Best Places To Live In Florida

Florida is a growing state with many people flocking to its warm beaches, many attractions and a wide array of lifestyles. From the easygoing communities to the vibrant nightlife in major cities, there’s something for everyone in Florida. We reviewed over 400 places to come up with these best places to live in Florida. Here’s what we found.

What’s It Like To Live In Florida?

Life in the Sunshine State is appealing on many levels. There’s the warm weather, the growing economy and the constant list of things to do. But when it comes down to it, there are some core traits you need to consider when buying a house and deciding where to live:

• Cost of living: The cost of living is how expensive an area is relative to the average income. In general, the state of Florida has a slightly higher cost of living than the U.S. average.
• Crime rate: When choosing a house, neighborhood safety is an important factor. You want to look at both violent crime and property crime rates, knowing that certain neighborhoods in cities can vary in safety.
• Affordability: Affordability varies greatly in Florida. Oceanfront properties are often in the tens of millions of dollars, where properties just further inland can be much more affordable.
• Career opportunities: In general, Florida cities have many career opportunities for a variety of professions.
• Recreation: Florida has many unique recreational opportunities with 825 miles of beaches, multiple theme parks and the Everglades.
• Real estate opportunities: If you’re looking for an investment property or a vacation home, there are many Florida real estate opportunities. The whole state is a popular vacation destination, so having a rental property, as well as your own place to vacation, can make a great investment.

9 Best Places To Live In Florida

When you think about Florida, you’re often thinking of the big cities: Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, etc. But when you’re looking at buying a house in Florida, many of the smaller cities and towns come to the forefront. Here are the nine best places to live in Florida:

1. Belle Isle 

• Population: 7,139
• Median household income: $101,042
• Median monthly rental price: $1,042
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 26.0
• Home affordability index: 0.97

Belle Isle is a small city in Central Florida, just a short drive southeast of Orlando. With its location in Orange County, Belle Isle is in the middle of the action. In under a half hour, you can be at Universal Studios or Disney World, riding rides and taking in the attractions. Yet, Belle Isle remains a quaint city with the Lake Conway Chain of Lakes at its heart. Plus, the city ranks #3 in the state with the lowest unemployment.

Check out homes for sale in Belle Isle and Belle Isle housing market trends.

2. Palm Beach

• Population: 8,776
• Median household income: $169,003
• Median monthly rental price: $1,724
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 28.4
• Home affordability index: 0.40

Palm Beach is one of the best places to live in Florida by the beach. This south Florida town is on a barrier island, separated by the Intracoastal Waterway. Just over an hour north of Miami, and about an hour from Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach offers a quieter coastal experience, with expansive beaches. The area boasts several art galleries, with The Society of the Four Arts offering galleries, as well as an auditorium and botanical gardens. Palm Beach is also known for its many golf courses and elegant restaurants.

Check out homes for sale in Palm Beach and Palm Beach housing market trends.

3. Milton

• Population: 10,259
• Median household income: $62,561
• Median monthly rental price: $1,303
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 19.7
• Home affordability index: 1.00

In Florida’s panhandle, Milton sits just in from the Gulf of Mexico along the Blackwater River. Just a short drive from nearby Pensacola, Milton is the perfect spot if you want to move somewhere warm, near the ocean but not flooded with tourists. Right between the Blackwater River State Forest and the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area, there are tons of nearby hiking trails and streams to explore. If you want a quiet piece of Florida, Milton is a great place to live.

Check out homes for sale in Milton and Milton housing market trends.

4. Lutz

• Population: 22,871
• Median household income: $91,875
• Median monthly rental price: $1,233
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 24.0
• Home affordability index: and 0.90

If you love freshwater lakes, Lutz is one of the best places to live in Florida. Just 15 miles north of Tampa, Lutz offers beautiful recreation and simpler, quiet living, with the big city attractions nearby. You could easily spend your day fishing off a boat, or head into town for shopping at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Check out homes for sale in Lutz and Lutz housing market trends. 

5. Lake Mary

• Population: 16,987
• Median household income: $92,441
• Median monthly rental price: $1,684
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 24.6
• Home affordability index: 0.88

Lake Mary is located north of Orlando just off of Interstate 4. The small city boasts multiple large employers. The American Automobile Association’s (AAA) national office is located there, as are headquarters for Verizon, Mitsubishi-Hitachi Power Systems and Scholastic Book Fairs. Lake Mary is also home to a campus of the Seminole State College of Florida. With its central location, there’s plenty to do, but there’s also the space to stretch out, relax and soak in the sunshine.

Check out homes for sale in Lake Mary and Lake Mary housing market trends.

6. Edgewater

• Population: 23,710
• Median household income: $49,487
• Median monthly rental price: $1,054
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 28.2
• Home affordability index: 0.75

Another one of the best places to live in Florida by the beach is the city of Edgewater. Between Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral, Edgewater is a small city along the brackish Indian River, just a short jaunt from the barrier island that faces the Atlantic Ocean. If you want to be close to the beach, but don’t want to pay beachfront prices, Edgewater is a great choice.

Check out homes for sale in Edgewater and Edgewater housing market trends.

7. Niceville

• Population: 15,619
• Median household income: $82,219
• Median monthly rental price: $1,250
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 24.7
• Home affordability index: 1.02

Niceville is a Florida panhandle city, located near the Eglin Air Force Base. The city sits on the Boggy Bayou, which feeds Choctawhatchee Bay. Niceville has access to nearby oceanside cities and beaches, but its location further inland makes it a quiet Florida city to live in. With plenty of nearby nature trails, Niceville is a great, warm place to relax and take it easy.

Check out homes for sale in Niceville and Niceville housing market trends.

8. Lakewood Ranch

• Population: 26,513
• Median household income: $111,645
• Median monthly rental price: $1,856
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 26.5
• Home affordability index: 0.82

Lakewood Ranch is a planned community about 10 miles inland from the gulf shore, between Tampa and Ft. Myers. Lakewood Ranch features dozens of small lakes and ponds, as well as several country clubs and golf courses. With beautiful homes and rows of palm trees, it’s easy to see why many people want to live in Lakewood Ranch.

Check out homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch and Lakewood Ranch housing market trends.

9. Winter Springs

• Population: 36,859
• Median household income: $76,550
• Median monthly rental price: $1,337
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 24.5
• Home affordability index: 0.95

Winter Springs, Florida is located in Central Florida, northeast of Orlando. The city is right next to the Spring Hammock Preserve – a gorgeous nature area with wildlife and hiking trails. The area’s seen steady population growth in recent years thanks to its gorgeous natural surroundings and its proximity to Orlando. The city also hosts many seasonal festivals, including an art festival and the Scottish Highland Games.

Check out homes for sale in Winter Springs and Winter Springs housing market trends.

3 More Popular Cities To Live In Florida

Florida is a popular state for a reason. Beaches, warm weather and economic growth make it a magnet for people. The best place in Florida for you depends on your lifestyle. There's something for everyone from sleepy communities to cities with wild nightlife. While the following list of cities did not make this list based on our metrics, they’re among the best cities to live in Florida.

1. Tampa

• Population: 395,912
• Median household income: $55,634
• Median home sold price: $409,152
• Median monthly rental price: $1,178
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 35.20
• Home affordability index: 0.64

Tampa is Florida’s third most-populated city, located by Tampa Bay, which feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. While tourism is a big part of most Floridian cities’ economies, Tampa’s also a hub for real estate, finance and health care. The demographic in Tampa skews younger than other cities near Tampa Bay, like St. Petersburg. That’s thanks in part to it being the home of the University of South Florida (USF). Tampa’s also home to the world-class Busch Gardens Theme Park, which features thrilling rides as well as African wildlife.

Check out homes for sale in Tampa and Tampa housing market trends.

2. Jacksonville

• Population: 902,488
• Median household income: $55,531
• Median home sold price: $294,148
• Median monthly rental price: $1,089
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 30.17
• Home affordability index: 0.89

The most populated city in Florida, Jacksonville, is located on the state’s Atlantic coast near Georgia. Known for its beaches, Jacksonville is also the home of the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies. Jacksonville’s deepwater port makes it a significant trade hub in the U.S. The city is also home to the University of North Florida (UNF) and the NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Check out homes for sale in Jacksonville and Jacksonville housing market trends.

3. Sarasota

• Population: 57,787
• Median household income: $56,093
• Median home sold price: $502,500
• Median monthly rental price: $1,177
• Housing cost-to-income ratio: 30.49
• Home affordability index: 0.52

Sarasota makes this list because it’s consistently rated as one of the best places to live in Florida with kids. Formerly the home of the Ringling Brothers’ Circus, Sarasota sits on the Gulf Coast between Tampa and Fort Myers. With its proximity to beaches, safe communities and year-round activities, Sarasota is easily one of the best places to live in Florida for families.

Check out homes for sale in Sarasota and Sarasota housing market trends.

The Bottom Line

Florida has many popular destinations for a reason. People are drawn to the beaches, the culture and the economic opportunity available in the state. These are some of the best places to live in Florida based on factors like crime rates, unemployment rates, well-being and more. To understand deeper how we came up with this list, dig into our methodology below.

If you’re planning to buy a house in Florida, get started online today.

Methodology: Finding The Best Places To Live In In Florida

Cities in Florida that experienced severe damage from the most recent Hurricanes Ian and Nicole were removed from the analysis, including all cities in Lee County.

Rocket Homes collected and analyzed the most recent data on twelve key local and countywide metrics to give insight into the best cities for living in Florida. We analyzed the 404 most populated cities in Florida, which have Rocket Homes listings. These cities are home to 68.9% of the state’s residents.

The metrics used in this study include:

• The violent crime rate
• Property crime rate
• Unemployment rate
• Google search volume
• Median rent
• Well-being index
• Median monthly income
• Median monthly housing costs
• Median days on market for homes
• Median home list price
• Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey interest rates

Some of these metrics were then used to calculate housing cost-to-income ratio and home affordability index. These metrics were chosen based on public data availability and topical relevance. Metrics from the U.S. Census are based on 2020 ACS 5-year estimates. In one case, county-level data was used because data is not recorded at the local level.

The housing cost-to-income ratio was calculated by taking the median monthly housing costs divided by the median monthly income to get the average percentage of income spent on housing costs in a household. The home affordability index was calculated using the median listing price for homes in that city, interest rate from Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey, and median yearly income.

To interpret the indices, a value equal to or greater than 1 means that the average person has enough income to qualify for a mortgage in that area. The calculation assumes a down payment of 20% of the home price and a qualifying ratio of 25%.

Each data category was normalized and transformed into a range of points for scoring and comparison. Cities with violent crime rates greater than or equal to 55 and property crime rates greater than or equal to 65 were removed from the ranking.

Weights were then applied to each metric depending on their individual importance in the study. The weighted scores for each metric were summed to create the overall Best Places To Live Score for each city.

The final scores are sorted to produce the final rankings. If multiple cities were ranked within the same county, only the top city or two cities were chosen to be represented in order to showcase the diversity of the state and offer readers a wider representation of the state.

Other metrics considered without weight: