Safest Cities to Live in Florida

The Sunshine State is on your horizon! But before you move to Florida, you want to make sure you find the safest city possible—especially if you’re moving there to start a family. So what are the safest cities in Florida?

Let’s check the data!

Top 10 Safest Cities in Florida

First, let’s admit that lists like this aren’t always an accurate way to determine a city’s level of safety. So make sure to do enough research to back up whatever you find online until you feel comfortable enough to make a decision.

The Florida crime rate stats we’re using are based on official data reported by the FBI.¹ The cities are ranked by number of total crimes and law enforcement employees per 1,000 residents.² Those total crimes are made up of two different crime categories:

• Violent crimes. These are defined by the FBI as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.³

• Property crimes. These include burglary, larceny (theft of personal property), motor vehicle theft and arson (setting fire to property).⁴

For comparison with the stats below, the national estimated crime rate in a year was nearly 370 violent crimes and almost 2,200 property crimes per 100,000 residents.⁵ In other words, that’s about 4 violent crimes and 22 property crimes per 1,000 residents.

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With that said, let’s unpack the safest cities in Florida so you can compare their stats and narrow down an area you’ll feel comfortable moving to.

Oh, and a quick reminder on how to read our charts—the numbers for crimes and law enforcement employees are per 1,000 residents in a year.

Now let’s get to it!

1. Satellite Beach

Kicking off the list as the number one city in Florida with the lowest crime rate is Satellite Beach. Along the east coast of central Florida, Satellite Beach gets its space nerd name from being located along the Space Coast—where NASA launches satellites into orbit. The area is known for its long sandy beaches and whale sightings!

Population*	11,197
Violent Crimes**	0.3
Property Crimes**	4
Law Enforcement**	3

^{*For each city, the Population number includes only city limits (not the greater metro area).
**For each city, the Violent Crimes, Property Crimes and Law Enforcement numbers are ­­per 1,000 residents in a year.}

2. Key Biscayne

The next safest city in Florida is just outside of Miami. Heads up, it’s also a very expensive place to live. In the summer of 2021, the median home price was nearly $1.9 million!⁶ So, if you’re in the stage of life where you’re crushing it with your finances and you’re able to live and give like no one else, Key Biscayne might be a safe choice for living out your retirement paradise.

Population	13,299
Violent Crimes	0.4
Property Crimes	7
Law Enforcement	4

3. Marco Island

Now let’s travel to the western coast of Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico where Marco Island sits. The largest of Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island is one of the safest areas in Florida. But it’s another city in Florida where the cost of living is high—with a median home price of nearly $1.1 million!⁷ But some might say the white sandy beaches there make it priceless.

Population	18,122
Violent Crimes	0.3
Property Crimes	5
Law Enforcement	2

4. North Palm Beach

Not only is North Palm Beach safe, it’s practically always sunny and beautiful—with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. Every day is a beach day! There’s fishing and boating and a big marina with large yachts. You can try and spot manatees swimming or even sea turtles hatching on the beach. Or just sit back and watch the palm trees swaying by the ocean breeze.

Population	13,214
Violent Crimes	1
Property Crimes	8
Law Enforcement	3

5. Parkland

Just south of North Palm Beach is the inland neighborhood of Parkland. Parkland is—can you guess?—full of parks! That makes it easy to find a place to play baseball, basketball, soccer, football and tennis. There are also plenty of playgrounds for the kiddos and dog parks for fido. There’s even an equestrian center for horseback riding. This wealthy area offers a residential, suburban vibe. Removed from big shopping centers and downtown congestion, it’s typically a quiet and peaceful place to settle down in.

Population	33,760
Violent Crimes	1
Property Crimes	7
Law Enforcement	1

6. Naples

This lovely coastal town in southwest Florida is yet another safe spot to live for those who can budget for the finer things. Take a drive around Naples and you’ll likely pass a number of Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins and Lamborghinis. During the winter, snowbirds pack the beaches and can make traffic a bit hectic. Still, the beaches of Naples are always voted nationally and internationally as the finest. Boaters love to visit beach bars and islands like Keewaydin Island to explore the water.

Population	22,308
Violent Crimes	0.4
Property Crimes	14
Law Enforcement	4

7. Lynn Haven

Just above Panama City, on the panhandle of Florida, sits Lynn Haven. The city offers a calming residential vibe that draws in many young professionals and families. Lynn Haven is also a military town—the largest employer in the area being the Tyndall Air Force Base. And don’t forget, it’s only a short drive away from the stunning beaches along the Gulf Coast!

Population	21,285
Violent Crimes	1
Property Crimes	9
Law Enforcement	2

8. Oviedo

Oviedo (pronounced oh-vee-doh) is a suburb of Orlando. Known for its historic architecture, Oviedo offers a safe and tight-knit community feel through many events like movie nights and food truck gatherings. A unique and funny thing about Oviedo is that chickens have become a sort of mascot for the city—so much so you’ll probably encounter its large population of chickens that roam about freely all over town.

Population	41,937
Violent Crimes	2
Property Crimes	9
Law Enforcement	2

9. Sebastian

Back on the Atlantic Coast, Sebastian also makes the list for safest cities in Florida. This is a great place for bass fishing and deep-sea fishing. Sebastian is also home of Pelican Island—America's first national wildlife refuge. Established in the early 1900s, the refuge is a nature conservation that protects the home of wildlife and fish.

Population	25,672
Violent Crimes	1
Property Crimes	11
Law Enforcement	2

10. Groveland

Ranking as our final safest city in Florida is Groveland. On the west side of Orlando, Groveland is an inland city in central Florida. It offers a nice and quiet rural vibe and a wide-open landscape. Groveland gets its name from the citrus orchards that surround the area. Being centrally located, it’s also a great launching point to visit all the adventures waiting for you around Florida.

Population	14,342
Violent Crimes	2
Property Crimes	13
Law Enforcement	3

There you have it, folks! If you’re still not sure where in Florida is the best place for you to live, you might be tempted to ask a real estate agent to recommend the safest neighborhoods.

Keep in mind, certain laws like real estate steering prevent agents from giving you that kind of advice. So keep doing your own research until you’re satisfied you’ve found a city you’re comfortable with—then you’ll be ready to pack your PODS container and talk to an agent about finding housing!

Find a Florida Real Estate Agent

If you know the area in Florida where you want to move, your next step is to work with an agent. For a fast and easy way to find Florida agents we trust, try our Endorsed Local Providers (ELP) program. We only recommend top agents who are on a mission to help you crush your relocation goals.

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