The aptly-named
Niceville, Florida might just be the safest city in the Sunshine State—but it’s not the only one. From the Panhandle to the Florida Cape, these are the safest places to live in Florida.
If you picture
Floridaas a lawless chaos dimension filled with offbeat criminals, monster alligators, and constant hurricanes, think again: it’s actually among the safest states in the country. Of course, some parts of the state are safer than others—and that’s why
Jerry, the
super appdesigned to save you money on
carand
homeowners insurance, has created a comprehensive guide to all the safest places to live in Florida.
Ready to find your Florida safe haven? Let’s get started.
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Is Florida a safe place to live?
Good news for sunshine seekers: Florida is one of the safest places to live in the United States. In fact, in
U.S. News’s
list of 25 Safest Places to Live in 2021-2022, six of the top 10 cities were in Florida!
You might be surprised by that—after all, isn’t Florida home to gators, hurricanes, and, of course,
Florida Man
? Well, it turns out that Florida’s most infamous dangers might not be so dangerous after all. Let’s break it down.
Crime
The appearance of wild crime stories in Florida headlines is a function of loose journalism laws, not high crime rates. In fact, FBI statistics show that the state’s crime rate is right around the national average, with about 384 instances of violent crime per 100,000 residents. Overall, your chances of being the victim of a crime in Florida are:
1 in 258 chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime
1 in 56 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime
In other words, Florida doesn’t have more wacky criminals than other states—you just hear about them more.
Hurricanes
Hurricane season is one undeniable threat to Floridians and their property. According to the
Insurance Information Institute (III)
, Florida has the highest risk of storm surge, with 2,851,642 single-family homes at risk of a Category 5 storm surge.
But hurricanes don’t pose a uniform danger across the state—some parts of Florida are much safer from hurricanes and the damage they carry in their wake. Southwest Florida is most prone to hurricanes, while the northern and central regions of the state are safest. To check the safety of specific cities and regions, you can use the
Storm Surge Map
created by the National Hurricane Center.
Gators
If you’re worried about gators in Florida, don’t be. Although the state has a larger alligator population than any other state except
Louisiana, these intimidating reptiles don’t actually pose a significant danger to humans.
Researchers at the
University of Florida
found that roughly one person dies from an alligator attack every year—and only 10 bites are reported each year. Compare that to your risk of being killed by a car accident, a family pet, or a simple slip and fall, and it’s clear that humans and gators can coexist peacefully in the Sunshine State.
Road safety
Speaking of car accidents, how common are they in Florida?
Here’s where the bad news begins. Florida had the third-highest rate of fatal car accidents in 2019, ranking just behind
Californiaand
Texasfor accident fatalities with 3,183 deaths resulting from 2,950 crashes. The state also ranks as the #1 state for pedestrian deaths between 2010 and 2019, with the following metro areas in the top 10 most dangerous cities for pedestrians:
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Lakeland-Winter Haven
Jacksonville
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
There’s one area where Florida’s road safety statistics look better, though:
drunk driving. While the US average for alcohol-related car accident fatalities is 28% of all traffic fatalities, Florida’s numbers have dropped in recent years to just 25%, with 790 of the 3,183 2019 fatalities involving alcohol or drug use.
MORE:
Everything you need to know about driving in OrlandoKey Takeaway Hurricanes and car accidents are bigger concerns in Florida than gators or crime.
The seven safest places to live in Florida
1. Niceville
Population: 15,619
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 0.6
Property crimes per 1k residents: 2.9
Median household income: $76,823
Safer than: 89% of US cities
Located on Boggy Bayou in the Florida Panhandle,
Nicevillelives up to its name with just about the lowest crime rate in the entire state. Although alcohol-related car accidents are slightly higher than the state average at 30%, the city’s location makes it safer from hurricanes—good news for homeowners!
Excellent schools, low rental prices, and beautiful surroundings make Niceville a fantastic place to live. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, Niceville was home to the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival for seafood and arts, and it’s still a great place to experience the best Florida has to offer.
2. Weston
Population: 70,965
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 0.5
Property crimes per 1k residents: 4.3
Median household income: $107,908
Safer than: 82% of US cities
is technically part of the Miami metropolitan area, but it’s an oasis of calm outside one of Florida’s most dangerous cities. While your chances of being the victim of a violent crime in
Miamiare 1 in 167, in Weston those odds shrink to just 1 in 1,892. It’s also a safe city for drivers and pedestrians, with low rates of pedestrian death and alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
The downside of living in Weston? It’s definitely a wealthy suburb, with country clubs and golf courses dotting the landscape. The cost of living in town is 39% higher than the Florida average, with sky-high real estate and rental prices driving the numbers up.
3. Satellite Beach
Population: 11,346
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 0.3
Property crimes per 1k residents: 4
Median household income: $79,082
Safer than: 81% of US cities
isn’t just one of the safest places to live in Florida—it’s also one of the most interesting! Located on a barrier island on the Treasure Coast, this small city is a hotspot for aerospace development and environmental conservation.
Low crime rates make Satellite Beach a very safe place to live, but its vulnerable location on the coast makes it slightly more dangerous for homeowners. It’s also part of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metropolitan area, which ranked #2 in the state for pedestrian deaths.
4. Parkland
Population: 32,878
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 0.2
Property crimes per 1k residents: 5.6
Median household income: 154,844
Safer than: 77% of US cities
If you’re not from the area, Parkland’s name might carry a dark connotation: in 2018, the city’s Stoneman Douglas High School was the site of the nation’s deadliest high school shooting.
But Parkland isn’t a dangerous place to live overall—in fact, it’s one of the safest places in Florida! Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Parkland are 1 in 4,334, far below the average for the greater Miami area. This affluent Miami suburb also has a lower-than-average rate of alcohol-related driving fatalities, with just 24% of fatalities recorded in 2019 involving alcohol use.
5. Sebastian
Population: 25,613
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 0.8
Property crimes per 1k residents: 5.8
Median household income: $53,707
Safer than: 72% of US cities
Another safer-than-average Treasure Coast town,
Sebastianwas named after the patron saint of archers and athletes. The nearby
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
and
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
bring plenty of business to town, and the cost of living hovers just below the state average.
The town has a reputation for friendliness and affordability—and it’s surrounded by parks, conservation areas, and other sites of natural beauty!
6. Oviedo
Population: 40,059
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 1.2
Property crimes per 1k residents: 5.8
Median household income: $95,935
Safer than: 70% of US cities
Although it was a small rural town not so long ago,
Oviedois quickly gathering up accolades as one of the safest and best places to live in Florida. In 2020 alone, Niche.com called it the best place to raise a family in the Orlando area, and it was the only Florida city to make Money Magazine’s national list of “Best Places to Live.”
What makes Oviedo so safe? Low crime rates, low hurricane risk, and a safe distance from the city. Compare
Orlando’s1-in-121 risk of violent crime with Oviedo’s 1 in 770, and it’s clear why so many families are choosing this suburb as their Florida home. It’s also located inland, making it an ideal location for homeowners. One major risk? Road safety, which remains high in the Orlando area with a 27% rate of alcohol-related driving deaths and the highest rate of pedestrian deaths in the US.
7. North Palm Beach
Population: 13,090
Violent crimes per 1k residents: 0.9
Property crimes per 1k residents: 6.7
Median household income: $72,027
Safer than: 68% of US cities
, the hometown of golfing great Jack Nicklaus, is a peaceful coastal paradise. Home to
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
and one of just two
golf courses
in the country designed by Nicklaus himself, it’s an ideal place to retire with peace of mind.
If there’s one gap in North Palm Beach’s safety, it’s a slightly higher rate of property crime. Higher-than-average property values and cost of living combined with a comparatively low median income make property crime more common than violent crime in the area—but both rates are still markedly lower than the rest of the state, as well as most of the country!
MORE:
The best places to live in FloridaThe five most dangerous places to live in Florida
Now that we’ve covered the safest places to live in Florida, which are the cities to avoid? Taking into account crime rates, hurricane risks, and traffic statistics, these are the five most dangerous places to live in Florida:
Florida City: With an overall crime rate of 82.5 per 1,000 residents, Florida City has the highest crime rate of any city in Florida—your chances of being the victim of a violent crime here are 1 in 38.
Tampa: While its crime rates are lower than 25% of US cities,
Tampa’slocation on the Gulf Coast makes it the most hurricane-prone city in Florida.
- Marianna
: This small town’s crime rates are almost as high as Florida City’s, and its 37% poverty rate makes it an unfortunate hotspot for property crime.
Gainesville: Okay, we already told you that gator attacks aren’t a major concern—but if you’re afraid of them, you’ll want to steer clear of
Gainesville, which has the state’s largest population.
Tallahassee: Leon County, of which
Tallahasseeis the county seat, has the state’s highest rate of drunk driving fatalities. In recent years, approximately 34% of driving fatalities in the area involved alcohol use.
MORE:
How neighborhood affects home insurance ratesHow to find affordable car and homeowners insurance in Florida
No matter where you live in Florida, carrying good insurance on your home and your car is the best way to protect your finances from the unexpected. Want to find affordable rates on both types of insurance—without wasting time with lots of math, paperwork, or phone calls to insurance companies?
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FAQs
What is the number 1 safest city in Florida? ›
Which city in Florida has the lowest crime rate? The Villages has the lowest county violent crime and property crime rate in Florida. What is the safest area to live in Florida? According to our research, the three safest cities in Florida are The Villages, Palm Coast, and Riverview.
What place in Florida has the highest crime? ›1. Tallahassee. Population – 196,102 (2021). Violent Crime Rate – 7.94 per 1,000 residents.
What beach town has the lowest crime rate in Florida? ›1 Marco Island Beaches
Marco Island is a serene barrier isle located on Florida's gulf coast. One of the safest cities in Florida, this idyllic isle is also home to miles of the softest, whitest sandy beaches, which are ideal places to visit with the family.
- Glens Falls, New York. The Glens Falls MSA includes Warren and Washington counties. ...
- Midland, Michigan. ...
- State College, Pennsylvania. ...
- The Villages, Florida. ...
- 5. Logan, Utah. ...
- Wausau, Wisconsin. ...
- Cambridge, Massachusetts. ...
- Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Jacksonville is the least healthy city in Florida, according to the study, ranking No. 10 in the country with a health index score of 34.6 (out of 100). Orlando, Tampa and Miami came in 14th through 16th, respectively.
What is the safest least expensive city in Florida? ›Cape Coral
Known as the “Waterfront Wonderland,” this charming town is not only one of Florida's most affordable places but it is also one of the safest. Located in the southwestern part of the state near Fort Meyers, Cape Coral has an intricate system of canals which allow its residents to always be near the water.
Jacksonville has the highest murder rate of all the large cities in Florida, at No. 23 and its county — Duval — has a higher murder rate than Miami-Dade, which has around 2 million more people living there.
What county in Florida has the worst crime? ›Miami-Dade County
According to FBI crime data, the crime rate in Florida city is 126 crimes per thousand residents, making this not only one of the most dangerous cities in Florida, but also one of the most dangerous cities in the country.
In 2019 and as shown in Table 6, violent crime (murder, robbery, assault, and rape) rates in Florida and New York were similar, with New York about 5 percent lower at 358.6 violent crimes per 100,000 residents versus Florida's 378.4 rate.
Where is the best place in Florida to avoid hurricanes? ›Orlando. There have only been 77 hurricanes in the Orlando area since 1930, making it relatively safe from hurricanes. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in 2012, while the strongest was Hurricane Jeanne in 2004.
What is the safest retirement community in Florida? ›
Where is the safest place for seniors to live in Florida? The Villages, Florida are widely considered to be the safest place in Florida for one to retire in. The number of crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in the community is 1,817 which makes this the safest place for seniors in Florida.
What is the least popular beach in Florida? ›St. George Island is one of the most secluded beaches in Florida, nestled on a 22 mile barrier island off the “Forgotten Coast” in the northwest corner of the state. The uncrowded beaches are perfect for swimming or just relaxing on the sugary sand.
What is the number 1 crime city in America? ›Memphis, Tennessee
The most dangerous city in America is Memphis, Tennessee. With a population of 628,127, Memphis has a crime rate that is 237% higher than the national average. Memphis has 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate.
New Hampshire stands out as the safest state in America, with only 20 homicides recorded in the state. This makes it one of the most secure and peaceful places to live in the country. New Hampshire has a relatively low crime rate, with a lower number of property crimes and violent crimes per capita than most states.
What is the 1 safest city in America? ›Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas, part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex has been ranked the number 1 safest city to live in the U.S. It boasts the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the sixth-lowest property crime rate.
| State | Poorest town | Poverty rate in town (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Gifford | 48.6 |
| Georgia | Glenwood | 13.0 |
| Hawaii | Hawaiian Ocean View | 39.2 |
| Idaho | Glenns Ferry | 41.7 |
- Population: 29,795.
- Smoking rate: 9.7%
- Physical inactivity rate: 17.5%
- Obesity: 20.9%
- Population: 194,016.
- Smoking rate: 16.7%
- Physical inactivity rate: 17.6%
- Obesity: 26.8%
Tampa General Hospital Named #1 in Tampa and #3 in Florida to Newsweek's "World's Best Hospitals 2023" List and Is Among the Nation's Top 100.
What city in Florida has the highest cost of living? ›The priciest city in Florida is Fort Lauderdale, where the cost of living is 21% higher compared to the state average and 22% higher than in the rest of the U.S. The cheapest major city in Florida is Palm Coast, with a cost of living 14% lower below the state average and 13% lower than the national average.
Where is the best place to live in Florida without a car? ›Babcock Ranch, Fla., – on the Gulf Coast halfway between Sarasota and Naples – is a developing planned city, and one of the selling points appears to be that you may not need a car to live there. Let us repeat that: you may not need a car in Florida!
What is the most expensive city to stay in Florida? ›
Marco Island is officially the destination with the most expensive average hotel prices, but Sarasota and West Palm Beach aren't far behind.
What is the deadliest state to live in? ›Alaska. The most dangerous state in the USA is Alaska, as it has the highest combined violent and property crime rate out of any state. Out of a population of 736,081, Alaska's crime rate was 32.14 per 1,000 people in 2022, making it the state with the highest crime rate.
What town has the highest crime rate? ›- Violent crime rate: 1,927 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- Property crime rate: 6,183 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- Notable issue: The city has the highest homicide rate in the country.
The chance that a person will become a victim of a violent crime in Cocoa Beach; such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape or murder; is 1 in 227. This equates to a rate of 4 per one thousand inhabitants.
Who has more crime Florida or California? ›The number of homicides is also often used as a key indicator of whether a state is considered dangerous or not. California tops the list as the most dangerous state in the US, with 3,498 homicides reported in a year. Texas and Florida follow with 2,993 and 2,087 homicides respectively.
Which state has the lowest crime rate? ›| State/rank | Violent crime rate |
|---|---|
| 1. Maine | 109 per 100K residents |
| 2. New Hampshire | 146 per 100K residents |
| 3. New Jersey | 195 per 100K residents |
| 4. Vermont | 173 per 100K residents |
Like many larger cities, Orlando is divided into multiple neighborhoods and suburban towns. The bad areas with the highest violent crime rates are located west of downtown Orlando, including Pine Hills, Malibu Groves, Carver Shores, Signal Hill, Lake Sunset, Roosevelt Park, and Washington Shores.
Which city is safer NYC or Miami? ›Crime Rates
As far as large cities go, New York is among the safest in the country. Overall, Miami is generally a safe city, especially for tourists. But it did earn itself a reputation for being a major drug trafficking port in the '80s, and to this day, there are certain areas residents are wise to avoid.
Lowest crime rate
Chicago had violent-crime rate of 12.12 percent per 1,000 population, Miami 11.59. Motor vehicle theft rate 5.43 in Chicago, 6.05 percent in Miami.
- Louisiana: Violent crime rate of 537.5/100,000 people, making it the most dangerous.
- Mississippi: 413.2 violent crimes/100,000 people.
- Alaska: Despite a low population, a high 386.2 violent crimes/100,000 people.
- Arkansas: Violent crime rate of 385.9/100,000 people.
Which side of Florida gets worse hurricanes? ›
The Most Hurricane-Prone Areas in Florida
The Northwest Florida Panhandle is so prone to hurricanes that it has surpassed every other state as a whole, as Texas is the second most hurricane-prone state in the U.S. with 64 total hurricanes.
However, the state's highest threat is from the Atlantic Coast near Melbourne south through Miami and the Keys, but then wraps around to the lower Gulf Coast through the Everglades. Another enhanced threat area is the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola east to Fort Walton Beach.
Where is the safest place from storms in Florida? ›- OCALA is a busy city south of Gainesville and north of The Villages Florida. ...
- GAINESVILLE is located in North Central Florida and has a population of about 135,000. ...
- FERNANDINA BEACH is as far northeast on the Atlantic Coast as you can get in the Sunshine State.
If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible.
Where do most old people live in Florida? ›With its beautiful weather and Gulf of Mexico beaches, Naples and the entire Fort Myers area is one of the best places to live in Florida for retirees. Naples is a quiet area, with many choices in active retirement communities.
Where not to retire in Florida? ›Meanwhile, the worst city for retirees in Florida, according to the study, was Deltona. Just above that city were The Villages, Fleming Island, Navarre and Palm Bay, in order from worst to best.
What is the cleanest beach in Florida? ›Panama City Beach
These beaches are widely considered to be the clearest and pure in the country. There is nearly no river runoff in the area and the St. Andrew Bay filters much of the sediment out.
Suppose you're looking for the quietest Florida beaches, head to Barefoot Beach. This coast is in Southwest Florida. Still, the remains as an undeveloped barrier island on the Gulf Coast. Still, it offers miles of pristine coastline perfect for swimming, shelling, and sunbathing.
Which Florida town has one of the best beaches? ›This Florida Town Has One of the Best Beaches in the U.S. — Known for Its Incredible White-quartz Sand. Siesta Key is just off the coast of Sarasota.
What city in America has the most murders? ›CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Chicago had the highest number of homicides in the United States in 2022, according to a new report. Chicago had 697 total homicides in 2022, higher than Philadelphia (516), New York City (438), Houston (435), and Los Angeles (382).
What are the top 10 worst crime cities? ›
The latest dangerous list by 2023, The top 10 most dangerous cities in the US are Memphis, Detroit, Little Rock, Pueblo, Tacoma, Kansas City, Rockford, St. Louis, Cleveland and Springfield.
What is the most crime free city in the United States? ›Glen Cove, NY. Glen Cove is in Nassau county just 20 miles outside of New York City on the north shore of Long Island. The crime rate here is much lower than the average U.S. city. It is in the 98th percentile for safety in the United States.
Which US state has the most murders? ›Louisiana is currently the state with the highest murder rate in the US, with a rate that stands at 22.9 homicides per 100,000 people. This puts Louisiana at more than double the overall national average and far above other states in terms of homicide rates.
What is the most peaceful state in the United States? ›– Maine is the most peaceful state in the U.S. for the 11th year in a row, Louisiana is the least peaceful. The Northeast continues to be the most peaceful region with three of the five most peaceful states. The South is once again the least peaceful region in America, with four of the five least peaceful states.
What are 10 safest states? ›- Maine. 109 per 100K residents. 1,156 per 100K residents.
- New Hampshire. 146 per 100K residents. ...
- New Jersey. 195 per 100K residents. ...
- Vermont. 173 per 100K residents. ...
- Idaho. 243 per 100K residents. ...
- Rhode Island. 231 per 100K residents. ...
- Massachusetts. 309 per 100K residents. ...
- Virginia. 209 per 100K residents.
In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.
Where is the least crime in the US? ›Vermont has a crime rate that is typically lower than the rest of the USA, which is a trait of all New England states. Vermont's crime rate is 1.6 crimes per 1000 people – the national crime rate is over 50% higher than this, at 2.4 per 1000 residents.
What is the cheapest and safest state to live in? ›- Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. ...
- Kansas. ...
- Alabama. ...
- Oklahoma. ...
- Georgia. ...
- Tennessee. ...
- Missouri. ...
- Iowa.
What County in Florida has the highest crime rate? According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in 2019 Bay County had the highest crime rate out of all counties in Florida with 9,472.0 arrests per 100,000 people. With a population of 167,283 residents, Bay County made 15,845 arrests in total for the year.
Where is the best place to live in Florida weather wise? ›Frequently recognized as one of the best places to live in the U.S. and one of the best places to retire, the Florida Gulf Coast city of Sarasota offers warm weather throughout the year with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s and winter temperatures as high as 70 degrees.
What city in Florida is least affected by hurricanes? ›
- OCALA is a busy city south of Gainesville and north of The Villages Florida. ...
- GAINESVILLE is located in North Central Florida and has a population of about 135,000. ...
- FERNANDINA BEACH is as far northeast on the Atlantic Coast as you can get in the Sunshine State.
What is the coldest temperature recorded in Florida? The coldest temperature recorded was -2 degrees in Tallahassee on Feb. 13, 1899, according to The Weather Channel. This occurred during an Arctic outbreak; numerous all-time record low temperatures were set in several U.S. cities.
Where is the healthiest place to live in Florida? ›- Population: 80,380.
- Smoking rate: 7.2%
- Physical inactivity rate: 26.7%
- Obesity: 17.5%
- Population: 196,169.
- Smoking rate: 13.5%
- Physical inactivity rate: 19.5%
- Obesity: 26.4%
1. Boulder, Colorado. Boulder, Colorado is still America's #1 place to live in 2021-2022 according to U.S. News & World Report.