Living in Wellington, FL: Neighborhoods, Lifestyle and Homes
The winter capital of equestrian sport, with lakes, golf and gated communities minutes from the Palm Beaches.
Room to breathe, minutes from the Palm Beaches
Wellington is a village of tree-lined boulevards, lakes and preserves in western Palm Beach County, and it's known around the world as the winter home of equestrian sport.
But most people who move here don't own a horse. They come for the parks, the open space and the location. They stay for the gated neighborhoods built around lakes and golf courses and the calm, suburban pace. Downtown West Palm Beach, the airport and the ocean are all within easy reach. This guide covers what Wellington has to offer and how its neighborhoods differ, so you can find the part of the village that fits you.
Four reasons Wellington stands out
World-class equestrian life
Show jumping, dressage and high-goal polo every winter, and a protected Equestrian Preserve Area with miles of bridle trails.
Parks and open space
A large village park, an Everglades-edge nature preserve, wetlands, dog parks, and a town center with a lakeside amphitheater.
Golf and club living
Country clubs and golf communities sit right inside the village, from Palm Beach Polo to The Landings and Wycliffe.
Easy everyday living
Shopping at The Mall at Wellington Green, a regional medical center, and public schools in the School District of Palm Beach County.
When the world's best riders come to town
From January into spring, Wellington becomes the center of the equestrian world. Top riders and their horses settle in for months, and the village fills with competition and Sunday crowds. Visitors are welcome at all three.
Winter Equestrian Festival
WEF is one of the longest-running horse shows in the world. It runs for weeks at the Wellington International showgrounds, with grand prix nights under the lights.
Adequan Global Dressage Festival
World-level dressage alongside WEF at Wellington International, drawing international riders through the winter.
International Polo Club Palm Beach
High-goal polo from January to April, with Sunday matches and field-side brunch. The season builds toward the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
Outdoors all year
The Village has put a great deal into its green space. These are the places locals use every week.
Wellington Environmental Preserve
More than 360 acres of restored wetland at the edge of the Everglades. It has walking trails, wildlife viewing and a six-story observation tower, plus an equestrian trail around its edge.
Village Park
Wellington's largest park, at more than 100 acres. It has sports fields, courts, a skate park and playgrounds, and the Peaceful Waters Sanctuary wetland boardwalk is on the same grounds.
Town Center & the Amphitheater
The heart of the village. It hosts concerts, food truck nights, movies on the lawn and holiday events, next to the aquatics complex and tennis center.
Bridle trails
A network of bridle paths links farms, neighborhoods and the showgrounds. In parts of Wellington, riding to the arena is a normal morning.
Finding your part of Wellington
Wellington's neighborhoods are very different from one another. Some are horse farms on five or more acres; others are condos steps from the golf course. Start with the kind of life you want, then compare the communities.
Equestrian estates
Farms, barns and acreage in and around the Equestrian Preserve Area, close to the showgrounds and polo fields.
Golf & country club communities
Fairway and lake views, club amenities and many enclaves to choose from, from condos to estate homes.
Gated, master-planned neighborhoods
Newer master-planned communities with lakes, sidewalks, clubhouses and pools.
Active adult, established & low-maintenance
A 55+ resort community, long-standing neighborhoods with larger lots, and condos and townhomes near the clubs.
What homes in Wellington are like
Wellington was mostly built from the 1970s on, as a planned community. Most homes are single-family, and many sit inside a homeowners' association. The typical home here looks like this:
Bedroom mix: 2 bed (14%), 3 bed (37%), 4 bed (27%), 5+ bed (22%).
Close to the coast, without the crowds
From the Flying Cow Ranch to a village
In the early 1950s, accountant and investor Charles Oliver Wellington bought thousands of acres of waterlogged land west of West Palm Beach. He named it the Flying Cow Ranch, after his initials, C.O.W. The State created the Acme drainage district in 1953 to make the land farmable, and for a time it held what was billed as the world's largest strawberry patch.
A planned community grew from there. Residents voted to incorporate in 1995, and the Village of Wellington was officially born on December 31 of that year. It has kept its hometown feel ever since.
Common questions about living in Wellington
What is Wellington, Florida known for?
Wellington is best known as the winter capital of equestrian sport. Each year it hosts the Winter Equestrian Festival, which has run since 1974, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival at Wellington International, and high-goal polo at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Beyond horses, it is known for its parks, golf communities, gated neighborhoods and relaxed suburban feel.
Where is Wellington, Florida?
Wellington is a village in western Palm Beach County, Florida, just west of West Palm Beach. It covers about 45 square miles. Palm Beach International Airport is roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive away, and the Palm Beach beaches are about 16 miles east.
When is the equestrian season in Wellington?
The main season runs through the winter, from about January into spring. The Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival run from January through March, and Sunday high-goal polo runs from January to April, building toward the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
Are there horse properties in Wellington?
Yes. A large part of Wellington lies within its Equestrian Preserve Area, where farms and estate lots sit close to the showgrounds and are linked by bridle trails. Communities such as Palm Beach Point, Grand Prix Village, Equestrian Club and Saddle Trail Park are known for horse properties.
What types of neighborhoods are in Wellington?
Wellington's neighborhoods range from equestrian estates in the Equestrian Preserve Area to golf and country club communities, gated master-planned neighborhoods such as Olympia, Isles at Wellington and Village Walk, a 55+ community, long-established neighborhoods, and condos and townhomes. The right fit depends on your budget and the kind of home and amenities you want.
Is there a 55+ community in Wellington?
Yes. Buena Vida is a guard-gated 55+ active adult community of single-family homes in Wellington, with a clubhouse, fitness center, pools and tennis.
How many people live in Wellington, Florida?
Wellington had 61,637 residents at the 2020 Census. It was incorporated as a village on December 31, 1995.
Sources: Village of Wellington · Wikipedia: Wellington, Florida · Wellington International · International Polo Club Palm Beach · Acme Improvement District history
Thinking about a move to Wellington?
Chris Kull is based right here in Wellington, with an office on Corporate Center Way. Whether you want acreage for your horses, a home near the golf course or a gated community with a clubhouse and pool, Chris can help you compare communities and find the right fit.
Wellington Communities
- Andalucia
- Bagattelle
- Barrington Woods
- Binks Pointe
- Black Diamond
- Brier Patch
- Buena Vida
- Casa Nella Foresta
- Castellina
- Channing Villas
- Coventry Green
- Cypress Shores
- Eastwood
- Emerald Forest
- Emerald Pointe
- Equestrian Club
- Equestrian Club Estates
- Farmington Estates
- Farrell Estates
- Fields at Gulfstream Polo
- French Quarter
- Georgian Courts
- Grand Isles
- Grand Prix Farms
- Grand Prix Village
- Greenview Shores of Wellington
- Hanover East
- Heritage Farms
- Hidden Pines
- Homeland
- Island of Wellington
- Isles at Wellington
- Lake Shore Heights
- Lotis Wellington
- Mayfair at Wellington
- Meadow Brook
- Meadowland Cove
- Mida Farms
- Montauk Harbor
- Monterey on the Lake
- Oakmont Estates
- Olympia
- Orange Grove Estates
- Orange Point
- Paddock Park
- Palm Beach Little Ranches
- Palm Beach Little Ranches East
- Palm Beach Point
- Palm Beach Polo and Country Club
- Palm Beach Ranchettes
- Palm Court at Wellington
- Palm Glade Ranches
- Park Place
- Pine Cones at Wellington
- Pines of Wellington
- Pinewood
- Pinewood East
- Pinewood Grove
- Pinewood Manor
- Polo West Estates
- Rustic Ranches
- Saddle Club of Wellington
- Saddle Trail Park
- Sag Harbor Trace
- Sailboat Point
- Scottsglades
- Seminole Ranches
- Sheffield Woods
- Shores at Wellington
- South Shore
- Southfields
- Sturbridge Village
- Sugar Pond Manor
- Sun Glade Estates
- Sunset Point
- Talavera
- Tallpine
- The Landings at Wellington
- Towne Place
- Tree Tops
- Valencia Estates
- Versailles
- Village Walk
- Waterway Cove
- Wellington Downs
- Wellington Lakes
- Wellington Parc
- Wellington Place
- Wellington Preserve
- Wellington's Edge
- Whitehorse Estates
- Winding Trails
- Windsome Estates
- Woods Walk
- Wycliffe
- Yearling Path