Question

Floridians.  Can you tell me where you live and what you like about it?Floridians. Can you tell me where you live and what you like about it? My husband wants to move to the Gulf Coast in a few years. He’s got family in Naples (we know Naples is expensive). We also have very close friends who live near Orlando, but my husband doesn’t want to be so centrally located. Ideally, we’d like to be near the water. We’ve lived in the desert for about 30 years. Thank you!  

Answer 1

Lived in Florida (Bradenton, just north of Sarasota), for the past 14 years. I don’t really like it honestly. The beaches are impossible to enjoy in “season” due to the influx of tourists and snowbirds. And when they leave it’s unbearably hot and you bake. The traffic and drivers are atrocious and the cost of a home on a minuscule piece of property is outrageous. My husband and I are looking to get to a more moderate climate, like the Carolinas. Figured I’d give you a more realistic opinion of my experience. While we have the most beautiful beaches, I haven’t been in probably at least 2-3 years.  

Comments

@tippett we live in the desert now where it can get to 115°, and we don’t have any beaches. I know humidity makes a different kind of heat entirely but I’m not sure I would mind so much if I could go to Gulf frequently

---

@welles Definitely a different kind of heat. But hey, you’re welcome to move here. I’ve lived about 15 miles from the beach for over a decade and always have to fight traffic, for parking, for space on the sand because we have to share it with people that don’t even live here. The beach is a great place to vacation to where you can be as inconsiderate as you want to the locals, but as a local, living here year round, it’s not all you’d imagine in a “paradise. ”

---

@tippett Yea, nothing stays perfect. I’m not entirely sure how much I’ll like Florida, but my husband wants to live near the water. We’ve been there a lot during the “off season” and I think that’s my favorite time. Thanks for your input

---

@tippett I live in Parrish which is a little outside of Bradenton. When I moved here, I liked that the houses were cheap and it was a little like the country side. More people are moving out here now and more housing developments are popping up. It’s not expensive for northerners (which I am one), but not cheap for people who have lived here for a while. I have coworkers who moved here from California and they said that while COL is cheaper, pay is also a lot less so it doesn’t even out. I’m not a fan of Florida and it was never my intention to live here this long. I’m a single person with no kids and I feel like there’s nothing here for me. That being said, my siblings do live here and I love the opportunities that are available for my nieces and nephews. They’re in all sorts of activities. Dance, music, sports. They just built a new elementary school and high school in our neighborhood. My nieces and nephews love it. I think it’s a nice place to raise a family. Oh I’ve been to the beach a total of 3 times in the entire decade that I’ve been down here.  

---

@basion I’m in Silverleaf in Parrish! Totally agree with you. When people from CA or NY move here it’s like a savings. Well the cities at least. I’m from upstate NY and that’s a completely different world from the city. Cost of living up there is a joke it’s so cheap. Lol. But yeah, my husband and I have no kids and we like seasons so as soon as a good opportunity presents itself, we’re out!  

Answer 2

Check out Mount Dora, FL. I have lived here 11 years and love it. Close to water to go boating and quaint little downtown. Only about 35 mins to Orlando.  

Comments

@hobgoblin Mount Dora is amazing!  

---

@hobgoblin my parents retired to eustis and our favorite part of visiting is mt dora! I we ever decide to leave Boston that’s where we are heading for sure!  

Answer 3

I've lived in Jacksonville for the past 10 years and love it!  

Comments

JAX here too! Lived here my whole life!  

---

Ive lived here in Jax for 20 year now. You have to pick and choose which area to live in. Keep in mind we have a high crime rate. St John's and clay county are the better options, especially for school.  

---

@jalousie yes! A lot of Duval is going downhill unfortunately  

---

@stylistic8433 my fiance is a cop and it's definitely already downhill. We hardly hear of what really goes on crime wise

Answer 4

Navarre, FL - it’s really nice here tons of beach access and national parks and things to do between Destin, pcb and pensacola

Answer 5

We live just outside of Orlando and love that the beach is an hour away either way, but especially love we have Springs all around us.  

Answer 6

Following as we plan on moving to Florida in 5 years!  

Answer 7

I live in Sanford (north orlando) and like the area but I do miss the convenience of the beach. I was born and raised until 30 in Clearwater. We are still about 45 min away so not horrible and I love my community.  

Answer 8

We lived in the Keys for 7 years and have now been in New Smyrna for 5 years. We LOVE it here. We live across the street from the beach. It can be expensive but there are a lot of options on and off beachside.  

Answer 9

Ormond beach Florida, 4 acres, 10min to business, 20min to beach, 1hr to Disney. Love it.  

Answer 10

I live in Estero! Fort myers is better priced than Naples and still super close to the area. Cape Coral is nice too!  

Answer 11

St. Pete/St. Pete Beach. Tampa Bay Area. I grew up here and still live and work here. I absolutely love it!  

Comments

@sodden What do you think of the Wesley Chapel area? I’m trying to find family friendly areas around Tampa that’s affordable. I have two sons under 2.  

---

@colley75470 that is a nice area. Casselberry is nice too. I am more of a beachy person. Lol.  

---

@sodden Whats the area like? I’m from out of state so I have no idea lol. I’m just trying to find family friendly areas that have big stores (Target, Publix, Alf, Walmart, etc) close by

---

@colley75470 they have all of that. Nearish to Orlando. Lots of trees  

---

@colley75470 I live & teach in Wesley Chapel and love it!  

---

@kittiekittiwake5948 Diane That’s awesome! Can I pm you and talk to you about the area?  

---

@colley75470 of course!  

Answer 12

Bradenton, fl is nice. 20 minutes to Sarasota

Answer 13

I live in the panhandle in a small town named Niceville. I like it here because we are close to the beach etc. without the insane traffic in town. We are moving away though as my husband has a better job opportunity in South Carolina. I feel like it really depends on what your job is because jobs here do not pay a whole lot except during in season and traffic is ridiculous so sometimes you can be stuck in traffic for 1-2 hours just to go to work

Comments

@thanasi8862 @quadrant10638 Halsey so glad you mentioned the low pay. We lived there for a year while my husband was stationed at Eglin for training. We LOVED the area, it was so beautiful, we went to the beach every weekend & soaked up every bit of living there. That said, we were not prepared for how low the pay would be. We had to go from being a 2 income family to 1 at that time, because by the time we’d pay for childcare my entire check would be gone. The toll bridges do add up too. It’s a beautiful place & we’re so grateful for the opportunity we had to live there. But you definitely have to budget to make it work!  

---

@quadrant10638 exactly! My cousin moved down here from NY and with a CDL he was still only making $15/hour which is not a lot here at all. You can barely afford housing with a $15/hour job. My husband and I had to alternate shifts before he took the job in South Carolina just to survive so we didn’t have to pay for daycare and that is WITH a roommate!  

Answer 14

How about St Petersburg? Thats where we live and we love it. And is kinda in between Naples and Orlando

Answer 15

I used to live in Pensacola and loved it. Cost of living is pretty good. Beautiful beaches, great downtown area.  

Answer 16

I live in west palm beach area. It’s super congested and pricey. My parents have a condo near port Charlotte and I much prefer it over there than West Palm. It’s relatively cheaper and less congested which is nice. I can also find restaurants and fast foods from where I grew up (Indiana) like Culver’s and Bob Evans  

Answer 17

I’ve lived in Vero beach, FL my entire life. Rent is kind of expensive but it is an amazing place to raise a family. It has a hometown feel, even though it’s grown like crazy. 10 minutes from the beach if you live west the bridge(east of the bridge is in the millions for home buying ) but only 1. 5 hours from Orlando and west palm.  

Comments

@hoppe60 I grew up in Vero  VBHS class of 1995. Vero is a great place to live. Truly has the best of all that Florida offers. I miss it a lot ❤️

Answer 18

My family is from Jacksonville and my husband and I lived there for a few years. We loved Jax!  

Answer 19

We moved about 20 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale. Nice suburban area but still close to the beach and fun. Humidity and heat is something to get used to (originally from CA) but there are ways to acclimate and tolerate.  

Answer 20

Largo, Florida near Tampa

Answer 21

I live in east Orlando we are only about 40 mins from the beach. It also doesn’t feel like we live in a bigger city. Our house was reasonable. Good luck!  

Answer 22

My family lives in Venice on the gulf coast.  

Answer 23

Pensacola is SUCH a great place to live!  

Comments

@frilling Caughey Derrick that's where we're moving to in the next year or so

---

@lawanda193 Perez You’re going to love it! There is so much to do every weekend downtown or on the beach!  

---

@frilling Caughey Derrick we're so excited, my kid's can't wait

---

@lawanda193 Perez YES! I loved growing up here and so do my kids!  

---

@frilling Caughey Derrick I'm thinking about just buying instead of renting. My only concern is my husband finding a job.  

---

@lawanda193 Perez Right now I think it would be hard to find a job, but probably pretty easy once Coronavirus is over depending on his field.  

---

@frilling Caughey Derrick he's done construction but isn't like experience.  

---

@lawanda193 Perez Is that’s what he wants, there is a lot of construction opportunities!  

---

@frilling Caughey Derrick yea because where we live now he's a foreman for a poultry farm.  

Answer 24

I lived with my in-laws in New Port Richey and worked in Tarpon Springs. NPR was pretty affordable, lots of old people though lol

Comments

@platy456 I have a home in NPR. We live in Western PA but we’re snowbirds for the first time this winter. It was my Aunt/Uncles home for 45 years. I love it there - my husband is old  70 but I’m only 56. I think all of Florida is mostly old people -.  

---

We lived with my in-laws in their retirement community! My husband is 29 & I’m 24- so we felt a little out of place  but it’s a beautiful area!  

---

@platy456 I LOVE Tarpon Springs. We live in Ky but my fiancé’s family is in Inverness. They always go to Tarpon and send me things. We are hopefully looking to move down there relatively soon. Probably outside of Tampa.  

Answer 25

I live on the treasure coast just south of Melbourne, Fl. I’ve lived here my entire life and I’m a 5th generation. Rent is expensive but the beach is 8 minutes from my house. I’m an hour and half from Orlando and 45 minutes from Port St. Lucie.  

Answer 26

Tampa Bay Area. Love it. Close to great beaches, lots to do, affordable.  

Answer 27

I live on the east coast of central Florida near Cocoa Beach. Tons to do outside and lots of tech/aerospace industry jobs. Orlando only about an hour drive.  

Answer 28

New Port Richey! We love it there - easy to get around and lots of nice Parks. Everything is really close by that you need.  

Answer 29

Cocoa beach area! Unless you live right in the water- either beach side or river side things are definitely affordable. We are 40ish minutes from Disney.  

Answer 30

My MIL is in Crystal River. Absolutely beautiful low key town. Manatees. Crystal clear water. Kayaking. Boating. Snorkeling. But the tourist do flock there different times of the year.  

Answer 31

I live in Apopka, near Orlando. I can be at either coast within 90 min. On thing to think about with being near a coast in Florida is weather. They get hit the worst with hurricanes and pay higher insurance, and more frequently have the potential for flooding and evacuations. And it’s beastly hot most of the time!  

Answer 32

I’m on the west side of Orlando. It’s nice out here and not too far to the water.  

Answer 33

We’ve got family in Sarasota and we love the area! They’ve been happy with the schools and cost of living.  

Answer 34

I live in Bonita Springs just on the line of Naples and Bonita. It is quite pricey. But depending on what you’re looking for house-wise. The further inland you go the better but you’re still close to the beaches. The further north you go - Bonita, Estero, and Fort Myers the more sense it makes financially. But only you know your situation there. What I like about it? Everything! We have lived here for 8+ years. We are both from Pennsylvania originally and don’t plan on moving back. It takes us 10 minutes to go the beach to relax, fish, whatever. Being outside all the time is nice. The summers are brutally hot but you get used to it. Dislikes? The population in Naples/Bonita is older. Find a good community where there are families for the kids if you have any or plan to. Hope that helps!  Good Luck!  

Answer 35

I live in Miami. Very expensive and VERY congested. The west coast is beautiful!  

Answer 36

I live in Naples. You can live in the surrounding towns like Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral and it will be cheaper. You can be close enough to your relatives so you can easily visit 30 min to 1 hr away) but they won’t be over all the time.  

Answer 37

We're in Dunedin and love it!  

Answer 38

My parents live there, near both of those areas. SW Florida is super expensive, super busy (lots of traffic, especially in season), and pretty cookie cutter. It's so hot in the summer. I guess that's most of the state though. I don't know much about central FL but the drive between is very meh.  

Answer 39

Live in Mulberry (roughly an hour and a half south of orlando), love the small town and we are about 45 minutes away from the beach. However St. Pete and St. Augustine are both beautiful areas. Just remember that the closer you are to the water, the more likely you are to be in a tourism destination

Answer 40

St. Augustine and I hate it. I’m moving out of state in 8-10 weeks. If I had a do-over, I’d of moved to Orlando since the only thing I really like here is Universal Resort.  

Comments

@redon C. Miller St. Augustine is actually on our list but that’s because the school for the Deaf is there and I’m in school to become a sign language interpreter. Why do you dislike it?  

---

@welles Interpreters for the deaf can make like 80 dollars an hour- in the Florida court systems. It is something for you to look into.  

---

@kittiekittiwake5948 Diane it’ll be quite a few years for me to become skilled enough for legal interpreting. But thank you!  

Answer 41

Native Floridian here (born and raised) and only recently move away for a job. Naples is hella expensive. I'm from Ft. Pierce but that is on the east cost. If you want to stay on the west coast, look north of St. Pete in the Tarpon Springs area or north of there. A little bit more affordable. It really just depends on the type of city/town you want. I'm happy to give more suggestions. Also, I agree with your husband about Orlando. I lived there for about 10 years. :)

Answer 42

I live on the edge of Tampa where Oldsmar begins and past that you have quite a few little cities that are very affordable and only about 30-45 minutes from Clearwater and St Pete beaches. I feel very central to everything and less than an hour and a half drive to Orlando . I moved here a year ago randomly. I was in the army so I came here from Texas but I’m @dunkirk raises. I have not regretted a single moment of my move here and I had only ever been to Clearwater twice  

Comments

@liaoyang How close are you to Wesley Chapel? I’ve been looking into that area for when we potentially move. I’m trying to find family friendly areas that are still centrally located to big stores, etc.  

---

@colley75470 about 40 minutes from WC

Answer 43

The east coast is perfect in my opinion. I live pretty close to Cocoa Beach- the whole area is nice. Close enough to Orlando to go do all those things (or even work there) but far enough away that it isn’t the big city. I live on a barrier island and it’s perfect. The Vero Beach/Hutchinson island area is also super nice and small town beachy like. I’ve never lived there but I love it. I also lived in Tampa for a few years for college and it’s a nice city. Close to the beaches but still a bigger city.  

Answer 44

I live in Tampa and it’s expensive but it’s paradise! I love living here with the ocean in my backyard

Answer 45

Naples to Fort Myers is very expensive. If your husband love the water definitely check out Sarasota and Bradenton area there is water EVERYWHERE

Answer 46

Following. My husband and I are preparing to sell our home in the next month and move someplace near the Gulf Coast.  

Answer 47

My parents are retiring to Fort Myers in a few years. They’re buying a house soon, and will vacation there in the meantime.  

Answer 48

The gulf coast is very nice. I would love to live over by St Pete or Clearwater or Tarpon Springs or actually anywhere along the gulf coast. I live in Orlando and I wouldn’t recommend it. A lot of traffic and it gets a lot hotter in Orlando than it does at the coast because we don’t have the sea breeze.  

Answer 49

My parents live in Port Charlotte, which is north of Fort Myers

Answer 50

Jacksonville is nice if you live in the right areas!  

Answer 51

My parents live in Cape Coral and love it.  

Answer 52

Port saint Lucie - east coast. Near the water, near the hwy for travel. Affordable.  

Answer 53

I live in Spring Hill because it’s affordable area. We have a lot of natural parks with water access. We have the Weeki Wachee River access. It’s about an hour to Tampa and 1. 5 hours to Orlando.  

Answer 54

We live in Orlando, 10-15 minutes from downtown. We moved from North Jersey. Best decision we ever made. Our house here is bigger and mortgage is $400/month less. After we get our homestead exemption in next year, it’ll go down more. I feel we’re centrally located to Waterford lakes and Downtown so we have shopping and restaurant options. Only about 30-45 minutes from the parks. Where we live isnt touristy. If you’d like to message me, I’d be happy to share more about our decision to move down here, etc. Also Orlando peeps, we just moved to the area and are looking to make friends, once social distancing is over.  

Comments

@majunga90171 I don’t live there yet, but we will be moving soon hopefully. I had a hard time finding family friendly areas in Orlando that wasn’t too expensive. Can you recommend places? My fiancé wants to live in that area. I’ve found a few places outside of Tampa but it’s hard when you’re looking from a different state. Lol.  

---

@colley75470 sure send me a PM

Answer 55

I grew up in Venice. Amazing schools, amazing town, amazing people. I’ve grown up and moved away but that will always be my home. Best island ever

Answer 56

I live in Tampa, which isnt "beachy" at all. Just a lot of suburbs with a lot of traffic. I like the smaller towns. Lakeland or St. Pete. Other towns along the coast seem nice. North Florida, to me, is the best option. I went to FSU and loved Tallahassee. Lots of beautiful towns on the Gulf in that area.  

Answer 57

My mom & sister live in Fort Myers and lived in Bonita Springs. Very close to Naples. She loves it! Very close to water and lots of things around them to do. Not far from the keys so it’s nice to drive down there when I visit.  

Answer 58

I live in Ft Myers, which is just North of Naples.  

Answer 59

Thank you everyone! You’ve listed towns we’ve not thought of. Currently, with this pandemic, I’m high risk and so I haven’t ever left the house. My husband and I go on drives often though, and I keep thinking, it would be so nice if we lived in south Florida and could take that drive across the bridge into Sanibel. I keep thinking where I want to be “stuck”—at the age we can’t travel anymore—and somewhere near the water always pops up.  

Answer 60

And for all the Gulf Coast Girls. have you heard this song?   
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FgQcX...LKcIU

Comments

Elysha, love, love, love this song. I was stationed in the P’cola area 20 years ago, and can’t wait to move back. hopefully in the next year or two.  

Answer 61

St Petersburg FL is gorgeous but prices have gone up. We live in Clermont which is in the outside of Orlando. It's about 1. 5 hours from St. Pete. :-)

Comments

@chartier How do you like Clermont? That was one of the only places I could find outside of Orlando that I thought seemed family friendly enough. My fiancé wants to move closer to Orlando but it’s hard finding areas when you’re states away. I wound up looking at Wesley chapel outside of Tampa but I’m still just nervous for the areas. Do you have any recommendations?  

---

@colley75470 I love Clermont. It's growing a lot. Lots of construction for new houses and apartments. I personally do no like Orlando as it's so busy ! If it was up to me, I would go back to St Petersburg, but it got so expensive now :-( Don't know much about Wesley Chapel, but Tampa is busy too.  

---

@chartier Thank you for responding to me! Trying to plan a move across states is so scary and nerve wrecking.  

---

@colley75470 sometimes a fresh start is what one needs. :-) I moved from Texas 21 years ago to Florida, and I don't regret it. I was much younger but happy I made the jump. <3

---

@chartier I can feel it in my heart that I need this move. For a multitude of reasons. ❤️ I appreciate your responses so much.  

Answer 62

My sister in law lives in Ocala ots a smaller town toward northern part of FL. I love it there, we live in California and everywhere is absolutely packed. Ocala is about an hr and a half drive to Daytona Beach. I belive housing is relatively affordable compared to here. Sorry I didn't read the gulf part of it. but Ocala still nice lol

Answer 63

Live in port charlotte punta gorda area beautiful close to beaches and not crazy like the big cities

Answer 64

I have many friends that live in Gulf Coast it's beautiful. I live in Central Florida. It's crowded and traffic is horrible when you commute. Best areas are Lake Mary, Oviedo, Winter Park for central. Seminole County has the best schools. I use to live in Port St. Lucie beautiful but if not in the medical field or teaching hard to find work.  

Answer 65

Vera/Melbourne is real nice. Rockledge is nice also and not as expensive as Viera. Viera is part of Melbourne and Rockledge. It is where the money is in this area. We are about 43 minutes from MCO and 20ish minutes from Cocoa beach/Cape Canaveral.  

Answer 66

Oh we also also watch the rocket launches from our house.  

Answer 67

Hi! I live in Pembroke Pines, a city nestled between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. I get the best of both big city worlds and beaches 30 minutes away to the East (realistically with traffic its about 45-60mins), but PP maintains its calmness being further inland out west (no evacuation needed during hurricanes), but definitely is fast growing. It's conveniently between 2 major highways that take you anywhere (I-95, I-75, crossed by I-595 and US1). Orlando is 3. 5hrs, Naples is 1. 5hrs, Key West is 4hrs, West Palm/Boca is about 1. 5hrs. I've lived in Pines since 1996 (at 14yrs old), when there was only 1 "Main Street", 1 mall and 1 movie theatre. nothing else other than Everglades west of I-75. The city has grown, but still feels small.