2022 Best cities to live in Florida

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  1,008 reviews

Current Resident: Gainesville is a great town balanced with many unique different types of people. On one side you'll find people who have lived there their whole lives, they live a simple life, maybe they've been passed down a family farm or a super secret family recipe that the neighbors, who have also lived there for forever, really want to figure out. They tend to frequent all of the classics Gainesville has to offer. On the other side, you'll find people who love to party in the city, get Krispy Kreme at 3am after a crazy night at the local bar. They tend to frequent all the new trendy places that open up here. There's also the introverts who just like to lounge around at home or read a book under a vine covered laurel oak tree, or in a cafe- maybe they enjoy drinking boba from Teastori while they read. There are two things that the entirety of the town enjoys greatly though. Anybody that I know would absolutely love to come together for a pie at Satchels and/or go out for a game day. Go Gators!... Read 1,008 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 133,611

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  1,285 reviews

Current Resident: I'm born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and I'm proud to call it my home. Growing up here has led me to the opportunities that are available to me, as well allowing me to experience life and look forward to the future I may have here. It may not always be rainbows and sunshines, but the beautiful days allow for some great times at the beaches, parks, and just a nice time outdoors. If you're considering visiting or moving here, it will surprise you with all that you can do here. Even a nice stroll on the boardwalk at night can be relaxing, or if you prefer a more energetic approach, the clubs in Ybor can be accommodating and exciting! There's plenty of diversity when it comes to food choices, whether you enjoy pizza, Spanish food, asian cuisine, or just a simple burger.... Read 1,285 reviews

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• grade B+

• Population 395,912

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  547 reviews

Current Resident: Living in St.Petersburg is quite a paradise. Its aesthetics, cleanliness and entire environment is a really a beauty to bask in. With beautiful beaches, parks and various nature spots, St.Petersburg is the perfect place to experience a tropical, island-like living in the state of Florida! This city also boasts a capturing downtown area with mouth-watering restaurants and cafes as well as museums including that exhibiting the works of the great Salvador Dali. After being in St.Pete for two years, I find that many individuals are not aware of this beautiful getaway city which is just about 15 minutes away from the prominent city of Tampa. With that being said, what I’d like, is for St.Petersburg to be more properly advertised and see more visitors each year!... Read 547 reviews

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• grade B

• Population 264,001

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.73 out of 5  1,201 reviews

Current Resident: Tallahassee is the perfect city for someone who wants access to the ample opportunities that a city provides, but doesn’t want the faster pace of living, over-abundance of people, or lack of integrated flora and fauna. There is literally something for everyone to do and enjoy here which is why I love it so much. There are plenty of national parks, reservation land, and outdoor activities for families to enjoy, while Tallahassee arguably also has some of the best night life and party scene around, with Florida State consistently being ranked the #2 party school in the nation. Everything is pretty close geographically which makes it fairly easy to get around, and summers are nice and quiet because all of the students are back home. It really does not get better than Tally!... Read 1,201 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 192,885

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  1,883 reviews

Current Resident: I love Orlando FL for all of the variety - people, weather, entertainment, restaurants. I have always loved Disney World and now I am excited to be living and attending college here so that I can experience Universal and Sea World for the first time also! Another thing that I'm extremely grateful for is the fact that Orlando has incredible student housing. I grew up in the metro Detroit area and student housing is jokingly (and somewhat accurately) referred to as prison and your roommate is your cellmate. Plus I have a lot of food allergies which has made eating out impossible in MI but I have found several restaurants in Orlando that have multiple options for me! The only downside is the traffic and how it takes 40 minutes to drive the 12 miles between my apartment by Valencia East campus and my parents' condo by Disney.... Read 1,883 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• Population 284,817

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4 out of 5  358 reviews

Current Resident: Clearwater is a beautiful area that is not only for vacationing, but for living! You may need to look a little further away from the beach for affordable housing but it's there. Lots of variety in food, diverse cultures, and more!... Read 358 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• Population 115,975

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  1,448 reviews

Current Resident: The city has a beautiful river that flows right through it! It is also a beach town. There is something for everyone in Jacksonville. Students, single professionals, military service people and especially families. The cost of living is great reasonable. Schools are great. There are many different neighborhoods so it accommodates every lifestyle. It is easily accessible via interstate 95 and our great airport! It blends the perfect mix of lowcountry meets the tropics. There is a mild change of seasons which is rare for Florida. It’s a kept secret not everyone knows about or appreciates.... Read 1,448 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 902,488

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  437 reviews

Current Resident: I like Palm Bay because it’s very diverse! It’s a perfect place to raise your kids, settle down and start a family. The community is very sweet and there’s lots of fun activities to keep busy!... Read 437 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 113,751

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  401 reviews

Former Resident: Fort Lauderdale is one of the best places to live. There are lots of job opportunities as a result of it being more developed compared to other areas in Florida. This city also offers a very diverse community of people to interact with, allowing you to learn and understand many different cultures. There are many great public schools in Fort Lauderdale and respected colleges such as Nova Southeastern University or Broward College. In addition, there are so many fun activities one do in the area including but not limited to nearby beaches, art exhibits, a variety of great restaurants to dine in, yearly events to attend, as well as an exciting nightlife! Overall its family friendly and an exciting place to live, settle down, and enjoy life!... Read 401 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 181,818

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  542 reviews

Current Resident: I was born and raised in WPB. I love the beaches, love the city life and love how close everything is. However, I would love to see more free community events for families. Would also like to see more restrictions on drivers, there are too many drivers that should not be on the road and cause accidents. I would love to see the house pricing down as well! maybe some new construction homes and townhouse that make it affordable to live. There should be more public libraries as well, more water parks because it gets hot here. Overall, I do like west palm beach. One of the thinks I dislike are the people, many people here are grumpy and rude, always in a rush and not friendly at all. There needs to be more community and understanding from people, it would make our city more at peace to live in and raise a family in. Having many options to shop at is a plus. I like how there is a Walmart or market shopping plaza every 10 miles or so which is very nice for a family and makes it easy as wel... Read 542 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 111,006

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  423 reviews

Works Here: I love Lakeland! I grew up in a smaller town just outside of Lakeland. Although growing up we didn't spent much time in Lakeland, now as an adult its where I choose to spend it most. Lakelands down town area is has so much history, and its building and architecture unveils that. Myself, my wife and our fur baby Storm spend a lot of quality time in the don town area. We walk Lake Mirror, interacting with people from all walks of life, Lakeland brings such a happy diverse community. My family also enjoys the actives Lakeland brings on the weeks, like the market downtown, we are able meet with locals and venders. Lakeland has diverity within its shopping, and restaurants bring such life to Lakeland. Im happy to now work, living and attend school in Lakeland.... Read 423 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 110,335

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.56 out of 5  601 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful costal city less then hour away in any direction from the beach! Next to fort myers beach! Come vacation and meet the locals. Safe little town close to the city. Halfway between Tampa and Miami, 3 hours from Orlando. Live close to Disney, bush gardens and much more!... Read 601 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 189,633

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  1,225 reviews

Current Resident: I love people’s energy, always down to help each other. I really feel Miami is my home. Every service is near by, it does not matter where you are staying at. There are literally supermarkets at any corner. Public transportation works very well and the trains too. There are a bunch of activities to do all around the city, restaurants were my favorite part of it, fresh and latin very well done food. Visiting the beaches is a must! As for now Haulover Park is my favorite spot. If any night you feel like going out with some friends, Wynwood or Miami Beach are good options, there are a tons of bars and very nice restaurants. You could also enjoy going to any park and some of them offer some activities, like in Bayside there are one or two days a week that could go to do Yoga. I would say that the city is very safe, but of course, like every other part of the world, you always have to be careful when you are around areas you do not really know that much.... Read 1,225 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 461,080

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.63 out of 5  687 reviews

Current Resident: Port Saint Lucie, FL is a fantastic place to live and raise kids! It is just large enought that there is things to do, but not too large. During the snow bird months it does get a little busy with traffic but that's ok. Local contractors are great! We use bestchoicelawnserviceportsaintlucie.com for our lawn guys. They are super helpful and trustworthy! Come check out all that PSL has for you!... Read 687 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 195,773

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.59 out of 5  256 reviews

Current Resident: Pompano Beach, Florida, the hidden gem of the Sunshine State. This city is all about the eye of the beholder. With its rich history in agriculture, gorgeous beach, and historical landmarks, you'll definitely be receiving your money's worth of adoration. Pompano Beach has received many awards in schooling, and I must say our Nursing, Engineering, Sports, and Band programs in all levels of school are second to none. The job market is flourishing, with many opportunities to excel and move up within respective companies. The weather is a bit bipolar, but that's the tropical oasis of Florida for you! I highly recommend taking a trip to come and see what Pompano Beach has to offer for you and your family. Have those bags ready, because you'll be here to stay!... Read 256 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 111,202