Jupiter

Stroll under Abacoa’s canopy of oak and palm trees, past its eclectic collection of modern homes and toward one of the community’s parks or local restaurants, and the area’s cozy character might seem undeniable. It’s how this area was designed to feel. “That’s exactly what you get there,” says local Realtor Stefan Levine of The Agency. Abacoa is the product of a 1990s development project, a master-planned expanse that stretches more than 2,000 acres and is filled with several thousand homes, plus a packed downtown district, multiple schools and plenty of green space. This is the largest community within Jupiter and one that people are constantly moving to, Levine says. “I would describe the Abacoa vibe as calm and cool,” says Realtor Daniel Ramos of Century 21, a native of the area. “There are a lot of young families and a ton of things to do. It’s a well-established area that is just a great place to live.” Abacoa was the vision of developer George de Guardiola, for a locale that embodies “new urbanism” — a walkable space with a blend of residential and commercial development. Construction commenced in 1997, and there are now more than a dozen separate neighborhoods within the community. Most of the communities have their own pools and other resources, says Levine, who has lived in Palm Beach County for about 20 years. The homes that fill these neighborhoods were carefully planned out to provide variety — “cookie-cutter” isn’t part of the lexicon. “They were really good [about] building a community, not just a row of houses,” Levine says. “In each one of those subdivisions, you’re not seeing the same house over and over again.” The mix includes single-family homes with Mediterranean and Craftsman influences, but also some sizable townhomes, many of them pushing 2,000 square feet. Single-family houses here average almost 2,600 square feet. Houses fill grassy green lots, often totaling between one-tenth and one-fifth of an acre. Most of the townhomes here have price tags starting in the $300,000s and up to the mid-$700,000s, while the traditional single-family homes can start in the $600,000s and top out at around $3 million for something over 4,000 or 5,000 square feet. This area’s mixed-use makeup includes multiple public schools, part of the School District of Palm Beach County, which carries a B-plus rating on Niche and is No. 2 on the site’s list of the best school districts in the Miami area. The Palm Beach County system allows students to apply for programs at schools outside of their attendance zones, but many in Abacoa are within walking distance of campuses like Lighthouse Elementary, which has a B-minus rating and serves those in prekindergarten through second grade. Then kids can progress to the A-minus-rated Beacon Cove Intermediate. Both Lighthouse and Beacon Cove offer afterschool programs. The A-minus-rated Independence Middle can be next, for grades 6 to 8, a school that offers special programs in topics like pre-law and pre-medical sciences. Then William T. Dwyer High, which has an A rating, includes programs in everything from culinary arts to construction. Abacoa is also home to Florida Atlantic University’s John D. MacArthur Campus at Jupiter, a science hub, with headquarters for FAU’s Brain Institute and the Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention. Among Abacoa’s marks is its preserved green space — the community includes almost 400 acres of it. The biggest outdoor asset here is a 260-acre greenway that’s a tranquil place for a stroll through the area’s foliage. “In Abacoa, by having green space and the greenway and walking trails it allows you to have this peaceful separation in that you are surrounded by nature,” Levine says. “And it’s lovely.” Those seeking some competition, meanwhile, can take advantage of Abacoa Community Park, where there’s an expansive concrete hockey rink, lighted tennis courts, basketball courts and a skate park. Or they can head to the well-kept Abacoa Golf Club, which has a public 18-hole course. Locals can also enjoy a nice day out at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium here — the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins in February and March, and the home to two Cardinals and Marlins minor league teams apiece from April to September. Spring training brings an influx of baseball fans to the area, Levine says. “It really creates a different level of excitement and engagement around spring training baseball,” he says. One of Abacoa’s design principles is connectivity, which comes across in a physical sense thanks in part to the sidewalks that line many of the streets here. But social connectivity is prevalent here, too, evidenced by the area’s array of community events. The list includes recurring offerings like Food Truck Fridays, which take place downtown on the second and fourth Friday of each month. Annual events include the Feast of Little Italy, a three-day street festival featuring several live performances and myriad vendors, including plenty of food. There’s also the two-day ArtiGras in February, an arts festival that draws artists from some 40 states, plus Canada. “There's a constant effort. They’re constantly scheduling events that touch many different interests,” Levine says. Among Abacoa’s conveniences is that the thoroughfare of Donald Ross Road runs right by the community, a stretch that can take locals right to the coast in Juno Beach. This area is also adjacent to Interstate 95, linking people with the rest of the region. “It’s so well located within the north Palm Beach County area that you’re between 10 to 16 minutes parked at the beach,” Levine says. “You’re on I-95 and less than 25 minutes to the Palm Beach International Airport.” There are also multiple stops in the PalmTran bus system within Abacoa. One of this area’s signature features is Downtown Abacoa, a particularly walkable sphere with several eateries and other local businesses, from a salon to a martial arts school. The downtown district almost resembles an outdoor mall, and it’s a slice of this community that has inspired other localities, like Port St. Lucie. “A lot of other communities are trying to do the same thing with their downtown areas,” Ramos says. “They’re trying to create a downtown sector where people can walk and shop and eat.” Popular downtown restaurants include Copacabana Cuban Cuisine, for not just the food and drinks but also the live music and dancing. Meanwhile Crux Coffee Roasters, a couple of doors down, is a casual spot for locals to get their caffeine fix and a breakfast sandwich. And locals can grab groceries and other essentials at Abacoa’s Publix, just about a mile south.

Jonathan’s Landing floats on the Intracoastal Waterway in the heart of Jupiter, just 2 miles west of the Atlantic oceanfront. The community’s namesake, Jonathan Dickenson, was a Quaker merchant from Port Royal, Jamaica whose ship wrecked here in 1697. Today, Jonathan’s Landing offers a unique atmosphere, and looks much different than the undeveloped expanse of sandy shoreline Dickenson stumbled upon back then. Seawinds Realty’s William Funkey, a realtor with more than a decade of local experience, says: “This is a highly sought-after, decidedly luxurious community. It’s gated and situated around the golf club, and the homes here are grand and very well-kept. But it’s a beach neighborhood, so it’s a little more laid back. It’s totally normal for people to wear sandals around all the time.” <br><br>You’ll find condos and Key West and Mediterranean Villa-inspired homes lining these quiet residential streets, which meander around Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club’s lush greenways and the sparkling blue waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. Towering palms shade manicured front lawns ornamented with garden beds full of flowering rhododendrons and hibiscuses. The stately homes here range in price from $630,000 for a two-bedroom condo to more than $1 million for a three-bedroom single-family home. The median price hovers around the $845,000 mark, close to the median for the wider city. “Home prices here have risen a lot recently, what with the surrounding area’s recent population boom,” says Funkey. <br><br>Jonathan’s Landing students are served by highly rated schools in the Palm Beach County Public Schools system. Many youngsters between kindergarten and second grade go to Lighthouse Elementary School, which earned a B grade from Niche in 2023. Students between third and fifth grade go to Beacon Cove Intermediate School, which earned an A-minus from Niche and a 10/10 GreatSchools Summary Rating. Older students in Grades 6 through 12 attend Jupiter Middle and Jupiter High. The middle school earned a B-plus from Niche in 2023 and the high school earned an A. Teens at Jupiter High have the opportunity to participate in a variety of Choice Academies and in-house programs, from criminal justice and horticulture to Army J.R.O.T.C. and medical sciences. <br><br>Golfing enthusiasts enjoy easy access to the private Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club, which lolls over 600 acres of the neighborhood’s center. The clubhouse is conveniently located less than a mile from most homes, many of which boast views of at least one of the three championship courses. Club members can participate in a selection of competitive or social golf programs, play a variety of racquet sports or work out in the Sports & Wellness Center. The club also has three dining options for members to choose from, whether they’re in the mood for a fancy date night or a Saturday brunch. Burt Reynolds Park, a 35-acre island accessible by car via Route 1 or by boat via the Intracoastal Waterway, also offers residents an outdoor escape. Just 2 miles north (by car), the park has everything from boat slips and launch ramps to picnic areas, beach volleyball and a classic playground. <br><br>For your groceries and other everyday essentials, head just a mile north to The Shoppes of Jonathan’s Landing, at the corner of Old Dixie Highway and East Indiantown Road. There, you’ll find your local Publix anchoring a variety of other retail and dining options. Head back east across Route 1 to catch a matinee at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, just over a mile and a half from home. Then, for dinner, visit The Twisted Tuna less than a mile farther south down the highway. Known for “seafood with a twist,” the local eatery’s menu teems with fresh seafood and traditional Italian dishes. With three full liquor bars, their drinks menu is extensive, too.<br><br>With amenities abounding both inside and out, it’s easy to see why Jonathan’s Landing is so popular.

Residents of Jupiter Lakes, a cozy, conveniently located neighborhood of established condominiums and townhouses, enjoy easy access to the attractions for which the city of Jupiter is known. Convenience starts at home with the Jupiter Lakes Medical Center, a sprawling campus that takes up much of the neighborhood. “The hospital is world-renowned,” says Tracy Greene, a Realtor with Keller Williams Jupiter who recently sold a condo in the neighborhood and has served the city and surrounding area for more than a decade. “And you’re close to some of the world’s best beaches.” Other nearby attractions include Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Jupiter Inet Lighthouse, a pre-Civil War monument to the region’s nautical past. The appeal of relocating to Jupiter is obvious, says Stefan Levine, a Realtor with The Agency and city resident. “People save up all year to come down and vacation for a week -- and we live here.” With the neighborhood located in the geographical center of the city, it’s no surprise that Jupiter Lakes is home to the premier medical facility in the region. Ranked No. 1 for quality, patient safety and patient satisfaction in Palm Beach County, Jupiter Medical Center was named a “Top Hospital” by the Leapfrog Group, a distinction earned by only 6% of hospitals nationwide. Residents have access to state-of-the-art facilities equipped to handle a broad range of patient needs, including orthopedics and spine care, cancer care, cardiac and vascular care and neuroscience and stroke care. Residents are within minutes of a trio of popular attractions. The neighborhood is roughly equidistant from Carlin Park on the Atlantic coast to the east, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse overlooking the Loxahatchee River to the north and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to the south. Carlin Park, anchored by its stretch of beach, offers opportunities for swimming, fishing and relaxing along the oceanfront and athletic spaces for activities such as tennis, pickleball and sand volleyball. In addition, the park is home to the Seabreeze Amphitheater, which hosts concerts and other community events. Beachgoers can find additional spots along the coast to enjoy the oceanfront, highlighted by the amenities of nearby Juno Beach. “You’ve got the Juno Pier, a loggerhead turtle rehabilitation facility and miles of dog-friendly beach,” Levine says. “It has an eclectic personality. It’s for all ages, so you’ll see walkers, joggers and bike riders. There’s room for everyone.” The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse was built in 1853 to prevent shipwrecks on the city’s rocky shores. Today, it is the centerpiece of the Jupiter Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area. “You can actually go up to the top and get gorgeous views of the inlet,” Greene says. A historical museum is adjacent to the lighthouse. The surrounding 120 acres offer additional opportunities for waterfront recreation such as fishing and paddle boarding, and it has become a popular area for bird-watchers. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium hosts the St. Louis Cardinals for spring training. “That’s a big draw,” Levine says. “Cardinal people travel well.” Baseball action doesn’t stop when the Cardinals head north for the season. The Jupiter Hammerheads, a Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, play their homes games at the stadium from early April to mid-September. If that weren’t enough, golf courses are spread throughout the city, and Jupiter Lakes residents can play right next door with a membership at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club. “You could say that Jupiter is the golf capital of Palm Beach County,” Levine says. Nestled around several small lakes for which the neighborhood is named, the condos and townhouses were built in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The villa-style condos are the older of the two, and many have been renovated in recent years. The townhouses are typically larger, offering up to 1,300 square feet of interior space as well as appealing features such as balconies and private patios. Prices typically range from the low $300,000s to the high $300,000s. Monthly HOA fees vary from under $250 to more than $500. “It’s one of the more affordable communities for all we have going on around here,” says Levine, who has been selling real estate in Palm Beach County since 2009. The neighborhood’s wide streets are easily walkable and lined with palm trees, which complement the lakes and create a tranquil subtropical setting. As with all coastal communities, flooding and wind damage is a risk, especially during hurricane season, and insurance rates will reflect that. Students attend a trio of top-rated schools, and two of them are within walking distance of the neighborhood. The campus of Jupiter Community High, an A-rated school, is adjacent to the neighborhood. Jupiter Elementary School, rated B-minus, is just blocks away. Jupiter Middle School of Technology is an A-minus-rated magnet school. The Spirit of Jupiter High Marching Band has won numerous awards, including the Florida Marching Band Championships. Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, a neighborhood eatery known for its gourmet pizzas, has been a Jupiter institution for more than 40 years. Blue Water Taco, which features fare such as Guatemalan street food, is located just south of the neighborhood at Sea Plum Town Center, which also includes a Publix. Fresh Market and T.J. Maxx anchor the Concourse Village retail center retail center just north of the neighborhood along the Indiantown Road corridor, which is lined with dining options. Travel throughout the region is easy, as the neighborhood is bordered by Florida A1A, which connects to U.S. Highway 1 and Interstate 95. Both roadways provide access to points of interest up and down the coast, including West Palm Beach and its international airport less than 20 miles south and Port St. Lucie about 30 miles north. Residents can catch the bus at multiple stops in the neighborhood.