[mikeyferguson13]

Hello.
How is everyone? My name is Michael Ferguson. My young family of 4 is looking to move to Florida to be closer to the beach. We have lived in COLORADO our whole like but want something else. What are some good areas? We have been looking around Tampa/Orlando. But heard the crime Is pretty high.
Thank you.
Mike

[logybogy]

Number 1 on your list is jobs. Do you need employment? Focus on employment first and location second because it's oftentimes not so easy to replace your income and lifestyle in Florida unless you are independently wealthy or can bring your job with you.

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by mikeyferguson13

Hello.
How is everyone? My name is Michael Ferguson. My young family of 4 is looking to move to Florida to be closer to the beach. We have lived in COLORADO our whole like but want something else. What are some good areas? We have been looking around Tampa/Orlando. But heard the crime Is pretty high.
Thank you.
Mike

Hi Michael,

Tampa does not have beaches, you'd have to be on the St. Pete/ Clearwater side of the bay to be within a reasonable driving distance to the beaches. Obviously, Orlando is going to be a commute to the east coast beaches.

Crime statistics can be found here on city data or other crime mapping sites. Keep in mind that all cities of a certain size will have spots where crime is more prevalent, that doesn't mean the entire city has issues.

You might also consider looking south of Tampa, into the Sarasota - Venice area of Sarasota county. Lots of great public beaches, well rated FL schools, etc.

As someone else suggested, if you need to find employment here, that is where I suggest starting - check out the local job markets. You will find in a lot of fields that pay here is often less than what you make elsewhere. It's what is known as the sunshine factor, as in a lot of people are seeking employment in our sunshine state, so employers can get by with paying less to employees (supply and demand).

[kyle19125]

For family-friendly/low crime with good schools close to the beach check out Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs-East Lake, Safety Harbor or Clearwater-Countryside in the Tampa Bay area, Stuart-Palm City in SE Florida, Melbourne Beach and Satellite Beach in east central Florida, Sarasota and Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch. Bear in mind as a geography refresher that Orlando is about as far inland as you can get in Florida, so going to the beach is pretty much an afterthought or to be planned ahead (versus spur of the moment) when you have to drive over an hour (or more) at 70-75 mph most of the way to get there.

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by logybogy

Number 1 on your list is jobs. Do you need employment? Focus on employment first and location second because it's oftentimes not so easy to replace your income and lifestyle in Florida unless you are independently wealthy or can bring your job with you.

This