Daytona Beach Outdoors and Recreational Opportunities
If you like the outdoors, Daytona is the place.
The World’s Most Famous Beach (a breathtaking 500 feet wide at low tide) has an ocean park atmosphere second to none, and it’s open year-round. In addition to the beach at Daytona, there are miles of oceanfront awaiting you in Volusia county.
Recreational opportunities in the outdoors are the most important assets of this area..
The fishing and boating here is incredible-both in the Ocean and the Indian river.
There is always something to catch year round and our weather lets you do it. If you like the water, this is the place
Recreational Opportunities:
- 20 Marinas
- 50 Parks,
- 48 public Golf Courses
- 17 private golf courses
- 42 Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks
- 9 public Tennis Courts
- 25 charter boats
To see a complete list of parks and recreational opportunities see
- the sites below
- http://www.floridastateparks.org/FndaParkRegion.cfm?Dist=Southeast
http://volusia.org/parks/links.htm
Things to do outdoors:
- Fishing-saltwater, freshwater-Ocean, Bay and freshwater
- Boating-Ocean, Bay or the Indian river
- Camping
- Diving
- Hiking
- Tennis
- Golf
- Tennis
- Bike riding
- Birding
- Photography and Wildlife watching
- Kayaking—canoes-there are good rental locations and lots of places to launch.
Other places to visit.
- Central Florida Zoological Park (37 miles) Sanford
- Cypress Gardens (101 miles) Winter Haven
- Florida’s Busch Gardens (139 miles) Tampa
- Florida’s Silver Springs (63 miles) Silver Springs
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (56 miles) Kennedy Space Center
- Orlando Science Center (50 miles) Orlando
- Sea World of Florida (65 miles) Orlando
- St. Augustine Historic District (53 miles) St. Augustine
- Walt Disney World (67 miles) Lake Buena Vista
- Wet-N-Wild (63 miles) Orlando
- Universal Studios (63 miles) Orlando
Pro Sports
- Daytona International speedway
- Jacksonville NFL Jaguars –1-2 hrs away—89 miles
- http://www.jaguars.com/
- MLB-Florida Marlins A 4-5 hour drive to Miami
- 2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL 33056 · 305-626-7400
- Miami Dolphins A 4-5 hour drive to Miami
- 2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL 33056 · 305-620-2578
- Miami Heat A 4-5 hour drive to Miami
- 601 Biscayne Blvd, American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL 33132-1801 · 786-777-432
For more information on other topics or areas see the links to the left.
The cost of living index is based on the composite price of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, clothing and entertainment.
Cost of living indexes will generally be higher in areas that offer access to beaches, culture, arts and recreation. In addition areas, that offer a wider variety of services such as health and education will run higher due to higher wages, and increased quality of living.
Cost of living indexing explanation
A figure of 100 points is used as an average both for the USA and Florida. For example:
Boise Idaho is ranked at a 99
Boston Mass is rated at 240
San Francisco at 217
Statewide, Florida cities come in from a low of 90 and up.
One way to compare Florida areas to salary requirements
For example-If you were relocating from Portland Oregon (whose rate 1s 94.0) to Orlando, and you currently make $50,000 per year, the formula is as follows
Take the destination index, in this case Orlando-94.0 and divide by Portland’s index-120, then multiply by a salary of $50,000. This will give you a figure of $39,166 which would be required to make in Orlando to have the same quality of life.
See comparable Florida statewide
* Re cost of living–in some areas Real Estate has went up dramatically however costs that factor in such as food, transportation, rents etc have not increased at the same rate-so in some areas, even though housing is expensive, the overall rating may still be low
2007 stats per Sperlings best Places http://www.bestplaces.net/
Boca Raton-154.74
Bradenton-114
Cape Coral-Ft Myers-108.0
Ft Lauderdale-132.0
Fort Walton-Destin-120
Jacksonville metro-94.0
Big Pine Key fl-132.46
Key Largo-146.0
Key West-168.0
Marathon fl-162.06
Miami metro-138.0
Melbourne-92.72
Naples Fl-250.59
Orlando metro-94.0
Palm Bay-84.56
Palm Coast-Flagler-125.01
Panama City-86.35
Pensacola metro-82.0
Sarasota-108.75
Tampa 94.60
St Pete-Clearwater-91.58
Vero-Beach Indian River-122.87
West Palm Beach metro-112.05
(Population Weighted-State Average=100
See national comparisons
Cost of living (100 = nationwide average)
* New York, NY -164.50
* Long Beach, CA -135.71
* Palo Alto, CA -234.42
* Boston, MA -127.60
* Malibu, CA -492.80
* San Francisco, -187.23
* Greenwich, CT 215
* Chicago, IL -126.45
* Dallas Tx -92,94
* Atlanta Ga -112.21
For more information about cost of living go to either
Sperlings best Places http://www.bestplaces.net/
or Accra’s site at http://www.coli.org
Palm Coast and Flagler CountyHome
Flagler County (population 68,000) is located on the upper east coast of Florida between Daytona Beach and historic St. Augustine. People have definitely discovered this formerly remote corner of Florida. Palm Coast, the only “city” of size in the county, is growing rapidly both east and west of I-95. Real estate options here run mostly to new and newer, but at this time the county’s price index is still well belong the state average.
Occupying 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, Flagler County has unspoiled and uncrowded beaches, pristine lakes and waterways, grasslands and forests, good golf courses, and a lot of parklands. On the oceanside, the little town of Flagler Beach is still off the beaten track, and still charming in its own way. Its ocean pier is a local hangout. There’s a state recreation area called Gamble Rogers a couple miles south of there that harks back to Florida as it used to be, with a fine undeveloped beach and hiking trails. If you’re a kayaker, you can put in there and explore virgin salt marshes and trails.
North along A1A a few miles is one of those secret places you might go back to again and again once you’ve moved here: it’s called Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, known as “The Rocks” for its 1boulder-strewn beach, and it’s part of a plantation that dates back to Spanish Florida. It has a rich mix of coastal scrub, hardwood hammock, marshland, and that unusual beach.
But there’s more. Unexpectedly, in the midst of all this are huge formal ornamental gardens under grand oaks and palms, with roses, bromeliads and fruit trees arranged around koi ponds, bridges, and fountains. It’s a pretty cool place to meditate, take pictures, or just chill.
Flagler’s climate ranges from a winter average of 64º F to a summer average of 84º F. That means lots of sweaters in the comfortable but cool winters (263 miles north of Miami!), but also that it’s usually pleasant here in the summers even when other parts of Central Florida get unbearably hot.
Flagler County has both the relaxed quality-of-life benefits of its relative remoteness, and day trip proximity to the big cities. Thus for day trips, all of Orlando/Central Florida’s theme parks and major ttractions are just 75 miles away. Metropolitan Jacksonville and its big city nightlife, Arts and health facilities are just 55 miles away. Flagler is about equidistant in driving time (1:45) to the international airports at Orlando or Jacksonville.
Nearest smaller cities to Palm Coast include:
- Beverly Beach, FL (5.3 miles)
- Bunnell, FL (5.4 miles)
- Flagler Beach, FL (8.0 miles)
- Crescent Beach, FL (15.9 miles)
- Ormond-By-The-Sea, FL (17.5 miles)
- Butler Beach, FL (18.3 miles)
- St. Augustine Shores, FL (19.8 miles)
- Ormond Beach, FL (20.2 miles)
For distances between cities go to
http://www3.dot.state.fl.us/mileage/default.asp
Now is definitely the time to think seriously about buying into northeastern Florida, given how rapidly everything is growing and how prices are increasing. In the past two years Flagler and St. Johns counties (St. Johns is St. Augustine) have been among the fastest developing counties in the United States on a per cent of population basis, albeit from small baselines. (Florida recently had 14 of the top 100 counties in the country, by rate of growth.)
- For more information about this area of Florida, go to http://www.flaglerchamber.org/relocate.shtml
- see Daytona general info links on this Website.
- For Real Estate information and related business information, see the Real Estate link on this Website.
- For some comparative stats on Florida’s regions, go to http://eFlorida.com/
- .©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Ormond Beach
Ormond Beach enjoys a high standard of living or quality of life. The town was originally founded as a destination point for the rich and famous at the turn of the century
. Surrounded by lakes, forests and streams, it is an ideal location for outdoor activities
- Ormond beach is often referred to as the Birthplace of Speed.
- Automobile racing began on the wide, smooth beaches of Ormond Beach in 1903, which led to land-speed records, beach races in nearby Daytona Beach and the founding of NASCAR.
- Once the home of John D. Rockefeller, Ormond Beach quickly earned a reputation as a first-class resort town with an exceptional quality of life, which still continues today.
- The average age in years is 46.
- Per an MLS search in Oct 2005-the starting point for a 2/2 was, $233,000
Ormond Beach description and assets:
A seaside community, located in the northeastern corner of the East-central region of Florida, separated by the Halifax River on the west, and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east.
It is a small community of only 40,000 and offers a great peaceful lifestyle. If you do opt for more choices (shopping-entertainment) then the neighboring communities of historic St. Augustine, Orlando and metropolitan Jacksonville are less than a 1 to 2 hour drive.
For exact distances go to
http://www.ersys.com/usa/12/1253150/distance.htm
The environment:
The subtropical climate feels more tropical in the summer. With an average high temperature of 88 degrees during the summers.
White sand beaches offer sunning and relaxation, water and jet skiing, surfing, scuba diving, fishing and windsurfing.
Just three miles north of Ormond Beach is the scenic Tomoka State Park, which offer fishing, boating, hiking and camping. The park also has walking and biking paths, wooded campsites and guided canoe tours along the Tomoka and Halifax Rivers. In addition to this there are a total opf 16 other parks in the area.
Bulow Creek State Park, Featuring one of the largest stands of Southern Live Oak, can be found just off the Old Dixie Highway.
Business in Ormond Beach
Ormond Beach enjoys a firm place in the expanding commercial and residential market of Daytona Beach Metro. (population 509,545). Business owners here, have a healthy business climate and opportunities to take part in worldwide marketing.
Public Schools
Name: Hinson Middle School
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32117
386 258-4682
Name: Ormond Beach Elementary PTA
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 100 Corbin Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
386 258-4666
Name: Ormond Beach Middle School
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 151 Domicilio Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
386 258-4667
WebSite: http://www.obms.org
Name: Osceola Elementary School
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 100 Osceola Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
386 258-4669
Name: Pine Trail Elementary School
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 300 Airport Rd., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
386 258-4672
Name: Seabreeze High School
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 2700 N. Oleander Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118
386 258-4674
WebSite: http://www.seabreezehigh.org
Name: Tomoka Elementary School
Category: Schools-Public
Address: 999 Old Tomoka Rd., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
386 258-4676
Private Schools
Name: Bet Sefer Heritage School
Category: Schools-Private
Address: 55 N. Washington St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
386 676-0539
Name: Our Lady of Lourdes Church & School
Category: Schools-Private
Address: 1014 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118
386 255-0433 Ext:
WebSite: http://www.olld.org
Name: St. Brendan School
Category: Schools-Private
Address: 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach,, FL 32176
386 441-1331
Health
Name: Florida Hospital Memorial Division
Category: Hospitals
Address: 875 Sterthaus Ave., Ormond Beach, Fl 32174
386 676-6000
WebSite: http://www.FHMD.com
Name: Florida Hospital-Oceanside
Category: Hospitals
Address: 264 S. Atlantic Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
386 672-4161
WebSite: http://www.FHMD.com
To see a full list of all health facilities go to http://facilitylocator.floridahealthstat.com/
In conclusion Ormond beach is a popular retiree area, so if you are looking foe a small community with options nearby, this could be the place.
For more stats countywide go to the Daytona general info links. For Real Estate information and related businesses see the Real Estate section.
“Think about the possibilities of living in an area where most people go for vacation.”
.©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Kissimmee
Kissimmee (pronounced Kih-sih-me) is a city in Osceola County, in the south Orlando metro area. It’s right in the middle of central Florida, adjacent to a couple of big lakes called Tohokepaliga (really). It enjoys a great location for exploring Disney (right next door), the Orlando area (10 miles north), or the chain of lakes region of central Florida (everywhere). Melbourne’s excelent beaches are now less than an hour away, with the nearly complete modernizing of US 192. From a commercial perspective, Kissimmee is at Florida’s crossroads – literally, since the big “X” where the I-4 corridor crosses the Florida Turnpike is just up the road.
For driving distances throughout Florida from Kissimmee go to :http://www.ersys.com/usa/12/1236950/distance.htm
Real Estate opportunities in the area are as diverse as you’d expect in a big city, or, close by, as rural as all the books about Florida’s “Best Backroads” and small towns. You can buy classic little historic places in the adjacent old town of St. Cloud, or you can find pricier river and lakefront properties both southeast and southwest of Kissimmee. Just east of St. Cloud there is also the major new planned community of Harmony.
So Kissimmee is much more than just the gateway city to Disney World and other world famous attractions that it once was. It still is the inexpensive version of that. But you should look past the congested and unattractive parts of US 192 that define too many people’s first impressions (City Fathers are doing something about this, and the city and county are belatedly working on creating the infrastructure to support the area’s rapid growth). Instead, see it in context. And if you are relocating to Florida, check it out.
A few facts
- The estimated population, in 2003, was 54,598 and the median age is 33.
- Kissimmee is adjacent to Lake Tohopekaliga and the Kissimmee chain of lakes. These destinations have always been some of the best destinations for trophy bass fishing in the country.
- The area to the south and through the lake district all the way to Lake Okeechobee is one of the prettiest in Florida.
- In general, recreation options are extensive, and include everything you can do in Florida
- The city of Kissimmee is located in the fourth fastest growing county in the United States.
- The growth has been in the areas of business, industry, tourism, and residential relocation.
- Due to the rapid growth there is a constant need for quality employees and new business.
- Kissimmee’s historic downtown historic districts feature unique shops, art galleries, antique shops, restaurant and sightseeing.
- The area goes from a modern feel to a Western feel. (The Kissimmee silver spurs rodeo is a major event and draws competitors from around the country).
Major types of employment in the area.
- Arts, Entertainment, Recreation,
- Accommodation, & Food Services
- Trade (Retail/Wholesale)
- Education, Health,& Social Services
- Construction
- Professional, Management, Administrative, & Waste Management Services
- Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities
- Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, & Rental/Leasing
Transportation
Kissimmee sits astride the surface transportation commercial crossroads of peninsular Florida, and it’s also just minutes from the south airport entrance to Orlando International.
All the same highways, railways etc, that are on the Orlando transportation link apply here with a few additions.
- US 192
A major tourist strip in the area around the Walt Disney World Resort, including “mile markers” (with a variable distance between each) to help tourists locate businesses. - Osceola parkway
In the late 1990s, the Osceola Parkway was built as a bypass of 192 around Kissimmee - 192 Intersections with other U.S. and Interstate Highways
- US 27 west of the Walt Disney World Resort
- I-4 at the Walt Disney World Resort
- US 17/US 92 (John Young Parkway) in Kissimmee begin US 17/US 92 concurrency
- US 17/US 92/US 441 (Main Street) in Kissimmee end US 17/US 92 concurrency; begin US 441 concurrency
- US 441 at Holopaw end US 441 concurrency
- I-95 west of Melbourne. As noted, 192 has been 4-laned from about Holopaw to 95, continuing on a commercial but fast urban parkway all the way to the beaches. 4-laning west of Holopaw is under construction.
- For more local information go to: http://www.floridakiss.com/
In conclusion
Kissimmee has both rural and brand new neighborhoods, and some Old Florida small town neighborhoods. You can have a home close to commercial streets in the city, in the country on a lake, or live in a rural neighborhood. Prices are very affordable.
And if you’re looking for commercial opportunity, there’s plenty of that here too. The selection here is diverse, and yet you have everything a big city (Orlando) has to offer, and ready access to all the transportation links.
For more specifics go to the Orlando general information area links.
.©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Marco Island
A few miles south of Naples lies the unique community of Marco Island, a thoroughly American (and to its critics, charmless) version of Venice, Italy, with a zillion mansions on a zillion canals. The picture is completed with a dense tourist quarter of very high-rise hotels and condos along much of the beach.
But: Marco Island stands at the gateway to the fabled 10,000 Islands fishing and recreation area, the northern gateway to Everglades National Park. And that is what makes Marco unique. (More on that shortly.) This duality is part of what defines Marco Island today.
Marco “on land”
Marco “on land” is a mix of ultra-modern beachside resort hotels and condominium complexes with a lot of seasonal English, German, and wealthy Northeastern visitors, and single-family homes on all those canals, owned partly by full-time retiree residents or Northeastern snowbirds. Apart from the usual resort hotel offerings, Marco basically rolls up its sidewalks at night, but nearby Naples provides an active, upscale social and entertainment venue.
So: boating or golf by day, Naples or stay home at night. All in a place that wears the mantle “paradise” quite comfortably. If you fit the description, and like a relaxed and Palm Beach-like lifestyle, Marco Island is heaven.
In between
As a collection of beautiful places, the Naples-Marco area offers some of the nicest beaches in all of Florida, one of which is Tigertail on Marco Island. My close friend who partly grew up on Marco tells me that you haven’t lived until you’ve gazed at a full moon from this magical spot. In fact the whole western coast of the island, called Crescent Beach, is pretty nice. There’s a good public beach at the southern tip of the island, adjacent to Caxambas Pass, with a jetty straight out of the movie “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”.
You can easily find other landside or land-based water diversions, of course; this is Florida. Resort hotels offer the usual tropical playthings, from SCUBA to windsurfing, and lots of residents (of all ages) partake. It’s an important part of the mix. Tennis is an important part of many residents’ lifestyle, and it’s everywhere. Just off island there are several good golf courses, and golf is big here.
Marco “on the water”
But what really sets this area apart from all of the rest of Florida is its easy access by boat to one of the world’s great Mangrove estuaries, stretching all the way to the remote Shark River in Everglades National Park on Florida’s far southwest coast. There’s fishing, exploring, secret rivers, dolphin, rays, incredible bird life, eagles – you name it. Few places in America can rival this.
With a backcountry boat you can be in some of the remotest waters in North America in ten minutes. South and east of Cape Romano is a whole different world.
This is surprisingly wild country even if you have to stay offshore the very shallow inland waters. (There are deep channels in some places, but captains beware.) With a big yacht you can still cruise, if a bit offshore, the remote mangrove islands that harbor all that backcountry and still be virtually alone. (Why? Because, as we all know, most boats always seem to stay in port. Why is that? If all Marco’s boats went out at once, it would be unfortunate.) And then you swim or fish off your boat in beautiful Gulf waters.
Or – and here is that duality of Marco again – you can cruise north to Naples and enjoy both amazingly wild islands (Little Marco, Keewaydin) along the way and then another version of mansions on the water (Port Royal), not to mention the delights of Naples Bay.
Some Basic Facts
Where
Marco Island is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Florida’s west coast about 100 miles from Miami via the Tamiami Trail highway (US Hwy 1, in the 1930’s a great engineering feat across the Everglades). Marco is the largest inhabited isle of the “Ten Thousand Islands.”
Demographics
It has a year-round population just over 15,000 (seasonal 2-3x) and an average median age of 60 (which would be lower if you factored in seasonal visitors, many of whom are future buyers; like many of Florida’s wealthy formerly retirement communities, Marco Island is evolving towards a more eclectic mix).
Character
Basically this is a resort area which attracts tourists looking for the good life and residents who want elegance on a small island lifestyle with all the amenities. Mixed in with both of these are those looking for, and finding, one of the world’s great outdoor adventures.
Beaches
Marco Island includes four miles of beach, and most of the resorts and condominiums are located directly on the beach.
Climate
The climate is (sort of) subtropical with nice breezes from the Gulf of Mexico. It is blessed with spectacular sunsets and Gulf sea breezes. The island’s natural rainfall is fairly sparse; it is actually somewhat dry, and was partially desert before developers and homeowners started watering it extensively – and then, presto, it looked subtropical like the rest of South Florida. Temperatures can be a lot more pleasant than other more humid areas of South Florida
- Average Annual High Temperature: 85F (29 C)
- Average Annual Low 65F (18 C)
Employment
One does not live and work on Marco Island – not often, anyway. The workforce is mostly off-island dayworkers, with some exceptions, who more frequent as you go up the income scale.
Here’s the mix:
- Tourist-related services (21.5%),
- Finance, insurance, real Estate and rental and leasing (17.6%),
- Retail trade (12.1%),
- Educational, health and social services (11.4%),
- Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management services (10.7%)
[Above info from http://www.city-data.com/city/Marco-Island-Florida.html]
Recreation
- Fishing
- Incredible backcountry fishing among mangrove islands for redfish, snook, tarpon, and sea trout.
- Surf casting for black drum and sheepshead.
- Offshore fishing on reefs for grouper, king mackerel, amberjack and snapper.
- Golf is a major attraction here
- Ecotours and sightseeing
- Historical Sites (Indian and pioneer Florida, mostly off Island)
- Island-type Shopping: Resort boutiques and specialty shops feature everything from bathing suits and designer wear to sandals and sunglasses.
- Dining: Numerous restaurants and eateries renowned for straight-from-the-docks seafood specialties.
Housing
Yes, this is an expensive area, in fact its rated cost of living index is 104.8 or number one in the state. However compared to New York with a CGI of 364 it’s affordable, especially if you’d like to be in an area of soft ocean breezes and palm trees, perhaps with your own boat moored at your back door. And for those who covet this life style, there are wonderful neighborhoods and condominium complexes to choose among.
As of September 2005, the least expensive home was $445,000.
In conclusion
This is a little like Palm Beach, except in a more laid back atmosphere. If you can afford it and want some privacy and refrain from traffic of the larger cities, Marco Island is it.
If you want more affordable homes, they can be found just west in Everglades City. But then you’re talking about a whole different world.
To see more information about the area, look at the Naples links.
.©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Boca Raton
Boca Raton is Palm Beach County’s southernmost city. It is located 17 miles north of Ft Lauderdale, 215 miles south of Daytona Beach, 192 miles south of Orlando and 42 miles north of Miami, on the Atlantic.
The City is growing rapidly. Its open-air shopping and dining districts, combined with a strong arts scene plus sports activities ranging from boating to tennis have helped establish it as a stylish area.
In addition to those amenities, it enjoys a strong business community. In fact in 2004 it was voted the number 4 best place in the country for working, per the Job search site at
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsbystate/a/bestcities.htm
Some statistics
- 5 miles of coastline
- Population is approximately 75,000 within city limits
- Approximately 125,000 in the unincorporated area
- Total Area: 27.14 square miles within the city limits. Slightly over five miles at widest point.
- Average Annual Temperature: 74.7 degrees; low: 66.6 degrees, high: 82.9 degrees
- Average Annual Rainfall: 60.75 inches
- Average Household income: $62,594
- Median Household Income: $62,800
- Median Age: 42.9
- 3 colleges in Boca Raton
- 2 major hospitals
- 31 parks
- 36 Golf courses
- It has a Museum of Art and it’s own orchestra (Boca Pops)
- As of Sept 2005, per an MLS search the least expensive 2/2 was $310,000
- A good site to get more information is the Boca City site at http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/
- The cost of living here is approximately that of Palm Beach-ranging towards 110
However on comparison with other parts of the country it is still a deal.
http://www.eflorida.com
See comparable Florida statewide CGI’s below:
- Monroe 112.43
- Dade 106.28
- Broward 15.80
- Pinellas 103.74
- Sarasota 102.90
- Palm Beach 102.69
- Collier 100.99
- Hillsborough 100.86
- Seminole 99.48
- Manatee 99.22
- St. Johns 99.18
- Orange 99.04
- Brevard 97.92
- Lee 97.80
(Population Weighted-State Average=100
See national comparisons
Cost of living (100 = nationwide average)
- New York, NY 364
- Long Beach, NY 340
- Palo Alto, CA 268
- Menlo Park, CA 265
- Los Altos, CA 261
- Saratoga, CA 261
- Boston, MA 240
- Malibu, CA 233
- San Francisco, CA 217
- Greenwich, CT 215
- Cambridge, MA 211
- Santa Monica, CA 197
- Keystone, CO 194
- San Rafael, CA 192
- Weston, CT 192
- Darien, CT 192
- Wellesley, MA 192
- Fort Lee, NJ 189
- Arlington, VA 184
- Honolulu, HI 184
- Washington, DC 181
- Princeton, NJ 180
- Vail, CO 178
- Chicago, IL 166
- Sunnyvale, CA 164
- San Mateo, CA 163
- Marathon, FL 161
- Ridgewood, NJ 159
- Mystic, CT 159
- Key West, FL 149
For a complete list go to http://verticals.yahoo.com/cities/categories/costofliving.html
Transportation-The same roads 195 and the Florida turnpike connect Boca north and south.
Airports
- Palm Beach International Airport, the primary commercial passenger serve airport in the northern portion of South Florida’s metropolitan area, is just 25 miles north of Boca Raton and serves more than 5.8 million passengers.
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Just 20 miles south.
- Miami International, 47 miles south of Boca Raton,
Trains
- AMTRAK
- 561/USA-RAIL, 800-872-7245
- Metrorail
- 305/770-3131
- Tri-Rail
- 800/TRI-RAIL
In conclusion, this area tends to be expensive. But in return it has all the amenities of a suburban life style yet you’re close to Miami and Ft Lauderdale and all they have to offer.
.©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Pensacola Panhandle Home Page
Blessed with 40 miles of sugar white beaches and aquamarine water, a low cost of living, affordable housing and good jobs, Pensacola has a promising future
Pensacola is often referred to as, “Old Florida”, but it’s also very much the Gateway City to the Sunshine State, offering the visitor, homebuyer, or investor many opportunities that are similar to the rest of the State.
Regardless of what you call it, Pensacola and it’s neighboring Panhandle communities of Ft Walton Beach, Panama City and the numerous other beach communities lying along more than 100 miles of northern Gulf of Mexico coastline between the Alabama border and Apalachicola comprise a vibrant and growing linear coastal community.
Inland there are large tracts of farm and forest land up along the Blackwater River, as well as the developing communities of Crestview and De Funiak Springs. Eglin Air Force Base also calls this area home. At the eastern end of the Panhandle, just beyond the area we are concerned with here, is the State Capitol of Tallahassee. Not far to the West along I-10 is Mobile Bay, the casinos, and coastal Mississippi.
But it is really the beaches that bring people here from all over the Southeast, the rest of Florida, and around the world. Beaches in the rest of Florida are sand-colored, just what you would expect, but here in the Panhandle they are white and wide and picture postcard perfect. Places like Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside, Ft. Walton Beach and Pensacola Beach, and Gulf Islands National Seashore have come to define this beautiful area to the outside world. Lots of sun and great weather.
Regions:
The Pensacola area is divided into several diverse regions — from historic areas like old town, to the beach communities, and from urban living to beachside to the Northern farm country. Cotton, corn and cattle are a few of the crops and livestock that reside in the hills around this northwestern Florida community
General Information.
- Located in the northwest corner of Florida, 196 miles west of Tallahassee and 453 miles NW of Orlando.
- Pensacola is ranked 122nd in metropolitan areas in the country and in the top 100 fastest growing cities.
- Population 400,000 plus
- Area in Square Miles 1679
- Average High Temperature 77°F
- Average Low Temperature 60°F
- 340 days of sunshine
- Average home cost-June 2005-$169,000
- Cost of Living index of 97.1
- Median age-25-44 years old or on average 38
Major Jobs Employment By Industry in order of numbers
- Educational, health and social services
- Retail Trade
- Leisure and hospitality
- Professional and business services
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Public administration
Hurricanes
Pensacola and its wider area have tended over the past 30 years to be hit more frequently than the rest of Florida by major hurricanes, but in the 30-40 years prior to that the situation was exactly reversed: Pensacola was less frequently hit than peninsular Florida. Or to put it a different way, the area has been “hit” by just 6 storms Category 3 or higher since 1940, and peninsular Florida suffered 10 such storms during that same period
So, if you’re interested in life in a Medium size town, with growth possibilities mixed in with great weather, you should check out Pensacola.
For more specifics see the links to the left.
©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Port St Lucie
Port St Lucie is approximately 120 miles southeast of Orlando and 120 miles north of Miami, along the Atlantic coast. A convenient highway network–including Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike and State Road 70–makes it easy to travel throughout Florida.
To the east of the city lies the attractive Atlantic Ocean barrier island and beaches known as Hutchinson Island (bridges at Jensen Beach and Stuart, both a few miles east and south). To the west lies the Lake Okeechobee area, and its recreational options. The area offers plenty of golf and other outdoor recreation, as well as significant arts and cultural resources.
The area shares advantages of both the small scale of some of its Old Florida smaller surrounding towns and its own larger scale as a rapidly growing mid-sized city. Add to this its ready access to the metropolitan areas – the Palm Beaches, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami – of the rest of Southeast Florida, and you have a recipe for an attractive relocation possibility.
Some quick facts
The Port St. Lucie (and by extension Ft. Pierce and Stuart) area has recently become a significant growth area in Florida, for both new permanent and snowbird residents, and for business owners and investors.
There are many reasons for people to relocate to Port St. Lucie, including climate, modern amenities, affordable prices, transportation convenience and accessibility to South Florida’s urban centers, and attractive business incentives.
For example:
- The year-round climate makes for great living and working conditions. The average annual temperature is 73.2 degrees, with a drop of only 16.7 degrees between the extremes of winter and summer temperatures.
- Port St. Lucie is a young city, incorporated in 1961; and it’s a young city in terms of its residents too, having a median age of just 42 years old.
- Port St. Lucie, Fla., had the nation’s fastest growth rate among large cities (100,000 or more population) between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004, according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
- More than 125,000 residents make up Port St. Lucie, ranking it as the 15th largest city in the Sunshine State. Projections for the county’s population, currently 214,000 are 314,000 by 2010
Transportation
- As noted above, major highways criss-cross this area, making north-south and east-west travel convenient for both personal and business distribution purposes
- Airport travel, considering the advantages of Port St. Lucie’s location outside South Florida’s metroplex, is relatively convenient. St. Lucie County International Airport’s commercial commuter service is rapidly expanding. Other nearby airports include: Vero Beach Municipal Airport, some 20 miles north of St. Lucie County, with round-trip daily flights to Miami; Palm Beach International Airport, 60 miles south, with 80 scheduled departures daily; and, Melbourne International Airport, 55 miles north, serviced by Delta with connecting flights through Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York.
Education
- Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state’s Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm)
Business Incentives
- In its continuing efforts to provide an atmosphere that supports business, the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners assists companies with expansion or relocation expenses through its Job Growth Incentive Grant Program.
- The Commissioners may issue grants ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to $2,000 per new job created in St. Lucie County. A minimum of five or more new jobs must be created in order to be eligible, with a minimum average county wage of $10.88.
- Bonuses are also offered for companies that exceed the minimum requirements. For example, if: 75% of the new employees hired live in St. Lucie County; the company is a St. Lucie County “Targeted” industry; the company’s average salary is 115%, 125% or 150% of the St. Lucie County average.
- A grant to an individual company may not exceed $500,000.00 For more detailed information, go to http://www.stluciecd.org/BusIncentives.asp
Employment
The local economy is heavily services oriented, and the top 10 employers in St. Lucie County are:
- St. Lucie County School District
- St. Lucie County
- Liberty Medical Supply
- Indian River Community College
- Wal-Mart Stores (includes Sam’s Club)
- State Government
- Lawnwood Regional Medical Center
- City of Port St. Lucie
- QVC 975
- Publix Super Markets
For more information, please see:
http://www.edcstlucie.org/relocation.html
In conclusion
If you like a modern way of life without all the crowding but at the same time don’t want too small of a town, Port St Lucie could be the place. It has some of the benefits of its smaller surrounding towns and yet has the advantages, for many people, of a place of somewhat larger scale.
To see additional information about the area go to (on this Website) the Stuart info links, and to the general information on Ft. Pierce, whose cultural life, parks, and ease of access to outdoor recreational choices Port St. Lucie shares. For a good general site on St Lucie county on line, go tohttp://www.stlucieco.gov
.©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
