ORLANDO, Fla. – There are plenty of people who want to live in the Sunshine State. But according to a new study, there’s one city that’s better than the rest.
In its latest ranking, U.S. News & World Report has listed out the best places to live in Florida, using the following metrics:
Quality of Life Index: This includes factors like education, healthcare availability and state infrastructure
Value Index: This includes factors like housing affordability and the cost of living
Desirability Index: This includes factors like crime rates, weather and transit times
Job Market Index: This includes factors like unemployment and median household income
Statewide, the top-ranked city can be found in South Florida: Parkland, with an overall score of 6.4.
But the highest-ranked city in Central Florida can be found not too far from Orlando. That’s the community of Alafaya in Orange County, sitting at No. 5.
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According to the report, Alafaya is primarily made up of working-age adults, and that’s reflected by the roughly 30-minute commute time — higher than the national average.
Meanwhile, the median household income is just under six figures, and the area boasts a median home value of around $410,000. Renters can expect a median rent of roughly $1,741.
It’s not the only Central Florida city to make the top 10, though. Ormond Beach in Flagler County placed at No. 7, and The Villages eked its way into No. 9.
The ranking of the top 50 Florida cities can be found below:
RankCityCountyOverall Score1ParklandBroward6.42Palm HarborPinellas6.43WestonBroward6.34JupiterPalm Beach6.15AlafayaOrange6.16Palm Beach GardensPalm Beach6.17Ormond BeachFlagler6.08PensacolaEscambia6.09The VillagesLake6.010NaplesCollier6.011RiverviewHillsborough5.912Bonita SpringsLee5.913Pinellas ParkPinellas5.914KendallMiami-Dade5.815ApopkaOrange5.816DoralMiami-Dade5.817ClermontLake5.818North PortSarasota5.819St. PetersburgPinellas5.820BrandonHillsborough5.821LargoPinellas5.822WellingtonPalm Beach5.823TampaHillsborough5.724Punta GordaCharlotte5.725Spring HillHernando5.726JacksonvilleDuval5.727DeLandVolusia5.728DavieBroward5.729Boca RatonPalm Beach5.730Port OrangeVolusia5.731Cape CoralLee5.732Homosassa SpringsCitrus5.733ClearwaterHillsborough5.634MiramarBroward5.635Pembroke PinesBroward5.636LakelandPolk5.637TamaracBroward5.638ZephyrhillsOrange5.539CrestviewOkaloosa5.540Miami BeachMiami-Dade5.541Port St. LucieSt. Lucie5.542Palm BayBrevard5.443Port CharlotteCharlotte5.444DeltonaVolusia5.445MelbourneBrevard5.446Coral SpringsBroward5.447PlantationBroward5.448HialeahMiami-Dade5.349Palm CoastFlagler5.350Winter HavenPolk5.2Breaking News Alerts
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