Tamarac — Where Broward's Age-Targeted Communities Grew Up
Tamarac was built as a purpose-designed community in 1963 by Ken Behring — the same developer behind Florida's earliest large-scale age-restricted neighborhoods. Sixty years later the DNA still shows: a city of 74,000 residents where roughly one in three homes sit inside a 55+ association, another third is family-oriented, and the commercial core sits tight along Commercial Blvd and Nob Hill Road. The result is a Broward city with unusually consistent housing stock, predictable HOAs, and a market that rarely produces surprises in either direction.
| Population | ~74,000 |
|---|---|
| Area | 12 sq mi |
| Median Age | 47.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76% |
| Zip Codes | 33319, 33321, 33351 |
| Incorporated | 1963 |
| Commute to Fort Lauderdale | ~25 min |
The Market Right Now
Active MLS inventory splits roughly three ways: condos dominate (highest volume), single-family homes come second with strongest pricing power, and townhomes/villas fill the middle band. What's distinctive about Tamarac is the age-restricted segment — Kings Point and smaller Del Webb-style associations account for a meaningful share of condo listings, and prices in those communities track a different cycle than the rest of Broward.
For live median, average, and range numbers, the stats widget pulls current MLS data. The qualitative read: Tamarac sits in Broward's entry-to-mid-market tier, with villa and single-family pricing well below Coral Springs and Parkland, and condo pricing similar to Lauderhill and Sunrise.
Kings Point, Woodlands & the 55+ Core
Three communities anchor the age-restricted segment:
- Kings Point Tamarac — a Del Webb-pattern 55+ community west of University Drive, extensive amenities (pool, clubhouse, courtesy bus service), known for tight HOA oversight and low per-unit carrying costs
- Woodlands Country Club — multi-section 55+ community wrapped around two golf courses, more upscale finish than Kings Point, includes single-family sections alongside condos
- Mainlands of Tamarac — the original 1960s Behring community, mid-century ranch homes (not condos) on small lots, 55+ deed restrictions in most sections. One of the largest concentrations of active listings in the city
- Lime Bay, Sabal Palm Village, Versailles Gardens, Sun Vista Gardens — smaller condo/villa associations, mostly 55+, typically the cheapest entry point in the city
If you're shopping Tamarac condos under the $200K mark, assume you're looking at a 55+ building. Most of the volume is age-restricted. Read the HOA docs before writing an offer — some communities enforce strict age limits on all residents, others allow 80/20 under-55 carve-outs.
Family Tamarac
The non-55+ half of Tamarac is quieter but growing. Newer single-family subdivisions along Pine Island Road and NW 94th Avenue attract families priced out of Coral Springs. Trails at Central Parc, Lakes of Carriage Hills, Hampton Hills, and Shaker Village offer mid-size homes with no age restrictions. The zoning of Tamarac's newer western neighborhoods feeds into Coral Springs-area schools — a detail that materially affects resale.
Schools
- Millennium 6-12 Collegiate Academy — magnet 6-12 program, one of the stronger Broward options in the central-west corridor
- Challenger Elementary, Tamarac Elementary, Pinewood Elementary — the three main elementary schools
- Paul Turner / Park Trails Elementary — closer to the Coral Springs border, stronger ratings
- J.P. Taravella High School — Coral Springs high school that several northern Tamarac subdivisions zone into
- Broward College North Campus — adjacent in Coconut Creek, 8 minutes away
Daily Life
Tamarac's civic infrastructure is its sleeper strength. The city owns Caporella Aquatic Center, the Tamarac Community Center (a real multi-purpose facility, not a storefront), and a long list of parks including Tamarac Sports Complex, Sunset Point Park, and waterfront access at Tamarac Lake. Commercial Blvd east of University Drive is the main retail corridor. The Sawgrass Expressway entry at NW 88th Avenue puts downtown Fort Lauderdale, the airport, and Sawgrass Mills all within 20 minutes.
For restaurants, Tamarac is honest: no nationally-noticed dining, but solid everyday kosher delis, Italian bakeries, and the long-running Bagel Bush on Commercial Blvd. Shoppers drive to Coral Springs's The Walk or to Sawgrass Mills.
Vs Nearby Options
| Tamarac | Sunrise | Coral Springs | Margate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominant product | Condo/villa | Mixed | Single-family | Condo/SFH mix |
| Median age | 47.8 | 37 | 40 | 43 |
| 55+ community share | High | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| School perception | Mixed | Mixed | Stronger | Mixed |
| Golf inventory | Woodlands, Kings Point | Sunrise Lakes | Country Club of Coral Springs | Oriole |
Who Should Buy Here
Downsizers and retirees from the Northeast. This is Tamarac's strongest buyer profile by a wide margin. Kings Point, Woodlands, and Mainlands offer a Florida retirement package — amenities, predictable HOAs, manageable yards — at prices that make sense after selling a New Jersey or Long Island home.
Multi-generational families buying a single-family home near the Coral Springs border. The newer subdivisions off Pine Island Rd give you a family-sized home in A-rated school zones at a 15-25% discount to Coral Springs equivalents.
Investors targeting 55+ rental arbitrage. Tamarac's age-restricted condos have low acquisition costs and consistent rental demand from snowbirds and assisted-living transitional tenants — a niche strategy but a proven one.
Who should think twice: young buyers who want walkable urban-style living (Tamarac is resolutely suburban), or anyone expecting dining and nightlife to match Fort Lauderdale or Wilton Manors. The value here is housing and civic services, not scene.
