Boca Raton is officially near the top of the college-town cost ladder, clocking in at No. 2 on a national list of America's most expensive college towns. The median home-sale price hovers around $820,000, and even with a recent cooling in values, the price tag is starting to sting for students, staff and anyone hoping to live within a quick drive of campus.
According to WPEC, Boca Raton, home to Florida Atlantic University, landed in the No. 2 spot on Redfin's list, with a median sale price close to $820,000 for the three months ending in May 2026 and a 5.7 percent year-over-year price drop. Only Santa Barbara came in higher, with a median near $1.9 million, while the national median sat around $398,771.
Redfin economists say the priciest college towns are starting to cool as mortgage rates and high list prices make buyers think twice. "Home prices—and, by extension, rent—in some college towns have climbed so high they're increasingly out of reach for students, faculty and staff," Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather said in a report. Redfin's analysis relies on MLS data and looks at places where at least 10 percent of residents are students at a four-year accredited university and that are at least 30 miles from a metro with more than 1 million people, according to Redfin.
Florida Atlantic University enrolls more than 30,000 students, a scale that helps cement Boca Raton's college-town status and fuels steady demand for rentals and homes for sale. That demand, layered on top of Boca's beaches and Florida's tax advantages, keeps local prices well above what many students and early-career faculty can reasonably afford.
What This Means For Students And Housing
On the ground, high sale prices ripple straight into the rental market as landlords pass on costs, tightening budgets for students and local workers alike. Redfin's economists suggest that boosting housing supply, updating zoning rules to allow more multi-family construction and investing in student housing could help ease the pressure, as reported by WPEC. Local officials and university leaders now face the challenge of balancing Boca's coastal appeal with the need for more attainable housing near campus.
For prospective students and families considering FAU, the ranking serves as a clear reminder that housing can be a major line item in the college budget. Whether prices keep cooling or new policy moves follow, Boca Raton's spot near the top of the list highlights how location premiums and university demand collide in one very pricey slice of South Florida.
