melbourne, sebastian, or vero beach?? (Merritt Island, Cocoa: house, buy, best schools)

[thepannarales]

my husband is getting relocated to sebastian.

My husband and I just turned thirty and we have a two year old daughter. Although he thought it was beautiful and safe, my husband mentioned he doesn't think SEbastian wouldn't suit us because we come from a big city and enjoy have options (shopping, entertainment, dining, etc). He feels Sebastian might be too small.

That leaves us with two options from what I see. Vero Beach or Melbourne. Our budget for a house is about 350-400.

I really like a private school for my daughter in Melbourne (holy trinity) and am having a hard time with an equally good school in vero without it costing a ridiculous amount like st edwards.

Anyhow, any input on safety, family life, traffic congestions, places to live. Any pros or cons or preferences would be beautiful

thanks

[kwick release]

It may be a long commute for your husband, but if you want to save money, Gemini and Ocean Breeze Elementary schools in Melbourne Beach and Indian Harbor Beach respectively are the best public elementary schools in the state. Check them out on greatschools.net.

[Jareb]

Well- as you probably know, Melbourne is the largest of the 3 with the most opportunities for entertainment. Sebastian is a great small town with a beautiful inlet state park and good housing deals. Vero is very upscale and one of the most beautiful towns on the east coast.Best beaches of the 3. Nightlife in Vero is somewhat lacking but there is a great mall, performing arts center and many excellent restaurants. In your price range you can buy a very nice home in any of the 3 towns you mention. St eds is one of the top private schools in the state and expensive, as you know. There are good charter schools as well as the public school system which is quite good. My daughter went to Vero public schools for K-12 and was accepted at UF{and that isnt easy!}and graduated...so...schools are sorta what you make of them. Good luck in your move

[Sueilp]

Yes Sebastian is a small community - it is safe and beautiful...you might be right that if you are city people you may think it is small....out of Melbourne or Vero Beach I would say Melbourne is a bigger place to vero beach and maybe more suited to your needs....

I personally like Sebastian but I am a country girl at heart!!

[floridasandy]

sebastian is safe and peaceful, but does not have a lot to do. vero does not have a lot to do either. if you are looking for shopping, dining, etc., consider melbourne or viera.

[italiagirl]

You would be better off in Melbourne. Melbourne is more for young families. I'm currently living in Sebastian and looking to move. Vero Beach & Sebastian are for retirement and snow birds.
People in Vero & Sebastian aren't that friendly.

[kwick release]

Originally Posted by italiagirl

You would be better off in Melbourne. Melbourne is more for young families. I'm currently living in Sebastian and looking to move. Vero Beach & Sebastian are for retirement and snow birds.
People in Vero & Sebastian aren't that friendly.

The Space Coast area also has a decent economy that is buffered from sharp downturns by Cape Canaveral. Hopefully though the looming end to the Shuttle program and few years gap to the start of the Constellation program will not hurt too much.




Prodromos Borboroglu

[Analyzer]

Sebastian is nice and pretty new..but I have to agree that you are better off in Melbourne-more family's.
In Brevard: West Melbourne, Merritt Island and Cocoa beach seem to have the best schools. Holy Trinity's lower school isn't in the best area, and there are some good teachers and not so good but it is a close knit school. There tends to be a snobbiness in the upper school though. Holy Trinity is not what it's are cracked up to be but it is probably one of the better schools in the area. Gemini is okay but the kids don't learn much-just what they need to for the FCAT. The science seems to be good in brevard county. I don't know much about Ocean Breeze?? I heard W. Melbourne Elementary for Science is good.
I sent my kids (that love to learn)to some of these schools and they were not really happy with them..(they didn't seem to learn much)but for Florida they were okay.

[Synergy1]

I too believe Melbourne is nice and a nicer place to school the children. After all it is the schools, churches, Police force that make a place rate expensive or not so expensive that Melbourne FL has to enjoy. Great schools rate Melbournce "9"....

West Melbourne Schools - West Melbourne Florida School Ratings - Public and Private

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by Analyzer

Sebastian is nice and pretty new..but I have to agree that you are better off in Melbourne-more family's.
In Brevard: West Melbourne, Merritt Island and Cocoa beach seem to have the best schools. Holy Trinity's lower school isn't in the best area, and there are some good teachers and not so good but it is a close knit school. There tends to be a snobbiness in the upper school though. Holy Trinity is not what it's are cracked up to be but it is probably one of the better schools in the area. Gemini is okay but the kids don't learn much-just what they need to for the FCAT. The science seems to be good in brevard county. I don't know much about Ocean Breeze?? I heard W. Melbourne Elementary for Science is good.
I sent my kids (that love to learn)to some of these schools and they were not really happy with them..(they didn't seem to learn much)but for Florida they were okay.

This thread was from 2007.