Florida has an abundance of fabulous places with pristine beaches to live on the Gulf of Mexico. But have you ever wondered if they are the safest places to live? This article looks at towns considered the safest in the sunshine state. Let’s find out what they are!
The Gulf Coast of Florida offers many advantages like relaxation, exciting outdoor activities, beautiful beaches, and peaceful retirement. The safest towns to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida are Apalachicola, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Naples, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Tallahassee.
If a life on the Gulf of Florida is your dream, you need not worry; we have researched and found the safest places to live in the sunshine state for you. Read on to find out which places made it on our list!
The Gulf Coast of Florida
The Gulf Coast of Florida comprises Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and West Florida. The beautiful 11,000-mile coastline with silky white sand, warm climate, crystal clear water, pristine beaches, numerous hiking trails, and active nightlife make this region one of the most favorable places to live.
The Gulf Coast of Florida is the best place for everyone who likes surfing, swimming, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and other outdoor sports. The Gulf Coast of Florida is also a favorite for retirees.
Safety is an essential factor when considering a move. Crime rate statistics in each place are vital to know. Here we look at seven towns on the Gulf Coast of Florida we believe to be the safest places to settle down.
The Safest Towns to Live on The Gulf Coast of Florida
The crime rate of a town is one of the deciding factors when a family decides to move to a different area. Crime data determined by FBI crime reports, based on violent and property crime rates per 100,000 persons, here are the safest places to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Apalachicola
- Apalachicola population: 2514 as of 2022.
- Apalachicola is 58% safer than other U.S. cities.
- Apalachicola Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 5
- Property Crime – 18
Apalachicola is a safe place to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida, east of Panama City and south of Tallahassee. Apalachicola is considered the 9th safest Florida Gulf Coast place to live.
Apalachicola offers a peaceful environment with friendly residents perfect for families. With a reputation of being very safe, many people move to Apalachicola yearly.
This safe, charming fishing town offers fantastic seafood, fun-filled waterfront parks, charming inns, miles of pristine beaches an endless number of protected bays excellent for fishing. The many acres of national and state forests are perfect for exploring for those who love the outdoors. All these factors combined make Apalachicola one of the best places to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Bonita Springs
- Bonita Springs population: 57,755 as of 2022.
- Bonita Springs is 65% safer than other U.S. cities.
- Bonita Springs Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 65
- Property Crime – 390
Bonita Springs’s crime rate is very low, making it one of the safest places to live on the Florida Gulf Coast. Bonita Springs is home to Barefoot Beach Nature State Park, a favorite among Florida residents.
Bonita Springs is famous for its fantastic white-sand beaches. This lovely place is excellent for people who love golf, fishing, and wildlife. Explore Barefoot Beach Preserve to see wildlife in a natural environment or rent a boat from Bay Water Boat Rentals for a day on the water.
Bonita Springs has something to offer everyone and is a popular place for retirees. The Bonita Springs Public Beach is excellent for swimming or dog lovers that love taking their dogs to the town’s dog beach.
Bonita Springs offers many gourmet restaurants, cafes, bars, and boutique stores. The numerous natural parks surrounding Bonita Springs are perfect for those who love to take a long walk in nature. The boardwalk attracts many tourists and is one of the reasons Bonita Springs is named one of the top ten beaches in Florida. This lovely place is safe, friendly, and clean, with many shopping centers to explore.
The main tourist attractions that pull visitors to Bonita Springs are the Manatee and Dolphin Adventure Tour, a kayak guided tour, the botanical garden with plants and exotic animals, and numerous live music events at the favorite Bandstand.
Cape Coral
- Cape Coral population: 910,000 as of 2022.
- Cape Coral is 48% safer than other U.S. cities.
- Cape Coral Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 255
- Property Crime – 2,135
Cape Coral is a spectacular coastal city with a fantastic climate and unique activities. Cape Coral is a safe place to live; it also offers the best boating, fishing, swimming, and fun-filled waterparks.
The remarkable nature preserves surrounding Cape Coral is a great way to go birdwatching or enjoy nature at its best.
The beautiful Cape Coral on the Gulf Coast of Florida has almost 400 miles of canals perfect for boating and fishing. Cape Coral is near Fort Myers, the largest city between Miami and Tampa and the 8th largest in Florida.
Cape Coral is famous for its low crime rate and excellent reputation, and many older retirees settle down in this lovely place.
Cape Coral’s main tourist attractions are Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, Rotary Park Environmental Center, Fellowship Park, Harbor gallery, and a historical museum. This community is home to many artists and is considered one of the safest places to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Naples
- Naples population: 22,265 as of 2022.
- Naples is 39% safer than other U.S. cities.
- Naples Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 21
- Property Crime – 276
Naples sits between the edges of the Everglades and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Naples is famous as the preferred retirement place for many. Naples has beautiful clean white sand and is a great tourist spot for visitors from afar.
Naples and Marco Island area has the best white sand beaches, clear ocean waters, warm climate, fantastic golf courses, gourmet restaurants, and excellent shopping.
Naples offers the best lifestyle and has a rural community an hour from the town where cattle graze, and seasonal workers pick tomatoes for those who want to visit and enjoy the scenic views.
Even though Naples is considered a retiree hotspot, it is near enough to Miami and Tampa if you need a more exhilarating night out. Naples is the safest place for starting a family because it has a low crime rate and great education centers.
Naples’s main tourist attractions are the Naples Zoo, sunset views at Naples Pier, swimming, surfing, and dolphin spotting. Naples is an excellent Christmas holiday destination where the gala Christmas Parade each year features dance troupes, Christmas events, and holiday shopping. Naples is one of the safest places to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida because of its low crime rate.
Sarasota
- Sarasota population: 59,902 as of 2022.
- Sarasota is 10% safer than other U.S. cities.
- Sarasota Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 351
- Property Crime – 1649
Sarasota is the dream place to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with its scenic view, safe reputation spectacular white sand beach coastline. Sarasota’s violent and property crime rate is lower than the national crime rate.
Sarasota has a vibrant art scene compared to other Florida coastal towns. The laid-back beach atmosphere and great outdoor activities make Sarasota a popular place for people who love the outdoors.
The buzzing town features excellent museums, orchestras, operas, and blues artists to keep anyone happy. With plenty of excellent restaurants, cafes, and bars, Sarasota offers many continental dining options when you need a delicious meal or a drink after a day on the beach.
The unique charm of Sarasota is what makes this town so special. The downtown area of Sarasota has many resorts and gourmet dining where you can sit down for an upscale meal with family and friends.
Even though Sarasota has a reputation as where retirees settle down because it is so safe, that reputation is slowly changing as more younger people start moving to this lovely town.
In the Rosemary District, you will find eclectic murals decorating the storefronts. Most of Sarasota’s hotels are within walking distance from breakfast cafes and bars.
Sarasota is one of the friendliest and safest places on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Many award-winning craft beers are being produced in Sarasota. It is a great place to start a family because of its low crime rate and excellent educational centers.
Sarasota’s main tourist attractions are the Circus Museum, Sarasota Museum of Art, Centre for Asian Art, Bishop Museum of science and nature, and the Marie Selby Botanical Garden.
Siesta Key
- Siesta Key population: 5587 as of 2022.
- Siesta Key’s crime rate is 67% lower than other U.S cities.
- Siesta Key Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 4
- Property Crime – 6
Siesta Key is a safe place to live on the Florida Gulf Coast because it has a very low crime rate. The soft white sand beach is perfect for long walks at sunset, swimming, surfing, and snorkeling.
It earned the award for being one of the most spectacular beaches in 2017. TripAdvisor and the Travel Channel consistently promote Siesta Key to tourists worldwide. The lovely coastal town’s family-friendly atmosphere and unspoiled natural beauty are one of its main attractions.
You can find many beach stores, cafes, bars, and restaurants with vibrant nightlife nearby. Many special events are held yearly at Siesta Key, like volleyball tournaments, Spring Break parties, and bikini contests.
Siesta Key is one of the safest places to live and travel alone without worrying about safety.
Main tourist attractions at Siesta Key are Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach, Shell Beach, Point of Rocks, and the farmer’s market. This lovely beach town is more expensive than other beach towns on our list, but if you can afford a house at Siesta Key, you should go for it!
Tallahassee
- Tallahassee population: 198,758 as per 2022
- Tallahassee is 8% safer than other U.S. cities.
- Tallahassee Annual Crime per 1000 residents.
- Violent Crime – 1,534
- Property Crime – 6,075
Tallahassee is the state capital of Florida and a very safe place to live on the Florida Gulf Coast with its excellent restaurants, cafes, shopping, and vibrant bars to explore.
Kids love the Imagination Fountain at Downtown’s Cascade Park, with its fun entertainment. The 73 jets shoot the water from spouts to excite young and old. The bright colored lights at night display a fantastic show to music.
Campers and students love the natural reservation on Lake Bradford, which features a great swimming spot with kayak rentals and beach volleyball courts.
The Lake Talquin State Park is spectacular with its surrounding lush woods and perfect for hiking, where hikers can explore the lovely trail with plenty of wildlife to see.
The 650-foot boardwalk at Lake Talquin State Park sits on the water’s edge and has the best lake views.
Tallahassee’s main tourist attractions are its lakes, state parks, and Geological Sinks, one of the most extensive underwater cave systems in the world in Leon County.
The Tallahassee Museum, antique car museum, walking tours, and adventurous scavenger hunt is some of Tallahassee’s famous attractions. Considering living in Tallahassee, you will be glad to know it has a lower crime rate than similarly sized towns.
Safest Towns in Florida – Gulf Coast
We researched safe places to live on the Florida Gulf Coast, and the seven towns we listed above made it on our list. If you decide to move to Florida, you can confidently consider the above places.
Apalachicola, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Naples, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Tallahassee are all relatively safe, according to data collected from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reports. We hope you found this article informative and feel entirely safe when you visit any of these places.
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