[vagabond31]

I am working in software development and have lived in cold North east for a long time and would like to move somewhere south where it is sunny and I can have mild winters. So naturally FL is on my list due to the climatic and geographical conditions. I am however unable to decide which city/area I should choose to settle down and call home.

I am looking for the following :
1) good IT /Software jobs (propsects of more than 100k/yr)
2) good schools for my kids.
3) affordable housing (rent & own)
4) close to beach.

Looking for valuable advice from the friendly CDers.
Thanks!

[jghorton]

... Depends on what you mean by 'software development', but, in that salary range you may want to focus on some of the large defense contractors (Harris, Northrop, Boeing, Lockheed, etc. in Central Florida - Orlando, Melbourne areas).

[vagabond31]

Originally Posted by jghorton

... Depends on what you mean by 'software development', but, in that salary range you may want to focus on some of the large defense contractors (Harris, Northrop, Boeing, Lockheed, etc. in Central Florida - Orlando, Melbourne areas).

Thanks for your inputs jghorton. How are the rents for a 2b/2b apartment in these areas? How would you rate the schools in these suburbs?

[Fiddledidee]

Tampa Bay Area, without question.

[aridon]

Your biggest issue will be salary. Florida isn't known for high salaries so find the job first before you even start thinking about an area to settle. Very unlikely you'll be earning anywhere near what you want unless you fill a VERY special niche.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by vagabond31

I am working in software development and have lived in cold North east for a long time and would like to move somewhere south where it is sunny and I can have mild winters. So naturally FL is on my list due to the climatic and geographical conditions. I am however unable to decide which city/area I should choose to settle down and call home.

I am looking for the following :
1) good IT /Software jobs (propsects of more than 100k/yr)
2) good schools for my kids.
3) affordable housing (rent & own)
4) close to beach.

Looking for valuable advice from the friendly CDers.
Thanks!

Florida in general isn't exactly overrun with software development jobs but given your criteria for affordable housing, good schools and proximity to the beach I would recommend Jacksonville. It has also developed (largely under the radar) into one of the top dozen or so hot spots for tech jobs in general the past several years. The schools are among the best in Florida with Nassau County (the suburbs to the north in Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island) ranked #1 in the state, followed by St John's County at #2 (the suburbs to the south in/around Ponte Vedra Beach and points inland near the planned community of Nocatee). Salaries will be more in line with 85K-90K most likely and perhaps the rare chance at 100K, but bear in mind the cost of living will be noticeably lower than other major Florida cities.

http://jaxusa.org/doing-business-here/top-employers
https://www.forbes.com/pictures/edgl.../#7a4485847b86

[vagabond31]

Originally Posted by Fiddledidee

Tampa Bay Area, without question.

Thanks !

Originally Posted by aridon

Your biggest issue will be salary. Florida isn't known for high salaries so find the job first before you even start thinking about an area to settle. Very unlikely you'll be earning anywhere near what you want unless you fill a VERY special niche.

Thanks. Will keep that in mind.

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Florida in general isn't exactly overrun with software development jobs but given your criteria for affordable housing, good schools and proximity to the beach I would recommend Jacksonville. It has also developed (largely under the radar) into one of the top dozen or so hot spots for tech jobs in general the past several years. The schools are among the best in Florida with Nassau County (the suburbs to the north in Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island) ranked #1 in the state, followed by St John's County at #2 (the suburbs to the south in/around Ponte Vedra Beach and points inland near the planned community of Nocatee). Salaries will be more in line with 85K-90K most likely and perhaps the rare chance at 100K, but bear in mind the cost of living will be noticeably lower than other major Florida cities.

Top Employers | JAXUSA
https://www.forbes.com/pictures/edgl.../#7a4485847b86

Thanks buddy. Will check out that part of FL as well.

[grad_student200]

Originally Posted by vagabond31

I am working in software development and have lived in cold North east for a long time and would like to move somewhere south where it is sunny and I can have mild winters. So naturally FL is on my list due to the climatic and geographical conditions. I am however unable to decide which city/area I should choose to settle down and call home.

I am looking for the following :
1) good IT /Software jobs (propsects of more than 100k/yr)
2) good schools for my kids.
3) affordable housing (rent & own)
4) close to beach.

Looking for valuable advice from the friendly CDers.
Thanks!

I would recommend the I-4 corridor. There are excellent software jobs in the area. The cost of living is lower than Miami (relatively). It is also culturally and demographically more amenable to the "upper east coast transplant". The I-4 corridor is the stretch of freeway between Orlanda and Tampa (inclusively). Try the I-4 corridor. Just go to dice.com. Maybe you can work at Disneyworld. They need Java/Maven experts all the time (LOL). Best wishes.

Beware#1: Miami/Fort lauderdale is horribly congested and more like a Latin America/Caribbean city rather than a typical East Coast area.

Beware#2: North Florida is culturally and demographically much like the "Confederate Southern States". The FL Panhandle is very much a part of the "Deep South" or "Bible Belt".

So try Central FL and the I-4 corridor.

[chopchop0]

Space coast/Brevard has traditionally been a strong county for schools and has a nice collection of aerospace and defense companies who might have jobs in your area. Plus rent should be reasonably affordable compared to the bigger cities

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by grad_student200

I
Beware#2: North Florida is culturally and demographically much like the "Confederate Southern States".

Bullhonkey. Jacksonville is nowhere near that description and wouldn't be one of the several fastest growing cities in the US otherwise.