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Florida isn't just a destination for your golden years.
While Florida’s reputation as a retirement haven is well-earned — CNBC has reported 44,504 people aged 60 and older moved there in 2023 alone — it also has plenty of reasons for folks of all ages to live there. Thirty reasons, in fact: MoneyLion has found 30 cheap and safe places in the Sunshine State for families of all ages to live.
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To build this list, MoneyLion analyzed the crime stats, household income levels, cost-of-living scores and more of Florida’s many cities to find the overall cheapest and safest places to live throughout the state and then ranked them.
Whether you’re a new retiree considering where to settle down in Florida affordably or just starting out and looking for a safe beach town to build a family, one of these 30 cites might just be perfect for you.
Key Findings
Only one city has no violent crime listed: The town of Indian Shores has a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 residents.
One Florida town costs just $33,555 annually: In Blountstown, that’s how little the annual cost of living with set you back.
If you want a high income, consider Belleair: The median household income there is a whopping $117,083, while the annual cost of living is $83,599.
Here are the top 30.
1. Marianna
Median household income: $40,414
Average home value: $183,179
Average annual cost of living: $34,685
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.6
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.1
2. Vero Beach
Median household income: $69,758
Average home value: $372,725
Average annual cost of living: $48,080
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.7
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.5
3. West Melbourne
Median household income: $92,986
Average home value: $382,103
Average annual cost of living: $48,032
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 12.0
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.5
4. Indian Harbour Beach
Median household income: $97,254
Average home value: $462,317
Average annual cost of living: $53,849
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.2
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.4
5. Gulf Breeze
Median household income: $104,050
Average home value: $439,204
Average annual cost of living: $52,911
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.1
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.1
6. Fellsmere
Median household income: $55,893
Average home value: $231,546
Average annual cost of living: $39,295
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.0
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.6
7. Crescent City
Median household income: $33,971
Average home value: $200,641
Average annual cost of living: $36,740
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 13.5
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.6
8. Lynn Haven
Median household income: $80,973
Average home value: $318,480
Average annual cost of living: $44,663
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.4
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.4
9. Clewiston
Median household income: $57,222
Average home value: $248,994
Average annual cost of living: $40,706
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.6
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.5
10. Lake Alfred
Median household income: $67,202
Average home value: $304,942
Average annual cost of living: $43,985
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.2
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.8
11. Tavares
Median household income: $58,886
Average home value: $318,135
Average annual cost of living: $45,550
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.4
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.6
12. Palm Bay
Median household income: $72,614
Average home value: $300,321
Average annual cost of living: $43,216
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.2
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.5
13. Lake Helen
Median household income: $116,250
Average home value: $308,896
Average annual cost of living: $44,775
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.7
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.3
14. North Port
Median household income: $84,049
Average home value: $301,683
Average annual cost of living: $44,223
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.8
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.9
15. Davenport
Median household income: $73,685
Average home value: $344,746
Average annual cost of living: $47,541
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.4
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.7
16. Marco Island
Median household income: $101,523
Average home value: $1,426,728
Average annual cost of living: $117,069
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.1
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.6
17. Lake Wales
Median household income: $56,347
Average home value: $245,513
Average annual cost of living: $39,919
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 15.3
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.4
18. Haines City
Median household income: $65,975
Average home value: $299,437
Average annual cost of living: $44,328
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.9
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.3
19. Winter Haven
Median household income: $59,648
Average home value: $278,006
Average annual cost of living: $42,069
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 15.5
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.4
20. Sebastian
Median household income: $69,409
Average home value: $345,451
Average annual cost of living: $47,194
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.0
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.5
21. Titusville
Median household income: $66,192
Average home value: $279,222
Average annual cost of living: $41,634
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 12.8
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 5.2
22. Blountstown
Median household income: $51,762
Average home value: $146,172
Average annual cost of living: $33,555
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 14.9
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.5
23. Belleair
Median household income: $117,083
Average home value: $900,180
Average annual cost of living: $83,599
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.6
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.2
24. Arcadia
Median household income: $39,677
Average home value: $255,191
Average annual cost of living: $40,416
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 13.6
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 5.1
25. Belleair Bluffs
Median household income: $58,953
Average home value: $475,279
Average annual cost of living: $56,053
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.6
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.8
26. Parker
Median household income: $69,657
Average home value: $225,841
Average annual cost of living: $38,565
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 19.5
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.5
27. Leesburg
Median household income: $52,880
Average home value: $278,068
Average annual cost of living: $41,723
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 21.8
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.8
28. Bartow
Median household income: $68,178
Average home value: $271,002
Average annual cost of living: $41,304
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 17.9
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 4.9
29. Bowling Green
Median household income: $45,357
Average home value: $191,423
Average annual cost of living: $38,410
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.5
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.4
30. Indian Shores
Median household income: $109,125
Average home value: $724,657
Average annual cost of living: $72,960
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.5
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.0
Methodology: Using the FBI's 2024 Crime Data Explorer, the number of property crime rate per 1,000 residents and violent crime rate per 1,000 residents were sourced for each city in Florida. With the cities identified, MoneyLion sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 5-year ACS the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and median household income. The cost-of-living indexes for each city were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces. Using the national average expenditure costs along with the cost of living indexes, the average expenditure costs can be calculated for each city. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for January 2026. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage was calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure cost, the total cost of living was calculated for each city. The monthly average expenditure cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, the monthly average mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate per 1,000 was scored and weighted at 1.00 and the violent crime rate per 1,000 was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were combined and sorted to show the cheapest and safest places to live in Florida. All data is up to date as of Feb. 19, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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