Best Places to Live in Florida for Young Adults
Young adults will see Florida as a wonderful opportunity for living, full of its great beaches, strong economy, and lively nightlife.
This bustling area has the perfect mix of leisure along with the need to earn money, which can have outsize importance at the time of young adulthood when individuals must set their own treads on the ladder of independence. This article we will analyze the 20 best places to live in Florida for young adults.
There is a broad range of geographical diversity in the state. That means that opportunities are enhanced to satisfy different wants among artists, entrepreneurs, nature-buffs, as well as those searching for new starts from scratch.
However, this is not an absolute rule, as some cities are technically better ranked than others. We will consider factors such as affordability, employment opportunities, education, nightlife, crime rates/awesomeness, and overall quality of life.
20. Miami
First on the list of the best places to live in Florida for young adults is Miami. The bright, young city of Miami is a magnet drawing millennial men and women. The job market in the city, fueled by sectors such as tourism, international trade, health care, and other industries, has ample room for early career opportunity expansion.
It’s definitely not all work and no play—Miami is world-renowned for its lively nightlife, variety of food, and abundant outdoor activity. The cosmopolitan vibe of the city, combined with its rich cultural environment epitomized by neighborhoods like Little Havana and Wynwood, gives Miami the vibrant energy that attracts young adults from throughout the country to both life and learn, work, and play there.
19. Orlando
Orlando is famous for its theme parks, but the city does more than just offer fun and games. The capital of Florida’s known as a home for steady jobs, especially in the hospitality, entertainment, and healthcare sectors.
Educational opportunities are abundant with universities like the University of Central Florida. Orlando’s downtown area is a hub for young professionals where one can find trendy live music bars and restaurants.
On top of this, Orlando’s average housing cost is relatively lower compared to other major cities, which makes it financially viable for a lot of young adults too.
18. Tampa – One of the Best Affordable Place to Live in Florida for Young Adults
Tampa Bay, located in the southeastern part of Florida, is an attractive city for young adults with a healthy job market comprised primarily of sectors like health care, education, and finance.
Downtown Tampa is especially attractive as it’s filled with bars, clubs, and restaurants that accommodate a youthful crowd. Finally, within the area are several colleges, such as St. Joseph University and the University of South Florida.
The relative affordability alone brings young adults to Tampa along with its quality of life. Tampa Bay is one of the best affordable places to live in Florida for young adults.
17. Jacksonville
Jacksonville is located in Northeast Florida and is the largest city in the state in terms of area. The location serves as an abundance of job opportunities both in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and logistics.
In regards to leisure, Jacksonville offers a host of outdoor activities, from its vast parks tucked away within its vertical landscape, the hiking trails that adorn its forests, and even the pristine beaches.
Young adults can easily partake in all of this with an affordable cost of living coupled along with all of this excitement far removed from where they were previously still in the hustle and bustle yet at various snow-capped mountains throughout their majestic metropolis. This is one of the best places to live on the East Coast!
16. St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is considered “The Sunshine City,” a symbol of its pleasant weather and creative vibe for young adults with an artistic bent of mind. Young adults interested in the arts will appreciate the city’s intense gallery scene that features museums as well as numerous murals.
Job opportunities abound in St. Petersburg, particularly in healthcare, education, and tourism industries, making it a compelling place for youth to settle down as they pursue their careers. The relatively lower housing costs of this big city also add strength to its appeal to young adults. This is what makes St. Petersburg one of the best places to live in Florida for young adults.
15. Gainesville
Gainesville is a thriving college town with an energetic personality, perfect for young adults, and one of the top places to live in North Florida. It has a rich job market, especially in education and healthcare, as well as technology industries.
The allure of affordability and the option to simply hang out while cultivating relationships appeal to young people seeking vibrant communities. Outdoor activity—such as live music and sports events—adds dozens of options for engaging young people. Just like Tampa, Gainesville is one of the best affordable places to live in Florida for young adults.
14. Tallahassee
Next on the list of the best places to live in Florida for young adults is Tallahassee. Tallahassee is the state capital, and a sunny college town, with a vibrant community and affordable cost of living.
There are many job opportunities here, as it has a lot of government, educational, and healthcare sectors. It has two large universities that generate lively things in downtown areas, such as bars, music venues, and restaurants combined with youthful people who bring activity to this city, which helps attract visitors from other parts of Florida.
13. Fort Lauderdale
Young professionals flock to this coastal city due to its high quality of life and booming job market, which revolves around sectors such as tourism, healthcare, and maritime. Fort Lauderdale is a center for beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and enticingly delicious local food. Young adults search out this bustling city with a moderate cost of living that offers young professionals a high quality of life.
12. Sarasota
Sarasota is a lovely city that captures the essence of a beach town but with all the opportunities of a metropolis. There are decent jobs in health care, tourism, and education here. The cultural activities, art galleries, and music festivals make for a lively environment for young people in Sarasota.
11. West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is located on the Atlantic coast and boasts one of the strongest job markets in Florida. The fields of education, healthcare, and retail opportunities are abundant here. West Palm Beach is an excellent place for young adults due to its nice nightlife scene, diverse dining options, and theater arts community.
This concludes the first half of our list. These ten cities are just a glimpse of what Florida offers to young adults. However, there’s more to explore. In the next half, we’ll delve into other less-known but equally appealing places in the Sunshine State that offer excellent opportunities for young adults.
Read on for the rest of the top places to live in Florida for young adults.
10. Boca Raton
Boca Raton is rich in opportunity within education, healthcare, and technology. Favored for its quality of life, Boca offers young adults a plethora of recreational opportunities ranging from golfing to tennis to painting and even conducting research.
It is home to Florida Atlantic University, attracting fresher/young talent seeking postgraduate/professional higher education with minimum commitment along with ample leisure options available. For these reasons, Boca Raton is one of the best places to live in Florida for young adults.
9. Coral Gables
Known as “The City Beautiful,” Coral Gables is a vibrant city with an eclectic blend of Mediterranean-style architecture. This city has an active job market, primarily in sectors like retail, education, and health care.
Situated here is the University of Miami, increasing the youthful vibe of this city. The shopping district and the dining scene are up-scale, contributing to Coral Gables’ allure, especially for young adults.
8. Naples
Naples, with its beautiful beaches and golf courses, provides a tranquil setting for young adults seeking an undemanding lifestyle. The city’s reputation as a retirement location is well deserved, but younger job seekers should not miss out on Naples’ robust job market, in healthcare, retail, and especially tourism.
The city has a rich cultural scene, from art shows to music festivals and gourmet dinners, which create an enjoyable lifestyle for young professionals.
7. Pensacola
Pensacola, in Florida’s Panhandle, is an old city with a rich history and a prominent place as a student and tourism getaway, a hyper-educated town. Its several colleges and busy downtown area packed with vague bars, restaurants, and music venues give Pensacola the joyful college energy that young adults want.
6. Lakeland
In between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland has a small-town charm with big-city features. Its job market is healthy overall, growing especially in sectors like healthcare, education, and logistics.
Florida Southern College, with its historic campus drawing international attention, adds to Lakeland’s vibrancy for young people coming of age. Young adults looking for a city that offers practicality at an affordable price are pleased with the affordability, recreation options, and downtown atmosphere they will experience while relocating to Lakeland.
5. Melbourne
In 5th place on the list of the best places to live in Florida for young adults is Melbourne. The city is located on Florida’s Space Coast, where residents and visitors can enjoy job opportunities in the tech and aerospace sectors as well as healthcare and education.
Melbourne provides a natural outer beauty that complements its urban beauty and beaches with parks and downtown area. Its cost of living is relatively lower compared to other states, which makes it attractive for young settlers.
4. Clearwater
Clearwater is known for its beautiful beaches, and more than that, it’s a great city to be in. The city has an excellent job market, especially in sectors like retail, tourism, and healthcare.
Downtown Clearwater is booming with entertainment: restaurants, shopping, and nightlife – all cater heavily to a youth-oriented crowd.
3. Delray Beach
Delray Beach is a vibrant city boasting small-town charm, plus the appeal of a vibrant arts community. A diverse array of jobs in healthcare, retail, and education are plentiful here.
The young and trendy make Delray Beach particularly attractive to them because of its many restaurants, shops, and nightclubs downtown.
2. Fort Myers
Fort Myers provides a fruitful job market with opportunities in the fields of healthcare, education, and retail sectors. The downtown area of the city, typically associated with its art as well as a music scene, offers appeal to young adults.
Besides, relatively lower costs add to this city’s attractiveness for young professionals. It just misses out on top spot on the list of the best places to live in Florida for young adults.
1. Plantation – Best place to Live in Florida for Young Adults
Located in Broward County, Plantation gives its residents a healthy job market, especially in the healthcare, retail, and education sectors.
The best city to live in Florida for young adults enjoys an appropriate mix of suburban character with urban convenience. Park-filled Plantation feels youthful while also offering great shopping districts and varied dining options.
Plantation is the best place to live in Florida for young adults.
