Best Places to Live in Florida for Families

Florida has one of the warmest climates in the United States, though it can vary from north to south. Regarding climate classifications, South Florida has a tropical climate, and Central and North Florida have a subtropical climate.

American Flag Design house Miami Beach,Florida

Beyond the temperatures, Florida has many locations where you can live with your family. Many places have family-friendly factors, including quality education, affordable cost of living, sufficient employment opportunities, and more.

This article discusses some of the best places to live in Florida for families. So, if you are looking to move to Florida, this article will assist you in deciding where to land.

Fort Myers

Fort Myers has a high rank regarding its residents’ health, fitness, and overall well-being. If you want a place that will satisfy your family’s activity level, consider this South Florida town.

Beyond offering general comfort, the quality of education in Fort Myers is satisfactory.

The population is pretty diverse, there are outdoor recreational activities, and the commute is reasonable. But then, the cost of living, annual average salary, and the housing market could be better.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville is one of the most favorable locations in Florida based on the cost of living.

On average, people in Jacksonville only spend about a quarter of their household income on living costs. Given this fact, it is not surprising that this North Florida city is one of the most populous in the state.

The average annual salary in Jacksonville falls below the national average. But with the relatively low cost of living, this should not affect you too much.

If you are looking to buy a home in Jacksonville, you might get one at a price less than the national average.

Here are some neighborhoods to consider if you’re moving to Jacksonville:

Palm Valley (has some of the cheapest homes in Jacksonville)
Nocatee (has many outdoor recreational areas)
Fleming Island
Sawgrass
Oakleaf Plantation
Deerwood

Melbourne

Melbourne High School is one of the top schools for college readiness in the whole country. So, your teenager will have the chance to get into a good school if you move to Melbourne.

For you, your earnings may not drop too much in Melbourne because the average annual salary in Melbourne is approximately the same as the national average.

Overall, Melbourne has one of the highest average annual salaries and one of the lowest unemployment rates in Florida. So, moving here would be a seamless transition, on the whole.

We should add that the median home price in Melbourne, Florida, is less than the national average. So, it should be much easier to buy a home here.

Miami

The college readiness rating of high school students in Miami is pretty high. So, your teenager should have no problem with education quality in this South Florida city.

Beyond having a decent education, Miami has a lot of outdoor recreational activities. The city has many parks, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. Also, the average annual salary is on par with the national average.

Overall, Miami is great for you and your family. But the cost of living is pretty steep.

On average, residents spend about a third of their household income on living costs. So, take note of this if you intend to move here.

If you choose to move to Miami with your family, consider the following locations:

Pinecrest
Palmetto Bay
Brickell
Key Biscayne
Coconut Grove
Surfside

Naples

Naples is one of the best places to live in Florida with your family.

This South Florida city ticks almost every box on the family-friendly metric. So, we believe it is one option you should strongly consider.

The schools in Naples have solid rankings. You can be sure your kids will get a quality education if you move here.

Beyond that, the crime and unemployment rates in Naples are low. There are many outdoor activities, meaning you can always have fun when you want to.

Naples is excellent overall. However, the cost of living and average house prices in Naples are steep.

When it comes to the cost of living, Miami is the only Florida metro area more expensive than Naples.

Ocala

Ocala is a relatively small metro area. So, living here will give you a dense suburban feeling.

But the Central Florida town has its perks. For one, it offers some of the best healthcare in Florida.

Apart from that, commute time in Ocala is pretty decent. On average, you may only spend around 25 minutes in transit.

The median house price in Ocala is significantly lower than the national average. But then, the average annual salary in Ocala is also substantially lower than the national average. So, if you are moving here, you should keep this in mind.

Overall, Ocala is an excellent place to live with your family. The education is better than average, the cost of living is decent, and there are a decent number of outdoor activities.

Orlando

Orlando is one of the most family-friendly places to live in Florida.

Over here, you will find the Walt Disney World Resort and many parks, bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. So, you surely cannot say Orlando lacks outdoor fun.

High school students from Orlando are among the most college-ready in the U.S. The education quality is decent.

The median home price in Orlando is not far from the national average. However, most residents rent their homes.

Some Orlando neighborhoods to consider living in are:

Oviedo (high quality of education and low crime rate)
Heathrow (quiet, dense suburban area)
Delaney Park
Audubon Park
Rowena Gardens
Lake Weldona

Pensacola

Pensacola has the lowest cost of living amongst all 14 metro areas in Florida. On average, people in this Florida Panhandle city spend less than a quarter of their household income on living costs.

The average annual salary in Pensacola is substantially lower than the national average. But then, considering the low cost of living, the salary wouldn’t be a problem.

Besides, home prices in Pensacola are generally low. So, the relatively low average annual salary may not be in the way of you buying a home.

Pensacola is not as busy as many other metro areas in Florida. So, moving around should not be complicated.

Port St. Lucie

Located in Central Florida, where the climate is subtropical, Port St. Lucie has one of the lowest crime rates in Florida. Hence, its family-friendliness.

Beyond having a low crime rate, Port St. Lucie has a decent education system. The cost of living is intermediate – not too high or too low. The average annual salary falls below the national average.

However, residents typically spend just above a quarter of their household income on living costs. So, the cost of living is not harsh.

The median house price in Port St. Lucie falls below the national average. Unsurprisingly, many of the residents own their houses. The signs are positive if you intend to buy your own house.

Sarasota

While Sarasota is popular amongst retirees, it is still a great place to live with your family. The schools have solid ratings, the crime rates are low, and there’s a high homeownership rate.

Sarasota has a fair amount of outdoor recreational activities. The nightlife is good, and the weather is nice, but the cost of living could be better.

Tallahassee

The education system in Tallahassee is amongst the best in the state. Rest assured that your kids’ education will not suffer from the move.

That aside, the cost of living is pretty affordable.

The average Tallahassee household spends approximately a quarter of its annual income on living costs. Plus, the average home price is less than the national average.

The average annual salary in Tallahassee is not as high as the national average. But since living costs and home prices are relatively low, the salary should not be an issue.

The atmosphere in Tallahassee is slightly different from what you’d expect of a metro area in Florida. Still, the urban-suburban feel on offer is one to look forward to.

Tampa

Tampa is an excellent location for families with teens.

This South Florida city has one of the top high schools for college readiness. So, you wouldn’t have to worry too much about a drop in the quality of your kids’ education.

Beyond education quality, the median house price in Tampa falls slightly below the average home sales price in the U.S. So, if you are looking to get a new house, it may not cost you as much.

The unemployment rate in Tampa falls below the national average. Also, the crime rate in Tampa is lower than the national average. So, the job and safety factors are favorable.

There’s a lot of outdoor recreation in Tampa. But this makes it a popular destination for visitors. As a result, commuting sometimes takes longer than it should.

Besides having many visitors sometimes, the average annual salary in Tampa falls slightly below the national average. So, two downsides you should consider are visitor influx and average income.

If you choose to live in Tampa with your family, the following are some neighborhoods to check out: