Worst Places To Live In Florida

The real estate section in “Money Inc.” recently published a list of the 20 worst places to live in Florida, based on crime statistics.  It’s not a list you want your city or town to be on, and for those of us living the dream in Tampa Bay, it’s nice to see that for the most part, we didn’t make this particular list.

However, there is one exception:  Dade City.  Long considered to be a charming little suburb of Tampa known for the Pioneer Days Festival as well as a collection of unique shops and restaurants, Dade City is also, unfortunately, coming to be known due to a high rate of violent crime.  That’s right – property crime is bad enough, way above the national average, and now violent crime is really on the rise in Dade City.

Over the past year, aggravated assaults came in at 721 per 100,000, rape statistics registered 97 per 100,000, and robberies pegged 152.5 per 100,000.

According to Neighborhoodscout.com, Dade City has one of the highest crime rates in America for small towns and cities. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime there is one in 22.  That’s why Dade City came in at #17 on “Money Inc’s” Top Twenty List of the Worst Places to Live in Forida.

You can see the whole list here, or read on to see the top 5, which are really the worst 5:

Trying to rent an affordable apartment or home in the Tampa Bay area can be rough, especially if you're on a budget. It's no secret that the cost of living in Tampa Bay has skyrocketed over the past few years. Thankfully, we found this list from Zumper.com of the most affordable places to rent in the Tampa Bay area. Note these are for 1 bedroom apartments. Prices get a little higher when searching for 2 bedroom places.

According to Zumper, the one bedroom median rent in Florida for the month of July was $1,674. The monthly national median rent is $1,702 (according to RentCafe). So we guess it could be slightly worse. One would normally guess the most expensive city for rentals is in the Miami area. But actually, the most expensive city to rent a one bedroom apartment in Florida is Venice. You'll have to cough up $2,260 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.  Don't expect these prices to stay "affordable" for long. Zumper predicts that these rental prices will increase 27.6% increase year-over-year.

You may be asking, if it's so expensive, why would someone even move to Florida? Well the year-round sunshine sure does beat shoveling snow for 6 months of the year. Plus you never really get tired of all the water activities like snorkeling, jet skiing, or just tanning in the hot sun at our gorgeous beaches. We also love to root for our champion winning sports teams and dining at some of the country's best restaurants. Not to mention that no state income tax comes in handy when your rent is almost on par/more than the national average.

The median price for a 1 bedroom apartment in Bradenton is $1,570. Prices in this city usually stay around this average (at least for now). There's plenty to see and do in this area, including checking out the clear blue waters at Anna Maria Island, or trying some new brews at Motorworks Brewery.

Expect Largo to be another fast growing Florida city. With it's central location to Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Pete, it makes it a great location for newcomers. Plus, they'll have the first drive-thru Wawa in Florida! Not that that should be the highest priority on your list, but it is a bonus! The median rent for a one bedroom apartment in Largo is $1,560. Two bedrooms are only about $300 more.

That's right, the home to the best beach in the south is also one of the more affordable Tampa Bay area cities for rental. That is, if you don't plan on living directly on the beach. The median one bedroom rental price in Clearwater is $1,510. But expect to pay over $600 more for a two bedroom place.

Same perks as Bradenton, just a little more inland. This means that the one bedroom rental prices are about $200 cheaper. The median price according to Zumper is $1,380.

We wish Tarpon Springs would get more love when talking about the best cities in Tampa Bay. There's so much culture in the area that leaves you with countless of things to do. Check out Fred Howard park, the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, or enjoy some authentic Greek food! The median one-bedroom cost here is $1,340.

Lakeland is also one of the fastest growing cities in Florida. With it being in the middle of Tampa and Orlando, many see the best of both worlds in that city. Plus there are some great shopping and dining options in Downtown Lakeland! The median one bedroom rental here is $1,320 and only $100 more for a two bedroom!

The number 1 city in the Tampa Bay area with the cheapest rent is Winter Haven. This area has 50 lakes within its borders, including its famous Chain of Lakes. It's also super close to some other popular fresh-water springs. The median price for a one-bedroom apartment here is $1,250 and is $1,460 for a two bedroom!