Best places to live in Florida
We cover 44 places in Florida, home to 7.36 million residents. The largest is Jacksonville (1.02 million), the fastest growing since 2020 is Port St. Lucie (+30.9%), and the lowest metro price level is in Tallahassee (93.9). Florida has no state income tax on wages. The average combined sales tax is 6.98%.
Best places to live in Florida, ranked
Each city gets a score out of 100 from six official measures, weighted as shown: home prices compared with income (25%), household income (15%), population growth since 2020 (15%), short commutes (15%), comfortable months of weather (15%) and low poverty (15%). Scores compare all 546 large US cities, so a 70 in Florida means the same as a 70 anywhere. See the national ranking and method.
| # | City | Score | Home value to income | Income | Growth | Commute | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port | 65 | 4.3× | $84,049 | +28.7% | 29 min | 6 |
| 2 | Palm Bay | 63 | 3.9× | $72,614 | +23.7% | 28 min | 7 |
| 3 | Lakeland | 63 | 3.9× | $64,185 | +11.5% | 23 min | 7 |
| 4 | Palm Coast | 63 | 4.5× | $77,350 | +23.2% | 27 min | 8 |
| 5 | Riverview | 62 | 3.8× | $100,438 | n/a | 35 min | 7 |
| 6 | Deltona | 61 | 3.7× | $76,924 | +7% | 34 min | 8 |
| 7 | Jacksonville | 60 | 4.2× | $69,872 | +7.2% | 24 min | 7 |
| 8 | Port St. Lucie | 59 | 4.6× | $80,648 | +30.9% | 31 min | 6 |
| 9 | Boca Raton | 58 | 6.8× | $106,273 | +4.2% | 21 min | 6 |
| 10 | Cape Coral | 57 | 4.8× | $78,104 | +21.8% | 30 min | 6 |
| 11 | Miramar | 56 | 5.2× | $89,125 | +5.8% | 31 min | 6 |
| 12 | Plantation | 56 | 5.2× | $92,541 | +8.2% | 28 min | 5 |
| 13 | Brandon | 55 | 4.3× | $79,685 | n/a | 28 min | 7 |
| 14 | Doral | 55 | 6.0× | $94,164 | +7.6% | 27 min | 6 |
| 15 | West Palm Beach | 54 | 5.6× | $73,446 | +8.4% | 23 min | 6 |
| 16 | Orlando | 53 | 5.4× | $72,336 | +8.4% | 26 min | 7 |
| 17 | St. Petersburg | 53 | 4.9× | $75,192 | +2.2% | 26 min | 7 |
| 18 | Coral Springs | 53 | 5.8× | $93,602 | +3.3% | 30 min | 6 |
| 19 | Davie | 53 | 5.3× | $87,250 | +4.8% | 29 min | 6 |
| 20 | Melbourne | 53 | 4.6× | $66,991 | +2.8% | 23 min | 7 |
| 21 | Tampa | 52 | 5.6× | $75,475 | +7.3% | 25 min | 7 |
| 22 | Spring Hill | 52 | 4.2× | $68,432 | n/a | 30 min | 7 |
| 23 | Pembroke Pines | 51 | 5.2× | $85,104 | +3.2% | 30 min | 6 |
| 24 | Sunrise | 51 | 4.6× | $77,652 | +1.5% | 30 min | 6 |
| 25 | Daytona Beach | 51 | 5.5× | $52,058 | +23.6% | 21 min | 7 |
| 26 | Sarasota | 51 | 6.4× | $72,105 | +6.6% | 21 min | 6 |
| 27 | Largo | 50 | 3.7× | $62,096 | -2.5% | 25 min | 7 |
| 28 | Boynton Beach | 48 | 5.0× | $70,074 | +2.7% | 26 min | 6 |
| 29 | Fort Lauderdale | 47 | 5.9× | $83,130 | +3.3% | 26 min | 6 |
| 30 | Gainesville | 47 | 5.4× | $46,195 | +5.3% | 19 min | 7 |
| 31 | Pompano Beach | 47 | 5.2× | $67,195 | +4.6% | 27 min | 6 |
| 32 | Fort Myers | 46 | 6.0× | $63,732 | +17.5% | 25 min | 6 |
| 33 | Tallahassee | 45 | 5.1× | $57,409 | +4.4% | 19 min | 5 |
| 34 | Clearwater | 44 | 5.4× | $66,381 | -2.5% | 23 min | 7 |
| 35 | Deerfield Beach | 42 | 5.2× | $59,730 | +2.9% | 28 min | 6 |
| 36 | Lehigh Acres | 41 | 4.4× | $66,890 | n/a | 38 min | 6 |
| 37 | Hollywood | 39 | 6.1× | $67,203 | +2.6% | 29 min | 6 |
| 38 | Homestead | 38 | 5.8× | $65,423 | +6.8% | 36 min | 6 |
| 39 | Miami Gardens | 37 | 5.9× | $63,627 | +1.9% | 32 min | 6 |
| 40 | Kissimmee | 37 | 5.7× | $53,758 | +8% | 34 min | 7 |
| 41 | Miami | 36 | 8.3× | $62,462 | +10.8% | 27 min | 6 |
| 42 | Miami Beach | 34 | 7.6× | $72,856 | -1.6% | 27 min | 6 |
| 43 | Lauderhill | 34 | 5.3× | $51,165 | +1.5% | 30 min | 6 |
| 44 | Hialeah | 32 | 7.1× | $55,594 | +3.5% | 29 min | 6 |
Best for retirees, young professionals or families? Every city page shows all four scores, and the city quiz ranks cities by what matters to you.
Largest cities in Florida
| City | Population 2025 | Growth | Home value | Rent | Income | Price level | Jan high | Jul high |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 1,017,689 | +7.2% | $293,700 | $1,465 | $69,872 | 99.5 | 66° | 92° |
| Miami | 489,812 | +10.8% | $518,100 | $1,758 | $62,462 | 114.2 | 74° | 88° |
| Tampa | 413,554 | +7.3% | $420,400 | $1,701 | $75,475 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Orlando | 333,888 | +8.4% | $394,100 | $1,747 | $72,336 | 101.4 | 72° | 92° |
| Port St. Lucie | 268,062 | +30.9% | $369,200 | $1,937 | $80,648 | 100.2 | 74° | 91° |
| St. Petersburg | 264,033 | +2.2% | $371,100 | $1,663 | $75,192 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Cape Coral | 236,264 | +21.8% | $373,500 | $1,858 | $78,104 | 102.3 | 75° | 92° |
| Hialeah | 230,968 | +3.5% | $392,000 | $1,689 | $55,594 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Tallahassee | 204,902 | +4.4% | $294,400 | $1,293 | $57,409 | 93.9 | 64° | 92° |
| Fort Lauderdale | 188,677 | +3.3% | $486,700 | $1,854 | $83,130 | 114.2 | 76° | 90° |
| Pembroke Pines | 176,714 | +3.2% | $439,500 | $2,046 | $85,104 | 114.2 | 77° | 92° |
| Hollywood | 157,019 | +2.6% | $410,600 | $1,653 | $67,203 | 114.2 | 77° | 92° |
| Gainesville | 148,671 | +5.3% | $247,500 | $1,296 | $46,195 | 96.7 | 67° | 91° |
| Palm Bay | 148,092 | +23.7% | $283,200 | $1,601 | $72,614 | 100.0 | 72° | 90° |
| Miramar | 142,570 | +5.8% | $462,700 | $2,117 | $89,125 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Coral Springs | 138,783 | +3.3% | $545,400 | $2,084 | $93,602 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Lehigh Acres | 132,353 | n/a | $292,400 | $1,657 | $66,890 | 102.3 | 75° | 91° |
| West Palm Beach | 127,189 | +8.4% | $414,200 | $1,772 | $73,446 | 114.2 | 75° | 90° |
| Lakeland | 125,520 | +11.5% | $249,400 | $1,395 | $64,185 | 97.1 | 74° | 92° |
| Spring Hill | 119,983 | n/a | $288,500 | $1,440 | $68,432 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Brandon | 119,767 | n/a | $339,000 | $1,784 | $79,685 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Pompano Beach | 117,211 | +4.6% | $349,300 | $1,724 | $67,195 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Clearwater | 114,364 | -2.5% | $361,300 | $1,658 | $66,381 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Riverview | 113,697 | n/a | $384,200 | $2,002 | $100,438 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Miami Gardens | 113,579 | +1.9% | $378,500 | $1,787 | $63,627 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Davie | 110,851 | +4.8% | $462,900 | $2,066 | $87,250 | 114.2 | 77° | 92° |
| Palm Coast | 109,886 | +23.2% | $350,800 | $1,782 | $77,350 | 99.4 | 68° | 91° |
| Boca Raton | 101,582 | +4.2% | $722,700 | $2,508 | $106,273 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Fort Myers | 101,581 | +17.5% | $384,500 | $1,580 | $63,732 | 102.3 | 75° | 92° |
| Deltona | 100,267 | +7% | $285,400 | $1,711 | $76,924 | 99.4 | 69° | 91° |
| Plantation | 99,183 | +8.2% | $483,500 | $2,240 | $92,541 | 114.2 | 76° | 90° |
| Sunrise | 98,846 | +1.5% | $354,500 | $2,140 | $77,652 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| North Port | 96,551 | +28.7% | $362,500 | $1,894 | $84,049 | 102.4 | 75° | 93° |
| Deerfield Beach | 89,339 | +2.9% | $309,600 | $1,774 | $59,730 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Daytona Beach | 88,471 | +23.6% | $287,700 | $1,328 | $52,058 | 99.4 | 69° | 90° |
| Melbourne | 87,097 | +2.8% | $306,400 | $1,525 | $66,991 | 100.0 | 72° | 90° |
| Homestead | 86,242 | +6.8% | $380,000 | $1,674 | $65,423 | 114.2 | 76° | 90° |
| Kissimmee | 85,591 | +8% | $304,400 | $1,647 | $53,758 | 101.4 | 72° | 92° |
| Boynton Beach | 82,396 | +2.7% | $351,100 | $2,041 | $70,074 | 114.2 | 75° | 90° |
| Doral | 81,634 | +7.6% | $562,800 | $2,669 | $94,164 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Miami Beach | 81,594 | -1.6% | $556,700 | $1,826 | $72,856 | 114.2 | 74° | 88° |
| Largo | 80,690 | -2.5% | $229,100 | $1,618 | $62,096 | 100.9 | 71° | 91° |
| Lauderhill | 75,668 | +1.5% | $272,900 | $1,684 | $51,165 | 114.2 | 76° | 91° |
| Sarasota | 58,458 | +6.6% | $463,000 | $1,684 | $72,105 | 102.4 | 73° | 91° |
Taxes in Florida
Florida does not tax wage income. The state sales tax is 6%, and with the average local rate added it comes to 6.98%. Source: Tax Foundation, 2026. Local income taxes are not included.
Top parks and sights in Florida
The Florida parks, museums, landmarks and natural wonders people know best. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Everglades National Park National park
- Walt Disney World Resort Theme park
- Lake Okeechobee Lake
- Biscayne National Park National park
- Dry Tortugas National Park National park
- Magic Kingdom Theme park
- Epcot Theme park
- Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme park
- Big Cypress National Preserve Dark sky park
- Universal Studios Florida Theme park
Places from Wikidata (CC0), ranked by how many Wikipedia language editions cover them.
Compare Florida cities
Jacksonville vs MiamiJacksonville vs TampaJacksonville vs OrlandoJacksonville vs Port St. LucieJacksonville vs St. PetersburgJacksonville vs Cape Coral