Coming from WI (Pensacola, Gulf Breeze: renting, crime, home)

[GenXFella]

Long term goal over next 3-5 years is to move to Pensacola. Have visited here a few years back and seems like nice area. Definitely like warmer summers over frigid winters. Actually sick of winter.

Would like to have my own home eventually (ideally with deck and grill with palm trees in yard), but probably start with renting at first. Job is such that can work from home, earning close to $40k per year. Spending rest of life in smaller city in warmer weather suits me fine. I am over 40 with soon to be adult child.

Concerns would be flood zones and crime. Having lived in a major city for a while, expecting some crime pockets here (they exist everywhere).

Questions:

Flood zones?
Crime pockets?
Best BBQ restaurants?
How crowded do beaches get?
Venomous snakes/spiders?
Movie theaters?

[GenXFella]

Ok, so I see there are a handful of theaters in Pensacola. I'm familiar with the AMC brand.

I think I saw someone post a crime map earlier. Thats helpful too.

[beachmouse]

The counties typically have flood maps online.

Pensacola Beach gets quite crowded on summer weekends with nasty traffic back ups clear into Gulf Breeze. Either plan on getting to the shore early or consider Navarre Beach or Perdido Key as alternative beaches.

Snakes- we're far enough north to not have the python problem so far, and, while we do have our fair share or venomous snakes, they want nothing to do with people. Did see a pygmy rattler in our yard once. But generally don't rush them, give them space to get away from you in the rare case you see one, and they're generally no big deal. (However, do look carefully for pygmy rattlers when gardening or when in garden centers. Seems like there are 1-2 reports a year of someone getting bitten at a Lowe's or Walmart garden center when they reach in to examine a large plant and disturb a sleeping snake)