These Are The 20 Best Small Towns In Florida For 2018


We used science and data to determine which small towns in Florida are the best of the best.

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
April 3, 2018 - 1,776 views
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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:

  1. Highland Beach (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  2. Hillsboro Beach (Homes For Sale)
  3. Indian River Shores (Homes For Sale)
  4. Vineyards (Homes For Sale)
  5. Pine Ridge CDP (Collier County) (Homes For Sale)
  6. South Beach (Homes For Sale)
  7. Harbor Bluffs (Homes For Sale)
  8. Lake Clarke Shores (Homes For Sale)
  9. Sewall’s Point (Homes For Sale)
  10. Melbourne Beach (Homes For Sale)

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:

  1. Montura
  2. East Bronson
  3. 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

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