What are the best places in Florida to live? These neighborhoods are on this list

Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·5 min read

Are you planning a move anytime soon? Or just want to feel a sense of pride about the area you live in?

Niche recently releases its annual report of the “Best Places to Live in America,” seeing three Florida neighborhoods place within its top 10 slots.

Niche experts ranks places to live based on a variety of categories, such as cost of living, schools, diversity, health care, crime statistics and recreational activities. It also ranked neighborhoods, suburbs, and cities to determine the best places to live.

“It provides people with the tools and information they need to discover their best-fit options based on whatever they value most,” Zach Chatham, PR manager at Niche, said to Forbes. “It’s a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about what a place is really like, whether that be to visit on vacation or to call home when moving.”

Where is the top place to live in Florida?

eBoats are a popular choice for visitors looking to explore downtown Tampa waterways
eBoats are a popular choice for visitors looking to explore downtown Tampa waterways

Located in Tampa, the neighborhood of Uptown saw the fourth slot on Niche's overall list. It has a population of 2,428 residents.

"Uptown is in Hillsborough County and is one of the best places to live in Florida. Living in Uptown offers residents a dense urban feel and most residents rent their homes," Niche writes. "In Uptown there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Uptown and residents tend to have moderate political views."

The median home value within Uptown is $278,210, with renters paying $2,130 per month. The median household income is $80,431.

As for schools, Niche notes the public schools in Uptown are highly rated. Families with children make up 4% of the neighborhood's population.

What are the top 10 places to live in Florida?

Following Uptown's first-place slot on the list, here are the other top Florida neighborhoods on the list:

Hyde Park, Tampa

  • Rank: 6

  • Population: 2,219

  • Median household income: $133,738

  • Median home value: $621,272 (39% own)

  • Median rent: $1,977 (61% rent)

  • Top public schools: Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School (grade A), Bell Creek Academy High School (grade A), Tampa Bay Technical High School (grade A)

  • Top private schools: Berkeley Preparatory School (grade A+), Tampa Preparatory School (grade A+), Carrollwood Day School (grade A+)

Harbour Island, Tampa

  • Rank: 9

  • Population: 4,185

  • Median household income: $156,929

  • Median home value: $497,689 (45% own)

  • Median rent: $2,323 (55% rent)

  • Top public schools: Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School (grade A), Bell Creek Academy High School (grade A), Tampa Bay Technical High School (grade A)

  • Top private schools: Berkeley Preparatory School (grade A+), Tampa Preparatory School (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Names (grade A+)

Audubon Park, Orlando

  • Rank: 22

  • Population: 3,658

  • Median household income: $108,265

  • Median home value: $422,598 (84% own)

  • Median rent: $2,031 (16% rent)

  • Top public schools: Winter Park High School (grade A+), Orlando Gifted Academy (grade A), Cornerstone Charter Academy High School (grade A)

  • Top private schools: Trinity Preparatory School of Florida (grade A+), Lake Highland Preparatory School (grade A+), The First Academy (grade A+)

Palma Ceia West, Tampa

  • Rank: 51

  • Population: 1,542

  • Median household income: $133,278

  • Median home value: $579,854 (67% own)

  • Median rent: $1,132 (33% rent)

  • Top public schools: Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School (grade A), Bell Creek Academy High School (grade A), Tampa Bay Technical High School (grade A)

  • Top private schools: Berkeley Preparatory School (grade A+), Tampa Preparatory School (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Names (grade A+)

North Quarter, Orlando

  • Rank: 87

  • Population: 1,637

  • Median household income: $63,037

  • Median home value: $231,886 (12% own)

  • Median rent: $1,662 (88% rent)

  • Top public schools: Orlando Gifted Academy (grade A), Cornerstone Charter Academy High School (grade A), Laureate Park Elementary School (grade A minus)

  • Top private schools: Trinity Preparatory School of Florida (grade A+), Lake Highland Preparatory School (grade A+), The First Academy (grade A+)

Baldwin Park, Orlando

  • Rank: 96

  • Population: 15,332

  • Median household income: $151,007

  • Median home value: $689,848 (43% own)

  • Median rent: $2,245 (57% rent)

  • Top public schools: Winter Park High School (grade A+), Cornerstone Charter Academy High School (grade A), Laureate Park Elementary School (grade A minus)

  • Top private schools: Trinity Preparatory School of Florida (grade A+), Lake Highland Preparatory School (grade A+), The First Academy (grade A+)

Virginia Park, Tampa

  • Rank: 111

  • Population: 5,894

  • Median household income: $175,591

  • Median home value: $677,083 (88% own)

  • Median rent: $1,552 (12% rent)

  • Top public schools: Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School (grade A), Bell Creek Academy High School (grade A), Tampa Bay Technical High School (grade A)

  • Top private schools: Berkeley Preparatory School (grade A+), Tampa Preparatory School (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Names (grade A+)

Courier City/Oscawana, Tampa

  • Rank: 113

  • Population: 3,042

  • Median household income: $140,335

  • Median home value: $559,721 (41% own)

  • Median rent: $2,143 (59% rent)

  • Top public schools: Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School (grade A), Bell Creek Academy High School (grade A), Tampa Bay Technical High School (grade A)

  • Top private schools: Berkeley Preparatory School (grade A+), Tampa Preparatory School (grade A+), Carrollwood Day School (grade A+)

Lancaster Park, Orlando

  • Rank: 116

  • Population: 1,254

  • Median household income: $152,300

  • Median home value: $457,781 (67% own)

  • Median rent: $1,192 (33% rent)

  • Top public schools: Cornerstone Charter Academy High School (grade A), Laureate Park Elementary School (grade A minus), Audubon Park School (grade A minus)

  • Top private schools: Trinity Preparatory School of Florida (grade A+), Lake Highland Preparatory School (grade A+), The First Academy (grade A+)

What is the top place in the entire country?

Niche determined that Colonial Village, a neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, is the top neighborhood in the country.

"Colonial Village is in Arlington County and is one of the best places to live in Virginia. In Colonial Village, most residents rent their homes. In Colonial Village there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks," the description writes.

Located in Arlington County, the neighborhood holds a population of 2,992. The study shares that 71% of residents own their home, seeing a median home value of $418,858. Renters typically pay $2,037 per month.

See the top 10 neighborhoods across America, according to Niche

  1. Colonial Village, Virginia

  2. Carmel, Indiana

  3. Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania

  4. Uptown, Florida

  5. Cinco Ranch, Texas

  6. Hyde Park, Florida

  7. Evergreen Park, California

  8. Radnor/Fort Myer Heights, Virginia

  9. Harbour Island, Florida

  10. College Terrance, California

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida: Here are the 10 best places to live within the state