Below is an article from Forbes magazine that made 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 2023
Florida has long been a popular destination for retirees, but in recent years, working families have been flocking to the state due to strong job opportunities, a relatively low cost of living and no state income tax, not to mention mild winters and 825 miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico on the peninsula and southern part of the state.
If you're looking for the best places to live in Florida, our guide can help you find your ideal community. We analyzed metro areas, collecting up-to-date data on key lifestyle factors, including median home prices, personal income per capita, unemployment rates, and crime rates.
Some government reports provide results by county, while others cover metropolitan areas or combinations of counties and cities. We have defined geographic boundaries for all reports that cover anything other than a general metropolitan area.
10. Pensacola
Pensacola is close to the Gulf of Mexico coastline with 50 miles of coastline and is home to a Naval Air Station and the US Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic demonstration team. Primary employment opportunities include financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and tourism.
Pensacola is the westernmost city in Florida and is several hours away from other major cities in the state, but is less than an hour away from Mobile, Alabama, and three hours away from New Orleans. Additionally, Pensacola International Airport serves over 40 destinations.
9. Tallahassee
Tallahassee is the state capital and home to Florida State University and Florida A&M University. If you're looking for a college town atmosphere, are a political enthusiast, or just want to live in an area of the Florida Panhandle that's not crowded with tourists, the city is a great choice. The nearest beach is an hour away.
The main employment sectors in this mid-sized metropolitan area are education, healthcare, and state government. The area also produces many tech jobs through the Innovation Park of Tallahassee technology incubator, making it one of the best places in Florida for young people.
8. Sarasota
If you want to live in a Central Florida beach town that is family friendly and has a sizable local workforce, consider living in Sarasota.
If you need to visit a bigger city, the vibrant Tampa metropolitan area is just 60 miles north. For a quick comparison, the Sarasota metropolitan area has a population of about 750,000, while the Tampa metropolitan area has a population of almost 3 million.
Job opportunities in Sarasota include healthcare, manufacturing, and insurance. Residents enjoy visiting Siesta Beach and Lido Key. Sarasota is also the center of Florida's cultural coast, home to two museums, as well as ballet and opera performances.
7. Melbourne
Melbourne is part of Florida's “Space Coast,” which attracts many tourists to enjoy rocket launches and beach vacations year-round. Full-time residents can find comfortable paying employment opportunities in the aerospace and manufacturing industries.
The Palm Bay-Melbourne metropolitan area is located on the Atlantic coast, has easy access to beaches and boasts a cultural highlight: the Eau Gallie Arts District.
Geographically, it is located halfway between Jacksonville and Miami, and about an hour from Orlando.
6. Greater Miami Area
Miami is Florida's most vibrant city, with gorgeous beaches, colorful architecture, exciting nightlife and a strong Caribbean and Latin American influence. The city is also famous for its art and fashion exhibitions.
Miami is the largest metropolitan area in Florida with over 6 million residents, so there are plenty of job opportunities. Top employment sectors include aviation, finance, international trade, healthcare, and tourism.
With its high cost of living, relatively high crime rate and tropical monsoon climate, the Miami metropolitan area isn't for everyone, but first-time home buyer programs in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Florida, can help newcomers afford high housing costs.
5. Orlando
Orlando is Central Florida's most well-known city, thanks to major tourist attractions like Disney and Universal Studios. But Orlando is more than just a tourist or business meeting destination. Biotechnology, information technology, and healthcare are also fast-growing fields in Orlando, making it one of the best places in Florida for young people.
Locals can also enjoy many cultural and performing arts events, and the big city is just an hour away from beach cities on the Atlantic coast, such as Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach, making it a great place to relax.
4. Cape Coral
Part of the Fort Myers metropolitan area, Cape Coral is popular for its location on the Gulf of Mexico and low crime rate, where locals enjoy exploring freshwater lakes and canals or relaxing on sandy saltwater beaches.
Cape Coral's target industries are biotechnology, marine and medical. There are also several companies operating call centers and back office operations in the area.
3. Jacksonville
Jacksonville holds the honor of being the largest city in Florida by area, but with a metropolitan area smaller in population than Miami or Tampa, you can enjoy big city convenience, live on the Atlantic Ocean, and enjoy a relatively affordable cost of living.
Banking, healthcare, and transportation are the top employment opportunities in the seven-county metro area. The city is home to one of three Mayo Clinics in the country and also offers access to many of Florida's best banks.
2. Gainesville
Gainesville's low cost of living, relatively small population and low crime rate make it a great place for families. The city is also home to the University of Florida, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Kika Silva Planetarium.
There are also several state parks, hiking trails, and bike paths to explore, and if you're looking for more adventure, Jacksonville and Orlando are each about 90 minutes away, offering beaches, theme parks, and big city amenities.
1. Tampa
Tampa attracts an influx of employers from a variety of industries, from advanced manufacturing to financial services to life sciences, with tourism and MacDill Air Force Base also playing key roles.
Tampa has everything you need for daily life, yet Orlando is only a two-hour drive away and Miami is only four hours away.
Our Methodology
We compared Florida's metropolitan areas using data from several platforms to measure a variety of criteria, including home affordability, employment, and community happiness.
The metropolitan areas we selected are spread across the state and can be great places to live for young professionals, families, and retirees relocating to Florida.
Our ratings take into account a 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 factor in.
The comparison criteria and corresponding sources are as follows: