[JimKing]

We are torn between moving to Naples or Boca Raton...our daughter can attend a tennis academy in either place. We like the one in Naples better as it teaches the philosophy we favor.....but...

I understand about Naples being older and not as kid friendly, etc. But what blows me away are the sex offender stats from City Data.

""According to our research there were 51 registered sex offenders living in Boca Raton, Florida in early 2007. The ratio of number of residents in Boca Raton to the number of sex offenders is 1466 to 1.""

""According to our research there were 207 registered sex offenders living in Naples, Florida in early 2007. The ratio of number of residents in Naples to the number of sex offenders is 105 to 1.""

105 to 1....I have never seen a stat that high in my life. And those are just the registered ones?

Can anyone from Naples shed some light on whether this number is a mistake? If not, why on earth are there that many sex offenders in Naples? Thanks.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by JimKing

We are torn between moving to Naples or Boca Raton...our daughter can attend a tennis academy in either place. We like the one in Naples better as it teaches the philosophy we favor.....but...

I understand about Naples being older and not as kid friendly, etc. But what blows me away are the sex offender stats from City Data.

""According to our research there were 51 registered sex offenders living in Boca Raton, Florida in early 2007. The ratio of number of residents in Boca Raton to the number of sex offenders is 1466 to 1.""

""According to our research there were 207 registered sex offenders living in Naples, Florida in early 2007. The ratio of number of residents in Naples to the number of sex offenders is 105 to 1.""

105 to 1....I have never seen a stat that high in my life. And those are just the registered ones?

Can anyone from Naples shed some light on whether this number is a mistake? If not, why on earth are there that many sex offenders in Naples? Thanks.

Its because the stat counts the pop. of the incorporated areas, but Naples covers the vast unincorporated area. Same for Boca Raton, though...South Florida communities tend to have lower sex offender ratios then the rest of the state because every community has a HOA, and they don't let them in.

I would really go with Boca. Naples is prettier to look at, but Boca Raton is a good place to actually live. I couldn't deal with the grumpy retirees there on a day to day basis. Sure, Boca has them too, but the New York retirees seem more tolerable.

[JimKing]

Thanks Fort lauderdale. That makes more sense now.

[compelled to reply]

No problem, just don't move THERE because these stats are NOT lying .

According to our research there were 88 registered sex offenders living in Port Richey, Florida in early 2007.
The ratio of number of residents in Port Richey to the number of sex offenders is 38 to 1.

Florida has a lot of sex offenders,and its known nationwide for it. Broward and Palm Beach counties are the only counties in the state where there really proportionally are not that many. These also tend to be less transient areas of the state, so its not a surprise.

[THX 1138]

You can search:

FDLE Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators

To be more specific based on zip and address. I live in a gated community with a HOA, there are none living within the gates but that doesn't mean your kids are 100% safe.

[JimKing]

I think overall Boca is much more our style. We are used to a bigger lot, since we lived in Jupiter Farms for years. But we can always rent a place in Parkland, there are several areas there with 1-3 acre lots. And we would still be about 5 miles from the Evert academy.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by JimKing

I think overall Boca is much more our style. We are used to a bigger lot, since we lived in Jupiter Farms for years. But we can always rent a place in Parkland, there are several areas there with 1-3 acre lots. And we would still be about 5 miles from the Evert academy.

Yeah, Parkland is even nicer (And more family ish) than Boca.

[mrs1885]

I haven't been to the east coast in ages, but was born on Marco Island, right off Naples. We just moved from Naples last year to TN.

Not only are there the crime stats to think of, there's the town itself in terms of emergency services, teachers, nurses, etc. It's getting bad.

My husband and I both work for Collier County Sheriff's Department. I left in 2003. He left when we moved. He was among many many people that left and moved out of state. The housing boom that hit made it almost impossible for middle class incomes. They are in the middle of a crisis when it comes to those occupations.

We still have some friends there, but all of the ones we know are looking to leave. It's not kid friendly and it's not middle class friendly. It's really a town of haves and have-nots and we have-not.

I didn't take leaving lightly either. I loved where I was raised, on Marco. But it went nuts with a boom in the 80s when it was 'discovered'. Then it hit in Naples and there was a massive influx of crime from the Miami area. I'd not recommend anyone other than the extremely wealthy to move there.

It's nice to visit though - great beaches!

[Chromedome]

Originally Posted by mrs1885

I haven't been to the east coast in ages, but was born on Marco Island, right off Naples. We just moved from Naples last year to TN.

Not only are there the crime stats to think of, there's the town itself in terms of emergency services, teachers, nurses, etc. It's getting bad.

My husband and I both work for Collier County Sheriff's Department. I left in 2003. He left when we moved. He was among many many people that left and moved out of state. The housing boom that hit made it almost impossible for middle class incomes. They are in the middle of a crisis when it comes to those occupations.

We still have some friends there, but all of the ones we know are looking to leave. It's not kid friendly and it's not middle class friendly. It's really a town of haves and have-nots and we have-not.

I didn't take leaving lightly either. I loved where I was raised, on Marco. But it went nuts with a boom in the 80s when it was 'discovered'. Then it hit in Naples and there was a massive influx of crime from the Miami area. I'd not recommend anyone other than the extremely wealthy to move there.

It's nice to visit though - great beaches!

good break-down couldnt say it better myself

[JimKing]

Thanks for the info....you pretty much sealed the deal for us, Naples is off the list. The more research I do, it is not very kid friendly or dog friendly. I loved Jupiter Farms, you got 2.5 acres of land and in 15 minutes you could park for free right next to the beach and walk your dog anytime.

Looks like we will be renting in Parkland and pursuing our daughter's tennis in Boca Raton.