Florida is a destination state for many reasons.
Beautiful beaches are its top draw—at least 19 million tourists a year visit them. Florida is a panhandle-shaped state with 1,800 coastline miles fronting the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. That means there’s lots of beach choices. Add in all of Florida’s amusement and theme parks (e.g., Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Epcot, etc.), and this state is tourist heaven.
Great year-round weather beckons.
Minus the occasional hurricane and tropical humidity, the Sunshine State has an average year-round temperature of 72 in Florida’s southern areas, and an average of 67 in the “frigid” north. Retirees and snowbirds especially love the warm winters, and great FL weather lends itself to any sport imaginable. Year-round pickleball, golf, water sports, tennis, or boating anyone?
There’s no state income tax, which makes any paycheck stretch. Those tourists keep visiting and conveniently paying FL residents’ share of state taxes. Residents also appreciate the reasonable real estate options (the average home price is now $387,000, just 8.5% above the national average of $357,000). Another plus for Florida is its strong economy and flourishing tourism, hospitality, defense, real estate, and development jobs. Florida has an economy that is the 4th largest in the US.
So if the Sunshine State is beckoning you to relocate there, you need to know what is the safest part of Florida to live in. There are many ways to measure Florida’s safest cities—by the lowest crime rates, the most hurricane-safe areas, and those with the most affordable living. First, let’s focus on cities with the lowest crime.
What city in Florida has the lowest crime rate?
Marco Island is top on the low crime list. This island city is located on Florida’s west side in the southernmost point of the Gulf of Mexico (with RSW Fort Myers Airport 47 miles north and Naples, FL, a half-hour drive south). This city has many gated communities and upscale resorts and is a popular tourist and retirement destination due to its beaches, water sports, excellent restaurants, and strong law enforcement presence that keep it so safe. Marco Island’s total crime rate is much safer than state and national averages—72% lower than the national average. Marco Island’s 18,000 residents are mostly well-off, necessary to manage the very high housing and living costs. Average rents for a 1-bedroom apartment hover at $4,336/month, and the average sale price of $1.39M. buy a house here.
Longboat Key is another exceptionally safe city in Florida. This barrier island is located along the central west coast of Florida, west of the larger cities of Sarasota and Bradenton. Safety here comes at a cost though—the average cost of a single family home in Longboat Key is the highest in FL at $859,268—though 93.77% here own their homes (Longboat Key renters pay $1,715/mo for a one bedroom). 89% of this town’s population of 7,512 is over 55. Most employment in Longboat Key is in the areas of tourism and hospitality, real estate, resort, and restaurant work.
Sebastian is a place that ranks high on safety as well, with a crime rate 72% lower than the national average. It has a history of fishing, tourism, and treasure hunting; there are numerous resorts here (such as Disney’s Vero Beach Resort). The town signs say “Welcome to Sebastian—home of Pelican Island, friendly people, and six old grouches” (reputed to refer to the Mayor and Council). This small fishing village on the mainland side of the east coast of Florida has a population of 26,952. The median rent here is $2,300, and the median house cost is $379.5K. Private companies, government work, and self-employment are the primary job sources.
The Villages is a central Florida city most mentioned for both safety AND a happy retirement. This safe gated community is home to over 100,000 residents in multiple neighborhoods and sections, with countless golfing and recreational options. However, it is for active 55+ adults only. The cost to buy a home here ranges from under $200k for patio villas to more than $800k for designer homes. Rents are around $2,700/month (35% higher here than the nation median of $2,000/month). However, adjacent to The Villages, nearby Lady Lake is a safe, affordable relocation option as well. Without an age requirement like The Villages, affordable Lady Lake has every amenity any resident could want—hospitals, clinics, stores such as Walmart, Target, or Home Depot, and various fast-or-fancy dining options. Average home prices here are around $219,000, and rents start at $927/mo. The crime rate in Lady Lake is low, with 12 crimes per 1,000 residents.
What city in Florida is safest from hurricanes?
There really is no totally safe place in FL during hurricane season. But Central Florida (e.g. Orlando), Northeast Florida (e.g. Palatka), Central West Florida (e.g. Tampa) and North Central Florida (e.g. Gainesville) are historically the most secure with fewer hurricane landfalls.
Floridians have found some cities safer from hurricanes than others; living in them means that residents breathe a little easier during the official hurricane season of June 1 through November 30.
Orlando is on the safe-from-hurricane list due to its central location, usually avoiding the brunt of storms compared to coastal areas. Residents often only experience rain and some wind, with no storm or surge damage. West Orlando particularly has extra protection from flooding associated with hurricanes with its natural landscape of 300-foot hills (nearby suburbs like Clermont also benefit from this flood barrier). Costs of living such as transportation, groceries, utilities, and healthcare are up in Orlando, the “City Beautiful.” And median home values in Orlando are currently at $400,000. Rents are slightly up at $1,575/mo for a 1-bedroom apartment.
Ocala made the hurricane resilience list as well. Located in Florida’s center (82 miles from Orlando and 97 miles from Tampa), this city is at less risk from coastal flooding and damage than most other parts of the state. Median home values are good here also, costing around $299.9k with a buyer’s market going into 2025 (more homes than demand). Average rents are $1,244/month for a 1-bedroom. This “Horse Capital of the World” has over 400 thoroughbred farms and training centers, although 43.4% of employment in Ocala centers around healthcare, retail, or hospitality.
Babcock Ranch is an unusual city located in a hurricane-prone coastal area that is specially built to withstand hurricanes. Nestled near the SW coast of Florida, it is designed to withstand natural disasters and flooding, uses hurricane-proof construction, and runs almost totally on solar energy. This planned community has a current population of 9,200. Babcock Ranch has already passed tests like Hurricane Milton in 2024; it ended up providing shelter to fleeing evacuees from the surrounding communities that did flood. Babcock Ranch’s innovations have a cost; homes here are priced from the upper $200,000’s to $4 million; the median listing of homes is $438.6k.
What is the most affordable safe city in Florida?
Arcadia
Arcadia is located on the Peace River in inland Florida, roughly between Fort Myers to the south and Tampa to the north. Its central location offers access to big-city amenities but keeps its small town feel. Arcadia is known for its antiques fairs, three rodeo events, river canoeing, and shark-tooth hunting. The city is safe with a low crime rate of 20 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Additionally, its cost of living is a big plus, with home prices averaging $251,773, some of the lowest in Florida. Rents for a 1 bedroom apartment range from $898/mo to $1,988/mo.
Oviedo
This city, 20 miles northeast of Orlando, has a cost of living estimated to be 94.9% of the national average of cities across the US, closely matching national costs for food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, housing, etc. Average rents for a 1-bedroom apartment in Oviedo are around $1,700. However, the median cost to buy a house is $519,000 (though more than two-thirds of Oviedo residents own their homes). Safety levels are also high for Oviedo’s 40,000 residents. Oviedo has a proactive policing strategy that prevents crimes, and community actions against crime are encouraged.
Tavares
Tavares is a city 35 miles northwest of Orlando that is repeatedly mentioned as being an affordable and desirable place to live. Average home prices are $223,000 (16% below Florida’s average), and affordable rents begin at $907/mo. Known as “America’s Seaplane City,” Taveres is popular with pilots for seaplane tours, and water sports, boating, and pontoon boat ecotours are also attractions in this lakeside city. In this small city of 16,199 residents, jobs in the tourism, healthcare, and service industries are the norm. While salaries tend to be lower here compared to larger cities, Taveres’ affordability can offset this.
To sum up, these are just some of sunny Florida’s safest cities—reviewed for low crime rates, hurricane safety, and affordability. With so much to offer, the Sunshine State could become your new home.
