Have you been thinking of moving to the Sunshine State?
Wouldn’t be a bad decision- with over 200 days of sunshine, warm temperatures, and many, many lovely beaches, Florida is a beautiful place to live.
It is one of the country’s greatest melting pots; people come in from all parts to enjoy the outdoor scene, laidback lifestyle, affordable housing with low cost of living, job opportunities, and especially, the relief from income tax. If you didn’t already know, Florida does not have any income tax!
So without further ado, let us have a look at the best places to live in Florida:
Tampa
Think of laid-back beaches, scrumptious seafood, vibrant nightlife, and days full of sunshine- that is what life in Tampa is like.
Housing here is super affordable, with the prices and rentals being just slightly above the national average. Being a Floridian city, it offers fun outdoor activities all year round, so you can go swimming, boating, diving, hiking- whatever you wish!
The schools here in Tampa are highly rated. The safe, quiet, and decorated neighborhoods make Tampa a good place for families. The crime rate is also lower than the national rate.
Tampa’s nightlife is quite exciting too! There are tons of bars, restaurants, and clubs to visit. The food scene is constantly improving, and Tampa is quickly earning a reputation for offering delightful culinary experiences.
Post-pandemic, large corporations like Raymond James have adopted a more flexible approach to work. The top internet providers in the city are Xfinity and Spectrum, with a speed of 1000 Mbps- making it a remote-work-friendly city.
All of these make Tampa one of the best places in Florida to live.
Orlando
Orlando has Disney World and Universal- that alone makes it one of the best places to live in Florida. But hey, that’s not all it has to offer.
Despite being a major metropolitan in the US, Orlando surprisingly has a low cost of living. The city has several public transportation options such as the Lynx public bus system and the Greyhound Bus, so it eliminates the need for private cars.
With theme parks like Disney and Universal, there is a constant influx of tourists in Orlando, so only move here if you are not too wary of crowds!
Although it is best known for its theme parks and public spaces, Orlando is also a hub for healthcare.
It also scores high on cultural diversity so you will get a chance to meet and work with people from different walks of life. The minimum wage here may be low, but there are plenty of jobs to go around.
The top internet providers in the city are AT&T and Spectrum, with 5000 Mbps and 1000 Mbps of speed respectively. Places like Universal studio, Universal resort, and Amway center offer free internet.
Naples
One of the wealthiest cities in the country, Naples ranks easily among the best places to live in West Florida. It also has the second-highest number of millionaires, so don’t be surprised if your neighbor turns out to be a celebrity.
Naples has it all; beautiful beaches with soft sand, gentle weather, golf courses, fine dining, countless festivals, museums, and galleries. The winters here are mild, and January is the coldest month. All of this, and the generally upscale yet peaceful lifestyle of Naples have made it a favorite among retirees. In fact, the median age of its population is 61 years (explains the golf courses!)
The crime here is very low and the job market is booming. The school system here is excellent and is run by the Collier County System. So not only is it good for retirees but also young families looking for good schooling options for kids and growth in their professional lives.
The top internet providers in the city are CenturyLink and Xfinity which offer speeds up to 940 Mbps and 2 Gbps respectively. The high internet speeds are conducive to having a productive work-from-home environment.
Ocala
Ocala in Florida is home to one of the best horse ranches and is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” There are beautiful rolling green pastures that have several rivers and lakes surrounding them- nothing short of a green paradise!
The city of Ocala also has an Ocala National Forest that has the famous Silver Springs nearby. Ocala gives easy access to air transport via the Ocala International Airport, whereas Suntan offers bus services to the city residents. The housing here is pretty affordable, and there are good neighborhoods to choose from at low rates. This has reduced the overall cost of living in this Floridian city.
Living in Florida means you need to get used to hurricanes now and then. However, the city of Ocala has never been hit by a hurricane! It may get the remnants of a strong hurricane in the form of storms and such, but there aren’t any risks of flooding.
So for the entirety of the year, you can enjoy the many outdoor activities that this city offers- horse riding, golfing, fishing, and swimming in the Silver Springs, or canvassing the Ocala National Forest- all while enjoying the Sun!
The best-rated internet providers in Ocala are Xfinity and Cox, both offer up to 1000 Mbps of speed. There are public spaces such as the Marion County Public Library that offer free Wifi to the residents.
Naturally, Ocala lies on our list of the best places to live and work in Florida.
Wrap Up
There are many great things to do and see if you are a Floridian. The cities of this state, while having their characteristic charm and being distinct from others, still hold something quite Florida-esque in themselves.
We have listed the most suitable options and you can decide for yourself what are the best places to live in Florida.
And if you do decide to move here, be prepared for life unlike any other- because, here in Florida, life’s a beach.
