You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in Florida, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Sunshine State and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that's all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in Florida based on numbers--not opinions or hearsay.
We'll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in Florida ranked the based--you know, based on science.
Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Florida for 2022.
What's the best small town in Florida? Vineyards is the best small town in Florida based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Vineyards, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you--keep reading and we'll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Sunshine State check out:
- Best Places To Live In Florida
- Cheapest Places To Live In Florida
- Most Dangerous Places In Florida
Population: 3,407
Median Income: $97,563 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $463,400 (29th Best)
More on Vineyards: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 2,147
Median Income: $125,750 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $981,300 (2nd Best)
More on Sewall's Point: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 1,149
Median Income: $73,558 (66th Best)
Median Home Value: $566,100 (13th Best)
More on Palm Beach Shores: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 4,255
Median Income: $156,447 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $780,900 (5th Best)
More on Indian River Shores: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 2,802
Median Income: $86,205 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $480,600 (25th Best)
More on Island Walk: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 1,110
Median Income: $117,689 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $297,900 (70th Best)
More on Black Diamond: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 1,566
Median Income: $75,580 (63rd Best)
Median Home Value: $445,700 (33rd Best)
More
on Punta Rassa: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 2,115
Median Income: $78,590 (56th Best)
Median Home Value: $484,800 (24th Best)
More on Redington Shores: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 4,276
Median Income: $61,628 (103rd Best)
Median Home Value: $597,000 (12th Best)
More on Holmes Beach: Data | Homes For Sale
Population:
3,907
Median Income: $119,125 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $625,700 (11th Best)
More on Highland Beach: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 1,885
Median Income: $97,212 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $460,600 (30th Best)
More on Wabasso Beach: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 3,296
Median Income:
$141,847 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $667,600 (8th Best)
More on South Beach: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 4,198
Median Income: $98,795 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $467,800 (28th Best)
More on Belleair: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 4,013
Median Income: $120,556 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $487,000 (23rd Best)
More on Tierra Verde: Data | Homes For Sale
Population: 1,897
Median Income: $91,563 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $415,300 (39th Best)
More on Atlantis: Data | Homes For Sale
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Florida
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 273 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 273, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Florida. Top of that list -- Vineyards. You can download the data here.
Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns in Florida.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once and we'll say it again -- this list: it's just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 15 small towns in Florida are the best, in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
If you're curious, here are the worst small towns in Florida:
- Moon Lake
- Lawtey
- Inglis
For more Florida reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Florida
- Safest Places In Florida
- Worst Places To Live In Florida
Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Florida
1 | Vineyards, FL | 3,407 | $97,563.0 | $463,400.0 |
2 | Sewall's Point, FL | 2,147 | $125,750.0 | $981,300.0 |
3 | Palm Beach Shores, FL | 1,149 | $73,558.0 | $566,100.0 |
4 | Indian River Shores, FL | 4,255 | $156,447.0 | $780,900.0 |
5 | Island Walk, FL | 2,802 | $86,205.0 | $480,600.0 |
6 | Black Diamond, FL | 1,110 | $117,689.0 | $297,900.0 |
7 | Punta Rassa, FL | 1,566 | $75,580.0 | $445,700.0 |
8 | Redington Shores, FL | 2,115 | $78,590.0 | $484,800.0 |
9 | Holmes Beach, FL | 4,276 | $61,628.0 | $597,000.0 |
10 | Highland Beach, FL | 3,907 | $119,125.0 | $625,700.0 |
11 | Wabasso Beach, FL | 1,885 | $97,212.0 | $460,600.0 |
12 | South Beach, FL | 3,296 | $141,847.0 | $667,600.0 |
13 | Belleair, FL | 4,198 | $98,795.0 | $467,800.0 |
14 | Tierra Verde, FL | 4,013 | $120,556.0 | $487,000.0 |
15 | Atlantis, FL | 1,897 | $91,563.0 | $415,300.0 |
16 | Windermere, FL | 3,497 | $125,000.0 | $632,700.0 |
17 | Sawgrass, FL | 4,094 | $113,125.0 | $546,700.0 |
18 | Bay Hill, FL | 4,815 | $111,103.0 | $553,000.0 |
19 | Melbourne Beach, FL | 3,270 | $63,750.0 | $381,100.0 |
20 | Ocean Ridge, FL | 1,642 | $109,167.0 | $894,500.0 |
21 | Gotha, FL | 2,021 | $154,519.0 | $759,100.0 |
22 | Harbor Bluffs, FL | 3,116 | $97,629.0 | $382,900.0 |
23 | St. George Island, FL | 1,006 | $78,667.0 | $459,100.0 |
24 | Juno Beach, FL | 3,592 | $61,441.0 | $430,900.0 |
25 | Plantation, FL | 4,857 | $71,413.0 | $298,400.0 |
26 | El Portal, FL | 2,066 | $108,750.0 | $437,100.0 |
27 | Indian Shores, FL | 1,232 | $84,500.0 | $443,600.0 |
28 | Hillsboro Beach, FL | 1,964 | $69,766.0 | $450,800.0 |
29 | Indialantic, FL | 2,879 | $82,917.0 | $377,200.0 |
30 | North Redington Beach, FL | 1,246 | $66,321.0 | $633,500.0 |
31 | St. Augustine South, FL | 4,994 | $63,317.0 | $235,600.0 |
32 | Anna Maria, FL | 1,087 | $80,865.0 | $911,300.0 |
33 | Feather Sound, FL | 3,466 | $79,457.0 | $329,200.0 |
34 | Burnt Store Marina, FL | 2,140 | $89,417.0 | $342,200.0 |
35 | Redington Beach, FL | 1,233 | $86,250.0 | $516,000.0 |
36 | Biscayne Park, FL | 3,089 | $76,467.0 | $510,300.0 |
37 | Belleair Beach, FL | 1,472 | $94,688.0 | $682,400.0 |
38 | Lochmoor Waterway Estates, FL | 4,995 | $74,875.0 | $238,500.0 |
39 | Palm Shores, FL | 1,622 | $88,235.0 | $238,200.0 |
40 | Indian Rocks Beach, FL | 4,269 | $72,303.0 | $490,300.0 |
41 | Lake Clarke Shores, FL | 3,616 | $109,755.0 | $380,000.0 |
42 | South Sarasota, FL | 4,993 | $76,875.0 | $474,400.0 |
43 | Tiger Point, FL | 3,547 | $100,078.0 | $279,700.0 |
44 | Lely, FL | 3,553 | $52,289.0 | $236,000.0 |
45 | Ponce Inlet, FL | 3,272 | $85,156.0 | $375,100.0 |
46 | Verona Walk, FL | 2,630 | $73,837.0 | $392,300.0 |
47 | Lake Mary Jane, FL | 1,917 | $129,089.0 | $366,100.0 |
48 | South Palm Beach, FL | 1,855 | $64,643.0 | $271,800.0 |
49 | Vamo, FL | 2,679 | $58,891.0 | $271,400.0 |
50 | Orangetree, FL | 4,231 | $101,190.0 | $328,700.0 |
51 | West Bradenton, FL | 3,735 | $72,738.0 | $269,900.0 |
52 | Oakland, FL | 3,065 | $119,803.0 | $335,100.0 |
53 | Laguna Beach, FL | 4,271 | $66,265.0 | $246,000.0 |
54 | Bal Harbour, FL | 2,980 | $77,005.0 | $1,316,400.0 |
55 | Pretty Bayou, FL | 2,901 | $63,750.0 | $211,200.0 |
56 | North River Shores, FL | 3,895 | $66,218.0 | $237,900.0 |
57 | Bear Creek, FL | 2,114 | $54,464.0 | $338,300.0 |
58 | Chuluota, FL | 1,939 | $82,244.0 | $261,000.0 |
59 | Bay Pines, FL | 2,755 | $52,750.0 | $222,100.0 |
60 | Belleair Bluffs, FL | 2,307 | $48,533.0 | $279,500.0 |
61 | Navarre Beach, FL | 1,581 | $105,173.0 | $487,700.0 |
62 | Buckingham, FL | 4,269 | $99,939.0 | $307,300.0 |
63 | Manasota Key, FL | 1,592 | $92,159.0 | $505,200.0 |
64 | Daytona Beach Shores, FL | 4,552 | $53,650.0 | $324,200.0 |
65 | Big Coppitt Key, FL | 2,644 | $102,000.0 | $429,600.0 |
66 | Charlotte Park, FL | 1,893 | $55,568.0 | $193,100.0 |
67 | Geneva, FL | 3,164 | $97,067.0 | $385,100.0 |
68 | Lake Sarasota, FL | 4,148 | $84,112.0 | $237,800.0 |
69 | Venice Gardens, FL | 3,484 | $50,605.0 | $206,700.0 |
70 | Cabana Colony, FL | 2,660 | $66,935.0 | $220,800.0 |
71 | Woodlawn Beach, FL | 3,279 | $93,433.0 | $329,100.0 |
72 | Greenbriar, FL | 2,764 | $66,181.0 | $225,100.0 |
73 | Tangerine, FL | 2,947 | $89,474.0 | $315,700.0 |
74 | Oriole Beach, FL | 1,670 | $58,750.0 | $251,600.0 |
75 | Mary Esther, FL | 4,370 | $75,929.0 | $187,400.0 |
76 | Crescent Beach, FL | 1,085 | $56,591.0 | $396,200.0 |
77 | San Antonio, FL | 1,170 | $71,750.0 | $233,000.0 |
78 | June Park, FL | 4,932 | $78,594.0 | $228,800.0 |
79 | Winter Beach, FL | 3,368 | $80,324.0 | $313,800.0 |
80 | Connerton, FL | 4,865 | $104,715.0 | $307,900.0 |
81 | Edgewood, FL | 2,955 | $67,450.0 | $254,700.0 |
82 | Malabar, FL | 3,123 | $82,800.0 | $290,200.0 |
83 | Holden Heights, FL | 3,506 | $57,979.0 | $235,700.0 |
84 | Virginia Gardens, FL | 2,322 | $51,797.0 | $353,500.0 |
85 | Butler Beach, FL | 4,814 | $77,059.0 | $386,100.0 |
86 | Alva, FL | 3,013 | $88,222.0 | $284,300.0 |
87 | Montverde, FL | 1,917 | $96,477.0 | $314,300.0 |
88 | Port St. Joe, FL | 3,502 | $60,682.0 | $215,000.0 |
89 | Desoto Lakes, FL | 1,907 | $67,414.0 | $221,800.0 |
90 | Haverhill, FL | 2,429 | $66,172.0 | $251,800.0 |
91 | Stock Island, FL | 4,692 | $54,257.0 | $319,600.0 |
92 | Mount Plymouth, FL | 4,812 | $66,029.0 | $218,400.0 |
93 | Molino, FL | 1,365 | $84,167.0 | $130,200.0 |
94 | West Deland, FL | 3,271 | $59,735.0 | $156,500.0 |
95 | Quail Ridge, FL | 2,795 | $71,497.0 | $161,100.0 |
96 | Cudjoe Key, FL | 2,157 | $79,453.0 | $434,300.0 |
97 | Crawfordville, FL | 4,113 | $69,813.0 | $181,400.0 |
98 | Nokomis, FL | 4,084 | $47,928.0 | $202,000.0 |
99 | Howey-In-The-Hills, FL | 1,837 | $67,344.0 | $243,500.0 |
100 | Ridge Wood Heights, FL | 4,856 | $55,941.0 | $261,300.0 |
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Florida.