Florida Best Places To Live
What is a best place to live? I would define it as the place that gives you the best combination of these factors: economy, housing affordability, job market, taxes and any other advantages – like great weather conditions. You’ve watched the sunrise every morning and felt the golden afternoon rays warm your face after a long day at work. You’re a dreamer, and people have noticed. In the next week you’ll be getting offers from job recruiters, and friends will be asking if you’re leaving town soon. Well don’t pack your bags just yet.
Real estate brokers spend most of their time searching for properties and areas to place their clients. As Florida real estate brokers, our role is to provide information to home buyers, sellers and investors. Florida is a fantastic place to live if you know where to go.
Are the endless warm-weather days, paradise beaches and zero state income taxes of Florida calling your name?
Whether you’re moving the whole family, scoping out a new young-professionals scene, or looking for your dream retirement destination—we’ll help you narrow down the best places to live in Florida.
Florida Best Places To Live
Let’s dive in!
14 Best Places to Live in Florida
First, let’s admit all “best places” lists are subjective. Still, they can inspire you with ideas on where to live. With that said, let’s dig into some of the most popular places in Florida so you can compare their stats and features to see if any stand out to you.1
1. Naples
Nestled in the southwest corner of Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico, Naples holds the top spot for places to live in Florida. Naples is known for its paradise weather, gentle waters and “sugar” sand beaches. There’s plenty to do there like fine dining, boutique shopping—and dolphin viewing!
| Metro Area Population* | 371,453 |
| Average Salary | $47,980 |
| Median Home Price | $345,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,3172 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 39”3 |
2. Sarasota
Also lapping up the Gulf Coast shores, just below Tampa, is Sarasota—home to some of America’s best beaches, like Siesta Key Beach. The water is clear and warm and the sand is so soft and white you’ll feel like you’re sinking your toes into powdered sugar (just don’t sprinkle any on your French toast).
| Metro Area Population | 803,709 |
| Average Salary | $46,040 |
| Median Home Price | $387,630 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 53”4 |
3. Melbourne
Okay, now let’s hang out on the east side of Florida. With a front-row view of the Atlantic Ocean, Melbourne is part of Florida’s Space Coast thanks to its close proximity to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. This is where every crewed spaceflight by NASA has been launched. It’s also where Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been flying astronauts and cargo into space.
| Metro Area Population | 585,507 |
| Average Salary | $51,180 |
| Median Home Price | $217,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,068 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 52”5 |
4. Jacksonville
Now let’s travel up to the northeastern corner of Florida, just south of the Georgia state line. That’s where you’ll find Jacksonville—the largest city in the U.S. by land area (outside of Alaska). Several bridges make it convenient to travel between the vibrant downtown area and Jacksonville’s gorgeous beaches. Plus, Jacksonville gives you a front-row seat to cheer on the Jaguars NFL team among other sports teams.
| Metro Area Population | 1,503,574 |
| Average Salary | $48,270 |
| Median Home Price | $303,789 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 49″6 |
5. Pensacola
If you head to the westernmost point on Florida’s panhandle, you’ll find Pensacola. Known as the “City of Five Flags,” Pensacola has a long history of other governments laying claim to the area (Spanish, French, British, Confederate, U.S.). This is another beautiful city with that sugar-white sand. There you’ll find emerald-green waves from the Gulf gently splashing along the shoreline. The area also offers plenty of boat ramps to launch you into a deep-sea fishing adventure.
| Metro Area Population | 488,246 |
| Average Salary | $43,920 |
| Median Home Price | $200,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,0157 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 58”8 |
6. Tampa
With Tampa, you get the best of both worlds—one world, of course, referring to Disney World, which is only a short trip away. And the other world meaning the laid-back beach lifestyle of the Tampa Bay area—which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. Tampa also has its own popular African-themed animal amusement park, Busch Gardens. Tampa’s schools are good and the city is full of diverse culture—including a thriving Hispanic community. The metro area is also home to a number of professional sports teams.
| Metro Area Population | 3,097,859 |
| Average Salary | $49,590 |
| Median Home Price | $301,963 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,115 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 46”9 |
7. Fort Myers
If you follow Florida’s southwestern river of Caloosahatchee, you’ll spot Fort Myers. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford put Fort Myers on the map when they chose to build their winter homes there. The famous sight of Edison’s royal palm trees along McGregor Boulevard earned Fort Myers the nickname “City of Palms.” As you travel past the gateway of Fort Myers and head closer toward the Gulf, you’ll come across a series of islands—including the shelling beach of Sanibel.
| Metro Area Population | 737,468 |
| Average Salary | $45,300 |
| Median Home Price | $277,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 53”10 |
8. Port St. Lucie
On the Atlantic coast of southern Florida, Port St. Lucie sits between Orlando and Miami. Home of the spring training grounds for the New York Mets of the MLB, Port St. Lucie offers year-round perfect weather. Along with all the water activities like boating, fishing and paddling near manatees, you can work on your swing at the PGA Golf Club. And, hey, why leave the golfing lifestyle at the green? Keep your golf cart rolling to one of the many grocery stores in Port St. Lucie that provide golf cart parking.
| Metro Area Population | 472,012 |
| Average Salary | $45,630 |
| Median Home Price | $233,133 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,16211 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 40”12 |
9. Ocala
Ocala is one of the Sunshine State’s inland cities. It offers a small-town feel and is surrounded by rolling hills and green pastures. It rivals Lexington for the title of “Horse Capital of the World” with its deep roots in horseback riding and annual Kentucky Derby racehorse training.
| Metro Area Population | 353,526 |
| Average Salary | $39,640 |
| Median Home Price | $168,850 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $89613 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 42”14 |
10. Orlando
Home of Mickey Mouse and Hogwarts, Orlando is one of the top family vacation destinations of the world. But what is it like to live in Orlando as a resident? First, don’t move here unless you’re okay living with a constant flux of tourists. Orlando is a great central location for anywhere you’d like to visit in Florida. But there are also plenty of activities to enjoy in the area itself (besides just the theme parks)—including plenty of sports teams to follow.
| Metro Area Population | 2,508,970 |
| Average Salary | $46,140 |
| Median Home Price | $338,974 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,210 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 51”15 |
11. Daytona Beach
Although probably known best for the Daytona International Speedway, which hosts NASCAR’s famous Daytona 500, Daytona offers plenty of other things to do. For example, there’s fishing, golfing, and visiting museums and performing arts centers. Plus, trips to the beach are especially convenient because you’re still allowed to drive on the actual beach in certain areas.
| Metro Area Population | 646,288 |
| Average Salary | $40,930 |
| Median Home Price | $278,897 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,076 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 50”16 |
12. Tallahassee
Even though it’s the state capital, you might say Tallahassee feels like the least Floridian city in all of Florida. For one thing, it enjoys four different seasons as a result of its unique position on the panhandle. Tally (as some locals call it) feels more like a little slice of southern heaven. It has gently rolling hills of red clay soil and is surrounded by natural springs and underwater caves. You’ll have plenty of fun activities to do since Tally offers a college-town vibe thanks to its surrounding universities.
| Metro Area Population | 382,197 |
| Average Salary | $46,500 |
| Median Home Price | $190,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $99117 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 47”18 |
13. Lakeland
Our next city is a land of lakes! (No, not the butter.) Lakeland is home to nearly 40 beautiful lakes, so you’ll have plenty of options to enjoy Florida’s weather on the water. It’s also close to popular cities like Tampa and Orlando. That’s right! Disney World and Universal Studios are less than an hour’s drive away! There’s also plenty to do right inside Lakeland with its nature park and one of Florida’s top-ranked art museums—the Polk Museum of Art.
| Metro Area Population | 686,218 |
| Average Salary | $43,150 |
| Median Home Price | $237,710 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $978 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 52”19 |
14. Miami
Miami is the third most populated metro area on the East Coast. While it may be on the pricier side than most Florida cities, it also has beautiful suburbs like Doral, Coral Gables and Key Biscayne. Seated on the southern tip of Florida, this tropical city offers year-round perfect weather so you can enjoy outdoor shopping sites and pro teams from every major sport. And don’t forget to check out the dancing scene at Little Havana for live Latin music.
| Metro Area Population | 6,090,660 |
| Average Salary | $50,060 |
| Median Home Price | $247,112 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,363 |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 62”20 |