify, Insuring the American Homeowner Report, March 2026 (Florida average homeowners premium $8,292 in 2025; U.S. average ~$2,948 at end of 2025)
- USA TODAY Network-Florida, May 4, 2026 (Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Insurance Information Institute estimate ~$3,815 for a standard policy including wind)
This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for fair housing compliance. School information is limited to district, school names, grade configuration, public or private status, and location. Figures are published averages or market data, not quotes.
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