[Completely Torn]

Okay...let me try this again. I'm coming from LA where I've lived for 12 years. I chose to move to Florida instead of moving back to Long Island, NY. I lived in NY up until 4th grade and moved back for high school. I was in Boca for two years of elementary and middle school. I chose to move back to Florida now because I'm married with a child and am looking for a laid back family way of life and NY is way too expensive. Which would you rate better in these areas between Boca and Weston.

1. Schools
2. Safety
3. Nice Neighborhoods
4. Good Vibe
5. Place to raise a kid
6 Family Environment

Thanks and hope to get more help.

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by Completely Torn

Okay...let me try this again. I'm coming from LA where I've lived for 12 years. I chose to move to Florida instead of moving back to Long Island, NY. I lived in NY up until 4th grade and moved back for high school. I was in Boca for two years of elementary and middle school. I chose to move back to Florida now because I'm married with a child and am looking for a laid back family way of life and NY is way too expensive. Which would you rate better in these areas between Boca and Weston.

1. Schools
2. Safety
3. Nice Neighborhoods
4. Good Vibe
5. Place to raise a kid
6 Family Environment

Thanks and hope to get more help.

You've left out the most important variable of all.... your specialty in the workforce that will afford you the salary to support your family in your chosen city. None of the 6 criteria that you've listed will mean anything until your financial stability is addressed first.

[Completely Torn]

The company my wife and I will be working for has offices close to both of those areas. Financially we'll be okay in either place.

[tallrick]

Weston is an 80's excuse to make a big profit from worthless swampland. Great if you like monolithic developments locked in their birth eras by endless rules. Try neighboring southwest ranches for a much better experience.

[compelled to reply]

If you have the money, SW Ranches acutally sounds like a good idea. Weston schools without the rules. If you like land, a very unique living experience overall. If I had a family, that would easily be my top choice in S FL if I could afford it. If not, I think Weston is more "family friendly" than Boca and has literally half the crime rate, but it's very far inland and has a "cookie cutter" feel that might ruin the vibe compared to east Boca. Then again, that Boca vibe doesn't always seem conducive to raising kids, despite it seeming perfect on paper. When compared to west Boca though, I think Weston has a much better feel in all ways. West Boca is very congested, kind of like Pembroke Pines, although Pines might actually be nicer in some ways. You may also want to consider Parkland, which is right below west Boca.

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

Originally Posted by Completely Torn

The company my wife and I will be working for has offices close to both of those areas. Financially we'll be okay in either place.

You will find that many poster's do not think anyone has enough money to live anywhere in Florida all the while you can live cheaper in Florida then you can in most places.

Smart choice choosing Fla over NY for your stated reasons.

Congrats on your jobs also.

[Swimmom32]

We are choosing Boca over Weston at this point, but that can change...We love the feel of West boca, also good schools and close to everything..We have friends in Weston and for us Boca might be a better fit..

Good Luck, pls let us know which place you decided to reside in..

[runswithscissors]

I would say you shouldn't move blind. If you come here to visit with the goal of living the lifestyle for a week or so each place's positives and negatives should be pretty well defined. Then you can take Tall Rick's and Compelled excellent experienced advise and visit places you didn't even know about.

Locate the schools where your kids would go, visit them, do the commute and routines, talk to people living there etc. Ignore the beaches and palm trees while you're at it.

If you move in summer it would be lucky and you can get a short term rental ANYWHERE allowing for you to make a more permanent decision by the time school starts.

[Swimmom32]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

I would say you shouldn't move blind. If you come here to visit with the goal of living the lifestyle for a week or so each place's positives and negatives should be pretty well defined. Then you can take Tall Rick's and Compelled excellent experienced advise and visit places you didn't even know about.

Locate the schools where your kids would go, visit them, do the commute and routines, talk to people living there etc. Ignore the beaches and palm trees while you're at it.

If you move in summer it would be lucky and you can get a short term rental ANYWHERE allowing for you to make a more permanent decision by the time school starts.

+1 Run..Great Advice, sometimes its a bit difficult with a Relo, there isnt enough time..lol..we have decided to rent for the exact reason you mentioned...and we are hoping to get there end of May....we will see...I did speak to the schools, very nice people and helpful...didnt get a chance to talk to people in the developments, so hopefully we will be able to do that if we get down there...

Thank you...