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A Guide to Hollywood's Neighborhoods: Beach, Downtown, and Residential Suburbs

Hollywood, Florida bundles a beach town, a walkable downtown, and leafy family suburbs into one city. Each pocket has its own rhythm. Here is how the neighborhoods compare.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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Hollywood often surprises families because it is really four cities in one: a beachside town along the ocean, a walkable downtown around Young Circle, established suburban neighborhoods west of the interstate, and quiet waterfront enclaves along the Intracoastal. Buyers who narrow a search to a single Hollywood style miss the range. Understanding the neighborhoods first makes the search shorter and the decision clearer.

The beach and the Broadwalk

The Hollywood Beach area centers on the Broadwalk, a wide pedestrian promenade between the ocean and a line of small hotels and restaurants. The beachside residential pockets, Central Beach, North Beach, and South Beach, offer the most coastal lifestyle in the city, with daily salt air and easy access to the water. Homes tend to be older and smaller, and the trade-off between character and price per square foot is real. This is the choice for buyers who want the beach as the default weekend plan.

Downtown Hollywood's village energy

Downtown Hollywood, built around Young Circle and Hollywood Boulevard, is the walkable core: galleries, restaurants, and a historic business district where people stroll in the evening. ArtsPark at Young Circle anchors the green space, and the arts and music events keep the calendar full. It suits families who want to live above the action or a short walk from it. Parking and weekend crowds are part of the trade, and homes here range from older cottages to newer townhouses.

Hollywood Lakes, along the waterway

Hollywood Lakes sits along the Intracoastal Waterway east of downtown, a neighborhood of tree-lined streets and a mix of historic and modern waterfront homes. It is quieter than the beach and more established than the western suburbs, with mature landscaping and water views that carry a premium. For families who want water without the Broadwalk crowds, this pocket offers old Florida character with convenient access to both downtown and the beach.

Hollywood Hills, Emerald Hills, and Hillcrest

West of the interstate, the city's suburban neighborhoods carry most of the detached homes. Hollywood Hills is an established area of mid-century ranch houses on tree-lined streets and is home to Hollywood Hills High School. Emerald Hills sits northwest with a mix of older and newer homes around the Emerald Hills Country Club, including lakeside sections, and Hillcrest borders Hollywood Hills with a similar settled feel. These neighborhoods offer larger lots and quieter streets, with Hollywood Hills High School and nearby campuses within an easy commute. Other established pockets like Driftwood, Oakwood Hills, and Royal Poinciana add more options across budgets.

Choosing the right pocket for your family

The right Hollywood neighborhood depends on how your family uses weekends and schools. Beach users lean east, walkers and culture lean downtown, and families who want yards and quieter routines lean west. Nanci Gilbert, PA has placed families across Hollywood's neighborhoods and can walk you through the trade-offs with current listings in hand. Touring each pocket on a Saturday, from breakfast to dusk, is the fastest way to hear which one sounds like your life.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides buyers and sellers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.