Jacksonville or ......................? (Miami, Tampa, Orlando: relocating, property taxes, homeowners insurance)

[Frank from New York]

I'm looking to relocate to Florida from Western New York. I have looked at numerous cost of living calculators.I have been searching the housing market as well. Jacksonville , Orlando , Tampa , Sarasota , Ft.Myers, West Palm Beach and Miami. I think I know what costs what and where. Can anybody list some pros and cons against Jax vs. the other cities mentioned ? I know my question is both vast and vague but I'm looking for a push in the right direction.I would be relocating to an existing job in Jax or the other cities mentioned with my wife and two children 14 and 20.

P.S. were 30 something pushing 40

Thanks

[riveree]

Hi Frank,

Well, I'm really only familiar with three of the cities you mentioned: Jax, Orlando & Tampa (I haven't been to Miami in years).

I like Jax (I better! I live here !) and I think Tampa is a close second. I've never wanted to live in Orlando simply because it is landlocked in the middle of the state...isn't water a big part of moving to Florida? It was for me (I came from NYC).

So.......

Between Jax and Tampa, I would still pick Jax:

1) Ocean is better than Gulf (IMHO)

2) Houses are less expensive in Jax than Tampa

3) Property taxes are less expensive in Jax than Tampa (at least the parts of Tampa I know/would live in)

4) Jax is a short day trip to St. Augustine, Savannah and some other really cool little cities.

5) Depending on just how far west into NY State you are, if you use I95 for drives back home, I95 runs straight through the middle of downtown Jax.

[Frank from New York]

Originally Posted by riveree

Hi Frank,

Well, I'm really only familiar with three of the cities you mentioned: Jax, Orlando & Tampa (I haven't been to Miami in years).

I like Jax (I better! I live here !) and I think Tampa is a close second. I've never wanted to live in Orlando simply because it is landlocked in the middle of the state...isn't water a big part of moving to Florida? It was for me (I came from NYC).

So.......

Between Jax and Tampa, I would still pick Jax:

1) Ocean is better than Gulf (IMHO)

2) Houses are less expensive in Jax than Tampa

3) Property taxes are less expensive in Jax than Tampa (at least the parts of Tampa I know/would live in)

4) Jax is a short day trip to St. Augustine, Savannah and some other really cool little cities.

5) Depending on just how far west into NY State you are, if you use I95 for drives back home, I95 runs straight through the middle of downtown Jax.

Thanks for your reply

[twoshadetod]

I'd have to rank

West Palm
Miami
---- For quality of life, and happiness
Jacksonville if you just want to put your head down and make it.

Don't know about the rest.
The first two will be more expensive, and Jacksonville even though it's "harder" to make a decent wage, everything is cheaper so it seems you come out "on top".

[Frank from New York]

Originally Posted by twoshadetod

I'd have to rank

West Palm
Miami
---- For quality of life, and happiness
Jacksonville if you just want to put your head down and make it.

Don't know about the rest.
The first two will be more expensive, and Jacksonville even though it's "harder" to make a decent wage, everything is cheaper so it seems you come out "on top".

Thanks for the reply , West Palm south looks really beautiful

[5FLgirls]

I have to throw my opinion in here because I've lived in WPB and Jax. I loved living in WPB. It's beautiful, cultural and has that North East Coast vibe to it. As for housing, I personally didn't see a difference in cost of housing between Jax and WPB. I've found that housing is relative to where you want to live--the nicer the area--the more money the house is. Car insurance is less in Jax and Homeowner's Insurance was only a smidge less. Taxes were higher in St. Johns County than Palm Beach County. Overall, I didn't want to move to Jax. A few months into it, I didn't want to even consider moving back to WPB. Jax is great. It has a nice change of seasons but it's not unbearably freezing. The trees and scenery are much prettier than SFL. And the people are a bit nicer than in SFL (IMO). Also, I thought the food (restaurants, etc) in SFL was great but Jax hits it out of the ballpark. I had better food in Jax than ever in SFL (except at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, of course)

[lvmy3grls]

I live in Palm Beach county right now and am moving to St Augustine because the cost of living here has risen so high, so I would think to pick North Florida. Homeowners insurance, taxes, and homes are much more where we live in PBC. Good luck!!

[Love2LiveNCities]

Ive been to florida numerous times and love all of the cities. Jacksonville happens to be to me the most realistic city in florida. As far as alot of people, your normal city, normal jobs. The weather if you like a change from hot to a little chilly is a good place because there are definitely some days in the winter where you need to button up. The traffic im not a big fan of but im not a big fan of it from Opa Locka down to Miami. Tampa is by far my favorite. Its more laid back to me but also offers alot of activities. The bay, The gulf, clearwater, treasure island, st. petersburg. Its just nice. Although i have never lived there i am going to relocate there from Northern VA soon enough. And i have been to the keys all the way to De Funiak Springs. which is probably the worst place i have ever been lol. But out of all the cities. Tampa is my favorite, Daytona/Titusville suprisingly my second, and jacksonville would have to be third. Miami and all of those southern cities are beautiful and fun....to visit. But there is alot of everything going on down there. Hope this helps at all...remember i am not a florida Native. But i do go there alot and not just for vacation so i have some insight on what its like to live there.

[Frank from New York]

Thanks people , your opinions are very welcome

[Ed_Upstate]

Frank, What part of Western NY you from? I live in Rochester area, and may also be moving down to Jax. The one thing I'm struggling with though is housing prices in western NY are much lower, so likely will end of spending $100,000 more to buy compatable housing. Someone also told me water bills are like $150 to $200 per month. That is much higher than we're use to. Can anyone comment on that? Is that really true for water? But so far like what I've seen of Jax.