[jaxalamalakum]

What do you think is the best overall big city in Florida, when considering cost of living, job market, development, crime, wages, commute, etc. Just overall. I was just curious to see people's opinions!!

[compelled to reply]

-Orlando probably has the best job market, although it still sucks.
-The West Palm Beach vicinity probably has the highest quality new developments.
-Statistically the Ft. Lauderdale area is the safest out of the big cities, by far actually (go do your research guys).
-Commutes are fine anywhere except for Miami and Orlando. There they suck. I think Ft. Lauderdale has the most efficient road system for it's size.
-Wages suck state wide, but any southeast Florida city has the highest.
-Cost of living is lowest in JAX.

Even though I didn't mention Tampa in any of these categories, I think it might be the most well rounded. It's Achilles heel is the crime rate. I think the Ft. Lauderdale area might gain second place, and it's Achilles heel is the cost of living and tendency to polarize. Tallahassee is 3rd place, I think it's biggest problem would be the job market, also crime is above the state average in Leon County. Jacksonville is fourth, but the crime rate in Duval County is high, wages are low, although surrounding counties are safe. Orlando is not a good place to be, with high traffic, highest crime, transient population, particularly humid summer due to inland location, and general lack of redeeming assets, although it's typically been the job market leader, although the quality of jobs might be lower than South FL (which still has low quality jobs). Miami is great if your rich, but thats also not a very good place to be in general. I tie in St. Petersburg with Tampa, although it has this "rusty" feeling that isn't typical to Florida.

I voted Tampa, although Ft. Lauderdale area can be good if your young, single, like a diverse population and have plenty of disposable income. It's also statistically safe in comparison to other parts of FL, as it's county is the only one to be below the state average of the main counties.

I would personally live near Tampa, the WPB vicinity, and maybe the Tallahassee area. Jacksonville is too sprawl-ish bland for me without much to do, Orlando I generally don't like, Miami rubs me the wrong way, St. Petersburg is kinda cool but I tie it in with Tampa because it's so close, and I already live near Ft. Lauderdale and generally like the area, although for some reason a lot of people seem to think this is the armpit of America.

Oh yeah, and don't forget about mid sized college towns like Gainesville. I prefer Tallahassee as a college town but Gainesville is nice too, albeit high in crime.

[knightgoose]

Orlando in my opinion is the best for the 18-34 outgoing demographic, a little more expensive than Tampa, cheaper than South Florida, w/ lots of entertainment options. Probably not the best choice for families though, that would probably go to the Tampa area

[spainbrit]

Greater Tampa and the Beaches, not a city, but it all runs together like a large metropolis, lots for every type, age, gender etc etc

[tallrick]

So far this thread is great! Nobody has been voting for Miami, the worst city in florida.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

...Jacksonville is fourth, but the crime rate in Duval County is high, wages are low, although surrounding counties are safe....Jacksonville is too sprawl-ish bland for me without much to do...

Compelledtoreply brought up something we hear about Jax a lot...

People look at Jacksonville and think that in order to be safe, they have to live completely outside of Jacksonville, and that's just not the case. Then those same people complain about the homogeneous neighborhoods, nothing but cheap chain restaurants, etc.

The truth is that while we do have a higher crime rate than any of us would like to see, much of it is localized and can be avoided. There are tons of good, solid, safe areas in the city where families can - and do - live.

And unlike many other Florida cities, Jacksonville has small but vibrant urban neighborhoods dating back to just after The Great Fire (1901):


rap

San Marco Preservation Society

Historic Springfield - Jacksonville, Florida (http://sparcouncil.org/Mambo/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/ - broken link)

Historical Tours of Jacksonville, Florida

[compelled to reply]

Well, South Tampa has large but vibrant urban neighborhoods (well, by sunbelt standards anyway, not by "real city" standards). Tampa wins! Also Tampa's crime rate is relatively high but it's been downright tumbling every year, something the rest of the state isn't doing. Tampa in the 90's was quite depressed though so it had nowhere to go but up...

Now, I don't mean to generalize JAX as a whole, becuase don't get me wrong I wouldn't mind living in Mandarin or one of the neighborhoods by the St. Johns, and I see more potential in it than anywhere else in the state because it's basically like a clean slate right now, and I hope to see it learn from the mistakes they made in Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale etc.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Now, I don't mean to generalize JAX as a whole, becuase don't get me wrong I wouldn't mind living in Mandarin or one of the neighborhoods by the St. Johns, and I see more potential in it than anywhere else in the state because it's basically like a clean slate right now, and I hope to see it learn from the mistakes they made in Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale etc.

Mandarin was actually considered the "sprawl" when it began to be developed in the 60's , but yes, I agree, it's a nice area and has some historic homes as well - there's even Harriet Beecher Stowe historical sites there. I did not include it in the links above since Mandarin is suburban, not urban, but here's a link in case anyone is interested:

Mandarin Museum and Historical Society

I agree, Jax has potential to be tapped.....we'll have to see if it continues its' current direction and becomes a city to be reckoned with, or if it backslides and goes back to sleep.

[noland123]

I am going with Coral Gables although it is a suburb of Miami,it is a considerably large city with all of the beauty ,charm and posh neighborhoods. There is no city like it in Florida it is a city within a larger city that has everything at its finger tips. It has the most beautiful tree-lined canopied streets with very little crime and an easy commute.

[NuName]

I honestly do not se how Tampa is winning thus far. To me, imo, it is not as pretty aesthetically, the crime is higher, and it's just too hot in the summer than some of the other cities. I voted Tally, and I think Jax would be 2nd... although I dont really consider Tally a "big" city... just my thoughts...