What are the best and most affordable places to live in Florida? This is one of the first questions that come to mind for anyone planning to move to Florida. With its 8,000 miles long coastline, sunny beaches, and fancy amusement parks, Florida attracts thousands of people every day. The state is well-known for its glamour, beauty, and wildness. You also get to experience year-round summer.
Because of all these attractions of the sunshine state, it is really hard to find affordable places to live in Florida. The housing market in Florida has been bubbling up for a long time now. Especially after the pandemic, people are coming in from all over the country, causing the real estate market to explode even more. In this situation, you will be lucky if you are able to buy property in an area where the prices are affordable and the quality of life is also good. It has been predicted by analysts that Florida’s real estate market is going to burst anytime in the near future but until then, let’s discuss some of the best options you have at hand.
Disclaimer: This list does not include the overall cheapest places to live in Florida. We are also taking lifestyle into account. This article focuses only on the places that are affordable but have good facilities for you and your family. Most of the statistics are taken from the United States Census Bureau.
Orlando
Also known as the “theme park capital of the world”, Orlando is home to the world-renowned Walt Disney World. Orlando attracts more than 51 million tourists every year. It is one of the most visited family destinations and offers a wonderful environment for site-seeing, shopping, and entertainment. With a population of 287,500 people, it is one of the most prominent cities in Florida. The price of an average house is $240,000. The median gross rent in this wonderful town is $1,200 per month. There are lots of economic opportunities. That is why the average income of a household is $51,750.
If you don’t like the idea of living in an area always surrounded by tourists, you can choose from the suburban neighborhoods of Orlando. Orlando is filled with water parks, zoos, restaurants, amusement parks, and shopping malls. With a huge tourist influx come huge economic opportunities. Running a successful business in Orlando is a lot easier than in most other places in the country. You will also enjoy a good living standard. There are over 35 colleges and universities in this area, ensuring that your children will have the education they dream of.
Cape Coral:
With an enormous canal system, this beautiful city provides an affordable option for those who want a waterfront property without spending heaps of money. The population is around 195,000 and growing. One cool thing about Cape Coral is that despite having a considerable population, it doesn’t feel like a busy city. The average house in this delightful town costs about $230,000 while you can easily rent a house for $1,244 per month which is quite reasonable. Keep in mind, a lot of these are waterfront homes that would cost much more in a major city. When you look at the facilities available in Cape Coral, this rent only seems fair. The median household income here is almost $62,000.
Cape Coral is the biggest city between Tampa and Miami. Located near Fort Myers, this city has a lot to offer. The crime rate is lower than the average in Florida and you can expect all the facilities you would in a big city. There are lots of entertainment and leisure activities with fun places like Useppa Island, Cape Coral Yacht, and Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve.
Kissimmee
Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios. What do these three places have in common? They are all located near Kissimmee. It is a family-oriented city with a population of just over 72,000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average house price in this town is $173,200. You can also stay on rent, at a median house rent of $1,144.