Best Places to Live in Florida

Ranked by the numbers, the top 10 are Longboat Key ($732,500 median), St. Cloud ($414,990 median), DeFuniak Springs ($195,000 median), Lady Lake ($231,500 median), Lakeland ($327,500 median), Dunnellon ($249,900 median), San Antonio ($330,000 median), Keystone Heights ($269,900 median), Zephyrhills ($345,000 median), Wesley Chapel ($425,000 median). 296 places qualified with at least 60 homes for sale; the score blends what it costs to own the median home against local income, five-year appreciation, county population growth, market balance, inventory depth and the own-versus-rent gap, all printed in the table.

All 296 Florida cities, ranked

Place	Score	Median price	Cost to own / mo	Share of income	5-yr appreciation / yr	County pop. growth	Months supply	Homes for sale
1. Longboat Key Sarasota	58.9	$732,500	$5,001	42%	+20.1%	+8.9%	6.9	257
2. St. Cloud Osceola	56.6	$414,990	$2,907	40%	+4.1%	+20.2%	5.4	1,184
3. DeFuniak Springs Walton	56.5	$195,000	$1,360	32%	+5.3%	+21.2%	6.8	199
4. Lady Lake Lake	56.3	$231,500	$1,680	35%	+4.6%	+18.9%	5.1	172
5. Lakeland Polk	56.0	$327,500	$2,349	40%	+5.3%	+13.8%	4.8	1,291
6. Dunnellon Marion	56.0	$249,900	$1,691	39%	+8.0%	+11.3%	4.7	456
7. San Antonio Pasco	56.0	$330,000	$2,343	36%	+7.1%	+15.3%	6.1	165
8. Keystone Heights Clay	56.0	$269,900	$1,870	31%	+15.7%	+7.8%	7.1	91
9. Zephyrhills Pasco	55.8	$345,000	$2,446	53%	+9.5%	+15.3%	5.2	638
10. Wesley Chapel Pasco	55.7	$425,000	$2,997	33%	+4.2%	+15.3%	4.9	753
11. Tavares Lake	55.7	$329,990	$2,363	46%	+6.8%	+18.9%	5.7	273
12. Jacksonville Duval	55.6	$313,737	$2,240	39%	+5.1%	+9.0%	3.9	4,462
13. Orlando Orange	55.5	$415,000	$2,923	44%	+6.3%	+9.0%	5.5	4,375
14. Sorrento Lake	55.5	$369,999	$2,640	33%	+4.2%	+18.9%	5.0	76
15. Yulee Nassau	55.4	$449,575	$3,029	41%	+6.9%	+17.5%	4.2	179
16. Kissimmee Osceola	55.3	$387,990	$2,723	48%	+2.6%	+20.2%	8.3	3,088
17. Clermont Lake	55.3	$438,065	$3,111	42%	+4.5%	+18.9%	4.8	793
18. Freeport Walton	55.3	$385,471	$2,570	40%	+3.2%	+21.2%	4.8	356
19. South Palm Beach Palm Beach · list-based	55.3	$449,000	$3,256	26%	+4.7%	+4.2%	1% pending	71
20. Groveland Lake	55.2	$372,113	$2,654	39%	+3.8%	+18.9%	4.3	253
21. Eustis Lake	55.2	$372,234	$2,655	52%	+8.6%	+18.9%	4.5	225
22. Naples Collier · list-based	55.1	$429,900	$2,910	37%	+3.7%	+6.5%	27% pending	2,113
23. Eagle Lake Polk	55.0	$286,890	$2,070	27%	+3.0%	+13.8%	4.5	78
24. Milton Santa Rosa	54.9	$319,900	$2,264	32%	+4.6%	+13.7%	2.9	376
25. Fruitland Park Lake	54.9	$295,990	$2,127	40%	+5.2%	+18.9%	6.7	80

How to read it: median price is the recorded MLS sale median for the past 12 months where our feeds carry sold records (at least 120 sales), otherwise the median asking price of current listings (rows marked list-based; appreciation and price change then come from the county Zillow index); cost to own is principal and interest on 80% of that median at the county’s current rate, plus non-homestead property tax at the county’s verified millage (less the $50,000 homestead exemption) and the county’s average Citizens premium; share of income is that annual cost against the Census median household income pooled over the ZIPs where the city’s homes are listed; 5-yr appreciation is the compound annual change in recorded medians; county pop. growth is the county’s five-year Census change.

Score = 50 + 10 × (0.35 affordability + 0.15 appreciation + 0.15 population growth + 0.10 market balance + 0.10 inventory depth + 0.15 own-versus-rent), each as a capped z-score across the ranked set. Inputs are prices, costs, incomes, growth and supply only; nothing about the people who live there. Data as of 2026-11-02; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

The top 15, in detail

1. Longboat Key, Sarasota County

Recorded median sale $732,500 (-1.8% year over year), 499 sales in 12 months, 6.9 months of supply (buyer's market), median 82 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $5,001 a month, 42% of the local median household income of $143,365; typical rent is $8,450. Prices compounded +20.1% a year over five years; the county grew +8.9% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Sarasota County property tax

2. St. Cloud, Osceola County

Recorded median sale $414,990 (+0.1% year over year), 2,425 sales in 12 months, 5.4 months of supply (balanced market), median 45 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,907 a month, 40% of the local median household income of $86,900; typical rent is $2,276. Prices compounded +4.1% a year over five years; the county grew +20.2% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Osceola County property tax

3. DeFuniak Springs, Walton County

Recorded median sale $195,000 (+3.3% year over year), 314 sales in 12 months, 6.8 months of supply (buyer's market), median 99 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $1,360 a month, 32% of the local median household income of $51,604. Prices compounded +5.3% a year over five years; the county grew +21.2% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Walton County property tax

4. Lady Lake, Lake County

Recorded median sale $231,500 (+3.7% year over year), 383 sales in 12 months, 5.1 months of supply (balanced market), median 46 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $1,680 a month, 35% of the local median household income of $57,536; typical rent is $1,539. Prices compounded +4.6% a year over five years; the county grew +18.9% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Lake County property tax

5. Lakeland, Polk County

Recorded median sale $327,500 (-2.9% year over year), 2,881 sales in 12 months, 4.8 months of supply (balanced market), median 53 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,349 a month, 40% of the local median household income of $69,738; typical rent is $1,977. Prices compounded +5.3% a year over five years; the county grew +13.8% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Polk County property tax

6. Dunnellon, Marion County

Recorded median sale $249,900 (+0.2% year over year), 1,182 sales in 12 months, 4.7 months of supply (balanced market), median 58 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $1,691 a month, 39% of the local median household income of $51,542; typical rent is $1,705. Prices compounded +8.0% a year over five years; the county grew +11.3% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Marion County property tax

7. San Antonio, Pasco County

Recorded median sale $330,000 (-5.4% year over year), 309 sales in 12 months, 6.1 months of supply (buyer's market), median 49 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,343 a month, 36% of the local median household income of $77,950; typical rent is $1,978. Prices compounded +7.1% a year over five years; the county grew +15.3% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Pasco County property tax

8. Keystone Heights, Clay County

Recorded median sale $269,900 (-12.2% year over year), 199 sales in 12 months, 7.1 months of supply (soft market), median 73 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $1,870 a month, 31% of the local median household income of $73,201. Prices compounded +15.7% a year over five years; the county grew +7.8% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Clay County property tax

9. Zephyrhills, Pasco County

Recorded median sale $345,000 (-1.2% year over year), 1,345 sales in 12 months, 5.2 months of supply (buyer's market), median 58 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,446 a month, 53% of the local median household income of $55,556; typical rent is $1,878. Prices compounded +9.5% a year over five years; the county grew +15.3% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Pasco County property tax

10. Wesley Chapel, Pasco County

Recorded median sale $425,000 (-4.6% year over year), 1,693 sales in 12 months, 4.9 months of supply (balanced market), median 47 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,997 a month, 33% of the local median household income of $107,565; typical rent is $2,255. Prices compounded +4.2% a year over five years; the county grew +15.3% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Pasco County property tax

11. Tavares, Lake County

Recorded median sale $329,990 (-4.5% year over year), 538 sales in 12 months, 5.7 months of supply (buyer's market), median 69 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,363 a month, 46% of the local median household income of $61,815; typical rent is $1,964. Prices compounded +6.8% a year over five years; the county grew +18.9% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Lake County property tax

12. Jacksonville, Duval County

Recorded median sale $313,737 (-1.5% year over year), 12,627 sales in 12 months, 3.9 months of supply (balanced market), median 47 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,240 a month, 39% of the local median household income of $68,363; typical rent is $1,594. Prices compounded +5.1% a year over five years; the county grew +9.0% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Duval County property tax

13. Orlando, Orange County

Recorded median sale $415,000 (-2.3% year over year), 8,592 sales in 12 months, 5.5 months of supply (balanced market), median 41 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,923 a month, 44% of the local median household income of $79,942; typical rent is $1,924. Prices compounded +6.3% a year over five years; the county grew +9.0% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Orange County property tax

14. Sorrento, Lake County

Recorded median sale $369,999 (-1.3% year over year), 157 sales in 12 months, 5.0 months of supply (balanced market), median 45 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,640 a month, 33% of the local median household income of $97,217. Prices compounded +4.2% a year over five years; the county grew +18.9% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Lake County property tax

15. Yulee, Nassau County

Recorded median sale $449,575 (+10.1% year over year), 532 sales in 12 months, 4.2 months of supply (balanced market), median 67 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $3,029 a month, 41% of the local median household income of $89,270; typical rent is $2,030. Prices compounded +6.9% a year over five years; the county grew +17.5% in population over five years. moving guide · cost of living · best neighborhoods · market data · Nassau County property tax

Questions people ask

What is the best place to live in Florida by the numbers?

Longboat Key ranks first on our composite: $732,500 median, about $5,001 a month to own (42% of local median income), +20.1% a year appreciation over five years. The ranking is housing economics only; the right place for you also depends on commute, lifestyle and budget, which is what an agent narrows.

What is the cheapest place to live in Florida?

Lauderdale Lakes has the lowest estimated cost to own on this list at about $902 a month on a $118,870 median, including the county's property tax and average insurance.

Where are home prices rising fastest in Florida?

Longboat Key, at +20.1% a year compounded over five years; over the past twelve months it moved -1.8%.

How is this ranking calculated?

Score = 50 + 10 times a weighted sum of capped z-scores: affordability (annual cost to own the median home divided by median household income, 35%), five-year compound appreciation (15%), county population growth (15%), market balance (distance of months of supply from 5, 10%), sales volume (10%), and the gap between owning and renting (15%). Every input is printed in the table; the inputs are prices, costs, incomes, growth and supply only.

Every ranking in this series

Homes for sale in Florida by city and county · Florida city and relocation guides

Rankings are computed from the published data sources and the formula stated on this page, with no editorial scoring; the inputs are prices, costs, incomes, growth and supply, and the rankings describe housing economics, not the character of any community. Figures are as of 2026-11-02 and change as new sales record. EAB RE Investments LLC dba Momentum Realty is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage. Listing data deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.