The 15 Best Places To Live in Florida for Families

6. Palm Valley/Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,750
• Average home value: $874,100
• Great for: Public schools, jobs, beaches

Another one of the top family-friendly Florida areas on the eastern Atlantic coast is the Palm Valley/Ponte Vedra Beach area. This small, safe community has miles of quiet beaches perfect for a family day out, collecting shells, or soaking up the Florida sun. Children will enjoy the student-focused schools like Ponte Vedra High School as well as the chance to play sports, swim, and get involved in dancing or gymnastics at the Brown Family YMCA. 

There are also lots of other places to get outdoors in the Palm Valley/Ponte Vedra area, as well. You’ll find basketball and tennis courts at Cornerstone Park, for example, and playgrounds and walking trails at nearby South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground. The area is also only around 30 minutes from Jacksonville, so you can easily take the family in for a Jaguars game or to visit the family-oriented Museum of Science and History.

Residents of beautiful Sarasota like to get out on the water and enjoy fishing, kayaking, swimming, and sailing.

7. Sarasota, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,125
• Average home value: $450,400
• Great for: Public schools, commute, nightlife

Another one of the best places to live in Florida for families is the gulf city of Sarasota. This beach town offers all kinds of activities for everyone, both on the water and on land. Residents like to get out on the water and enjoy fishing, kayaking, swimming, and sailing at one of the pristine beaches like Siesta Key, Lido Key, or Sarasota Beach itself. The kids will especially love playing in the shallow, warm waters! And when you’re done with the beach, you can always take the fam to nearby Benderson Park to walk the trails or enjoy the sights at the Meadows Butterfly Garden.

The Legacy Trail connects Sarasota to Venice, and you’ll always find families walking or biking together there. There are several skate parks and the Sarasota BMX Track and Smugglers Cove mini golf (where you can golf with alligators!) to keep the kids active, as well. 

8. Melbourne, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,550
• Average home value: $369,300
• Great for: Public schools, affordable housing, diversity

Located southeast of Orlando and along the Atlantic Ocean is the family-friendly city of Melbourne. It’s also one of the best affordable places to live in Florida for families. In fact, the housing prices are lower than many other beach towns in Florida, which means your family will get more space for your money. 

Families love living in Melbourne because here they have access to an acclaimed school system — the Brevard Public School District offers students challenging subjects and teachers who are committed to students’ success. There are also lots of places to explore with the kids outdoors. For instance, they’ll love having such easy access to Indian Harbor Beach, Satellite Beach, and Samson’s Island. Lake Washington Park is another popular family destination to bike or walk around the lake. And Cape Canaveral and the Space Force Museum are under 45 minutes away, which means you can see launches right from your Melbourne home!

9. Oviedo, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,300
• Average home value: $513,300
• Great for: Housing options, outdoor activities, diversity

Looking for one of the safest cities in Florida to raise a family? Then you’ll want to look closer at Oviedo, located in Central Florida about 25 minutes from Orlando. One of the major attractions of Oviedo is its quieter pace of life outside of the big city, yet with all the nearby attractions a family could want. Folks love to gather at the Oviedo on the Park, which offers space to walk, relax, or play with the kids. And the Oviedo Gym & Aquatic Facility is nearby, which offers swimming pools, a full-size gym, basketball court, rock climbing, and a playground. 

Be sure to take the kids bowling at the Oviedo Bowling Center or to check out Lake Jesup for camping and biking on the trails. Oviedo also offers its residents lots of ways to connect with each other, including watching family-friendly movies in the park and hosting food truck nights featuring local Oviedo restaurants. 

If your kids are into exploring the outdoors, there’s no shortage of opportunity in Gainesville.

10. Gainesville, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,700
• Average home value: $298,700
• Great for: Outdoor activities, education, entertainment, commute

Do you want to rely less on a car and have lots of options when it comes to bike lanes and bike paths for the family? Then consider checking out the very walkable (and family-friendly, of course) city of Gainesville! This is another one of the best affordable places to live in Florida for families, but it’s also a great place to send your kids to school. Gainesville is home to the eminent University of Florida, but it also boasts top public schools like Gainesville High School and the Micanopy Academy. 

If your kids are into exploring the outdoors, there’s no shortage of opportunity in Gainesville. Take them to the Morningside Nature Center, the Sweetwater Wetlands Park, or to Depot Park to walk the trails, for example. Here, you’ll also find a great way to expand their horizons with the hands-on exhibits at the Cade Museum of Creativity and Invention. And all the thrilling fun of the Gainesville Raceway is just a short drive away, as is the camping and nature-watching at Newmans Lake!

11. St. Petersburg, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,025
• Average home value: $376,900
• Great for: Retirees, water activities, commute

Nestled right along Tampa Bay is the “Sunshine City” of St. Petersburg. This city features lots to do for families, both indoors and outdoors! One of the more popular spots is the Sunken Gardens, which features thousands of plants to learn about, a butterfly garden, flamingos, turtles, and a koi pond. Kids will also get a kick out of visiting the St. Pete Pier, hanging out at St. Pete Beach, and playing in the water at Splash Harbor Water Park. The Tampa Bay Rays MLB team also plays in St. Petersburg at Tropicana Field, as does their professional soccer team, the Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium. Both teams provide exciting games and lots of family-friendly theme nights.

There are a variety of good schools to send your kids to in the area, as well, like the Gulf Beaches Elementary Magnet and St. Petersburg Collegiate High School. And the city offers a lot of events and classes geared toward kids, including taking fun nature walks in the many parks, going on kayaking adventures, and competing in gaming lounges. 

12. Venice, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,900
• Average home value: $429,500
• Great for: Safety, public schools, health & fitness

Located between St. Petersburg and Fort Myers is the lovely beach town of Venice. Venice Beach is sure to be your family’s go-to spot for swimming, playing in the sand, and relaxing in the wonderful Florida weather. The pristine shoreline features beautiful water, soft sand, and an off-shore coral reef. Families especially enjoy kayaking along the Intercoastal Waterway and walking along the trails that follow the river. Venetian Waterway Park and Centennial Park are two excellent options when you want to bike along some trails, relax, or let the kids enjoy the playground. 

Popular cultural activities for the kids? The local Venice Theatre offers classes and camps for children of all ages, as well as numerous productions. And you can sign the kids up for local sports leagues that include basketball, softball/baseball, soccer — not to mention they can easily get involved in sports at Venice’s schools. 

Tallahassee is just a few miles from the Georgia border and offers families an affordable and exciting place to settle down.

13. Tallahassee, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,675
• Average home value: $284,200
• Great for: Affordable cost of living, public schools, commute

Tallahassee is not only one of the best places to live in Florida for families, but it’s also the state capitol. This northern Florida city is just a few miles from the Georgia border and offers families an affordable and exciting place to settle down. The city is home to Florida State University, and lots of folks love to take in a Seminoles game with the whole family. In addition to elite college sports, though, Tallahassee makes it a point to invest in youth sports, offering kids the chance to get involved in activities like baseball, basketball, and soccer, as well as a variety of camps for all ages.

Cascades Park is one of the popular spots for families to gather, whether it’s taking in a show at the Adderley Amphitheater, cooling off in the Imagination Fountain, or having fun in the Discovery Play Zone. In Tallahassee, you can also easily head up to Lake Jackson to explore the outdoors or get out on the water to boat, fish, or swim.

14. Winter Springs, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,775
• Average home value: $437,500
• Great for: Water activities, safety, diversity

Nestled right next to the large Lake Jesup is the safe community of Winter Springs. The Winter Springs Town Center is a place for everyone in the community to gather to shop, dine, or enjoy events like the local farmers market. This community offers a variety of family-friendly events, as well, including movies in the park, seasonal festivals like Hometown Harvest, and live music in Central Winds Park. 

Families especially like this area because it gives them all kinds of options when it comes to keeping the whole family active. Lots of residents like to head to the lake, put the boat out and enjoy fishing, water skiing, swimming, and tubing. And the Spring Hammock Preserve and Campsite are just a short drive away, giving your family the opportunity to enjoy quality time spent in nature.

15. Weston, FL

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,950
• Average home value: $755,400
• Great for: Public schools, outdoor activities, health & fitness

Weston is a family-friendly city in Southern Florida that’s about 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and borders the Everglades Wildlife Management Area. This community gives families a quieter pace of life as well as great schools like Cypress Bay High School and Pompano Beach High School. 

Want to spend the day at the beach? You can easily take the whole family to Las Olas Beach or Dania Beach in no time and enjoy the stunning views of the Atlantic while the kids swim and play. For an indoor adventure, head over to Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park or grab your bikes and explore the Markham Park Mountain Bike Trails. There are lots of neighborhood parks located throughout the city, as well, that offer playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and skate parks for residents to enjoy. The community of Weston also puts on Movie Nights in the Park each month, as well as special events like the Mayor’s Chess Challenge for all ages and abilities. 

Let PODS Help You Move to One of the Best Places To Live in Florida for Families

If you’re ready to make the move to one of the best cities in Florida to raise a family, let PODS help you get there! PODS will deliver a portable storage container to your place so you can load up all of your belongings on your schedule. And when you’re ready to go, a PODS professional will pick it up and drive it to your new Florida home. You can choose to have it delivered straight to your driveway, or you can store it in a secure PODS Storage Center until you’re ready. The best part? One month of storage is included with every move.

Editor’s note: Average rent prices were obtained from RentCafe; average home values were obtained from Zillow; and median home sale prices were obtained from Redfin. For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.