These Are The 20 Best Small Towns In Florida For 2018

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Data updated for 2018.

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You’ve seen these lists before: Best places to live in Florida, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Sunshine State and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in Florida based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in Florida ranked the based–you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 20, here’s a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Florida for 2018:

If you live in one of these small towns like Highland Beach, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Sunshine State check out:

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How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Florida

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:

Population Density (Higher is better)
Lowest Unemployment Rates
Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
Commute Times (Lower is better)

Best States In America

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot – 278 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 278, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Florida. Top of that list — Highland Beach.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 20 best small towns in Florida.

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1. Highland Beach

Highland Beach, FL

Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0

Population: 3,689
Median Income: $100,063 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $475,200 (13th Best)
More on Highland Beach: Photos | Data| Homes For Sale

2. Hillsboro Beach

Population: 1,467
Median Income: $74,135 (31st Best)
Median Home Value: $359,700 (29th Best)
More on Hillsboro Beach: Data| Homes For Sale

3. Indian River Shores

Population: 4,082
Median Income: $120,909 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $725,500 (3rd Best)
More on Indian River Shores: Data| Homes For Sale

4. Vineyards

Population: 3,925
Median Income: $71,597 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $440,200 (18th Best)
More on Vineyards: Data| Homes For Sale

5. Pine Ridge Cdp (Collier County)

Source: Public Domain

Population: 1,833
Median Income: $86,705 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $929,700 (2nd Best)
More on Pine Ridge Cdp (Collier County): Data| Homes For Sale

6. South Beach

Population: 3,325
Median Income: $102,941 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $582,300 (7th Best)
More on South Beach: Data| Homes For Sale

7. Harbor Bluffs

Population: 2,931
Median Income: $87,969 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $296,200 (42nd Best)
More on Harbor Bluffs: Data| Homes For Sale

8. Lake Clarke Shores

Population: 3,517
Median Income: $71,648 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $267,600 (50th Best)
More on Lake Clarke Shores: Data| Homes For Sale

9. Sewall’s Point

Population: 2,146
Median Income: $107,083 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $629,600 (6th Best)
More on Sewall’s Point: Data| Homes For Sale

10. Melbourne Beach

Population: 3,189
Median Income: $78,150 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $304,600 (39th Best)
More on Melbourne Beach: Data| Homes For Sale

11. Windermere

Windermere, FL

Source: Public domain

Population: 3,175
Median Income: $127,344 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $519,800 (11th Best)
More on Windermere: Photos | Data| Homes For Sale

12. Burnt Store Marina

Population: 1,877
Median Income: $67,326 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $292,200 (43rd Best)
More on Burnt Store Marina: Data| Homes For Sale

13. Punta Rassa

Population: 1,890
Median Income: $54,628 (90th Best)
Median Home Value: $314,800 (38th Best)
More on Punta Rassa: Data| Homes For Sale

14. Oriole Beach

Population: 1,636
Median Income: $66,536 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $212,500 (81st Best)
More on Oriole Beach: Data| Homes For Sale

15. Island Walk

Population: 3,085
Median Income: $70,527 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $399,400 (22nd Best)
More on Island Walk: Data| Homes For Sale

16. The Meadows

Population: 4,100
Median Income: $53,734 (96th Best)
Median Home Value: $216,800 (78th Best)
More on The Meadows: Data| Homes For Sale

17. Atlantis

Population: 2,239
Median Income: $76,641 (27th Best)
Median Home Value: $316,100 (37th Best)
More on Atlantis: Data| Homes For Sale

18. Tierra Verde

Population: 3,469
Median Income: $91,034 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $450,000 (16th Best)
More on Tierra Verde: Data| Homes For Sale

19. Belleair

Belleair, FL

Source: Wikipedia User Mikereichold | CC BY-SA 2.5

Population: 3,958
Median Income: $84,205 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $351,000 (31st Best)
More on Belleair: Photos | Data| Homes For Sale

20. Indian Rocks Beach

Indian Rocks Beach, FL

Source: Wikipedia User Jec8992 | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 4,213
Median Income: $61,389 (61st Best)
Median Home Value: $424,400 (19th Best)
More on Indian Rocks Beach: Photos | Data| Homes For Sale

Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 20 small towns in Florida are the best, in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Florida:

Montura
East Bronson
Interlachen

For more Florida reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Florida

Rank	City	Population	Median Income	Median Home Value
1	Highland Beach	3,689	$100,063	$475,200
2	Hillsboro Beach	1,467	$74,135	$359,700
3	Indian River Shores	4,082	$120,909	$725,500
4	Vineyards	3,925	$71,597	$440,200
5	Pine Ridge Cdp (Collier County)	1,833	$86,705	$929,700
6	South Beach	3,325	$102,941	$582,300
7	Harbor Bluffs	2,931	$87,969	$296,200
8	Lake Clarke Shores	3,517	$71,648	$267,600
9	Sewall’s Point	2,146	$107,083	$629,600
10	Melbourne Beach	3,189	$78,150	$304,600
11	Windermere	3,175	$127,344	$519,800
12	Burnt Store Marina	1,877	$67,326	$292,200
13	Punta Rassa	1,890	$54,628	$314,800
14	Oriole Beach	1,636	$66,536	$212,500
15	Island Walk	3,085	$70,527	$399,400
16	The Meadows	4,100	$53,734	$216,800
17	Atlantis	2,239	$76,641	$316,100
18	Tierra Verde	3,469	$91,034	$450,000
19	Belleair	3,958	$84,205	$351,000
20	Indian Rocks Beach	4,213	$61,389	$424,400
21	Bay Hill	4,863	$102,589	$446,100
22	Palm Beach Shores	1,157	$57,813	$419,900
23	Ocean Ridge	1,627	$79,688	$686,800
24	St. Augustine South	4,930	$60,287	$166,900
25	Holmes Beach	4,119	$56,585	$487,800
26	Feather Sound	3,472	$70,972	$260,200
27	Belleair Beach	1,590	$90,125	$551,400
28	Wabasso Beach	1,658	$64,688	$421,600
29	Juno Beach	3,384	$80,820	$369,300
30	North Redington Beach	1,533	$61,050	$536,900
31	Tiger Point	2,845	$86,109	$243,400
32	Three Oaks	3,959	$75,962	$202,200
33	Greenbriar	2,764	$60,500	$156,200
34	Redington Shores	2,136	$57,298	$362,300
35	Hypoluxo	2,689	$58,606	$214,700
36	Plantation	4,995	$63,556	$244,000
37	Edgewood	2,735	$70,150	$249,100
38	Indialantic	2,798	$73,661	$284,100
39	Lely	3,788	$50,972	$179,900
40	Bal Harbour	2,917	$49,869	$641,900
41	Lely Resort	4,874	$58,321	$467,800
42	Gotha	2,012	$86,458	$386,400
43	Redington Beach	1,489	$83,385	$393,800
44	Villano Beach	2,829	$77,530	$290,000
45	Desoto Lakes	3,982	$53,991	$195,000
46	Pretty Bayou	3,505	$56,969	$231,900
47	South Palm Beach	1,309	$51,887	$223,600
48	Sawgrass	4,847	$83,029	$455,900
49	Indian Shores	1,498	$53,864	$300,000
50	Lake Sarasota	4,605	$61,631	$172,600
51	Montverde	1,532	$76,125	$257,100
52	North Key Largo	1,038	$144,896	$1,634,800
53	Oakland	2,773	$92,639	$261,200
54	Ponce Inlet	3,118	$73,095	$329,700
55	Silver Lake	1,587	$58,563	$172,700
56	Palm Shores	1,242	$65,588	$159,300
57	Manasota Key	1,078	$66,563	$245,100
58	Lake Belvedere Estates	3,878	$65,351	$157,000
59	Verona Walk	2,300	$51,514	$338,800
60	June Park	4,209	$56,161	$159,600
61	Flagler Beach	4,784	$48,719	$240,200
62	Mary Esther	4,177	$54,390	$160,000
63	San Antonio	1,129	$68,281	$184,500
64	Madeira Beach	4,343	$57,328	$376,300
65	Whitfield Cdp (Manatee County)	3,362	$66,491	$199,800
66	Keystone Heights	1,530	$60,667	$124,700
67	Bear Creek	1,959	$51,034	$245,200
68	Daytona Beach Shores	4,351	$44,102	$275,000
69	Anna Maria	1,128	$46,776	$544,900
70	Cabana Colony	2,578	$57,143	$143,600
71	Key Vista	1,666	$67,067	$177,600
72	Lake Mary Jane	1,599	$70,664	$272,100
73	Cortez	4,004	$46,949	$231,300
74	West Bradenton	4,533	$58,947	$184,000
75	Ridge Wood Heights	4,410	$51,109	$156,100
76	Chuluota	2,392	$63,807	$161,200
77	Malabar	2,886	$68,047	$223,300
78	Mexico Beach	1,341	$54,554	$193,600
79	Big Pine Key	4,902	$59,500	$342,000
80	Belleair Bluffs	2,255	$44,350	$178,100
81	Stock Island	4,214	$40,815	$252,500
82	Lochmoor Waterway Estates	4,640	$51,221	$192,600
83	Vamo	4,824	$47,706	$181,400
84	Virginia Gardens	2,735	$50,789	$233,500
85	River Ridge	4,523	$49,651	$151,900
86	Big Coppitt Key	3,062	$65,078	$248,200
87	Woodlawn Beach	2,391	$78,164	$232,900
88	Charlotte Park	2,373	$43,384	$153,500
89	St. James City	3,667	$53,000	$185,700
90	Allentown	1,143	$73,718	$180,400
91	Wallace	1,675	$85,357	$221,100
92	Lower Grand Lagoon	3,461	$42,926	$175,200
93	Gun Club Estates	1,401	$60,241	$67,700
94	White City	3,514	$54,221	$187,700
95	Buckingham	4,305	$60,548	$236,000
96	Laguna Beach	3,959	$46,366	$193,100
97	Bay Pines	3,379	$50,703	$157,000
98	Tavernier	2,182	$48,750	$344,300
99	Grant-Valkaria	3,996	$66,250	$276,000
100	Homosassa	2,002	$46,714	$241,500