Families from The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Bellaire, and Cinco Ranch grew up with master planning: village centers, trail networks, lakes, and neighborhood schools. Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter offer communities built on the same principles, with the Atlantic about 15 minutes east. For Houston-area families who want the planning without the bayou flooding and the commute, north Palm Beach County is worth a close look.
See our Jupiter family neighborhoods guide and best South Florida family neighborhoods for the full rundown.
Texas and Florida both skip the personal income tax. Houston suburban families often pay combined property tax rates near or above 2% of assessed value once MUD, school, county, and city levies stack, even with Texas's 10% homestead appraisal cap and the larger school homestead exemption approved in 2025. In Florida, your first-year bill is based on your purchase price. Most Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter communities don't carry MUD-style taxes, though some newer ones include community development district (CDD) assessments, and we'll flag those on any listing.
Florida's homestead rules are also changing. Voters approved Amendment 3 on November 3, 2026, raising the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, on top of the $25,000 school exemption. Buyers who don't have a permanent Florida residence on December 31, 2026 receive a $50,000 non-school exemption until their fifth year of residency, and the Legislature is setting the details in its 2027 session. Save Our Homes still caps annual increases in assessed value at 3% or inflation, whichever is lower. File for homestead with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year after you move in, and use its property tax and Amendment 3 calculators to model a specific price. Our Amendment 3 guide for people moving to Florida and Florida tax guide for new residents go deeper.
Houston suburban families know hurricane prep and flood insurance. In Palm Beach County, newer communities like Avenir and Alton are built to current Florida building code, with impact-rated windows and modern roofs, which helps both safety and insurance. Ask about flood zone, finished floor elevation, roof age, and the wind mitigation report on every home. Florida's insurance market has stabilized, and Citizens and several private carriers filed rate decreases for 2026. Our homeowners insurance guide and hurricane season guide cover the details.
Families from Conroe ISD, Fort Bend ISD, and Katy ISD should know that Palm Beach County public school assignment is address-based, and several high schools run application-based choice academies, including Jupiter High School's Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy. William T. Dwyer High School serves much of Palm Beach Gardens. Private options include The Benjamin School, The King's Academy, and Jupiter Christian School. Start applications early.
Commutes in north county are short by Houston standards. Most Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens neighborhoods are within 15 to 25 minutes of the beach, PBI, and downtown West Palm Beach outside rush hour. Weekends revolve around the water, youth sports, golf, and dinner at Harbourside Place or Downtown at the Gardens. Summers are humid and stormy in the afternoons, much like home, and the sea breeze keeps the coast a few degrees cooler.
United has run seasonal nonstops between PBI and IAH. Other times of year, plan on a connection or a flight from Fort Lauderdale.
We'll compare communities side by side for you, including HOA and CDD fees, school zones, insurance estimates, and flood data, so your first visit is a short list of homes that already fit.
The Meyer Lucas Team serves buyers, sellers, relocators, and investors throughout Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Tequesta, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, and Martin County.
📞 Call or Text: 561-406-5228
📩 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more and meet the team: meyerlucas.com
🔍 See homes for sale: Home Search
Mon - Fri, 9 am - 6 pm 1515 South Cypress Dr Jupiter FL 33469
Mon - Fri, 9 am - 6 pm 1515 South Cypress Dr Jupiter FL 33469
