Best Cities for Young Professionals in Florida
Florida for Young Professionals: The Full Picture
Florida ranks #31 out of 50 for young professionals, suggesting some tradeoffs for career-focused relocators. The state's economy scores 37/100, though with 4.3% unemployment and a median household income of $71,516. Population growth of 2% signals that people β and employers β are actively choosing Florida.
For young professionals, the equation comes down to earning potential versus cost of living. With a cost-of-living index of 103, expenses are near the national norm β what you earn is roughly what you keep. The growth score of 65/100 β driven by population gains and migration patterns β suggests expanding opportunity.
Beyond the paycheck, livability matters. Florida's livability score of 34/100 is modest, which may matter to young professionals who value nightlife, dining, and cultural events. Transportation is car-dependent in most areas (score: 45/100), which is worth factoring into housing location decisions.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Young Professionals
| # | City | Grade | Young Professionals Score | Overall | Economy | Growth | Livability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port St. Lucie | A | 65.5 | 61.0 | 54 | 90 | 66 | 245,036 |
| 2 | Palm Bay | B | 62.2 | 56.0 | 51 | 86 | 63 | 135,570 |
| 3 | Miami | B | 61.5 | 54.0 | 61 | 83 | 56 | 455,955 |
| 4 | Coral Springs | B+ | 60.6 | 57.7 | 62 | 67 | 48 | 134,913 |
| 5 | Cape Coral | B+ | 60.5 | 56.5 | 56 | 69 | 50 | 224,452 |
| 6 | Pembroke Pines | B | 58.8 | 54.4 | 63 | 71 | 51 | 171,105 |
| 7 | Hialeah | B | 58.8 | 53.8 | 54 | 77 | 53 | 221,318 |
| 8 | Miramar | B+ | 58.7 | 57.4 | 66 | 60 | 42 | 138,330 |
| 9 | Orlando | C+ | 56.8 | 52.1 | 56 | 67 | 48 | 320,753 |
| 10 | Tampa | C+ | 55.1 | 52.1 | 55 | 55 | 40 | 403,361 |
| 11 | West Palm Beach | C+ | 55.0 | 52.0 | 61 | 58 | 41 | 124,148 |
| 12 | St. Petersburg | C+ | 54.1 | 52.0 | 56 | 52 | 37 | 263,546 |
| 13 | Jacksonville | C | 54.0 | 49.3 | 52 | 59 | 43 | 985,837 |
| 14 | Fort Lauderdale | C | 53.3 | 48.7 | 59 | 59 | 42 | 184,263 |
| 15 | Hollywood | C | 52.5 | 49.6 | 52 | 58 | 41 | 153,864 |
| 16 | Lakeland | C | 51.8 | 48.8 | 43 | 56 | 43 | 122,246 |
| 17 | Tallahassee | C | 49.2 | 46.0 | 47 | 50 | 36 | 202,222 |
| 18 | Gainesville | D | 48.6 | 44.7 | 39 | 49 | 37 | 145,800 |
| 19 | Spring Hill | C | 48.0 | 47.2 | 40 | 50 | 42 | 121,939 |
| 20 | Lehigh Acres | D | 44.4 | 42.8 | 36 | 50 | 42 | 130,548 |