Best overall
Santa Rosa County
Overall score 78.3
Economy 81.4 / Affordability 60.6
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Florida
Compare counties in Florida by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 67 Florida counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Florida
Put Florida counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Florida rankings
Open the full Florida ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Florida county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Santa Rosa County
Family score 80.6
Schools 94.5 / Safety 80
Best value
Washington County
Value score 75.7
Affordability 66 / Taxes 95.5
Most affordable
Calhoun County
Affordability 68.7
Typical home $178,973
Best schools
St. Johns County
Schools 99
Safety 84.1 / Economy 89
Safest
Pinellas County
Safety 90.5
Schools 57.6 / Peace 15.1
Low taxes
Holmes County
Taxes 98.9
Affordability 62.2 / Typical home $194,605
Peace & quiet
Columbia County
Peace & Quiet 83.5
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Florida
View full- 1Santa Rosa County
Typical home $348,682
78.3
Overall
- 2Wakulla County
Typical home $283,505
77.4
Overall
- 3St. Johns County
Typical home $489,323
75
Overall
- 4Clay County
Typical home $333,593
72.4
Overall
- 5Brevard County
Typical home $341,312
72
Overall
Best counties for families in Florida
View full- 1Santa Rosa County
Typical home $348,682
80.6
Family
- 2St. Johns County
Typical home $489,323
77.4
Family
- 3Wakulla County
Typical home $283,505
76.4
Family
- 4Brevard County
Typical home $341,312
75.2
Family
- 5Gilchrist County
Typical home $302,519
73.6
Family
Best value counties in Florida
View full- 1Washington County
Typical home $218,025
75.7
Value
- 2Wakulla County
Typical home $283,505
75.1
Value
- 3Jackson County
Typical home $178,956
73.4
Value
- 4Santa Rosa County
Typical home $348,682
73.4
Value
- 5Calhoun County
Typical home $178,973
72.9
Value
Most affordable counties in Florida
View full- 1Calhoun County
Typical home $178,973
68.7
Afford.
- 2Jackson County
Typical home $178,956
67.7
Afford.
- 3Wakulla County
Typical home $283,505
67.3
Afford.
- 4Liberty County
Typical home $198,046
67.3
Afford.
- 5Washington County
Typical home $218,025
66
Afford.
Best school counties in Florida
View full- 1St. Johns County
Typical home $489,323
99
Schools
- 2Santa Rosa County
Typical home $348,682
94.5
Schools
- 3Nassau County
Typical home $476,240
94
Schools
- 4Seminole County
Typical home $402,789
93.4
Schools
- 5Okaloosa County
Typical home $353,996
92.9
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Florida
View full- 1Holmes County
Typical home $194,605
98.9
Taxes
- 2Jackson County
Typical home $178,956
97.3
Taxes
- 3Lafayette County
Typical home $260,333
96.9
Taxes
- 4Washington County
Typical home $218,025
95.5
Taxes
- 5Union County
Typical home $267,831
94.3
Taxes
Quietest counties in Florida
View full- 1Columbia County
Typical home $269,345
83.5
Quiet
- 2Baker County
Typical home $314,798
83.3
Quiet
- 3Taylor County
Typical home $191,155
82.8
Quiet
- 4Jackson County
Typical home $178,956
82.7
Quiet
- 5Hardee County
Typical home $238,804
82.7
Quiet
Safest counties in Florida
View full- 1Pinellas County
Typical home $365,896
90.5
Safety
- 2St. Lucie County
Typical home $370,695
89
Safety
- 3Leon County
Typical home $291,301
85.3
Safety
- 4Brevard County
Typical home $341,312
85
Safety
- 5Seminole County
Typical home $402,789
84.9
Safety
Popular Florida county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
Read more about Florida
How to choose a county in Florida
The best county in Florida depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Florida
For best overall counties in Florida, Santa Rosa County, Wakulla County, and St. Johns County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Florida
For families, Santa Rosa County, St. Johns County, and Wakulla County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Florida
For affordability-focused movers, Calhoun County, Jackson County, and Wakulla County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Florida
For school-first households, St. Johns County, Santa Rosa County, and Nassau County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Florida
For lower tax-pressure searches, Holmes County, Jackson County, and Lafayette County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Florida
For quieter-living searches, Columbia County, Baker County, and Taylor County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Florida
Florida counties can differ sharply between coastal lifestyle markets, inland affordability options, and retirement-oriented areas.
Research insurance, storm exposure, flood risk, HOA costs, and local property taxes before assuming a lower tax score means a lower total monthly cost.
Popular coastal counties may score well on lifestyle or economy signals but are not automatically inexpensive.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Florida
What is the best county to live in Florida?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Santa Rosa County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Florida for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Santa Rosa County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Florida?
Calhoun County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Florida counties score well for schools or taxes?
St. Johns County currently leads the school-score view, while Holmes County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Florida counties
Showing all 67 Florida counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa County FIPS 12113 | 78.3 | 81.4 | 60.6 | 94.5 | 80 | 83 | 72.1 | $348,682 | $91,922 |
| 2 | Wakulla County FIPS 12129 | 77.4 | 85.3 | 67.3 | 83.6 | 69.7 | 81.6 | 79.2 | $283,505 | $81,895 |
| 3 | St. Johns County FIPS 12109 | 75 | 89 | 45.9 | 99 | 84.1 | 65 | 48 | $489,323 | $109,839 |
| 4 | Clay County FIPS 12019 | 72.4 | 78.8 | 61 | 87.8 | 63.5 | 74 | 59.8 | $333,593 | $87,820 |
| 5 | Brevard County FIPS 12009 | 72 | 75.1 | 51.8 | 91.4 | 85 | 71.5 | 42.4 | $341,312 | $78,476 |
| 6 | Nassau County FIPS 12089 | 70.7 | 82.8 | 35.8 | 94 | 72.8 | 76.3 | 73.9 | $476,240 | $89,804 |
| 7 | Gilchrist County FIPS 12041 | 70.2 | 67.5 | 51.1 | 83.1 | 73.4 | 88.3 | 81.8 | $302,519 | $63,523 |
| 8 | Okaloosa County FIPS 12091 | 69.5 | 74 | 46.7 | 92.9 | 62 | 79.5 | 69 | $353,996 | $81,998 |
| 9 | Seminole County FIPS 12117 | 69.4 | 76 | 43.2 | 93.4 | 84.9 | 72.5 | 19.3 | $402,789 | $85,761 |
| 10 | Lafayette County FIPS 12067 | 68.2 | 63.6 | 53.1 | 64.2 | 83 | 96.9 | 80.1 | $260,333 | $62,757 |
| 11 | Sarasota County FIPS 12115 | 68 | 75.7 | 42.9 | 92.5 | 82.7 | 62.2 | 25.3 | $398,504 | $83,416 |
| 12 | Flagler County FIPS 12035 | 67.9 | 73.3 | 52 | 76.5 | 78.1 | 61.9 | 66.9 | $348,504 | $77,363 |
| 13 | Calhoun County FIPS 12013 | 67.7 | 55.1 | 68.7 | 70.9 | 61.8 | 92.7 | 81.1 | $178,973 | $50,517 |
| 14 | Washington County FIPS 12133 | 66.3 | 54.8 | 66 | 49.6 | 84.9 | 95.5 | 77.5 | $218,025 | $58,210 |
| 15 | Jackson County FIPS 12063 | 66 | 47 | 67.7 | 66.7 | 67.2 | 97.3 | 82.7 | $178,956 | $49,149 |
| 16 | Baker County FIPS 12003 | 65.8 | 75.5 | 60.5 | 57.4 | 51.4 | 84.2 | 83.3 | $314,798 | $79,836 |
| 17 | Union County FIPS 12125 | 65.6 | 52.4 | 56.1 | 77.1 | 64.4 | 94.3 | 78.6 | $267,831 | $64,146 |
| 18 | Leon County FIPS 12073 | 65.5 | 61.6 | 46.3 | 82.9 | 85.3 | 60.7 | 61 | $291,301 | $66,287 |
| 19 | Charlotte County FIPS 12015 | 64.4 | 69.4 | 55.7 | 65.1 | 78.6 | 53.3 | 60.5 | $297,783 | $69,952 |
| 20 | Walton County FIPS 12131 | 63.7 | 81.5 | 11.8 | 78.2 | 79.8 | 92.9 | 69 | $661,183 | $81,986 |
| 21 | Sumter County FIPS 12119 | 63.6 | 57.6 | 41.2 | 89.2 | 77.7 | 61.4 | 64.8 | $391,381 | $76,508 |
| 22 | Lake County FIPS 12069 | 63.5 | 77.4 | 44.1 | 55.9 | 82.5 | 69.7 | 52.4 | $362,902 | $73,161 |
| 23 | Martin County FIPS 12085 | 62.9 | 71.4 | 34.5 | 83.2 | 69.7 | 61.9 | 62.3 | $443,671 | $82,943 |
| 24 | Bay County FIPS 12005 | 62.2 | 70.8 | 39.7 | 64.7 | 68.6 | 81.3 | 64.6 | $342,263 | $73,533 |
| 25 | Citrus County FIPS 12017 | 61.9 | 49.8 | 51.4 | 79.3 | 62.9 | 81 | 64.7 | $271,924 | $56,546 |
| 26 | Hernando County FIPS 12053 | 61.6 | 66.6 | 52.1 | 59.9 | 64.8 | 75.9 | 52.5 | $309,724 | $66,058 |
| 27 | Columbia County FIPS 12023 | 60.9 | 54.4 | 51.6 | 64.2 | 61.5 | 81.4 | 83.5 | $269,345 | $59,205 |
| 28 | Volusia County FIPS 12127 | 60.6 | 64.9 | 48.6 | 53.3 | 84.3 | 65.6 | 47.7 | $322,057 | $70,044 |
| 29 | Indian River County FIPS 12061 | 60 | 64.4 | 43.5 | 58.7 | 74.3 | 69.7 | 63.4 | $363,842 | $73,491 |
| 30 | Palm Beach County FIPS 12099 | 59.9 | 76.3 | 27.2 | 75.2 | 79.8 | 54.9 | 29.5 | $467,965 | $83,581 |
| 31 | Pasco County FIPS 12101 | 59.9 | 73.1 | 48.1 | 60.7 | 61.5 | 71 | 21.8 | $331,106 | $70,492 |
| 32 | Holmes County FIPS 12059 | 59.8 | 56.3 | 62.2 | 38.5 | 58.1 | 98.9 | 76.4 | $194,605 | $49,343 |
| 33 | Pinellas County FIPS 12103 | 59.7 | 69 | 38.8 | 57.6 | 90.5 | 68.9 | 15.1 | $365,896 | $72,646 |
| 34 | Lee County FIPS 12071 | 59.3 | 71.3 | 46.9 | 61.2 | 74.9 | 59.1 | 8.2 | $339,954 | $76,107 |
| 35 | Monroe County FIPS 12087 | 59.3 | 86 | 6.8 | 75.9 | 65.5 | 72.8 | 76.8 | $953,396 | $87,738 |
| 36 | Collier County FIPS 12021 | 58 | 81.3 | 14.7 | 70 | 65.1 | 70.1 | 65.1 | $559,053 | $90,045 |
| 37 | Liberty County FIPS 12077 | 58 | 60.6 | 67.3 | 32 | 50.4 | 81.6 | 78.5 | $198,046 | $58,671 |
| 38 | Gulf County FIPS 12045 | 56.4 | 67 | 19.3 | 62.5 | 65.3 | 86.9 | 77.2 | $400,899 | $61,179 |
| 39 | Bradford County FIPS 12007 | 55.9 | 58 | 58.9 | 19.6 | 68 | 87.6 | 75.8 | $247,422 | $63,050 |
| 40 | Alachua County FIPS 12001 | 55.5 | 53 | 40.4 | 70.2 | 63.2 | 51.8 | 69.9 | $305,454 | $61,949 |
| 41 | Osceola County FIPS 12097 | 55.4 | 74.6 | 38 | 35.3 | 73.4 | 63.8 | 55.4 | $362,584 | $72,637 |
| 42 | Polk County FIPS 12105 | 55.2 | 60 | 49.2 | 31.7 | 78.6 | 72.9 | 50.3 | $298,010 | $65,978 |
| 43 | St. Lucie County FIPS 12111 | 55.2 | 68.7 | 40.6 | 37.1 | 89 | 53 | 36.8 | $370,695 | $71,457 |
| 44 | Marion County FIPS 12083 | 55.1 | 60.9 | 54 | 37.5 | 54.7 | 72.3 | 68.8 | $273,944 | $61,010 |
| 45 | Manatee County FIPS 12081 | 54.8 | 75.4 | 35.8 | 51.9 | 55.5 | 62.9 | 40.2 | $409,997 | $78,457 |
| 46 | Suwannee County FIPS 12121 | 53.6 | 61.5 | 45.5 | 27.8 | 57.5 | 87.2 | 79.6 | $274,467 | $56,658 |
| 47 | Highlands County FIPS 12055 | 53.3 | 46.7 | 56.5 | 36 | 56.3 | 78.8 | 79 | $233,149 | $54,897 |
| 48 | Hardee County FIPS 12049 | 52.9 | 38.9 | 57.1 | 33.6 | 64.8 | 83.4 | 82.7 | $238,804 | $60,489 |
| 49 | Levy County FIPS 12075 | 52.9 | 61.7 | 47.2 | 26.7 | 49.3 | 88.5 | 81.7 | $287,195 | $56,750 |
| 50 | Dixie County FIPS 12029 | 52.3 | 45.6 | 52.6 | 43.7 | 38.1 | 93.3 | 79.5 | $215,908 | $50,110 |
| 51 | Glades County FIPS 12043 | 52.2 | 41.9 | 35.3 | 45.9 | 77.4 | 84.5 | 73.2 | $260,557 | $45,870 |
| 52 | Orange County FIPS 12095 | 52.1 | 73.3 | 34.1 | 58.9 | 41.2 | 64.2 | 16.5 | $403,361 | $79,719 |
| 53 | Gadsden County FIPS 12039 | 51.6 | 36.4 | 60.6 | 17 | 74.7 | 87.5 | 79.4 | $199,101 | $48,801 |
| 54 | Putnam County FIPS 12107 | 51.4 | 44.2 | 53.8 | 27.7 | 64.7 | 78 | 76.9 | $215,206 | $47,934 |
| 55 | Broward County FIPS 12011 | 50.5 | 72.9 | 30.4 | 73.9 | 29.1 | 48 | 14.3 | $421,929 | $77,633 |
| 56 | Miami-Dade County FIPS 12086 | 50 | 74.6 | 12.5 | 63.8 | 60.7 | 56.2 | 13.9 | $519,528 | $71,753 |
| 57 | Hillsborough County FIPS 12057 | 49.9 | 74 | 41.8 | 57.3 | 17.1 | 60.9 | 17.1 | $377,186 | $79,540 |
| 58 | Hamilton County FIPS 12047 | 49.3 | 49.2 | 59.3 | 10.5 | 46.3 | 92.1 | 78 | $202,821 | $50,144 |
| 59 | Escambia County FIPS 12033 | 49.2 | 63.2 | 51.8 | 33.3 | 19.1 | 82.5 | 54.2 | $280,285 | $67,500 |
| 60 | Madison County FIPS 12079 | 48.6 | 51.6 | 54.3 | 7.9 | 51.5 | 87.3 | 81.6 | $210,698 | $48,485 |
| 61 | Jefferson County FIPS 12065 | 47.7 | 64.3 | 44.1 | 4.4 | 47.8 | 84.2 | 82.2 | $299,851 | $61,212 |
| 62 | Taylor County FIPS 12123 | 47 | 18.8 | 58.3 | 30.3 | 54.7 | 93.1 | 82.8 | $191,155 | $49,073 |
| 63 | DeSoto County FIPS 12027 | 46.9 | 43.2 | 49.4 | 17.2 | 57.7 | 77.9 | 77.9 | $250,811 | $54,417 |
| 64 | Hendry County FIPS 12051 | 46.8 | 52 | 46.9 | 26.3 | 36.6 | 72.6 | 81.5 | $277,539 | $56,393 |
| 65 | Okeechobee County FIPS 12093 | 46.8 | 56.5 | 42.7 | 26.4 | 29.4 | 83 | 79.9 | $288,705 | $57,984 |
| 66 | Franklin County FIPS 12037 | 46.7 | 56.6 | 19 | 29 | 62.9 | 85.4 | 81.1 | $417,941 | $64,105 |
| 67 | Duval County FIPS 12031 | 46.5 | 66.9 | 51.9 | 45.3 | 0.9 | 65.6 | 20.1 | $292,596 | $71,277 |