The 10 Best Places To Live In Florida For 2025

The 10 Best Places To Live In Florida For 2025

More on Key Biscayne: Data

Key Biscayne, an island town located just south of Miami. In opposition to the image of Florida as a retiree-state, Key Biscayne’s median age is a low 43, so it’s fair to say that this is one of the hippest places you’ll see on this list. Living in Key Biscayne, you also get access to all the best that Miami has to offer, without the high crime. That’s because Key Biscayne has the 35th lowest crime rate in Florida, about 70% lower than the national average. Another perk of Key Biscayne over Miami is the weather; being an island, Key Biscayne has cooler summers and lower precipitation than The Magic City.

Word to the wise: you may want to have a lucrative job lined up before making the move to Key Biscayne, because the median home price here is $1,238,700, the 3rd most expensive in Florida. The good news is that the median household income in Key Biscayne is $172,604/year, the 4th highest in the state, so residents don’t have too much trouble making mortgage payments. You also may want to start reading more books if you want to fit in here, because around 35% of Key Biscayne’s population has a master’s degree or higher.

If you decide to settle down here, you’ll probably spend a good amount of time at Bill Baggs Florida State Park on the south end or Crandon Park in the north. That way, you’ll never get bored of going to the same beach every day. Key Biscayne bills itself as an “Island Paradise” and, looking at the data, we’re inclined to agree!

More on Naples: Data

A city of 19,421 people, Naples is the 111th biggest city to make the cut for best places to live in Florida. Because of its proximity to the Everglades, Naples is a popular destination for ecotourists. Those looking for a tamer experience will prefer Naples’ world-class Botanical Gardens or hanging out at the pier.

If you decide to settle down in Naples, homes here are the 2nd most expensive in the state, but you’ll also get the 8th highest income statewide ($140,833/year). As for actually getting to and from work, Naples has one of the lowest commute times on this list of just 22 minutes. On top of that, GreatSchools gave Naples’ public schools a 9/10 rating, so you can be confident that you’re giving your children a top-notch educational experience.

More on Longboat Key: Data

We’ll wrap up our list of best places to live in Florida with Longboat Key, an island town an hour south of St. Petersburg. Longboat Key has the oldest populous on this list, with a median age of over 70. These septuagenarian residents really know their stuff though, because over 30% of the population have at least a master’s degree.

That older population helps explain why Longboat Key has the 2nd highest rate of insured residents in Florida. And since old folks don’t often go in for violence, Longboat Key’s title as the 12th least violent place in Florida also makes sense.

Both unemployment and poverty rates in Longboat Key are among the top ten lowest statewide, so Longboat Key’s economy is about as good as it gets. You can reward yourself for choosing such an awesome place to live by visiting one of many beaches Longboat Key has to offer.

More on North Palm Beach: Data

Let’s take a step back from the hyper-wealthy communities and look at a place where your average Joe can make a good life for himself, North Palm Beach. North Palm Beach’s median home cost of $456,700 is substantially lower than elsewhere in the top ten and combined with a median income of $91,042, this village is one of the most overall affordable places you’ll see on this list.

We think North Palm Beach residents dig the fact that you can spend 25% as much on a home as in Palm Beach and still have access to awesome beaches like MacArthur Beach. And the unemployment rate in North Palm Beach is a measly 2.0%, so nobody gets left out here. One more plus is that there’s no need to fear for your safety here, because North Palm Beach has the 17th lowest crime rate in Florida.

More on Neptune Beach: Data

Neptune Beach, known for its close-knit community and scenic beaches, holds the 5 position for best places to live in Florida. Located in Duval County, it offers a suburban lifestyle with a population of 7,199 and a highly educated demographic, with 59% of adults graduating college.

Incorporated in 1931, the city enjoys easy access to Jacksonville but maintains a peaceful residential atmosphere. It has a low unemployment rate of 10 and a strong local economy, with a high median income at 111,025. The competitive real estate market is evident with its $613,500 median home value, making Neptune Beach a sought-after location in Florida.

More on Safety Harbor: Data

More on Marco Island: Data

Marco Island, within Collier County, combines economic stability, indicated by a 104,105 median income and a low 4.2 unemployment rate, with island living. The barrier island is connected to the mainland, allowing easy access to the mainland while island life.

Known for its high $866,200 median home value, the city caters to retirees and tourists alike, providing resort-like amenities and a vibrant culture.

Safety is prioritized with low property crime (14th lowest) and violent crime rates (34th lowest).

More on Jacksonville Beach: Data

More on Lake Mary: Data

Lake Mary is a northern, outer suburb of Orlando, approximately 20 miles to downtown. And, for 2025, it is our number 9 best place to live in the Sunshine State. And people in Florida realize the awesomeness, as it continues to be one the faster growing places in central Florida. The quality of life around affordability, crime, and things to do offers residents a great place to live.

Like many small cities in Florida, Lake Mary offers abundance of outdoor activities including the Timacuan Golf Club, paddleboarding, and the local Lake Mary Farmer’s Market. There’s also plenty of shopping and small cafes to spend a nice evening outdoors.

The city had 48.0 best home values in the state and the 2nd lowest rate of poverty in Florida. The schools are also high quality for the area including the highly acclaimed Seminole Science Charter School.

More on Lighthouse Point: Data

Next up on our list of best places to live in Florida is Lighthouse Point, an affluent suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Low levels of unemployment and poverty keep Lighthouse Point’s economy strong in combination with a median household income of $92,268. It’s also one of the most densely-populated cities to make this list, meaning it’s unlikely you’ll be bored here.

Lighthouse Point also scored a 9.5/10 in the education category of our SnackAbility score, so you better believe kids are getting the best possible start here. And if those kiddos do well enough in school, an ice cream cone from Frosty Point followed by some water park action at Quiet Waters Park makes for a great reward.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Florida

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Florida across a number of criteria from one to 209, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Florida.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher is better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking Florida’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Florida. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Key Biscayne at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Best Places To Live In Florida Table