[nino333]

We are planning a move to Florida. I've lived in Key West for about 10 years and Daytona Beach for about 3. Can't afford to go back to KW, and not too excited about going back to Daytona. It's my wife and I, and our teenaged daughter and son.

Wife is in healthcare and I am in hospitality, so I don't see much of an employment problem. Our daughter will be going into nursing school, and son is entering 9th grade next year, he is a fairly gifted soccer player and does very well academically, so we want a decent school, even a parochial school if need be.

We have looked at Bradenton/Sarasota and Pensacola and planned to look at the Palm Bay area, but didn't make it. We like the Atlantic side for the waves and I like the laid back island feel, if that is to be found anywhere. We started looking at Merritt Island and it looks good, but we will want to rent until we get a better feel for the area. I am just wondering what Cocoa is about are there any good areas? I see there is a nursing school at the EFS Cocoa campus.

Thank you for your time!

[kyle19125]

Cocoa in general is kind of rundown and not very desirable, though there are nice pockets here and there. You're much better served looking at Merritt Island which is largely desirable as well as even Titusville on it's southwest side.

[chaseo1]

Hoodrich son

[Arcenal813]

Ghetto. You'd be surprised once you venture off the beach area.
As kyle said, Merritt Island is MUCH nicer.

[beckerd2]

Cocoa is not a very good area to live in...it has a lot of crime. Schools are not very good either. The Cocoa campus for nursing should be ok, but as for the high school.. no way.
The area along the river is better than actually in town. In town is where all the drug deals are going on or people are getting robbed and such.

I'm going to be an echo and say "Choose Merritt Island".

[nino333]

Hahaha. Ok. Looks like we will be concentrating on Merritt. Thanks guys!

[chaseo1]

Even Satellite Beach (opposite the ocean obviously) is pretty run down. WTH happened to that area?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by chaseo1

Even Satellite Beach (opposite the ocean obviously) is pretty run down. WTH happened to that area?

Satellite Beach is not "rundown" and while it has predominately older housing is a stable/desirable place to live with A-rated schools and safe neighborhoods. It's actually populated by a good many military families due to it's proximity to Patrick Air Force Base. An area that happens to lack in brand-new treeless cookie-cutter neighborhoods doesn't make it "rundown".

[flashes1]

Ohio State is recruiting some footballers from Cocoa.