MOVING TO FORT LAUDERDALE
Fort Lauderdale is a charming seaside city with a population of 181,000 on the southeastern coast of Florida. Nicknamed “Little Venice,” Fort Lauderdale is famous for its robust system of canals that stretch all throughout the city. In recent years, Florida has seen a huge influx of new residents, particularly from other east coast cities like New York City. The gorgeous city of Fort Lauderdale offers a plethora of amenities and an excellent quality of life. So let’s get into it: What are the reasons for moving to Fort Lauderdale?
REASONS FOR MOVING TO FORT LAUDERDALE
WARM WEATHER
It’s an obvious draw, but Fort Lauderdale is an excellent relocation destination if you want to ditch cold and long winters. Winters in Fort Lauderdale are essentially nonexistent, with temperatures freely falling below 67 degrees Fahrenheit. However, most days in the winter you will experience highs of up to 77 degrees!
SLIGHTLY CHEAPER THAN NEARBY MIAMI & OTHER METRO AREAS
Miami is hardly a 45 minute drive away, but real estate in Fort Lauderdale is quite a bit more affordable. In fact, the cost of living in Fort Lauderdale is on average 3% less than in Miami. Moreover, rent in Fort Lauderdale is around 13% cheaper than Miami.
When considering rent in Fort Lauderdale, the prices are far more affordable than other metro areas like NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. As of 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, you can rent a two-bedroom home for $1847 a month! Not bad.
BIG & SOLID PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
Broward Country is the sixth largest public school system in the country. Though not every school in Broward Country is excellent, the public school system is ranked above average. For a list of the best public schools in Broward County, you can refer to the Public School Review.
TAXES
Florida is famous for being a tax friendly state! With no state income tax, relocating to Florida can be a huge advantage to many people, especially if you are coming from a state with a high tax rate.
JOBS & GROWING ECONOMY
Fort Lauderdale has a growing economy with tons of jobs in various industries. Known as the Yachting capital of the world, Fort Lauderdale is an excellent relocation destination if you are an experienced Yachtie or boat mechanic. Moreover, there are plenty of jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry. Other robust industries in Fort Lauderdale include healthcare services, scientific and technical services as well as education, retail and construction.
The economy in Fort Lauderdale is predicted to grow 37.9% in the next ten years, which is higher than the national average. Moreover, the amount of jobs in Broward County alone grew 4.8% over the last year.
SAFE
Obviously, safety can depend on what part of town you are in, however, Fort Lauderdale is a relatively safe city. The crime rate in Ft. Lauderdale is 1.6 times higher than the national average, which is not a huge worry. There are still violent crimes and burglaries, but if you stay in the right area and remain alert, you shouldn’t have too many problems in Ft. Lauderdale.
BEACHES
The beaches in Fort Lauderdale are absolutely gorgeous! White sand beaches, crystal clear blue waters and palm trees mean that living in Fort Lauderdale can literally be like moving to paradise.
RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE
Fort Lauderdale is famous for its bar scene and vibrant nightlife! You can go gambling, sip cocktails and dance all night long. Be sure to hit up Las Olas Boulevard for a good time! Moreover, if you like to eat, you won’t go hungry in Fort Lauderdale. There are tons of cuisines you can try like Thai Food, Indonesian, Latin American, Mexican and more!
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
Aside from hitting the bars and spending time soaking up the sun, there are also a number of excellent historic, art and cultural institutions located in Ft. Lauderdale. Be sure to visit the Coral Springs Museum of Art, the Historic Stranahan Museum and The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center.
MAJOR AIRPORT
Living in Fort Lauderdale is great if you have to travel for work or just enjoy traveling. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport is a major international hub that operates over 700 flights daily!
REASONS FOR NOT MOVING TO FORT LAUDERDALE
RAPIDLY GROWING PRICES
Fort Lauderdale is certainly not as affordable as it used to be! The prices in Ft. Lauderdale have been growing at an unsustainable pace which can make moving there far more difficult than before. As of 2023, the real estate prices in Fort Lauderdale are up almost 16% year to year. The median home price is now around $635,000, though just a few years ago you could buy a house in the area for under $300,000. Furthermore, Fort Lauderdale used to be significantly cheaper than Miami, but prices have caught up in recent years.
TRAFFIC
Traffic in Fort Lauderdale can get absolutely terrible. Though you should be able to get to Miami in about 35 minutes, traffic means that it can take up to an hour or even more! There are not great public transportation options in Ft. Lauderdale either, which is something to consider if you don’t like driving.
HUMIDITY & PESTS
Though Fort Lauderdale can be a great place to escape winter, living there year round can be quite challenging due to the weather. The summers are very hot and humid which can be very uncomfortable. Moreover, the high humidity means that you may experience termites or other pests in your home.
HURRICANE THREATS
The Florida coast is very vulnerable to hurricanes. Every year, from the start of June to the end of November, you face the risk of a hurricane. Though the gravity of hurricane season differs every year, these risks can make life in Fort Lauderdale more and more expensive. Though you don’t need to purchase insurance, the cost of hurricane and flood insurance can be quite costly and can come in handy.
READY FOR MOVING TO FORT LAUDERDALE?
If you are ready to move to Fort Lauderdale be sure to contact us at USA Preferred Movers. We are a Florida moving company with over 40 years of experience. Get a free quote from the best Florida Movers!