Aventura, Hollywood, and Boca Raton are three of South Florida's largest and most established Jewish communities — but they feel very different to live in. Here's how they compare on the things that matter most to an observant or community-minded family: synagogues, kosher food, Jewish day schools, walkability, and housing.
Community character
Aventura is compact, high-rise, and international — a dense, condo-driven community where everything is close. Hollywood is a fast-growing, more residential community with a mix of single-family homes and condos and a younger, expanding feel. Boca Raton is large and spread out, with one of the biggest Jewish populations in the state across every denomination — but its size means the experience varies a lot by pocket.
Synagogues & denominations
- Aventura: multiple synagogues in a small radius, spanning Orthodox, Chabad, Conservative, and more — most within walking distance of the condo corridor.
- Hollywood: a widening cluster of shuls, with Orthodox and Chabad growth driving the community's expansion.
- Boca Raton: the widest denominational range of the three — Orthodox, Chabad, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist — but shuls are more spread out across the city.
Kosher food
Aventura has one of the densest concentrations of kosher restaurants and markets in South Florida, walkable from much of the community. Boca has a strong and growing kosher scene spread across a larger area. Hollywood's kosher options are fewer but expanding quickly alongside the community.
Jewish day schools
All three have Jewish day schools, but density differs: Aventura and Boca have several established day schools and yeshivas, while Hollywood's options are growing. If a specific school is central to your decision, start from the school and look at homes within reach of it.
Walkability
Aventura is the most consistently walkable — its density means a synagogue, kosher food, and a school are often within one short walk. Boca is the least uniform: some neighborhoods are highly walkable to shul, others are drive-only, so it truly pays to search block by block. Hollywood falls in between and is improving as the community grows.
Housing
Aventura is predominantly condos and high-rises. Hollywood offers more single-family homes and townhomes, often at more attainable prices. Boca spans everything from condos to large single-family homes and gated communities. Your housing preference alone may point you to one over the others.
Which is right for you?
If you want everything within a short walk and don't mind condo living, Aventura is hard to beat. If you want more house for your money in a fast-growing community, look closely at Hollywood. If you want the widest range of denominations, schools, and housing types — and are willing to search carefully by pocket — Boca Raton has the most of everything.
The fastest way to compare them for real is by the homes themselves: ShulSearch ranks active listings in each neighborhood by walking distance to the synagogue you choose, with kosher spots, schools, and parks on the map and a Community Score for how well each home fits a walkable Jewish life. Browse and compare homes across Aventura, Hollywood, and Boca Raton side by side.