is miami really not a good place to live? (Jacksonville: section 8, apartments)

[Overtown_Miami 17]

Originally Posted by Carolinaonice

RICH?! Maybe if I wasn't a single parent of two young children and had no bills....We are able to live comfortable but far from rich.

In inner city Miami that's rich. When filling paperwork the lowest it goes is 10k a year. We never made that much but that's what we put. By a Miami native pov, you're rich, it's a complement.

[xS☺B☺s]

I think Miami is a great place to be a twenty something partier.

Raising kids? Nah.

Chongalicious - YouTube

[Carolinaonice]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

I think Jacksonville sounds like it was good to you, why not go back there? It is one of the more affordable places in Florida...closer to SC for trips home, minimal hurricane threat...and most importantly, you liked it.

The rest of Florida is more in demand, so prices are higher and wages are lower. That entails more corruption, traffic, shady doings....not to say it's uninhabitable...but the quality of living is going to be higher on your budget in Jacksonville than it would be in MIA or Orlando...especially considering you have a young child.

CA would be much harder on your income.

Hello,
Thanks for your response. I am really leaning towards Orange Park Fl. Its only about 25 minutes away from Jacksonville and is more of what I am use to. I found a nice school there that I think would be good for my daughter. They also have very nice homes for very decent prices. My other problem with Jacksonville was the schools. All the good schools were in Ponte Verda, or St. Augustine which I definitely can not afford.

[Carolinaonice]

Originally Posted by amonte

Bottom line is this. It's safe. If you want to live in the city, then there's the city itself and Miami beach because its pretty much part of the city, its urban and only a bridge away to the city. Others say there are some suburbs that are right next to the city that are also urban in the area right next to city I can speak on that though. If you want to live in the suburbs then you have many choices. You then decide whether you want to live close to the city, far or just how far.

Personally, with a family, I would go with coral gables. It's an amazing suburb, one of the best, if not the best, in Miami, and its super close to the city and the Beach (Miami beach).

I visited coral gables also. It didn't seem like many children were there. I got the "retired" feel...Also the homes seemed to all be very expensive

[TooLoud]

Originally Posted by Carolinaonice

I visited coral gables also. It didn't seem like many children were there. I got the "retired" feel...Also the homes seemed to all be very expensive

Not a place for retirees, just a lot of older people since its a wealthy area.

[Memphis_All_Day]

I've noticed the term "rich" and "expensive" being used, but there's little context. It's all relative. I would recommend you take a look at a cost of living calculator (Cost of Living Calculator: Compare the Cost of Living in Two Cities - CNNMoney) to get an idea of the cost differentiators.

My wife and I have lived, in the last 4 years, Charlotte, DC, Seattle, and Minneapolis. The latter 3 cities makes Miami looks like a bargain location, while Charlotte and Miami are pretty close (surprisingly).

As far as crime, I'm from Memphis, so ANY place seems safer to me. But it's all about knowing your location, where to travel, and safety precautions no matter where you live.

[perry335654]

Originally Posted by Carolinaonice

Hello,
Thanks for your response. I am really leaning towards Orange Park Fl. Its only about 25 minutes away from Jacksonville and is more of what I am use to. I found a nice school there that I think would be good for my daughter. They also have very nice homes for very decent prices. My other problem with Jacksonville was the schools. All the good schools were in Ponte Verda, or St. Augustine which I definitely can not afford.

Orange Park, although nice is quite boring in my opinion.

[Eldemila]

Originally Posted by Carolinaonice

I really need some information about Miami. I am from a very small town in south Carolina where there are only about 4 stop lights and potholes from trucks passing through. I moved to Jacksonville fl for about two years after I graduated high school and I loved it, but I think it was because I had never been outside of south Carolina before. I lived in an apartment right at the intersection of baymeadows and southside blvd. it was nice, I was close to EVERYTHING including the avenue's mall. it wasn't until AFTER I moved back to south carolina, that I found out that Jacksonville was a dangerous place. God (or whoever you believe in) was watching over me during my late night walks down ss blvd. Anyway, I am looking to move again (permanently) to either florida or California. I have two children, one is almost 4 and will be starting school soon, she will be in private school. florida is much cheaper than California but I hear nothing but negative things about it. I visited Miami with my friend for about 2 weeks and I loved it (except the toll roads, which I later found a way to avoid ). I was told that Miami and Orlando are the only places in florida that I will be able to find exceptional schools. Then I spoke to a Miami native (some thuggish guy with a giant dreadlock at the top of his head, that approached me in walmart) he seemed to be warning me away from Miami and talking about how easy it is to get lost in a bad neighborhood...and how bad the crime is there. The area that I was in was called sw kendall. it looked nice to me..i was right across the street from dadeland mall. I would just like some HONEST information about Miami, what areas to avoid, should I move there, is it expensive?....I am a single mother, I make a little over 50k a year

Born and raised in Miami, lived in W. Kendall for over 30yrs, and now live in the Greenville, SC area for the past 3 years...I couldn't wait to leave Miami and move here. IMHO, don't move there...you WON'T be happy! I am the happiest I've ever been with living here. I don't miss MIA at all!

[Popfizz]

Miami is HUGE. To me its more like several (many ) neighborhooods put together equal Miami. Just like Boston is a bunch of towns put together make up the " Boston area"

I lived there for college and had the time of my life. I think it is great to visit , but not to live.

Yea you have the clubs and beach but that gets boring real quick.

It is almost like living in South America, i don't consider it living in the US.

You need a CAR for everything ! Public transportation is the worst and since Miami is sooo hot there isn't a good reason to wait for a bus that may or may not come.

People that KNOW miami know that 90% is ghetto !!! Carol City stand up !!

I just feel like it is expensive , jobs don't pay, everything is far and it is sooo DAMN HOT !

I moved back up north as soon as I graduated.

Don't get me wrong... I am going to Miami next week ( Kendall) to visit family and hang out. I love the beach, cuban food, the restaurants and I also like to go to Homestead alligator farm and grab a shake from Robert's on my way and just admire the nature and " nothingness" and solitude one feels down. I'm coming from NYC where its always loud !

It is rather boring to live IMO

[ruski]

It is very expensive, but 90% is ghetto? Uhhh-uhmmm..