We got one heckuva decision to make... (Miami, Melbourne: 2015, homes)

[mpafr012]

[quote=clnewman;38620223]Don't forget the disadvantage of tornadoes in Tulsa. Way more tornadoes than tornadoes/hurricanes in FL.

Actually FL has more tornadoes than OK. Source NOAA

[Fl1150]

I would say Tornadoes are not dangerous like the ones in Tulsa they are more likely to be water spouts and not last as long according to my research.

[Nypafl4u]

I think for the OP, tornadoes and hurricanes should be lower on the list of reasons to move or not move to a particular place. In this case, economic well being with a job, family support, and overall quality of life should be the main focus.

[Dazed1]

I live in OKC and bugs have never been a big problem, but ice storms are, and the summers in Ok. can be hotter than Florida. I lived in Palm Bay for 18 years, and fire ants were a bigger problem than roaches. I got used to the summers after about 5 years. I have lived in both and I will retire back to the west coast of Florida, if that tells you anything.

[Nypafl4u]

Dazed, what do like better about the west coast? My friend recenly bought a house in Port Charlotte and plans to eventually retire there (he sails and the canals there are better for sail boats). I was down there in January. Very quiet and definitely a lot older in demographics than Brevard. I liked Punta Gorda better, but still nothibg that made me say it would be better than Cocoa Beach or Merritt Island.

[Dazed1]

There are fewer hurricanes on the west coast, and at least in the areas I am looking a much lower crime rate. I didn't have a very high opinion of either Cocoa Beach or Merritt Island when I lived there. Understand that I also don't have a high opinion of OKC either, it is at the crossroads of I-40 and I-35 and has a high level of drug and sex trafficking. What we need are drug maps for normal people, for surely wherever drugs flow easily so does crime.

[ExIslander]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Have you checked out housing costs between the two?

Not really, thus the question. Although the way the OP originally phrased it, it sounded like there was a huge difference just in the moving phase, as opposed to the staying phase.

Anyway, housing in Brevard isn't all that expensive by national standards, especially if we're looking at medians instead of averages.

[Nypafl4u]

I think if you look at the historical storm maps, you find that there are more storms on the Gulf side, especially devastating ones. Charley destroyed a lot of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda ten years or so ago. As for illegal activities, you will find that all over as well, unfortunately.
I guess it all depends on where you are going and what is important to the person going there that makes one area better than another. Ultimately, it is a personal decision.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by ExIslander

Not really, thus the question. Although the way the OP originally phrased it, it sounded like there was a huge difference just in the moving phase, as opposed to the staying phase.

Anyway, housing in Brevard isn't all that expensive by national standards, especially if we're looking at medians instead of averages.

Melbourne is more expensive than tulsa as an example
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Mlb got a 99, tulsa an 85. U.S.average is defined at 100. Tulsa is cheap I guess

[clnewman]

Originally Posted by mpafr012

Actually FL has more tornadoes than OK. Source NOAA

I was being somewhat somewhat flippant in my response. That said, you almost never see FL tornadoes make the national news, whereas you see news of horrendous tornadoes in the Tulsa every year. Anyway...

If finance is the OP's main motivation, Tulsa wins hands down. When beginning to factor in weather and quality of life, I personally think FL moves ahead. To me, it's all about the big picture.

That's just my 2¢, YMMV.