St. Petersburg, Florida – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Matthew Yoder
Four cities in Florida, including one in the Tampa Bay area, were recently named some of the best places to live in the United States.
Livability said that it looked at cities with 75,000 to 500,000 people and a typical home value of $500,000 or less.
The study said that the list of 100 cities was made based on each city’s economy, housing market, cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education, and health.
Here are the four best places to live in Florida, based on Livability:
St. Petersburg
- LivScore: 756
- Population: 258,517
- Med. Home Value: $303,044
Livableness said St. Petersburg is one of the best places to live in the U.S., and it is a city that is growing quickly.
“In St. Petersburg, work-life balance includes lots of beach days. Nicknamed the ‘Sunshine City,’ it’s sunny 361 days a year here, and the community holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine. (For the record, it was a 768-day stretch that started in 1967!)” Livability said.
Residents can meet each other at more than 1,000 events and festivals throughout the year. These include the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the St. Anthony’s Triathlon, yachting events, farmers markets, Florida’s largest Pride celebration, and a parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., according to Livability.
Alafaya
- LivScore: 754
- Population: 92,312
- Medium Home Value: $324,057
Alafaya is a community located about 38 square miles from Orlando, Florida.
“Of course, living near Orlando has its obvious perks (being 30 minutes away from Disney and constantly being drenched in the sunshine doesn’t sound half bad). What really separates Alafaya as one of the best places to live in the U.S. is its access to excellent public schools,” Livability said.
Fort Lauderdale
- LivScore: 751
- Population: 182,611
- Medium Home Value: $406,354
Fort Lauderdale made Livability’s list because it has 31 different areas and 24 miles of golden sand along the Atlantic Ocean. It also has restaurants and bars that are among the best in the world.
“With a motto of “live where you vacation,” Fort Lauderdale has a knack for turning tourists into residents,” Livability said.
The study said that the cost of living in Fort Lauderdale is “ideal” because taxes are low, housing isn’t too expensive, and there are lots of free and cheap things to do.
Orlando
- LivScore: 695
- Population: 308,495
- Medium Home Value: $333,042
Orlando made Livability’s list because it is sunny all year, has a lot of different areas, and has “excellent” health care.
“Disney is known as the happiest place on the Earth, and all of those good vibes spill over into Orlando which is one of the best places to live in the U.S.,” Livability said. “Those who relocate here have their pick of communities, like Lake Nona, designed with health and wellness in mind. Here, neighbors come together to sweat it out at Saturday morning fitness classes in Boxi Park.”
Visit Livability’s website to see the other cities that made its best places to live list.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.