Is New Smyrna Beach A Good Place To Live? (Find Out Now!)
Many people dream of retiring to a beachfront community with year-round warm weather and a safe and friendly neighborhood. Those moving to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, can find the best of all worlds, combining safety, affordability, and unbeatable scenic views from just about everywhere in the town.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, is a popular place for retirees to live, with over half the population aged 55 or older. The cost of living in New Smyrna Beach on par with national averages, but housing costs are slightly inflated. There are many bars, restaurants, and nature reserves in New Smyrna Beach that make it a great place to live.
Of course, living in a beautiful location does have some downsides. While housing may be more expensive than the national average, many communities are in tight-knit HOAs, and over 55 communities. Unpredictable weather and a constant turnover of visiting tourists can be a drawback to living in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
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Why Is New Smyrna Beach A Good Place to Live?
Popular for retirees and beach lovers alike, New Smyrna Beach is an attractive place to call home. Between a reasonable cost of living, incredible recreation opportunities, and a low crime rate, people are flocking to this beachfront town. But, New Smyrna Beach has even more to offer residents…
Reasonable Living Costs
Living in New Smyrna beach is reasonable when compared to the national averages in the United States. Residents will enjoy relatively comparable costs for groceries but significantly higher housing costs compared to the national average. A home in New Smyrna Beach may cost around $$294,700 on average, nearly 28% higher than the average.
Residents can recoup the cost of housing in other areas of their finances, though, with New Smyrna Beach being very cost-effective in different segments. In general, healthcare, transportation, and utility costs are well below the national average, reaching just about 95% of typical costs. The overall cost of living is about 2% higher than the national average, making New Smyrna Beach very reasonable for residents.
A Scenic Experience
What is not to love about living at the beach and year-round good weather? New Smyrna Beach will give beach lovers a haven to call their own. The city is located on the Atlantic side of Florida, south of Daytona Beach. The New Smyrna Beach area is known for its beaches and amazing views and is close to the Canaveral National Seashore. Nature lovers can also visit the Ponce Inlet and the lighthouse, and the Smyrna Dunes Park.
If you are interested in taking a trip, there is plenty to see and do in the immediate area. Famed Daytona Beach is only a 24-minute drive to the North, while plenty of nature preserves are West of the city. Enjoy hiking, kayaking, and boating through Tiger Bay State Forest or the Turnbull Hammock Conservation Area.
Low Crime Rates
Much of the population in New Smyrna Beach is made up of retirees, so crime rates are very low. This city will give you a dense suburban feel, located in a beachfront area. Violent crimes like murder and rape are non-existent in this suburban area, making it a safe place to live. Assault and robbery crimes are a fraction of the national average, reporting just 36 robberies per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 136.
Further, crimes involving personal property are also extremely low when compared to the national average. Burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft are about half of the national average. New Smyrna Beach has just about 111 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents compared to the national average of 284. If you are searching for a safe, low-crime area, New Smyrna Beach may be an excellent choice for your next home.
Loads Of Recreation
Being located directly on the beach does have some attractive features, aside from a beautiful view every day. New Smyrna Beach is a popular location for water enthusiasts. Enjoy swimming, surfing, boating, fishing, and kayaking through the beautiful water. Residents can also enjoy a round of golf at the New Smyrna Beach Golf Course or enjoy a bike ride through the numerous parks and paths through the area.
For those not interested in beach activity, New Smyrna Beach is also close to several historic attractions. The town features a downtown area in the Canal Street Historic District. This space offers plenty of shopping, beautiful art galleries, and the New Smyrna Museum of History.
Low Unemployment
New Smyrna Beach is a popular area for retirees, with people aged 55 and older making up 57% of the population. While many of the residents may be retired, there is still plenty of job opportunity for those living in this area. Between the increasing number of available jobs, new industry, and a continuing flood of tourists and locals alike, unemployment is low in New Smyrna Beach.
The unemployment rate for New Smyrna Beach residents is just 3.7%, making this an attractive area for job seekers. The national average for unemployment is currently 6.1%, making New Smyrna Beach’s unemployment about half the national average. The relatively affordable cost of living makes this a feasible and beautiful place for residents to call home. The average income is about $57,000 per year, slightly lower than the national average of about $62,000 per year.
What Are The Pitfalls Of Living In New Smyrna Beach?
Although living alongside the beach in a warm and inviting climate seems like the ideal scenario, there are some downsides to living in New Smyrna Beach. Longtime residents complain about….
- Brutal and unpredictable storm patterns. Living in a virtual paradise does have its downsides, and one of those is the unpredictable weather patterns. The city’s Atlantic coast location makes New Smyrna Beach a target for intense tropical storms and hurricanes moving through the Atlantic Ocean.
- Uptight and restrictive over 55 communities. Because more than half of the population is over 55, many communities are designed exclusively for seniors. Unfortunately, many reviewers report a bullish and clique-ish attitude toward residents living in over 55 communities, boasting a clear “in” crowd and “out” crowd.
- High HOA fees at many condos and communities. Condominiums and communities are prevalent throughout the New Smyrna Beach area. While these communities do come with added amenities, like a pool or a gym, they can also come with extremely high monthly HOA fees that must be factored into the price of housing.
- Very little diversity. Much of the population is retired, and almost 90% of the residents identify as white. Although racism is not an issue in this city, it significantly lacks in other cultures.
- Lack of rental properties. 75% of the residents in New Smyrna Beach own their property, leaving very few options for those who need to rent a house or condo long term. With limited long-term rental options available to residents, rental prices can be significant.
- Constant tourist turnover through the city. New Smyrna Beach is a popular destination for people to vacation. If you are not accustomed to a constant turnover of new people in your city week to week, New Smyrna may not be a great choice for you.
What Is The Cost Of Living In New Smyrna Beach?
Living on the beach can be an expensive place to live, especially when it comes to housing. Based on national averages, New Smyrna Beach is just slightly more costly to live when you consider….
- The median home price is $294,700. 75% of the population owns their property, at sales prices much higher than the national average. Renting is an option and expensive, with most rental properties ranging from $1,200 to $1,700 per month.
- Groceries are the same price. When it comes to food and groceries, expect to pay about the same price as the national average. Food will cost about 2.7% more than the national average, but food costs are on par with the cost of food in Florida.
- Utilities and transportation are much cheaper than the national average. Expect to save some money each month on the cost of transportation and utilities. Compared to the national average, New Smyrna Beach Residents will pay about 5% less.
- Cheaper healthcare compared to national averages. Residents in New Smyrna Beach can save about 2% on their healthcare each year, putting this city on par with Florida.
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Related Questions
Is New Smyrna Beach safe?
New Smyrna Beach has a high crime rate is more dangerous that 63% of Florida. There are 19 crimes per square mile in New Smyrna Beach. Residents risk a 1 in 49 chance of suffering a property crime and 1 in 416 chance of suffering a violent crime in New Smyrna Beach.
Is New Smyrna Beach the shark bite capital of the world?While Florida as a whole is considered the shark bite capital of the world, New Smyrna Beach has explicitly recorded more shark bites than any other beach in the United States. The main species of sharks include the black tip, spinner, and bull shark. It is estimated that anyone swimming in the waters off New Smyrna Beach has been within ten feet of a shark.
What is the average temperature in New Smyrna Beach?Those looking for a tropical paradise to call home will be happy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The average temperature throughout the year is 80 degrees F for the high and only 62 degrees F for the low temperature.
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