Possible move to FL, is Stuart a nice town? (Orlando: how much, house)

[cmp1111]

My husband is considering a job with a former co-worker. The co-worker just moved from NH (where we are also - but not natives) to Palm City and loves it. The co-worker was senior to my hubby before and would be his boss again, and looking at Palm City (and knowing for sure how much more their house in NH was worth compared to ours) I think Stuart might be more in our price range.

But, having only ever been to Orlando, is Stuart a nice town? We have elementary age kids and a nice but not lavish lifestyle.

Thanks in advance!

[Lilybeans]

Stuart is nice. Martin County, of which Stuart is the County Seat, is the only county around that has a height restriction, so there is nothing anywhere in the county over 4 stories.

Port St. Lucie has become a suburb of Stuart, and Palm City definitely is. Stuart has a nice downtown that you can walk around in, and has plenty of water around. Rivers, and the ocean is close.

The downside is the whole county is getting more crowded, but everyplace is like that. Martin County has traditionally held property values better than the surrounding counties.

Of course, you would have to visit before you made any possible decision. Jobs are tight right now. What business would he be in?

[cmp1111]

Originally Posted by Lilybeans

Stuart is nice. Martin County, of which Stuart is the County Seat, is the only county around that has a height restriction, so there is nothing anywhere in the county over 4 stories.

Port St. Lucie has become a suburb of Stuart, and Palm City definitely is. Stuart has a nice downtown that you can walk around in, and has plenty of water around. Rivers, and the ocean is close.

The downside is the whole county is getting more crowded, but everyplace is like that. Martin County has traditionally held property values better than the surrounding counties.

Of course, you would have to visit before you made any possible decision. Jobs are tight right now. What business would he be in?

He's a corporate pilot; he'd be flying out of West Palm. But, since his co-worker is in the area it must be fine for the commute - pilots don't typically commute every day, and also not at normal rush hours. I currently stay at home with the kindergarten age twins.

Thanks for responding!

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by cmp1111

He's a corporate pilot; he'd be flying out of West Palm. But, since his co-worker is in the area it must be fine for the commute - pilots don't typically commute every day, and also not at normal rush hours. I currently stay at home with the kindergarten age twins.

Thanks for responding!

It's a half hour, 40 minutes to the airport in WPB. It's much easier from Palm City or Hobe Sound ( still Martin County), just because of ease of access to I-95. If you live in Sturat proper, you have to drive through Palm City to get to the highway.

[TriMT7]

Are home prices that much different in Palm City vs. Stuart?

Hobe Sound might be an option further South, though it's 7 miles from Hobe Sound to the highway exit ramp.

I'm not sure of your price range, but you may want to look into Jupiter and Tequesta in Northern Palm Beach County as well as Martin County. The commute South on I-95 into anywhere downtown basically sucks. From Martin you could be looking at up to an hour depending on the time of day.

[cmp1111]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Are home prices that much different in Palm City vs. Stuart?

Hobe Sound might be an option further South, though it's 7 miles from Hobe Sound to the highway exit ramp.

I'm not sure of your price range, but you may want to look into Jupiter and Tequesta in Northern Palm Beach County as well as Martin County. The commute South on I-95 into anywhere downtown basically sucks. From Martin you could be looking at up to an hour depending on the time of day.

Thanks for the info. Do you know what the schools are like in the areas you mentioned?

[Lilybeans]

Martin is much nicer than Jupiter-Tequesta. Schools here are all good. I have rarely, if ever seen an hour drive to West Palm from Palm city. I can go from Palm City to the airport in 30 minutes. I drive to West Palm from Palm City all the time. It's an easy ride.

Martin County is very small. Hobe Sound, Palm City, Stuart, they are all really one town. The access to I-95 from Hobe Sound is an easy ride. Palm City is easy too.

[Lilybeans]

BTW, in Florida, the school districts are the counties. Martin County has 3 high schools Palm City has a couple of elementary schools and a couple middle schools.

The schools districts are not like up north, by town. Hobe Sound and Palm City are unincorporated areas of Martin County, Stuart is an incorporated city. It has a real downtown too, which is quite rare in Florida.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by Lilybeans

Martin is much nicer than Jupiter-Tequesta. Schools here are all good. I have rarely, if ever seen an hour drive to West Palm from Palm city. I can go from Palm City to the airport in 30 minutes. I drive to West Palm from Palm City all the time. It's an easy ride.

Martin County is very small. Hobe Sound, Palm City, Stuart, they are all really one town. The access to I-95 from Hobe Sound is an easy ride. Palm City is easy too.

I would disagree that Stuart is nicer than Jupiter. Stuart has a nice downtown area, but the rest of the city is pretty typical for the treasure coast.

I drive every single say from downtown West Palm Beach to Hobe Sound. Traffic at certain times of the day can get miserable, especially once you hit 45th street. God forbid there's an accident. The turnpike will get you there faster though (usually).

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by cmp1111

Thanks for the info. Do you know what the schools are like in the areas you mentioned?

Hobe Sound is Martin County, which has a good reputation for schools. Jupiter and Tequesta have good reputations for schools as well. I would suggest coming down and visiting each town. It really is one of those "have to experience it" to judge which area is right for you. Hobe Sound, for example, is very small.... like a three stoplight town, lol.