15 Safest Cities in Florida [2023 Data]

The Sunshine State is home to over 21 million people for a reason — mild winters, beautiful beaches, and no income tax. The list goes on. Whether you're looking to move across the country or the county, learn about the safest cities in Florida so you can make the best choice for your family.

 

We did the heavy lifting to help you figure it out! We took the 60 largest cities in Florida by population and compared them based on these factors:

 

• County violent crime rates

• City violent crime rates

• County property crime rates

• County natural disaster risk index rating (FEMA index)

• City median income

• City poverty rate

• City population density

 

We sourced this data from the U.S. Census, the FBI, Florida state crime reports, USA.com, and Best Places.

Methodology disclaimer: We've included indirect factors like poverty rates and median income to broaden our scale. However, these factors are weighted less than crime rates because poverty rates and income alone don't determine whether or not a city is safe. We break down how each element was weighted in our methodology section.

 

 

 

 

1. The Villages, Florida

County: Sumter and Marion

Population: 79,077

County Violent Crime Rate: 881 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 18.56

 

The Villages, a 55+ living community, comes out on top of the safest cities to live in Florida. As a retirement community, it's likely not the right choice for young families. But snowbirds and retirees love the planned community about halfway between Orlando and Gainesville.

The Villages comes in at number one for the lowest amount of violent and property crime and the lowest poverty rate. Add in a low National Risk Index, and you can see why it earns the title of safest city in Florida.

 

 

2. Palm Coast, Florida

County: Flagler

Population: 89,258

County Violent Crime Rate: 997 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 19.56

 

Heading over to northeast Florida, you’ll find Palm Coast. With access to the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and more, this city is perfect for anyone who loves fishing, watersports, or beach days.

According to their 2021 citizen survey, 83% of Palm Coast residents call the city an excellent place to live. With a 74% homeownership rate, it’s clear that Palm Coast residents are in it for the long haul.

Palm Coast is a city for residents of all ages, with 75% saying it’s a great place to raise children and 81% calling it a great place to retire. Palm Coast has the second-lowest violent and property crime rates and a relatively low FEMA score, which brings it to second place on our list.

 

 

3. Riverview, Florida 

County: Hillsborough

Population: 107,396

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,400 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 26.18

 

Riverview is another city in close proximity to Tampa with a much higher median income and the seventh lowest poverty rate on our list.  

Compared to Florida residents' average age of 42, Riverview is a younger city with an average age of 36. 

Combine Riverview's low violent and property crime rates with its high average income, and it’s no surprise to see Riverview comes out at number three overall in our rankings.

 

 

4. North Port, Florida

County: Sarasota

Population: 74,793

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,755 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 24.19

 

North Port is located just north of Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. This makes it perfect for anyone who values a city lifestyle with easy access to the beautiful ecosystems of South Florida.

North Port’s cost of living is nearly 4% below the national average, and it has the second lowest poverty rate on our list, earning it the number four spot.

 

 

5. Brandon, Florida

County: Hillsborough

Population: 114,626

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,400 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 26.18

 

Brandon is a city in western Florida located in Hillsborough County. Residents of Brandon enjoy being near Tampa for the feel of a big city. The employment rate in Brandon is 4.4% higher than the national average, meaning more job opportunities.

Its lower poverty rate and cost of living with a higher median income than Tampa brings Brandon to number five in our rankings of safest cities in Florida.

 

 

6. Spring Hill, Florida 

County: Hernando

Population: 113,568

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,449 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 19.52

 

Spring Hill earned the sixth spot on our list and came in 11th for violent crime, property crime, and cost of living. It has a relatively low FEMA risk rating of 19.52.  

Spring Hill is located slightly inland from the Gulf Coast and is ideal for families. Its public schools recently received recognition from the Florida Department of Education for student growth and teaching excellence, earning it over $1 million in extra funding for 2023.

 

 

7. Wesley Chapel, Florida 

County: Pasco

Population: 64,866

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,589 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 22.57

 

Wesley Chapel is located north of Tampa and comes in seventh on our list of the safest cities in Florida. It ranks 13th for violent and property crimes.  

This community has a rich history with economic roots in the lumber, citrus, and livestock industries, which set families up for economic success today. The median income in Wesley Chapel is the fourth highest on our list, and it has the fifth lowest poverty rate.

 

 

8. Tampa, Florida 

County: Hillsborough

Population: 384,959

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,400 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 26.18

 

Tampa is a coastal city and the third most populous city in all of Florida. Despite its large population, Tampa has relatively low crime. The city is constantly improving, with over 200 active projects to improve traffic safety, stormwater collection areas, and public recreation areas. 

Tampa ranks tenth for natural disaster risk and sixth for property crime, making it the eighth safest city in Florida.

 

 

9. Town ‘n’ Country, Florida 

County: Hillsborough

Population: 85,951

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,400 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 26.18

 

Town ‘n’ Country is located on Old Tampa Bay and is home to almost 86,000 Floridians. Nearly 30% of the population is over age 55, which makes Town ‘n’ Country ideal for retirees.

Crime rates are low, at seventh for violent crime and sixth for property crime, but the poverty rate is relatively high at 13.9%. This earns Town ‘n’ Country the ninth spot on our list.

 

 

10. Cape Coral, Florida 

County: Lee

Population: 194,016

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,362 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 48.81

 

Located in South Florida, Cape Coral is the ninth largest city on our list. Cape Coral offers many public parks for hiking, boating, playgrounds, sports, and more. Cape Coral was developed all at once, so residents love the ease of community and city planning.

Cape Coral is third on our list for violent and property crime but has a high risk of natural disasters and a high cost of living, which makes it the tenth safest city by our metrics.

 

 

11. Port St. Lucie, Florida 

County: St. Lucie

Population: 204,851

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,395 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 41.93

 

Port St. Lucie is a midsized city located on Florida's Atlantic coast, known best for the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens. Port St. Lucie is in the midst of a 10-year parks and recreation restoration project, making this city an excellent place for nature lovers.

Crime in Port St. Lucie is low, coming in sixth for violent crime and 10th for property crime. It also has the eighth lowest poverty rate on our list, but its high FEMA natural disaster score brings it to number 11 on our list.

 

 

12. Sanford, Florida

County: Seminole

Population: 61,051

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,552 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 20.26

 

Sanford sits right on Lake Monroe and is located north of Orlando. It’s also known as the Celery City, an homage to its agricultural roots in the late 19th century.

Sanford comes in 12th for property and violent crimes and has the sixth-lowest FEMA score of the cities we studied. This earns it the 12th spot on our list of the safest cities in Florida.

 

 

13. St. Cloud, Florida 

County: Osceola

Population: 58,964

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,920 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 26.52

 

St. Cloud is a smaller city south of Kissimmee that comes in 13th on our list. It was originally a retirement community for veterans, but today, just 5.6% of the population are veterans.

St. Cloud ranks 16th for violent crime, 19th for property crime, and 22nd for median household income, which clocks in at $65,274.

 

 

14. Lakeland, Florida 

County: Polk

Population: 112,641

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,695 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 28.92

 

Lakeland is a city in Polk County located east of Tampa. It’s known for its museums, such as the Polk Museum of Art, Florida Children’s Museum, and Florida Air Museum. Three magnet high schools, two magnet middle schools, and eight colleges and universities make this a great city for educational opportunities.

Its inland location lowers its natural disaster risk, and Lakeland is the third cheapest place to live in Florida on our list, earning it the spot as 14th safest city overall. Check out the best neighborhoods in Lakeland.

 

 

15. Poinciana, Florida

County: Osceola and Polk

Population: 69,309

County Violent Crime Rate: 1,920 per 100,000

FEMA Rating: 26.52

 

Poinciana is just south of Orlando and known as the home of the Disney Wilderness Preserve. It was originally a planned unit development (PUD) meant for retirees, but today it welcomes people of all ages.

This city comes in 16th for violent crime, 19th for property crime, and 14th for its FEMA risk. This all shakes out to give Poinciana the title of 15th safest city in Florida.

 

 

Other Cities in Florida

We evaluated data for 60 total cities, so just because an area isn’t on our list doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it for your move. Check out the rest of our top 30 safest cities below:

 

16. Lehigh Acres

17. Fort Myers

18. Port Orange

19. Kissimmee

20. Largo

21. Ocala

22. Melbourne

23. Deltona

24. Clearwater

25. Weston

26. Palm Bay

27. St. Petersburg

28. Wellington

29. Coral Springs

30. Plantation

FAQs

Still pondering where you should move to in Florida? Here are some answers to your top questions about safety in Florida.

 

Which city in Florida has the lowest crime rate?

The Villages has Florida's lowest county violent crime and property crime rate.

 

What is the safest area to live in Florida?

According to our research, the three safest cities in Florida are The Villages, Palm Coast, and Riverview.

 

What is the safest major city in Florida?

According to our data, Tampa is the safest major city in Florida. It ranks 8th on our list overall.

Methodology

To create our study of the safest cities in Florida, we took the 60 cities with the highest populations and evaluated them based on eight weighted variables:

 

By county:

• County violent crime rate — 30%

• County property crime rate — 20%

• FEMA index rating — 20% 

 

By city:

• USA.com violent crime city safety rating — 10%

• Median income — 5%

• Poverty rate — 5%

• Cost of living — 5%

• Population density — 5%

 

Of our 60 original cities, one was excluded due to a lack of crime data. We included data from USA.com to help distinguish cities from the same county, but not every city had data on their index.  

For cities lacking data, we used the closest city as follows:

 

• Brandon's USA.com score came from Tampa

• Riverview's USA.com score came from Tampa

• Palm Coast's USA.com score came from Bunnell

• Wesley Chapel's USA.com score came from Zephyrhills

• The Villages’ USA.com score came from Wildwood

• Town ‘n’ Country's USA.com score came from Tampa

• Lehigh Acres’ score came from Fort Myers

• Spring Hill's USA.com score came from Brooksville

 

Some cities are seated in multiple counties. For these areas, we used data from the county containing the city's most significant area.

Discover Your Community With UpHomes

Where you live matters, at the end of the day, you want to feel secure moving to Florida, no matter which city. Trust UpHomes to help you find your new home, starting with our list of the safest cities in Florida. Get started on your home search today to discover your next move.