The Top 10 Safest Cities In Florida In 2023

Many people are moving to Florida and with good reason. No longer is the state primarily a magnet for retirees (though it is that, too). Young and old have been moving to Florida in droves in recent years. There’s the sunshine, the fact that there’s no state income tax and that it’s more affordable than many coastal states.  Along with that, many places in Florida are safe to live. If you’re looking into buying a house in Florida, check out this list of the 10 safest cities.

Is Florida A Safe Place To Live?

Living in the Sunshine State comes with many perks. One of those is that there’s relatively low crime. Statewide, its crime rates track just below the national average. Still, there are some places with higher rates of crime and others with lower rates. When deciding where to live, an important factor to research is neighborhood safety. That’s where our list comes in.

10 Safest Places To Live In Florida

When buying a house in Florida, you may prioritize living somewhere with low crime rates. What follows is our list of the 10 safest places to live in Florida, along with the methodology explaining how we ranked them.

1. Marco Island, FL

• Population: 17,963
• Violent crime rate: 7.4
• Property crime rate: 16
• Unemployment rate: 40%
• Well-being index: 64

South of Naples and straight west of Miami sits Marco Island. This barrier island in southwest Florida is a popular vacation spot, with plentiful beaches, waterways and resorts. With a low property and violent crime rate, it’s the safest city in Florida. If you’re looking to buy a home in a safe, oceanside city with plenty of recreation, and have the ability to fund it, Marco Island is a great choice.

Check out homes for sale in Marco Island and Marco Island housing market trends.

2. Venice, FL

• Population: 23,572
• Violent crime rate:  9.4
• Property crime rate: 27.6
• Unemployment rate: 30%
• Well-being index: 62

South of Tampa and north of Fort Myers, Venice is a great community on the Gulf of Mexico. Known for its waterways (hence the name), Venice is also one of Florida’s safest cities. Venice has earned the name “The Shark Tooth Capital of the World” due to the many teeth that wash up on its beach. So, whether you’re looking to comb the beach or just take in some South Florida sun in a safe environment, Venice is a great choice.

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

3. Palm Beach, FL

• Population: 8,776
• Violent crime rate: 8.4
• Property crime rate: 25.4
• Unemployment rate: 10%
• Well-being index: 64

On the Atlantic Ocean side, Palm Beach comes in as the third safest city in Florida. Located on the barrier island, off the mainland, Palm Beach is known for high-end estates, with multiple billionaires living in the city. Two former U.S. Presidents – John F. Kennedy and Donald J. Trump – have called the city home. If you want to be in this prestigious company, Palm Beach is the place for you.

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

4. Longboat Key, FL

• Population: 7,299
• Violent crime rate: 5.9
• Property crime rate: 15.5
• Unemployment rate: 60%
• Well-being index: 59

Longboat Key is a town located on a barrier island of the same name. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, south of St. Petersburg, Longboat Key is very safe. It ranks #1 for the lowest violent crime rate, #2 for the lowest property crime rate and #1 for the lowest unemployment rate. That truly makes it one of the safest places in Florida.

Check out homes for sale in Longboat Key and Longboat Key housing market trends.

5. Naples, FL

• Population: 21,750
• Violent crime rate: 9
• Property crime rate: 34.3
• Unemployment rate: 90%
• Well-being index: 64

After Venice, Naples is the second city on this list named after an Italian city. Located south of Fort Myers, Naples sits on the Gulf of Mexico and has a low violent crime rate. If you’re into beaches, luxury shopping and golf, Naples is for you. In fact, it’s the self-proclaimed Golf Capital of the World, with 91 18-hole golf courses.

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

6. West Miami, FL

• Population: 8,152
• Violent crime rate: 12
• Property crime rate: 24.5
• Unemployment rate: 30%
• Well-being index: 64

Located six miles west of downtown Miami, West Miami, Florida, is one of the safest cities in Florida. It’s also the first city on this list that doesn’t border the ocean. It has both low violent crime and low property crime and is more affordable than many of the other areas near Miami. If you want to be close to the bustle of Miami, but want to live in a single-family home, West Miami is a great option.

Check out homes for sale in West Miami and West Miami housing market trends.

7. Weston, FL

• Population: 70,965
• Violent crime rate: 9
• Property crime rate: 15.4
• Unemployment rate: 30%
• Well-being index: 65

Weston ranks #1 in Florida for lowest property crime rate and #7 on our list. The city is straight west of Fort Lauderdale, bordering the Everglades. Like many Florida cities, Weston emphasizes recreation with bike paths, 15 different parks, country clubs and Florida’s largest soccer club, Weston FC. If you’re looking for a safe South Florida home that’s further inland, start shopping in Weston.

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

8. Lighthouse Point, FL

• Population: 11,238
• Violent crime rate: 8.9
• Property crime rate: 31.1
• Unemployment rate: 2%
• Well-being index: 65

A suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point has a very low unemployment rate and one of the lowest violent crime rates in the state. Through the Hillsboro Inlet, boats have access to Lighthouse Point and other cities via the Intercoastal Waterway. Heading out into the Atlantic, Lighthouse Point is less than 100 miles west of Grand Bahama. Lighthouse Point is currently a buyer’s market with prices dropping, so now may be a good time to buy.

Check out homes for sale in Lighthouse Point and Lighthouse Point housing market trends.

9. Key Biscayne, FL

• Population: 12,867
• Violent crime rate: 7.8
• Property crime rate: 24.8
• Unemployment rate: 70%
• Well-being index: 64

Just off the coast from Miami, Key Biscayne is a small village of around 13,000 people with a low crime rate. Because of its location on the Atlantic Ocean, all of Key Biscayne is the first zone to face mandatory evacuations in case of a hurricane. Still, with several high-end hotels and condominium complexes, many people flock to the area. If you’re in search of sand and tropical vibes, Key Biscayne could be right for you.

Check out homes for sale in Key Biscayne and Key Biscayne housing market trends.

10. Miami Lakes, FL

• Population: 31,021
• Violent crime rate: 7.6
• Property crime rate: 31.2
• Unemployment rate: 60%
• Well-being index: 64

This Miami suburb sits to the northwest of the city. With its low crime rates and ease of access to the big city, there’s a lot to love. It has a town motto of “growing beautifully” and its charm can be seen in its tropical feel and Spanish-style homes.

Check out homes for sale in Miami Lakes and Miami Lakes housing market trends.

3 More Safe Cities To Live In Florida

There are many safe places to live in Florida. What’s best for you depends on your lifestyle, finances and other needs. Many of the best places to live in Florida didn’t make this list and there are other popular choices we haven’t covered. Here are three of those.

1. Satellite Beach, FL

• Population: 11,000
• Violent crime rate: 9.9
• Property crime rate: 21.1
• Unemployment rate: 50%
• Well-being index: 56

Satellite beach is a coastal city on a barrier island south of Cape Canaveral. The closest big city is Orlando, which is about an hour’s drive to the northwest. The city has several canals that connect properties to the Indian River. From there, boaters can travel the Indian River up and down Florida’s coast. If you want a coastal property that isn’t in South Florida, Satellite Beach is a great, safe place to look.

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

2. Cape Coral, FL

• Population: 189,633
• Violent crime rate: 10.7
• Property crime rate: 28.4
• Unemployment rate: 30%
• Well-being index: 56

Neighboring Fort Myers, Cape Coral is the largest city on this list. With low violent and property crime, it’s the perfect spot for someone looking for a safe, larger city on the Gulf of Mexico. In September 2022, Cape Coral was slammed by Hurricane Ian – 140 mph wind gusts damaged almost all the homes and businesses. Now, with the debris cleaned up, it’s set on rebuilding. New homes are coming on the market consistently.

Check out homes for sale in Cape Coral and Cape Coral housing market trends.

3. Oviedo, FL

• Population: 41,062
• Violent crime rate: 15.4
• Property crime rate: 21.3
• Unemployment rate: 20%
• Well-being index: 61

Oviedo is a suburb of Orlando, located to the northeast of the big city. It’s seen a large increase in population in recent years due to growth in the area, leading to new housing developments. Sandwiched between the city, Lake Jesup and wilderness and state forest areas, its location is perfect for those who want a little of everything. Plus, the ocean is only an hour’s drive away.

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

What Part Of Florida Is Safest From Hurricanes?

While almost all of Florida has the potential to be impacted by a hurricane, some parts are safer than others. In general, the further north you are and the more centrally located you are, the less damage you’ll experience. Cities like Orlando, Kissimmee and Gainesville are far enough inland that they’re less likely to see flood and wind damage. Still, no matter where you are in Florida, it’s good to have appropriate insurance and a plan in case a hurricane hits.

The Bottom Line

Florida is a state with a lot of options. You’ve got booming coastal cities, islands with elite country clubs and quaint small towns. Many of these places are safe. Our analysis of the data shows that Marco Island takes the top spot, but where you live often isn’t determined by data. Wherever you want to move to in Florida, it pays to do your research, including researching mortgages. If you’re planning to buy a house in the Sunshine State to get started online today.

Methodology: Finding The Safest Cities To Live In Florida

Rocket Homes^SM collected and analyzed the most recent data on four key local and countywide metrics to give us insight into the top cities best for living. 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 and well-being index. In one case, county-level data was used because data is not recorded at the local level.

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.