This article, the fifth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Florida based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, “places” are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.
Among the twenty best places to live in Florida, most are suburbs or exurbs of either Miami, Orlando, or Tampa. By county, three of the best places to live in Florida are located in Miami-Dade County, three in Palm Beach County, two each in Brevard, Broward, and Collier Counties, and one each in Indian Rivers, Lee, Manatee/Sarasota, Martin, Orange, Santa Rosa, Seminole, and Pinellas Counties.
After reading “Best Places to Live in Florida (2012),” return to this link to read “Largest Cities in Florida (2012).” A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read “Best Places to Live in America (2012).”
This article may be updated as new data becomes available.
1. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Indian River Shores, FL (Indian Rivers County)
Population: 3,460
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $122,510
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.66
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 211 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 146 miles S
Orlando, FL: 106 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 360 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 145 miles WNW
2. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Pinecrest, FL (Miami-Dade County)
Population: 19,223
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $110,846
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 67.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.09
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 356 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 13 miles NNE
Orlando, FL: 245 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 487 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 263 miles NW
3. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Key Biscayne, FL (Miami-Dade County)
Population: 10,092
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $79,811
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.45
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 352 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 11 miles NNW
Orlando, FL: 241 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 488 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 288 miles NW
4. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Sewall’s Point, FL (Martin County)
Population: 2,014
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,056
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 58.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.99
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 252 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 109 miles S
Orlando, FL: 141 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 387 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 173 miles WNW
5. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Windermere, FL (Orange County)
Population: 2,658
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $103,616
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 57.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.39
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 155 miles N
Miami, FL: 235 miles SSE
Orlando, FL: 12 miles NE
Tallahassee, FL: 245 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 82 miles SW
6. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Longboat Key, FL (Manatee and Sarasota County)
Population: 7,326
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,410
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.89
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 249 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 241 miles SE
Orlando, FL: 131 miles NE
Tallahassee, FL: 295 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 61 miles NNE
7. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Palm Beach, FL (Palm Beach County)
Population: 9,644
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $94,327
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.79
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 285 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 71 miles S
Orlando, FL: 171 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 417 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 203 miles NW
8. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Sanibel, FL (Lee County)
Population: 5,726
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,647
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 60.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.38
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 316 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 161 miles ESE
Orlando, FL: 175 miles NNE
Tallahassee, FL: 386 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 147 miles NNW
9. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Parkland, FL (Broward County)
Population: 23,944
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,570
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.38
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 313 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 46 miles S
Orlando, FL: 202 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 449 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 234 miles NW
10. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Weston, FL (Broward County)
Population: 63,651
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $79,528
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 57.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.66
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 336 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 32 miles SSE
Orlando, FL: 205 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 452 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 227 miles NW
11. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Melbourne Beach, FL (Brevard County)
Population: 3,175
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,176
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 54.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.32
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 182 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 177 miles S
Orlando, FL: 76 miles NW
Tallahassee, FL: 330 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 134 miles W
12. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Highland Beach, FL (Palm Beach County)
Population: 4,014
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $72,479
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 48.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.26
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 307 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 49 miles SSW
Orlando, FL: 193 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 440 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 225 miles NW
13. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Atlantis, FL (Palm Beach County)
Population: 2,083
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $76,011
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.45
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 292 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 63 miles SSW
Orlando, FL: 180 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 426 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 212 miles NW
14. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Oviedo, FL (Seminole County)
Population: 32,033
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,951
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 37.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.33
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 131 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 233 miles SSE
Orlando, FL: 18 miles SW
Tallahassee, FL: 274 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 103 miles SW
15. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Indialantic, FL (Brevard County)
Population: 2,956
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $76,758
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 51.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.85
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 180 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 176 miles S
Orlando, FL: 72 miles NW
Tallahassee, FL: 327 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 133 miles W
16. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Gulf Breeze, FL (Santa Rosa County)
Population: 6,493
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $77,417
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.54
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 360 miles E
Miami, FL: 676 miles SE
Orlando, FL: 453 miles SE
Tallahassee, FL: 197 miles E
Tampa, FL: 451 miles SE
17. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Naples, FL (Collier County)
Population: 22,023
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,155
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.98
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 331 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 117 miles ESE
Orlando, FL: 191 miles NNE
Tallahassee, FL: 407 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 162 miles NNW
18. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Coral Gables, FL (Miami-Dade County)
Population: 43,821
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,283
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 13.14
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 351 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 7 miles NNE
Orlando, FL: 240 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 486 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 270 miles NNW
19. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Belleair, FL (Pinellas County)
Population: 4,097
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $75,425
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 43.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.89
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 220 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 268 miles SE
Orlando, FL: 108 miles NE
Tallahassee, FL: 241 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 24 miles E
20. Best Places to Live in Florida (2012) – Marco Island, FL (Collier County)
Population: 15,713
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $64,615
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 37.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.46
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 345 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 103 miles ESE
Orlando, FL: 204 miles NNE
Tallahassee, FL: 420 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 180 miles NNW
*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from county or contiguous municipality data.
Source(s):
“All Cities in Florida,” City-Data.com
“American Community Survey,” U.S. Census Bureau
“American Fact Finder,” U.S. Census Bureau
Uniform Crime Reports – Florida,” Federal Bureau of Investigation
“Crime Reports 2010,” Village of Pinecrest, Florida
