Orlando v. Jax v. Tampa Bay v. New Orleans v. Charleston (Jacksonville: lawyer, new home)

[scootieb]

My family (husband, 2 & 6 yr olds, me) are leaving NY! My spouse had a great job waiting in Orlando (yes, had). Instead, we now have the chance to choose where to build a life. A great opportunity but also terrifying. New hometown criteria: no harsh Winters, vibrant food & culture, schools (public/private/both) that prepare kids for good colleges, and newcomers are welcome. I'm a lawyer and my husband will probably start a business. I would love to be in an area where I can walk to a few stores or restaurants, but am more than OK with needing a car. I narrowed it down to: Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay (Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater), New Orleans, and Charleston. I based this on proximity to the beach (no Atlanta), city size, and lower- than- NY cost of living (no Miami). I'm not sure which, if any, of these places are good business start- up locations.

Any advice, particularly from those of you who lived in 2+ cities on the list? Thank you so much for your input. Have a great day.

[LordHomunculus]

If you really desire great cuisine, culture and walkability, then NOLA sounds like your best bet. Charleston and Jacksonville are honorable mentions for great Southern culture and food, but they still won't be as walkable compared to NOLA. But Jacksonville is also close to nice beaches and the schools might be better. St. Pete can also be considered and its also close to the beaches. Orlando should be scratched off. But if I were you, I would also post this in the General U.S. thread.

[StreetSmarts]

Charleston SC. I'd strongly encourage checking out Savannah. It's St Augustine x 100.

[FloridaNative35]

I've lived in or spent a lot of time in all the cities you mentioned.

First, I want to second the above poster's recommendation for Savannah. In fact, based on what you want, I would put it at the top of the list. (St. Augustine may also be worth considering)

Charleston is a great place with a really fun downtown and a lot of historical character. Having said that, it is pretty small and expensive to live anywhere super desirable. Definitely some good restaurants, though.

NOLA is more expensive than you probably realize and sometimes feels hotter than the other cities on your list.

I don't recommend Jax at all.

I also don't recommend Tampa, but I DO recommend St. Pete or Clearwater (or Sarasota).

Orlando is a good choice, if you're careful about where in the city you live (although that can be said for all of the above). It is a bit farther to the beach, but has a lot of walkable neighborhoods.

Overall:

1. Savannah
2. Charleston
3. Sarasota
4. Orlando
5. St. Pete
6. NOLA
7. Clearwater
8. Tampa
9. Jacksonville

One final point... you are concerned about the city being too big? There's a big difference between Charleston and Orlando or Clearwater and Jax, for example. If you're looking for small but urban, I'd stick with Charleston, Savannah, or Sarasota. The other cities are not small or (like Clearwater) are on top of a major city.

[StreetSmarts]

savannah is much better than st Augustine and I used to think st Augustine was the greatest. I was wrong, and it's not even close!

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative35

I've lived in or spent a lot of time in all the cities you mentioned.

First, I want to second the above poster's recommendation for Savannah. In fact, based on what you want, I would put it at the top of the list. (St. Augustine may also be worth considering)

Charleston is a great place with a really fun downtown and a lot of historical character. Having said that, it is pretty small and expensive to live anywhere super desirable. Definitely some good restaurants, though.

NOLA is more expensive than you probably realize and sometimes feels hotter than the other cities on your list.

I don't recommend Jax at all.

I also don't recommend Tampa, but I DO recommend St. Pete or Clearwater (or Sarasota).

Orlando is a good choice, if you're careful about where in the city you live (although that can be said for all of the above). It is a bit farther to the beach, but has a lot of walkable neighborhoods.

Overall:

1. Savannah
2. Charleston
3. Sarasota
4. Orlando
5. St. Pete
6. NOLA
7. Clearwater
8. Tampa
9. Jacksonville

One final point... you are concerned about the city being too big? There's a big difference between Charleston and Orlando or Clearwater and Jax, for example. If you're looking for small but urban, I'd stick with Charleston, Savannah, or Sarasota. The other cities are not small or (like Clearwater) are on top of a major city.

Sorry but there is no way in this dimension that Orlando ranks above St Pete in terms of culture and New Orleans in terms of food scene.