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Those searching for an affordable coastal living might want to consider the Sunshine State. While for many, the thought of living by the ocean conjures up images of expensive beachfront Florida real estate and luxury yacht lifestyles, that’s not always the case. Some laid-back waterfront communities in Florida offer reasonably-priced housing, excellent schools, plenty of local flavor, bucket-listable activities to do, and all the amenities of beach living without the hefty price tag.
These are places where life is all about waking to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, seeing seagulls flying overhead, taking long walks along the beach, knowing your neighbors by name, and being able to bike almost everywhere. In addition, some of these communities have active short-term rental markets, which can provide a source of income to help offset the cost of ownership.
If you’ve always dreamt about raising a family by the sea, are preparing ahead for your retirement years, or simply want to establish long-term roots in Florida, here are the seven best beach towns in Florida to live in.
What Is The Best Beach Town To Live In Florida?
Vero Beach
Located on a barrier island in the Indian River Lagoon, midway between the cities of West Palm Beach and Orlando, the seaside community of Vero Beach provides a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of larger, more congested Florida cities. This often overlooked piece of paradise offers pristine beaches, world-class fishing, and plenty of outdoor recreation in several beach parks and oceanfront biking and hiking trails with beach access.
Vero Beach is also home to a desirable housing market with many waterfront properties, good public and private schools, its own regional airport, and many recreational opportunities, including several museums, golf courses, art clubs & galleries, and a botanical garden. Downtown Vero Beach is particularly charming, with its tree-lined streets, historic buildings, and welcoming local community.
One of Vero Beach’s most unique features is that town planners have been very considerate about zoning and building heights, allowing the city to maintain its charm as it grows. Whether you’re looking for a primary residence or a vacation home Vero Beach is worth considering since it’s one of the best beach towns in Florida. You can expect homes for sale in Vero Beach to have a median sale price of $390K, but buyers with more modest budgets might prefer one of the condo units starting at around $200K in this town.
Vero Beach real estate comes in many forms, from large single-family homes to condominiums and townhouses. In addition, the Vero Beach real estate market offers luxury properties, including beachfront mansions and premium dwellings in golf course communities.
Captiva
Captiva, Florida, is a Barrier Island located just off the Gulf Coast, around an hour from Fort Myers and north of Sanibel Island. This small island is a popular vacation destination but also one of the best beach towns to live in Florida. Captiva is known for its secluded beaches, lush vegetation, and Old Florida feel.
Although it’s only a few miles long, Captiva has a healthy housing market, its own local schools, and activities and attractions, including fishing and yachting. Nature lovers can explore the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge or take a kayak tour of the nearby mangrove forests. There are also plenty of beachside restaurants and bars to enjoy.
The Captiva real estate market in Captiva is strong, with tight inventory and prices consistently rising. That being said, the median home value for homes for sale in Captiva remains at $430K. Waterfront condos and villas are the property types in higher demand, but the luxury segment is also growing non-stop, with several upscale properties on the island. Most of them are multi-million-dollar lavish single-family detached homes featuring five or more bedrooms, backyards, private pools, open ocean views, and top-of-the-line finishes.
Captiva, Florida, is a safe, laid-back beachfront paradise filled with boutique hotels and lush landscaping. Residents enjoy their free time lounging on the beach, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, or having a fresh seafood feast in one of the local eateries. For those looking for a little more excitement, Captiva Island Yacht Club offers jet skiing, kayaking, and parasailing.
Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach is a vibrant small community on Florida’s Atlantic coast, just minutes north of Fort Lauderdale and around 35 miles north of Miami. Known for its low crime rates, well-regarded schools, beautiful beaches, and diverse shopping, dining, and recreation, it’s no surprise that this lovely town earned its nickname the “heart of the Gold Coast.”
Pompano Beach, the beach that gives the city its name, is the perfect place to relax and unwind, with its beautiful golden sand and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The city is also known for its large beachfront, many fishing piers, and the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, considered one of the most powerful lights in the world. Other major attractions in Pompano Beach include parks, nature centers, casinos, and art museums.
The Pompano Beach real estate market is thriving and diverse, and has something to offer buyers at every stage of their home-buying journey. From humble one-bedroom condos and existing townhomes for sale to spacious single-family detached homes and luxury waterfront estates with deep water dockage, there is a property type to suit every taste and budget.
Many new construction homes in Pompano Beach are also available for those looking to purchase brand-new property. Currently, the median value for a home for sale in Pompano Beach is $356K, but purchasers can find dwellings priced as low as $149K and up to $6.9M.
With its small-town flavor and cosmopolitan conveniences, this beach town is an attractive market for buyers looking for vacation homes or investment properties in Florida. The city is also in the middle of a redevelopment process to revitalize its beachfront and historic downtown.
Apalachicola
Famous for its delicious oysters and calm, emerald water beaches, Apalachicola is an enchanting fishing village located in Florida’s panhandle. Apalachicola is a small town with a big personality boasting over 900 historic structures dating back to the early 1800s that are not far from unspoiled beaches offering a variety of fun watersports.
Apalachicola is also known for its plentiful outdoor opportunities, which include the scenic trails of the Apalachicola National Forest and several nearby state parks, nature preserves, and wildlife refuges. Its wide range of affordable real estate options, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly residents are also major draws for this beach town in Florida.
With its idyllic location on the Florida panhandle —not far from Tallahassee and Panama City– and its wide array of amenities, Apalachicola is becoming an increasingly popular destination for full-time residents and vacationers alike. Whether you’re looking for a pastel-hued cozy beach bungalow, a beautifully-maintained Charleston-style house, or a luxurious estate on a generous lot with endless views of the Apalachicola Bay, there’s sure to be an Apalachicola real estate option that catches your eye.
With a median sale price of $263K, the Apalachicola home prices are still relatively low compared to other markets in Florida, which means that now is the perfect time to invest in Apalachicola real estate. The homes for sale in Apalachicola are often on the waterfront, and many offer access to dockage and other amenities.
Fernandina Beach
Sunny Fernandina Beach is a historic Amelia Island community located north of the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve, 45 minutes northeast of Jacksonville. The beautiful coastal town provides residents with a calm village vibe, 40 public access beach points on more than 13 miles of shoreline, and close proximity to many cities in both Florida and Georgia.
Water-focused activities such as swimming, fishing, and kayaking are plentiful in Fernandina Beach, as are opportunities to explore the nearby beachfront parks and nature trails, like Fort Clinch State Park and The Timucuan Preserve, and Cumberland Island. Relocators to Fernandina Beach enjoy a vibrant downtown with many community-building activities and events and some of the best schools near Jacksonville, including St. Michael Academy and Fernandina Beach High School.
Fernandina Beach real estate is a robust and diverse market with property types, styles, and prices to suit every budget. This town’s unique combination of traditional charm and contemporary, resort-like comforts appeals to both in-and-out-of-state transplants.
For homebuyers looking to purchase a single-family property, the median sale price for a home for sale in Fernandina Beach is $615K. Snowbirds, downsizers in retirement, and young homebuyers can purchase condos near the beach for a little over $200K.
Dunedin
Comfortably snuggled between Palm Harbor and Clearwater, around 30 minutes northwest of Tampa, FL, sits the quaint community of Dunedin. This beach town is home to over 35,000 people and boasts reasonably priced real estate and some of the most beautiful beaches in the state.
Unlike other small towns on Florida’s Gulf coast, Dunedin has open waterfront neighborhoods that give homeowners a great view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, Dunedin is home to Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park, which provide a myriad of ocean-related activities, including swimming, shelling, hiking, sunbathing, boating, and fishing.
The Dunedin real estate for sale is in high demand right now for a number of reasons. First, the city is in one of the most desirable areas of Florida; it’s close to every major city in the Tampa Bay Area (Tampa, St. Petersburgo, and Clearwater) and has a lot to offer in terms of activities, dining, and shopping. Dunedin is also a very family-friendly community with a relaxed atmosphere. It offers potential relocators everything from great schools to safe, well-rounded neighborhoods with access to large commercial areas, lush city parks, and outstanding recreation.
The median home price in Dunedin is $414K, slightly over the national average but still very convenient compared to the neighboring metro areas. Homebuyers looking for their dream property in the area can find a diverse supply ranging from starter homes to cozy retirement villas. There’s a large concentration of oceanfront condos for sale in Dunedin, as well as detached and semi-detached beach houses. New construction real estate is also flourishing in Dunedin, with prices ranging from $550K and $1.1M.
Pensacola Beach
The resort community of Pensacola Beach is an inexpensive beach town located on a barrier island of the Florida Panhandle. The area is world-renowned for its sugar-white sand and crystal-clear waters, including Opal Beach in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The island is just a few miles away from Pensacola, FL, and the Alabama/Florida border, and it’s accessible by two different bridges from the mainland. In Pensacola Beach, life revolves around the water, so trendy local activities include swimming, sunbathing, fishing, surfing, and kayaking.
But Pensacola Beach is more than just a pretty face. It is also a great place to live, particularly for those seeking a quiet, simple lifestyle by the ocean. The area is safe and clean, with relatively low living costs, one elementary school, and friendly and welcoming residents. For fun, locals typically head to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, which has restaurants and stores. The Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is a few steps away, with unforgettable views and frequent sea creatures sightings.
Pensacola Beach real estate is a fantastic investment with the market currently on the rise and prices still relatively affordable. The beachfront property is some of the most desirable in the area, and the median sale price for a home for sale in Pensacola Beach is around $297K, a steal compared to the median value in Miami of $552K. Families like the beautifully-remodeled single-family homes with backyards and pools, while retirees are drawn to the more modest beach cottages all within walking distance to the beach.
However, the condominium is the absolute king of the Pensacola Beach real estate market. The variety of condos for sale in Pensacola Beach goes from spacious two or three-bedroom units to luxurious penthouse suites. The community amenities commonly include multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, and private balconies with stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. And for those who love to fish, some units have private piers that are the perfect place to cast a line.
Best Beach Towns In Florida: Final Words
If you’re looking for a place to live that offers both coastal living and housing affordability by the state’s standards, you should consider one of these best beach towns in Florida. With miles of sandy beaches, abundant amenities, and plenty of things to do, these towns offer the perfect mix of seaside charm and small-town friendliness. Contact a local real estate agent today and start planning your move to the Sunshine State. And if you need help finding the ideal person for the job, make sure to check out these 12 questions to ask before hiring a real estate agent.
