Looking for the Best Small Towns in Florida?
If so, you’re in luck because there are some truly special one’s on this list!
To find the best small towns to live in Florida, we looked for places with a population of 25,000 or less for that “small town feeling”.
That’s not as easy in Florida as it is in many other states.
Much of Florida has been developed more recently and many “towns” don’t have a proper downtown’s but instead have overcrowded roads with tacky strip malls and impersonal big box stores and plenty of macadam.
Many small towns are just “cold” suburb of large cities and if you miss the “welcome to” sign, you wouldn’t know the difference.
Florida has a transient population so finding a town with a sense of community or community spirit is challenging, but we found them.
Despite what most people believe about Florida being the best place to live, Florida is only the 31rst best place to live out of the 50 states according to the book How to Retire Happier.
That’s not just some author’s (me) flawed view, it’s the result of examining and ranking all of the quality of life data that one should consider in deciding if a place is worth leaving family and friends behind and spending lots of cash to move to, backed up by national polling.
Did you know that most Florida residents don’t feel Florida is the best or one of the best states to live in according to Gallop polling? If anyone would know what living in Florida is like, it would be Florida residents themselves.
That said, the book also says that even if a state ranks low, there are towns in every state where the quality of life is much better than the state as a whole.
The following are where I believe you’ll have the best chance of finding what you’re looking for in a small town, when moving to Florida.
- They all have lower rates of crime. All of these places have crime rates, both property and violent crime, far lower than national average.
- They all have better schools than what is found is most of Florida.
- They all have better employment opportunities than what most other Florida cities and towns offer, per capita. This is important even if you’re retired. I’ve met many “retired” folks in Florida who never intended to work again, but are doing so because they have to to make ends meet because the cost of living increased faster than their fixed income. Others took up part time work just to get out of the house.
- They all have more shopping, dining and recreation options for the size of the town, than other similarly sized places in the sunshine state.
- Preference was given to towns with a lower cost of living. Providing a list of great places that only the very wealthy can afford to live in wouldn’t serve most people. Although these towns may cost less to live in than other high quality of life places, they aren’t “cheap”.
Choosing the right place to live in Florida is critical. This list is a good place to start if you’re looking for a smaller friendly town with a sense of community.
So here they are,
5 of the Best Small Towns to Live in Florida with a Population of 25,000 or Less
in no particular order…
1) Oldsmar, Florida- Population 16,000
Highlights:
- Offers some diversity.
- Very low violent crime rate.
- Lots to do for a small town.
Oldsmar offers friendly small town ambiance and is located on the shores of Old Tampa Bay, about a half hour west of Tampa and about the same distance north of St Petersburg Florida. Oldsmar may be small, but this thriving community has lots of locally owned unique shops and restaurants for its size.
You can enjoy the beautiful weather outdoors while walking or biking its 11 miles of trails that run through 10 different parks. State Park island beaches on the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are only about 20 minute drive.
Busch Gardens theme park is also just 20 minutes from Oldsmar. This is a small community located just near a theme park and beaches, that also has an easy commute to everything that major cities offer. The cost of living here is also reasonable by todays Florida standards.
Take a video tour of Oldsmar Florida
Oldsmar Florida’s official website
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2) Niceville, Florida- Population 16,000
Highlights:
- Strong sense of community.
- Easty to meet new people and make new friends if you’re a match for the town.
- Located 15 minutes from Gulf beaches.
If the perfect small town in Florida for you would be a place far from big city lights and issues, Niceville Florida may be your best bet in 2019. Located in Florida’s less populated panhandle area just a short drive to beautiful Gulf of Mexico beaches, Niceville is a great choice if you want a quieter more relaxing small town and won’t miss large city amenities. This general area has been the subject of other posts on this site because of it’s low unemployment rate.
This area offers residents more of the enjoyable old time Florida that has disappeared from most of the rest of Florida. The crime rate is far lower too. It’s a great area to enjoy less crowded beaches, fishing and seafood shacks. There are beaches and towns in the area that are popular with spring breakers if you want to partake in a little craziness a couple weeks out of the year. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place called Niceville?
See a Video of Niceville Florida
Please Note: Niceville is a small town and doesn’t have any promo videos. Hopefully this video will give you some idea what the area and people are like.
Niceville Florida’s official website
3) Tavares, Florida- Population 16,000
Highlights:
- A somewhat lower cost of living compared to most of Florida today.
- Offers some diversity.
- “In the middle of nowhere” but close enough to Orlando and Atlantic Beaches for day trips.
Tavares Florida is a unique small community located about 50 minutes north-west of Orlando. It’s the county seat of aptly named Lake County, because the town is located on a lake and the area is surrounded by lots of them. Do you like to fish, kayak or cruise in a boat?
Tavares is known as “America’s Seaplane City”, and the town is investing in its future. Plans are currently underway for improving the Tavares Seaplane Base and Marina. A brand new performing arts center is also being planned.
Like other small high quality of life small towns on this list, Tavares offers a tighter knit community but is close to major cities, beachs, theme parks and all that people move to Florida for.
Here’s a quick video of Tavares Florida
Tavares Florida’s official website
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4) Safety Harbor Florida- Population 19,000
Highlights:
- Crime rates among the lowest in the country.
- Minutes from Gulf Beahes.
- Easy commute to Tampa or St Petersburg Florida.
Safety Harbor is another town in the Tampa St Petersburg area that offers residents a lower crime rate, a slightly lower cost of living (but slightly higher home prices) and better high school graduation rates than the rest of Florida. Safety Harbor is just a short ride to large city amenities, the Tampa airport and beaches, so you can enjoy smaller town living with out giving anything up.
Safety Harbor is right next door to more affordable Dunedin our #2 pick, so if you don’t have a lot of time to shop for a new place to live in Florida, exploring this area is a great choice. If you’ll need to work after moving to Florida, Safety Harbor offers easy access to both the Tampa and St Pete job markets. Schools in the area have a lower ratio of students to teachers and a higher high school graduation rate than Florida in general. If small town living with good schools and job opportunities in Florida are what you require, Safety Harbor may be ideal for your family.
See Safety Harbor for yourself in this video.
Safety Harbor Florida’s official website
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5) Venice Florida- Population 23,000
Highlights:
- Very low crime rates.
- Beautiful vibrant historic downtown.
- Has quick access to multtiple unique Gulf beaches.
Venice Florida has made one of our best places to live or retire in Florida list every year, for years. A historic downtown area on the “Island of
Venice” within walking and biking distance of parks and public beaches makes this place special. The cost of living and housing are just slightly less than average for Florida, but there are areas off the island section where less expensive homes and condo can be found.
The high school graduation rate in the Venice area is higher than most of Florida. Venice residents can commute to Sarasota, St Petersburg and Tampa in less than an hour so there are opportunities for employment. But it’s the miles of bike paths, many different beaches and the very walkable island of Venice that make this a great place to live.
Golf courses, boat ramps and properties with access to the Gulf of Mexico add up a great quality of life. Venice is only about an hour from 3 other picks on this list, so this area of Florida is a good bet for better small town living in Florida.
A Venice Florida video.
Venice Florida’s official website
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Ron Stack, “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
- Want to be certain if moving to Florida is right for you or your family? You’ll know after reading the Florida Move Guide.
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WOW- YOU TELL IT LIKE IT IS- the chambers of commerce must be gunning for you. I am over 70+ years and spent the last 20 or so in the Keys. I’ve lived in Miami, Miami beach and the Keys on and off between living in other states and out of the country.It was great 40-50 years ago. I still have to work- can’t afford not to, and meet a lot of starry eyed public- I tell them to rent for a year before they buy- most will leave, many work two jobs. I found your info trying to find a place I can move to, but stay in florida for reasons other then love being here. It is sad how people love it and want to change it to what they left behind – traffic. condos, pollution, we have it all.
Ron,
I first came to Venice in summer 1982 and moved there full-time in early 1988. Left Florida in 1999 and returned over the years for visits.
Venice has grown tremendously and the traffic is heavy year-round. I’ve heard the City of Venice government is not the most ethical, either. I’d like to move back to Florida, and want a town that’s safe, affordable, and has good bus service, since I chose not to drive and must work. Dunedin seems to rate well. What do you recommend?
Hello CL,
Yes, Venice and almost all of Florida grows (and changes) quickly during better economic times. Florida grinds to a standstill and prices plummet during tough times. Right now Florida is at the tail end of a boom so prices are in bubble territory. During times like this, it’s almost a crime to use safe and affordable in the same sentence when talking about Florida. However, living without any of the ownership costs of an automobile in Florida will save you a lot of money and the adsditional walking daily is extremely healthy.
Public transportation in Florida leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not even an option in many places and in areas with high crime rates it can be downright risky. However, there are still towns in Florida that are safe, fun and much more bike and pedestrian friendly and may be great places to retire free from the cost of owning a car. Exactly what “affordable” means is different for different people. The two best places lists below are where you may find a great place to retire in Florida without a car. Good luck CL.
Florida’s Most Walkable Towns
Florida’s Most Bike Friendly Towns
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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Ann
Thinking of moving to Florida in the near future. We like to be near Disney. What do you think of celebrations. Is it safe there, what’s the crime rate.
Hello Ann,
The Florida Move Guide explains why moving to Florida for theme parks turned into an expensive mistake for some people. However, Celebration Florida’s quality of life is high enough to qualify it as a best place on this site. If you’re one of the many Disney “fanatics” who love everything Disney, Celebration may be right for you. The crime rates while inside this small community of a little over 7000 residents are among the lowest you find in the US. This article may provide additional insight into the Orlando area. Good luck Ann.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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We are trying to began our path to retirement and also want to continue to work, what would be the best place to buy a small block home in a small town in Florida that offers serene atmosphere.
Hello Rebecca,
Three of the towns on this list are on the west coast of Florida. With 105,000,000 tourist plus per year plus over 20,000,000 plus residents, it may be hard to find anywhere in Florida if it’s a great place to live, that may fit your definition of serene. There are many very small inland towns in Florida that are very rural but it may take most of your day just to travel back and forth to any kind of shopping or a doctor appointment. In such areas, it’s will also likely be difficult to find work unless you want to spend all day picking oranges in high humidity under the hot Florida sun for low wages. The commute from such places (usually for lower wages also) probably would not be what you want you pictured your retirement would be like.
I would visit Venice and Dunedin, both located on the west coast of Florida during the winter when they are the least serene (when the snowbirds and most of the tourist are in town) and again sometime from April through November to see if they are peaceful enough for your requirements. Sometimes there just isn’t a place in Florida any longer that that matches what we are looking for. If they are peaceful enough for you, there’s more work available in these towns and with a reasonable commute the employment possibilities become almost endless during better economic times. If those towns don’t work for you, the Florida Panhandle still has some places that still offer some old-time Florida serenity. Good luck Rebecca.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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I have been visiting Florida on a yearly basis since 1975. I have been to many different parts but some towns such as Tampa grew into a lovely exciting wonderful town while others became a dump and neglected over time. I keep finding myself shocked at so many changes, it gets do confusing about where I should retire because Florida is a state where one moment one town is safe then the following year it could turn into hell as a sanctuary city filled with crime. Florida is very funny that way.
Hello Matty,
Yes, Florida cities and towns can change quickly during high growth spurts and during downturns when home and rental prices crash. That’s why we now only chose towns that have significantly lower crime rates than the national average for our best places, so even if crime rises during rough economic times, they’ll likely still remain lower than the national average. Tampa is not on any of our best places lists because violent crime is already significantly higher than the national average and our prediction is that crime will only get worse over the long term. There are nice smaller towns and cities just outside of Tampa that would be a far better choice for relocating to. They can be found here. Good luck Matty.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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Are these still considered the best Top 5 Small Towns in 2019?
Hello Susan,
Yes, they are still among the best small (under 50,000 people) towns in Florida today. Rarely do our “best” places drop drastically in desirability within a few years, with the possible exception of crime rates rising to the point where they no longer meet our requirements, as is the case with one town on the list and the warning in red letter we applied. We now only choose places with crime rates far below the national average so even with temporary increases in crime they will still remain lower than the national average. We know most people plan to live in Florida long term and don’t want to spend a lot of time money and effort to move to a place that goes downhill quickly and possibly force another move after just a few years. That happens to too many new residents anyway when living in FL doesn’t turn out to be how they pictured it, we don’t want moving to the wrong town to add to that problem.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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All of these small towns are NOT inexpensive – especially the ones located in the Tampa Bay area.
Hello Tig,
I agree, that’s what the article says in the 4th paragraph. The day I wrote this, 03/07/19, the median home price in the US was $247,500 according to Case-Shiller Index. We are now officially in the longest economic expansion is US history. There isn’t any place in Florida, and very few places left in the country today, where homes are “inexpensive” and where the quality of life is higher. This isn’t our grandmother’s Florida where you could sell a home just about anywhere in the country and move to a nice small town in Florida and retire on the cheap. When I first moved to Florida in 1995, builders were offering brand new 3br, 2 ba, 2car garage concrete block with stucco homes for $69,900 just a short ride from the beach, and they had a hard time selling them!
Don’t worry, Florida home prices will be far lower than they are now after the next recession which most economists expect next year.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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I never see Englewood on any of these lists. Is it too small? I plan on checking it out because I was told it is a lot like Dunedin, but cheaper
I love Dunedin, but property prices have gone thru the roof there in recent years. Any comments about Englewood?
Hello Barb,
We will list any town with a population of over 5000 if quality of life factors are high enough to meet our criteria. The problem with places smaller than 5000 is there is little or no homes for sale to begin with. If we then highlight it here (50,000 unique visitors+ per month) there will never be an available home to buy, which doesn’t benefit you the reader because what good is it to know how great a place is if you can’t move there?
To qualify as a “best place” on this website, the first test a town must pass, is having crime rates (both property and violent) lower than the national average. I believe Englewood is one of the safer towns in Florida but because it doesn’t have its own police force, the crime rate reported for it is for the whole county in which it is located (because that county’s sheriff’s department provides law enforcement). The crime rate reported for the county (and therefore Englewood) doesn’t meet our criteria so that’s why you don’t see it on any of our lists.
I would tell any of my relatives to read this article, look at current storm surge maps and get insurance quotes BEFORE making an offer on any home in that area. Good luck Barb.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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Englewood has lots of druggies and poor people. Venice also has lots of druggies and homeless people. There is crime in both of these cities but the newspapers don’t cover it and everything is kept quiet for “tourism.” Resident – 15 years
Hello Barb,
You wrote: “Englewood has lots of druggies and poor people. Venice also has lots of druggies and homeless people. There is crime in both of these cities but the newspapers don’t cover it and everything is kept quiet for “tourism.” Resident – 15 years”
If you were correct, the victims of the crime you speak of must also be in on the conspiracy of covering up crime for the sake of tourism too, because very little crime is reported to law enforcement.
Venice has one of the lowest crime rates in the US. Englewood’s rate is lumped in with all of Charlotte County, but I would bet that Englewood’s crime rate is similarly low.
There my some homelessness, just like there is anywhere it’s warm year round, but retired millionaires outnumber homeless in the area by about 1000 to 1.
Enjoy where you live, it’s like Mayberry compared to most of Florida. Try living in Daytona Beach or Cocoa Florida.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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I can’t think of a better state to retire in than Florida.
The 1000’s of retirees who move out of Florida every week, thought the same thing.
In doing major research on Florida cities (April/May, 2019), with smaller populations and high livability factors, as an effort to narrow down the possibilities to relocate soon for retirement, my search keeps coming back to Winter Springs, Florida, just north of Orlando. The area is on Lake Jesup, has great weather, a Town Center, small-town feeling, lots of parks and bike trails, and close to everything! Oviedo is also nearby so I plan to physically check these areas out in the next month.
Does Winter Park have many Hurricanes. I dont want to be in Hurricanes im use to Michigan oxox
Hurricanes are everywhere in Florida
Tracy anywhere in florida is in the hurricane zone.
Hello,
Anyone have thoughts on Fruitland Park or Sugarmill Woods? I noticed they have larger homes for a great price.
Hello David,
Fruitland Park may be a good choice, Sugarland Woods not so much unless you don’t mind long trips in the car to go anywhere. And how far is the nearest hospital, just in case?
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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Have lived all over Fla most of my 75 years and all of the old Florida is gone . Outsiders have moved in and changed it to be like where they came from , crowded , high taxes ,high insurance , crime, high utilities. No place to run to anymore.
Dave,
What a shame that Florida has changed so much. But still, just like in other states, there has to be a few good places to live in Florida that haven’t changed that much (?)
What about smaller towns? We really like it below 5K and are moving to Crystal River in November. I saw it listed among the best small towns in other sources. We haven’t lived there yet, but visited a lot and love it there. And the properties are inexpensive.
I wonder if they considered nature and outdoors in their list. For me personally if it’s too far from the ocean and doesn’t have beaches, boat launches and lot’s of greenery around, it’s not even worth considering, lol.
Hello Marina,
Yes, you will see places named as “best” on other lists that you won’t see on my lists. I feel there are better far better small towns to live in Florida, than Crystal River, because it’s in the backyard of the Crystal River Coal and Nuclear Power Plant. Sure, ever since cracks were found in the nuclear part, that section has been shut down, and it may be removed by 2028. By I don’t recommend living near nuclear facilities in Florida, located along the coast, where they may be hit by hurricanes. I wrote a detailed article on why (find link below).
When you find a place where “properties are inexpensive” as you put it, during the hottest real estate market ever, in one of the most sought after states, I would want to know the reason why. Since you “visited it a lot”, perhaps you were aware of the coal and nuke plant but decided to move there anyway. When you’re a tourist and a hurricane heads your way, you can simply leave and go home. When you’re already home… Hurricane destruction is bad enough, but if nuclear contamination is involved…
I hope everything works out well for you Marina.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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I used to live there and i would never care to return. Not much to do but stare at other older folks.
Hey! Love your article! We are looking to leave SC but want a TINY (5000-10000
people) beach community. A small
town with safe bicycling, quirky shops, minor box stores, and boating.
We love the Panhandle/Emerald Coast from Perdido Key to Panama City. Any suggestions please?
Thanks!!
Hello Tina,
I intend to publish a best places to live list for the Florida Panhandle within the next few months. Since there are mostly small towns in that part of Florida, there may well be a town that fits your criteria that qualifies for the list. The problem that a buyer or renter usually faces in a very small town, is the low number of available places to rent or buy in a normal market. We’re not in a normal market right now (Dec 2021) so there may be little or nothing available that’s “affordable”.
FYI: This site gets a lot of traffic. When I highlight a small town as a best place, that can add a lot of extra buyers/renters into a very small market that normally may only have a few places for rent or sale to begin with.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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Hi Ron,
I really appreciate your honest advice regarding the pros and cons of moving to Florida.
I have good friends who have been living in Port Charlotte since 1989, and they love it. They keep telling me I should move there, but I don’t think I really want to. I also have family that live in Naples (Lely) and they love it. It’s lovely where they live. But after reading through most of your website, and your advice to others, as well as lots of the negative comments from Florida residents/past residents, I’m not at all sure I want to live there.
Every state has it’s pros and cons, and crappy cities/towns with higher crime, etc. I live in Connecticut, and even in this tiny state, there are places that are out of control with crime, drugs,etc. With that said, there are lots of beautiful New England towns and small cities, excellent medical care, great schools, etc. But the cost of living is so high! I feel like I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.
Have you written a guide to other states, besides Florida?
Regards,
Hello Della,
Florida is the only state I’ve written a moving guide to because 1) so many people move there (and then move out) and 2) because I’ve listened to 1000’s of buyers and sellers who were moving in and out, and I’ve learned the reasons why that happens. Almost everyone who reads the Florida Move Guide will know if Florida is likely for them or not.
Just from your comment, I can tell you that the book says that people moving to Florida near good friends or relatives they will socialize with, and especially if they celebrate Thanksgiving and other special days together, are far more likely to live in Florida long term. Isolation and missing folks “back home” is one of the reasons people stated often (in their basket of reasons) for moving back. Most of us think we’ll travel back north often, or they’ll visit us, but this changes over time. We also tend to think we’ll make friends in Florida easier than usually happens. This is because many people stay inside most of the year because of the heat and humidity, and every winter when the weather is actually “warm and sunny”, Florida gets so jammed packed with tourist and snowbirds it’s a hassle to try to go anywhere or get anything done (like driving, finding a parking spot, getting into a restaurant, etc.).
You mentioned Port Charlotte, Naples and Lely. Lely is a very small town with a very low crime rate and high quality of life scores. Same thing with Naples but of course it’s larger but still a small town. Like all highly desirable places in Florida and most places almost everywhere else right now, home prices are high. Port Charlotte is a different story. The crime rates there are much higher than national average and lower quality of life scores are lower. Because of that, housing is cheaper there (except places on water with access to the Gulf).
Good luck on deciding what to do Della.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc
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