Just 20 minutes south of President Donald Trump's infamous Florida club Mar-a-Lago lies a booming enclave where multi-million dollar mansions are selling like hot cakes. Manalapan in Palm Beach County has a population of just 353 people and counts billionaire CEO Larry Ellison and Fox News host Sean Hannity among its residents. Billy Joel has also owned property there that he sold for $42.6 million in 2024.
A Town of Extreme Wealth
The median home price in the town is a whopping $2 million, and residents have a $231,730 per capita income, which is more than double the county, state and national average, according to Census data. Real estate experts told the Daily Mail that Manalapan is a unique Intracoastal town with massive lots and a layer of privacy that Palm Beach Island lacks.
John Boyd, a principal at the Boyd Company, a location advisory firm with clients in Manalapan, said the town has a unique 'sizzle factor' that attracts an exclusive clientele. 'It really kind of defies gravity. It applies to just a very specific type of buyer with respect to net worth, and people who value privacy,' Boyd explained. He added that having the Palm Beach County zip code is a status symbol and one of the most 'prestigious' in the country.
Palm Beach's Wealthy Little Sister
Palm Beach has earned the nickname of 'Wall Street South' in recent years for its booming business division and Manalapan has often been called 'Palm Beach's wealthy little sister.' Over 140 companies have relocated or opened offices in Palm Beach in the past five years, seeing more than 13,000 new jobs and over $1 billion in capital investments, according to the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.
The county is the fourth-fastest-growing wealth hub in the world, with a staggering 112 percent increase in the number of millionaires over the past decade. High-profile names like Goldman Sachs and BlackRock have expanded into the area, driving real estate activity and motivating high-income earners to make Palm Beach County their primary residence rather than a second vacation home.
Boyd said his clientele has expressed interest in relocating their businesses to Florida because of the business-friendly tax climate. Industry opportunity in West Palm Beach has spilled over into neighboring cities like Manalapan.
Remarkable Evolution
Nick Malinosky, a realtor with Douglas Elliman, called Manalapan's evolution over the last few years 'remarkable.' 'What used to be a relatively quiet, under-the-radar pocket of Palm Beach County has turned into one of the most sought-after ultra-luxury enclaves in the country. The biggest shift we've seen is the caliber of buyer, it's no longer just seasonal residents or second-home owners,' he told the Daily Mail.
'We're working with ultra-high-net-worth individuals who are very intentional about privacy, security, and scale, and Manalapan delivers on all three in a way that very few places can.' Realtor Madison Collum told the Daily Mail that wealthy buyers can purchase larger lots in Manalapan in comparison to Palm Beach. Chad Carroll, president of the real estate firm, The Carroll Group, echoed a similar sentiment, telling the Daily Mail that listings in the area have skyrocketed within the last 10 years. He recalled selling a house in Manalapan a decade ago for around $28 million, adding that the listing is now worth over $60 million.
Intracoastal Access and Privacy
Not only does Manalapan offer exclusivity and direct access to business innovation in West Palm Beach, but it is also uniquely situated for Intracoastal access. Real estate experts told the Daily Mail that wealthy buyers have access to larger waterfront compounds than in other towns in the county. Madison Collum, a realtor with Sotheby's International Realty, said that $100 million might only buy half an acre to an acre on Palm Beach Island, whereas buyers can purchase a two-acre lot at the same price point in Manalapan.
Collum recently sold a home on Ocean Blvd for $15.5 million. The residence spanned just under two acres, with 150ft of oceanfront access between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. The listing included seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a bar, a wine room, an additional guest house, a heated private pool, a gym, a private movie theatre, and a private dock.
Record-Breaking Sales
Malinosky also shared listing photos of his recent sale in Manalapan, which was the highest-priced new build in the US. The listing was recently on the market for $285 million, breaking the record for the area's most expensive sale. The listing on S Ocean Blvd is four acres and 55,000sq ft, featuring a shooting range, bowling alley, car museum, golf simulator room, padel court, spa and gym. Stewart Satter, the former mayor of Manalapan and developer, owned the property.
Malinosky told the Daily Mail that his clients are choosing Manalapan over Palm Beach because of the town's lifestyle. 'Palm Beach has always been about proximity, Worth Avenue, the social scene, the clubs. Manalapan is more about exclusivity and control,' he explained. 'You have these rare ocean-to-Intracoastal properties where buyers can create true compound-style living, often with private docks on one side and beach access on the other. That level of dual-water frontage is incredibly hard to replicate, and it's become a major driver of demand.'
Unlike Manalapan's neighbors in Palm Beach County, the town is primarily residential and is not buzzing with a lively social scene or full of bars and restaurants. Collum noted that due to the caliber of residents' wealth, most of them have house staff who will do their shopping and household chores.
Limited Inventory, Sky-High Prices
The most significant obstacle to Manalapan's growth is the limited inventory. The town is only 2.4 square miles and there are limited empty lots. However, when space is available, it is worth a pretty penny. A vacant oceanfront space sold for a massive $105 million this month. Comprised of two adjacent lake-to-ocean lots at 1120 South Ocean Blvd with 342ft on the ocean, it was bought by an anonymous buyer who reportedly intends to build a dream home on the land.
