Below I posted an article from Forbes magazine. They have created a list of the best places to live in Florida. Here is a link to the original article.
Best Places to Live in Florida in 2024
Florida has long been a favorite destination for retirees. But in recent years, working households have flocked to the state because of promising career opportunities, a relatively low cost of living, and no income tax. Not to mention the mild winters and the approximately 800 miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico that stretch across the peninsula and panhandle.
If you’re looking for the best places to live in Florida, our guide should make it easier to find your ideal community. We analyzed urban areas by collecting recent data on key lifestyle factors such as average house price, per capita personal income, and unemployment and crime rates.
Please note: some government reports provide results by province, while others look at the larger metropolitan area, or a combination of provinces or cities. We have defined the geographic boundaries for all reports that cover anything other than a general urban area.
10. Pensacola
Pensacola is located near the beach on the Gulf of Mexico with 50 miles of coastline. It is also home to a naval air base and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration team. Major employment opportunities include financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism.
While Pensacola is Florida’s westernmost city and hours away from the state’s other major cities, you can reach Mobile, Alabama, in an hour and New Orleans in three hours. In addition, Pensacola International Airport serves more than 40 destinations.
9. Tallahassee
Tallahassee is the state capital and home to Florida State University and Florida A&M University. This city can be an excellent option if you’re looking for a college town experience, are a political junkie, or want to live in a part of the Florida Panhandle that isn’t crawling with tourists, as the nearest beach is an hour’s drive away.
Education, health care, and state government are the main employment areas in this medium-sized urban area. The region also provides many technology jobs through the Innovation Park of Tallahassee technology incubator, making it one of the best places in Florida for young adults.
8. Sarasota
Consider living in Sarasota if you want to live in a central Florida beach town that is family-friendly and has a sizable local workforce.
If you want to visit a big city, the bustling Tampa metro area is 55 miles north. By comparison, the greater Sarasota metro area has approximately 750,000 residents, while greater Tampa is home to nearly 3 million residents.
Job opportunities in Sarasota include healthcare, manufacturing, and insurance. Full-time residents typically enjoy Siesta Beach and Lido Key. Sarasota is also the center of Florida’s Cultural Coast, with two art museums and ballet and opera performances.
7. Melbourne
Melbourne is part of Florida’s ‘Space Coast’ which many tourists visit for year-round rocket launches and beach holidays. Full-time residents can find employment in aerospace and manufacturing, with comfortable salaries.
The Palm Bay-Melbourne metro area is conveniently located on the Atlantic Coast with easy access to the beach. A cultural highlight is the Eau Gallie Arts District.
Geographically, it is the midpoint between Jacksonville and Miami, and Orlando is about an hour’s drive away.
6. Greater Miami area
Miami is perhaps Florida’s most vibrant city with beautiful beaches, colorful buildings, exciting nightlife, and a prominent presence of Caribbean and Latin American cultures. The city is also known for its art and fashion exhibitions.
Because Miami is Florida’s largest metropolitan area with more than 6 million residents, there are many employment opportunities. Aviation, finance, international trade, healthcare, and tourism are the main employment sectors.
Not everyone will enjoy living in the Miami metro area, as it is expensive, has a relatively high crime rate, and has a tropical monsoon climate. However, Florida New Home Buyer Programs in Broward and Miami-Dade counties can help newcomers cope with the high cost of housing.
5. Orlando
Orlando is the most prominent city in central Florida, thanks in large part to its top tourist attractions such as Disney and Universal Studios. But it is more than just a destination for tourists and work conferences. Biotechnology, information technology, and healthcare are other booming industries in Orlando, making it one of the best places in Florida for young adults.
Locals can also enjoy many cultural and performing arts events. This metropolis is about an hour’s drive from the Atlantic beach cities of Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach if you’re ready for a change of scenery.
4. Cape coral
Cape Coral, part of the Fort Myers metro area, is popular because it is located on the Gulf and has a low crime rate. Locals enjoy exploring the freshwater lakes and canals and lazing on a sandy, saltwater beach.
Biotech, maritime, and medical are target industries for Cape Coral. Several companies also operate call centers and back office operations from the region.
3. Jacksonville
While Jacksonville has the distinction of being Florida’s largest city by landmass, its combined population in the metropolitan area is smaller than that of Miami or Tampa. You can enjoy the conveniences of the big city and living on the Atlantic Ocean, but the cost of living is relatively affordable.
Banking, health care, and transportation are the largest employment opportunities in the seven-county metro area. The city is also home to one of the country’s three Mayo Clinics and offers access to many of The best banks in Florida.
2. Gainesville
Gainesville is an excellent place for families because the cost of living is low and the population is relatively small with a low crime rate. The city is also home to the University of Florida, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium.
There are also several state parks, hiking trails, and biking trails to explore. For more adventure, Jacksonville and Orlando are both about 90 minutes away, where you can enjoy beaches, theme parks, and big-city amenities.
1. Tampa
Tampa has experienced an influx of employers from various industries, from advanced manufacturing to financial services and life sciences. Tourism and MacDill Air Force Base also play a crucial role.
While Tampa offers everything you need for everyday life, Orlando is also a two-hour drive away and Miami is just a four-hour drive away.
Our Methodology
We compared Florida’s metropolitan areas using data from several platforms to measure variable criteria including housing affordability, employment, and community well-being.
The urban areas we chose are spread across the state and can be excellent places to call home for young professionals, families, and retirees moving to Florida.
Our ratings take into account the city’s size, crime rate, diversity, unemployment rate, and cost of living. Community amenities such as outdoor activities, public transportation, and access to healthcare also play a factor.
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