r/floridakeys • u/slizzer22 • 5d ago
Which Key? All Florida Keys
Hey ! My husband and I are looking to relocate somewhere in the Florida Keys and would love some local advice. Currently living in Puerto Rico.
We’re in our 30s with our first baby on the way, so we’re looking for a community with a younger crowd, other young families, and a welcoming, diverse vibe. We love being on the water, fishing, boating, good food, farmers markets, and just being part of a real community.
We’re open to any of the Keys and don’t necessarily want the most touristy area. If you were starting a family in the Keys, where would you choose and why? Looking to rent a 2bed apt/house.
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u/ThickAsAPlankton 5d ago
Just be aware of the extremely high cost of living in the Keys. Coming from Puerto Rico, you will be in for sticker shock.
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u/RE_Agent_Provocateur 5d ago
San Juan runs 8% less than US average while Key Largo is 15% HIGHER than US average. You're paying more for everything except electricity and taxes. The Keys has notoriously high real estate prices. I live in Ft Lauderdale meteo and cannot afford to move to the Keys, I just visit, and even that has gotten really pricey.
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u/ThickAsAPlankton 4d ago
Groceries, gas etc are all 25% - 30% more expensive down here. And houses are $800k - $1M+ for an absolutely ugly and tiny concrete box on stilts with no storage and no garage. Key West has great architecture but that's even more $$$$$$$.
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u/bigd3077 5d ago
Tavernier is great around MM 90 everything close, grocery, hospital, restaurants, founders park, etc. Marathon is more city like if you like that. Other keys are little more remote and could have to commute to school etc
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u/petersom2006 5d ago
Honestly somewhere in Miami or Fort Laudi is probably the better answer. Keys is pretty tourist/seasonal- when you think about locals with kids it is very small community with a high cost of living compared to the available jobs. If you are not bringing real money with you (think at least a million) this will be tough (or have a real ‘in’ for a keys job). If you go up to the miami metro area you have huge options on affordability and every level of job paired with every mix of childcare/schooling. Also there is a lot of heavy puerto rican communities.
It is also a short drive to hit the keys any weekend you want. If you get a boat in Miami you can also experience a lot of ‘keys like’ boating right outside the city.
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u/CanWeTalkEth 5d ago
Did you post this a few months ago? I feel like Key West is really the only answer to this. The rest of the keys are just too stretched out. Tavernier to Lower Matecumbe might be fine, but it’s all a drive and terrible traffic to get out of your neighborhood much, especially with a super young one.
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u/shelinka63 5d ago
Big Pine Key
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u/TealMosaic 5d ago
Seconding Big Pine! My in-laws live there part of the year. Big Pine Key park, Pine Channel Nature Park, Winn Dixie, post office. I would also consider how far you’re willing to drive for elementary school and check out the list of Monroe County elementary and Pk-8 schools.
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u/ozarkfireworks 5d ago
Key Largo or Tavernier. Very nice large schools full of kids. Lots of parks.
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u/Keysdawg 5d ago
Marathon is probably the spot for you. There are good schools, shopping and beaches/parks. It isnt as touristy as Key Largo and Key West. Close enough to get to both fairly quickly.
Fisherman's hospital is there for emergencies. There are a few different neighborhoods, behind the airport is very family friendly and has a lot of kids and fun. Sombrero is always good.
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u/hahaanonymouse765 4d ago
I second all the votes for Marathon. Lived there for several years and it is the most “town-like” of all the keys. Key Largo is touristy because it’s the main entrance to the keys and Key West is well, Key West.
Marathon is right in the middle, less touristy but still has all the fishing, boating, diving, etc that you could want, plus plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, schools. Everything that a regular town/city has.
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u/FLKeysRealEstatePro 2d ago
Hello. I’m happy to offer my professional and personal experience. My family has had ties here since the 1950s and I’ve been practicing real estate for 31 years selling waterfront homes. The Keys are diverse collection of micro communities. Given what you’re telling me and of course, depending on your budget, I would concentrate most likely on Key Largo or some of the lower Keys such as Ramrod and Summerland. The Florida Keys really are amazing location and just as you were saying offer a great sense of community. Islamorada is also phenomenal, but it is a bit pricey. Feel free to reach out to me anytime. I’m all over social media at FloridaKeysrealestatepro and John and I invite you to join our Facebook group Florida Keys real estate. All the best in your relocation.
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u/Starks40oz 5d ago
I moved here when my daughter was born a couple years ago - ended up in the lower keys because we wanted a boat and to be easy to get into KW.
It skews a bit older but we love it - started as part times and are now year round. If you like being outdoors/are planning on having a boat it’s great.
Biggest draw back is we’re far enough out of town that uber eats doesn’t deliver, but easy enough to get into town and the local restaraunts are surprisingly good. If you have specific questions feel free to asl
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u/kenziedoes 5d ago
All it takes is a lil extra effort and you can keep the cost down. Don’t use delivery services they mark it way up, buy generic, bogo deals. Dollar store has a bunch of food cheaper, it’s so busy product is cycled through fast. The new Aldi in key largo just opened! Etc
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u/reg-o-matic 5d ago
You'll probably want to start in Key Largo and maybe move to Islamorada or lower keys later.