Help? Where Should We Live In Fl!?!? (Jacksonville, Miami: vacation, employment)

[Want2LiVEinFLasap]

This is making my wife and I crazy. We are wanting to move to Florida but everywhere we think sounds good to live we find out something that we HATE about it. I am going to working for a police department in that area so we don't want a completely crime ridden area, but good pay for cops...

We originally were looking at the Orlando area until we found out about the crime issues. We have 2 kids that will be starting elem school soon too so thats a big issue.

I hate the PC-ness of everything but I have to say, with the amount of illegal aliens and gangs in some areas of Florida, we want to live in a more Caucasian area.

Where is a good place for a young family?
Within a hour or two of a beach?
With good schools?
Good homes?
Low crime?
and FUN?

Thanks a million!

[compelled to reply]

Many illegal aliens are at least part Caucasian and usually mixed Native American and Caucasian...where I live sounds like someplace you might be interested in, but I'm not going to name it because it has a large Hispanic population and there are quite a few blacks and other types of people. But it meets all of your criteria, even low crime (imagine that!). And it's not about PC, I could care less about PC I know in general more blacks commit crimes than whites, illegal immigrants abuse our healthcare system, etc but it's about total ignorance. Humans are born as a clean slate, and in some places you just find that people are willing to work harder to achieve what they want than in other places, regardless of their origin.

You know what, I didn't mean to be hostile, but look into Weston, it's not majority white-non Hispanic but they are the largest ethnic group and it just happens to be a very clean place to live with an upscale vibe, but it's not far from some of the other excitement and the beaches in South Florida (30 minutes to Fort Lauderdale, 30 minutes to Hollywood Beach, 30-45 minutes to Miami) and is very centrally located. You get a lot of the positives of South Florida without many of the negatives. If you REALLY need a majority-White non Hispanic population than Cooper City got rated one of the top 10 best towns for families in the country, also very central location in South Florida. The Ft. Lauderdale area is also safer than many of the other more urbanized parts of the state, although if you have other reasons for wanting a more "White" population this isn't the section of the state for you even if many areas do offer a lot. I see the poster below recommend North Port. I'm going to tell you that the area is clean, but very very far from FUN!!!

[SoFLGal]

The average age in North Port is 38, 25 minutes from the beach, Pine View school was rated the number 6 school in the US. Homes are reasonably price, some of the least expensive property from Naples to Tampa. That crime rate you can find on City-Data and compare it to other cities. There's not a lot to do in NP, you'd have to go to Sarasota or Ft Myers for more activities.

[Alphaman]

What about some of the panhandle county`s? Destin, Ft walton beach, niceville etc.

[compelled to reply]

I was just thinking that. Towards Okaloosa County or maybe Santa Rosa County where Sunrico lives. Ponte Verda Beach area south of Jacksonville is also very nice, beautiful beaches nearby, safe, not as crowded as other areas, more affordable than other desirable areas.

[Want2LiVEinFLasap]

Just took a "Where to live quiz"...what about:

Deland, Crystal River, Gainesville, Tallahasse, or Ocala

???

[Momma_bear]

Broward county is diverse across the board. We live in Weston and there is very little crime, gang activity here. The city has a large hispanic population, although the majority of the hispanics here are caucasian. The schools here are as good as they get in FL (the best of a poor lot) and it is about 25 minutes to Ft. Lauderdale or Hollywood beaches. But honestly, if you want to be in a place where you will not encounter blacks or hispanics on a daily basis you should probably not move to Broward, Miami Dade or Palm Beach counties.

As far as work, Weston is close enough for police officers to work in Broward or Miami Dade counties. That gives you 2 counties and a bunch of different cities for employment.

[2bohemians]

Check out Niceville, Destin Beaches of South Walton, Florida Travel & Vacation Guide - Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast

[SuperKevin]

I've actually been looking for a good place in Florida too, I lived in St. Peterburg for a while but the population and ethnic diversity was a bit to much for me, I was born and raised in Minnesota so I like space and people more like me, white (not that I'm racist, it's just easier to live near people you can relate to). Anyway, I've been doing a ton of research on cities in Florida and it seems the panhandle is your best bet for mainly white's with low crime and good schools, etc. As a few people above posted, the Niceville/Destin and nearby cities would be a good place to check out, heres a map of the area destin, fl - Google Maps

[silversurfer]

You don't say where you're from. If you are like SuperKevin and want to come to FL and be with mostly middle class white folks you "can relate to" you will not be happy. Stay home. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but FL is a diverse state ethnically, racially and culturally. Always has been, always will be. I grew up in Miami with Cubans, both white and black, Irish, Greeks, Poles, French, Spanish... they were all there in the early 50's! It was great. I'm glad I had the opportunity to be exposed to all that. Originally my family is from Ybor City a small mixed cultural enclave in Tampa. If you grow up with diverse people you tend not to look at them as criminals and low lives. Someone mentioned the panhandle... ok, it is pretty white, pretty redneck, and they're still fighting the civil war, so Yankee folk not welcome... But if you want white that's your best bet. Pardon me for being appalled... and your being a cop with this attitude is scary. It's not about PC at all it's about being open to people and possibilities. Shed your preconceived notions and join in the mix. It will make you a better person and a better cop... IMHO