You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Florida. Best sururbs in Florida. Best counties in Florida.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all 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 superb 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 want to know which places in Florida ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Florida For 2024
- Sewall’s Point
- South Beach
- Wabasso Beach
- Highland Beach
- Indian River Shores
- Vineyards
- Bay Hill
- El Portal
- Belleair
- Sawgrass
- Plantation
- Tierra Verde
- Melbourne Beach
- Windermere
- Punta Rassa
What’s the best small town in Florida? Sewall’s Point is the best small town in Florida based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Sewall’s Point, 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:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Florida For 2024
1. Sewall’s Point
/10
Population: 1,922
Median Income: $122,391 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,336,842 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
2. South Beach
/10
Population: 3,120
Median Income: $193,281 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,093,865 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
3. Wabasso Beach
/10
Population: 2,101
Median Income: $120,673 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $787,959 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
4. Highland Beach
/10
Population: 4,261
Median Income: $140,045 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $934,974 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%
5. Indian River Shores
/10
Population: 4,266
Median Income: $153,242 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,434,354 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%
6. Vineyards
/10
Population: 3,649
Median Income: $120,287 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $775,857 (30th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
7. Bay Hill
/10
Population: 4,363
Median Income: $135,063 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $801,454 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
8. El Portal
/10
Population: 1,904
Median Income: $102,614 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $812,655 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
9. Belleair
/10
Population: 4,295
Median Income: $114,556 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $700,159 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
10. Sawgrass
/10
Population: 4,877
Median Income: $119,349 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,034,163 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
11. Plantation
/10
Population: 4,274
Median Income: $72,209 (100th Best)
Median Home Value: $503,508 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
12. Tierra Verde
/10
Population: 4,072
Median Income: $143,913 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $885,255 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
13. Melbourne Beach
/10
Population: 3,214
Median Income: $80,795 (78th Best)
Median Home Value: $627,160 (42nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
14. Windermere
/10
Population: 3,043
Median Income: $143,988 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $692,344 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
15. Punta Rassa
/10
Population: 1,370
Median Income: $90,000 (56th Best)
Median Home Value: $789,976 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Florida
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Florida possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, 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)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 275 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 275, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Florida. Top of that list — Sewall’s Point.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Florida.
Summary: 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, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Florida are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Florida are Sewall’s Point, South Beach, Wabasso Beach, Highland Beach, Indian River Shores, Vineyards, Bay Hill, El Portal, Belleair, and Sawgrass.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Florida:
- Moon Lake
- Pomona Park
- Montura
For more Florida reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Florida
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sewall’s Point, FL | 1,922 | $122,391 | 2.1% | |
| 2 | South Beach, FL | 3,120 | $193,281 | 1.3% | |
| 3 | Wabasso Beach, FL | 2,101 | $120,673 | 0.0% | |
| 4 | Highland Beach, FL | 4,261 | $140,045 | 4.8% | |
| 5 | Indian River Shores, FL | 4,266 | $153,242 | 0.6% | |
| 6 | Vineyards, FL | 3,649 | $120,287 | 1.4% | |
| 7 | Bay Hill, FL | 4,363 | $135,063 | 2.0% | |
| 8 | El Portal, FL | 1,904 | $102,614 | 2.0% | |
| 9 | Belleair, FL | 4,295 | $114,556 | 3.2% | |
| 10 | Sawgrass, FL | 4,877 | $119,349 | 1.8% | |
| 11 | Plantation, FL | 4,274 | $72,209 | 1.4% | |
| 12 | Tierra Verde, FL | 4,072 | $143,913 | 4.5% | |
| 13 | Melbourne Beach, FL | 3,214 | $80,795 | 1.3% | |
| 14 | Windermere, FL | 3,043 | $143,988 | 2.1% | |
| 15 | Punta Rassa, FL | 1,370 | $90,000 | 0.0% | |
| 16 | Belleair Beach, FL | 1,512 | $128,750 | 3.2% | |
| 17 | Redington Shores, FL | 2,078 | $96,250 | 1.9% | |
| 18 | Vamo, FL | 2,656 | $81,875 | 3.8% | |
| 19 | Atlantis, FL | 1,767 | $96,920 | 2.8% | |
| 20 | Laguna Beach, FL | 4,194 | $74,911 | 0.1% | |
| 21 | Redington Beach, FL | 1,320 | $104,474 | 3.3% | |
| 22 | Indian Shores, FL | 1,182 | $110,163 | 0.0% | |
| 23 | Hillsboro Beach, FL | 2,225 | $86,250 | 6.3% | |
| 24 | Tiger Point, FL | 3,511 | $116,711 | 3.5% | |
| 25 | Harbor Bluffs, FL | 2,889 | $108,403 | 9.6% | |
| 26 | Ocean Ridge, FL | 1,712 | $107,813 | 3.5% | |
| 27 | Cabana Colony, FL | 2,334 | $92,635 | 1.1% | |
| 28 | Holmes Beach, FL | 3,076 | $94,545 | 2.4% | |
| 29 | Palm Beach Shores, FL | 1,217 | $78,240 | 8.9% | |
| 30 | Burnt Store Marina, FL | 2,278 | $104,924 | 5.8% | |
| 31 | Palm Shores, FL | 1,577 | $98,125 | 1.6% | |
| 32 | Ponce Inlet, FL | 3,364 | $98,125 | 2.0% | |
| 33 | Manasota Key, FL | 1,718 | $111,250 | 6.3% | |
| 34 | Lake Clarke Shores, FL | 3,553 | $133,333 | 7.4% | |
| 35 | Juno Beach, FL | 3,818 | $62,566 | 8.8% | |
| 36 | Oriole Beach, FL | 1,731 | $71,080 | 2.1% | |
| 37 | Feather Sound, FL | 3,289 | $93,273 | 4.1% | |
| 38 | Gotha, FL | 1,640 | $174,750 | 2.1% | |
| 39 | Wabasso, FL | 1,179 | $53,011 | 1.9% | |
| 40 | South Palm Beach, FL | 1,648 | $82,917 | 1.3% | |
| 41 | Rio, FL | 1,373 | $93,720 | 9.6% | |
| 42 | Oakland, FL | 3,488 | $131,645 | 2.8% | |
| 43 | Montverde, FL | 1,782 | $97,614 | 2.1% | |
| 44 | Indian Rocks Beach, FL | 3,689 | $92,283 | 4.9% | |
| 45 | Big Coppitt Key, FL | 3,188 | $102,943 | 2.9% | |
| 46 | Orangetree, FL | 4,929 | $107,109 | 3.2% | |
| 47 | Edgewood, FL | 2,689 | $81,184 | 1.4% | |
| 48 | Navarre Beach, FL | 1,594 | $121,266 | 4.6% | |
| 49 | South Sarasota, FL | 4,855 | $83,438 | 3.9% | |
| 50 | Roseland, FL | 1,377 | $62,520 | 0.0% | |
| 51 | Verona Walk, FL | 2,998 | $73,911 | 7.6% | |
| 52 | Indialantic, FL | 3,016 | $74,237 | 5.8% | |
| 53 | Virginia Gardens, FL | 2,419 | $75,455 | 3.8% | |
| 54 | Lake Belvedere Estates, FL | 2,867 | $70,250 | 4.9% | |
| 55 | Woodlawn Beach, FL | 3,128 | $107,321 | 3.8% | |
| 56 | Lake Sarasota, FL | 3,701 | $100,958 | 3.1% | |
| 57 | San Antonio, FL | 1,375 | $87,750 | 2.9% | |
| 58 | Lake Mary Jane, FL | 2,122 | $152,663 | 3.1% | |
| 59 | Pretty Bayou, FL | 2,469 | $78,008 | 8.4% | |
| 60 | Greenbriar, FL | 2,356 | $66,801 | 2.5% | |
| 61 | Bay Pines, FL | 2,717 | $71,635 | 0.8% | |
| 62 | Island Walk, FL | 2,679 | $76,315 | 15.6% | |
| 63 | Bear Creek, FL | 2,066 | $70,298 | 3.8% | |
| 64 | St. Leo, FL | 2,426 | $82,115 | 10.4% | |
| 65 | Tangerine, FL | 3,870 | $107,880 | 2.5% | |
| 66 | West Bradenton, FL | 3,935 | $83,833 | 4.0% | |
| 67 | Malabar, FL | 2,982 | $99,954 | 2.4% | |
| 68 | Wallace, FL | 3,652 | $113,221 | 0.0% | |
| 69 | Geneva, FL | 3,247 | $140,094 | 0.9% | |
| 70 | North Redington Beach, FL | 1,349 | $83,750 | 12.0% | |
| 71 | Butler Beach, FL | 4,831 | $83,661 | 6.3% | |
| 72 | Christmas, FL | 1,545 | $92,550 | 1.7% | |
| 73 | Yalaha, FL | 1,404 | $122,644 | 0.0% | |
| 74 | June Park, FL | 4,757 | $78,675 | 2.8% | |
| 75 | Lely, FL | 3,548 | $59,167 | 2.9% | |
| 76 | Belleair Bluffs, FL | 2,476 | $51,913 | 4.7% | |
| 77 | Ridge Wood Heights, FL | 4,812 | $64,296 | 1.6% | |
| 78 | Valparaiso, FL | 4,889 | $77,837 | 3.0% | |
| 79 | Charlotte Park, FL | 1,795 | $64,893 | 3.8% | |
| 80 | Juno Ridge, FL | 1,245 | $90,972 | 2.4% | |
| 81 | Winter Beach, FL | 4,273 | $82,045 | 6.8% | |
| 82 | Howey-In-The-Hills, FL | 2,038 | $83,750 | 2.8% | |
| 83 | Venice Gardens, FL | 3,301 | $59,591 | 4.3% | |
| 84 | Stock Island, FL | 4,564 | $62,309 | 1.6% | |
| 85 | North River Shores, FL | 3,390 | $65,682 | 3.1% | |
| 86 | Eglin Afb, FL | 2,759 | $67,153 | 3.0% | |
| 87 | Patrick Afb, FL | 1,606 | $76,667 | 1.7% | |
| 88 | Mary Esther, FL | 4,018 | $75,167 | 6.4% | |
| 89 | Cudjoe Key, FL | 2,238 | $95,086 | 3.0% | |
| 90 | Haverhill, FL | 2,859 | $73,636 | 4.7% | |
| 91 | Biscayne Park, FL | 3,098 | $69,830 | 2.4% | |
| 92 | Bal Harbour, FL | 3,035 | $86,172 | 7.9% | |
| 93 | Hutchinson Island South, FL | 4,203 | $63,300 | 5.4% | |
| 94 | Molino, FL | 1,253 | $87,614 | 0.0% | |
| 95 | Alva, FL | 2,986 | $81,361 | 0.9% | |
| 96 | Bagdad, FL | 4,359 | $78,182 | 1.1% | |
| 97 | Brookridge, FL | 4,783 | $49,240 | 1.4% | |
| 98 | Desoto Lakes, FL | 1,738 | $71,920 | 2.2% | |
| 99 | Grant-Valkaria, FL | 4,520 | $109,850 | 1.1% | |
| 100 | Madeira Beach, FL | 3,931 | $71,712 | 4.5% |
