
Best places to live in Florida
Best places to live in Florida
What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Florida using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.
On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

#25. Weston
- Median home value: $481,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $2,188 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $107,908
- Top public schools: Cypress Bay High School (A+), College Academy at Broward College (A+), Pompano Beach Institute of International Studies (A+)
- Top private schools: The Sagemont School (A+), Weston Christian Academy (unavailable), Three Village Montessori School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 2760 Paddock Rd, Weston ($5.3 million, 6 bedrooms)

#24. Winter Springs
- Median home value: $246,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,260 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $71,898
- Top public schools: Oviedo High School (A), Choices in Learning Charter School (A), Seminole High School (A)
- Top private schools: Bridges Academy (unavailable)
- Pictured: 4780 E Lake Dr, Winter Springs ($1.8 million, 4 bedrooms)

#23. South Sarasota
- Median home value: $474,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,037 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $70,341
- Top public schools: Pine View School (A+), Riverview High School (A), Bay Haven School of Basics Plus (A)
- Pictured: 1400 Ladue Ln, Sarasota ($7.9 million, 6 bedrooms)

#22. Pebble Creek
- Median home value: $276,800 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,566 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $95,200
- Top public schools: Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School (A), Terrace Community Middle School (A), Williams Middle Magnet School (A)
- Top private schools: La Petite Academy of Tampa - Regents Park Drive (unavailable)
- Pictured: 20235 Autumn Fern Ave, Tampa ($489,900, 5 bedrooms)

#21. Keystone
- Median home value: $379,000 (95% own)
- Median rent: $2,450 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $116,626
- Top public schools: Steinbrenner High School (A), Sickles High School (A), Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School (A)
- Top private schools: Keystone Prep High School (A), Stepping Stones School (B), Odessa Christian School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1851 Holiday Dr, Holiday ($69,000, 2 bedrooms)

#20. Key Biscayne
- Median home value: $1,211,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $2,548 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $151,310
- Top public schools: School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson (A+), School for Advanced Studies - South (A+), School for Advanced Studies - North (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Agnes Academy (unavailable), St. Christopher's By-The-Sea Episcopal Montessori School (unavailable), Key Biscayne Presbyterian School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 400 S Mashta Dr, Key Biscayne ($35.0 million, 6 bedrooms)

#19. South Patrick Shores
- Median home value: $284,800 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,298 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $78,288
- Top public schools: West Shore Junior/Senior High School (A+), Edgewood Junior/Senior High School (A+), Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies (A)
- Top private schools: Coastal Community School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 466 Lanternback Island Dr, Satellite Beach ($2.1 million, 5 bedrooms)

#18. Carrollwood
- Median home value: $246,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,184 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $68,422
- Top public schools: Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School (A), Terrace Community Middle School (A), Williams Middle Magnet School (A)
- Top private schools: Corbett Preparatory School of IDS (unavailable), Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church Early Childhood Center (unavailable), Missionary Christian School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 10000 Lindelaan Dr, Tampa ($7.5 million, 6 bedrooms)

#17. Fish Hawk
- Median home value: $350,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,915 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $119,208
- Top public schools: Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School (A), Newsome High School (A), Bloomingdale High School (A)
- Top private schools: Creative World School at FishHawk (unavailable), Kids 'R' Kids Academy - Circa Fishhawk (unavailable), The Goddard School - Lithia (FishHawk) (unavailable)
- Pictured: 15206 Fishhawk Preserve Dr, Lithia ($1.3 million, 5 bedrooms)

#16. Satellite Beach
- Median home value: $300,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,476 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $79,082
- Top public schools: West Shore Junior/Senior High School (A+), Edgewood Junior/Senior High School (A+), Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies (A)
- Top private schools: Brevard Montessori Private School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1665 Highway A1a, Satellite Beach ($2.5 million, 6 bedrooms)

#15. Fruit Cove
- Median home value: $333,400 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,763 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $107,557
- Top public schools: Bartram Trail High School (A), Durbin Creek Elementary School (A), Creekside High School (A)
- Top private schools: San Juan del Rio Catholic School (unavailable), Living Waters Preschool (unavailable), Fruit Cove KinderCare (unavailable)
- Pictured: 2180 Eventide Ave, Saint Johns ($9.9 million, 7 bedrooms)

#14. Horizon West
- Median home value: $343,600 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,816 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $98,247
- Top public schools: Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School (A+), Orlando Science Elementary Charter School (A), Whispering Oak Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Bright Horizons at Windermere (unavailable), Kiddie Academy of Winter Garden (unavailable), The Learning Experience - Windermere (unavailable)
- Pictured: 7724 Minutemen Loop, Winter Garden ($1.9 million, 5 bedrooms)

#13. Fleming Island
- Median home value: $269,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,488 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $94,154
- Top public schools: Fleming Island High School (A), Orange Park Elementary School (A), Thunderbolt Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Childtime of Orange Park (unavailable), Eagle Harbor Parkway KinderCare (unavailable), La Petite Academy of Orange Park (unavailable)
- Pictured: 2853 Grande Oaks Way, Fleming Island ($1.7 million, 6 bedrooms)

#12. Palmetto Bay
- Median home value: $562,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,426 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $123,477
- Top public schools: School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson (A+), School for Advanced Studies - South (A+), School for Advanced Studies - North (A+)
- Top private schools: Palmer Trinity School (A+), Westminster Christian School (A+), Montessori School of Alexander (unavailable)
- Pictured: 13940 Old Cutler Rd, Palmetto Bay ($3.5 million, 5 bedrooms)

#11. Oviedo
- Median home value: $289,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,629 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $95,935
- Top public schools: Oviedo High School (A), Choices in Learning Charter School (A), Hagerty High School (A)
- Top private schools: Star Child Academy (unavailable), First Years Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable), Interventions Unlimited (unavailable)
- Pictured: 5750 Oak Hollow Ln, Oviedo ($2.4 million, 5 bedrooms)

#10. Maitland
- Median home value: $372,500 (49% own)
- Median rent: $1,409 (51% rent)
- Median household income: $75,944
- Top public schools: Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School (A+), Winter Park High School (A+), Orlando Science Elementary Charter School (A)
- Top private schools: Orangewood Christian School (A), Park Maitland School (A+), Maitland Montessori School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1830 Gipson Green Ln, Winter Park ($4.2 million, 5 bedrooms)

#9. Lake Mary
- Median home value: $320,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,633 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $96,983
- Top public schools: Choices in Learning Charter School (A), Seminole Science Charter School (A), Lake Mary High School (A)
- Top private schools: Lake Mary Preparatory School (A+), StarChild Academy (unavailable), St. Peter's Episcopal Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1678 Bridgewater Dr, Lake Mary ($1.6 million, 5 bedrooms)

#8. Winter Park
- Median home value: $447,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,289 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $77,899
- Top public schools: Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School (A+), Winter Park High School (A+), Orlando Science Elementary Charter School (A)
- Top private schools: Circle Christian School (B+), St. Margaret Mary Catholic School (unavailable), Monarch Learning Academy (unavailable)
- Pictured: 55 Trismen Ter, Winter Park ($6.6 million, 4 bedrooms)

#7. Heathrow
- Median home value: $446,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,519 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $105,833
- Top public schools: Choices in Learning Charter School (A), Lake Mary High School (A), Heathrow Elementary School (A)
- Pictured: 1468 Langham Ter, Lake Mary ($1.2 million, 5 bedrooms)

#6. Coral Gables
- Median home value: $846,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,693 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $100,843
- Top public schools: School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson (A+), School for Advanced Studies - South (A+), School for Advanced Studies - North (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School (A), Gulliver Prep - Marian C. Krutulis PK-8 Campus (A-), St. Theresa School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 41 Arvida Pkwy, Coral Gables ($54.9 million, 8 bedrooms)

#5. Pinecrest
- Median home value: $949,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,549 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $156,875
- Top public schools: School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson (A+), School for Advanced Studies - South (A+), School for Advanced Studies - North (A+)
- Top private schools: Gulliver Prep - Upper School Campus (A+), American Academy of Pinecrest (B), St. Louis Covenant School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 6555 SW 102nd St, Pinecrest ($15.0 million, 10 bedrooms)

#4. Westchase
- Median home value: $359,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,517 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $94,989
- Top public schools: Sickles High School (A), Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School (A), Terrace Community Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Kids 'R' Kids Academy - West Chase (unavailable), Primrose School of Westchase (unavailable), The Goddard School - Tampa (Westchase) (unavailable)
- Pictured: 10710 Beagle Run Pl, Tampa ($899,900, 5 bedrooms)

#3. Doctor Phillips
- Median home value: $366,900 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,987 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $105,714
- Top public schools: Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School (A+), Orlando Science Elementary Charter School (A), Lake Eola Charter School (A-)
- Top private schools: Orlando Jewish Dayschool (unavailable)
- Pictured: 8130 Lake Serene Dr, Orlando ($1.5 million, 5 bedrooms)

#2. Palm Valley
- Median home value: $476,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,397 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $109,000
- Top public schools: Ponte Vedra High School (A+), Ocean Palms Elementary School (A), Ponte Vedra Palm Valley - Rawlings Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Palmer Catholic Academy (unavailable)
- Pictured: 24757 Harbour View Dr, Ponte Vedra Beach ($9.8 million, 6 bedrooms)

#1. Nocatee
- Median home value: $389,500 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,924 (14% rent)
- Median household income: $119,276
- Top public schools: Ponte Vedra High School (A+), Ocean Palms Elementary School (A), Valley Ridge Academy (A)
- Top private schools: Primrose School on Crosswater Parkway NOCATEE (unavailable)
- Pictured: 404 N Harbor Lights Dr, Ponte Vedra ($3.5 million, 6 bedrooms)



