The 33716 zip code in Saint Petersburg tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Florida.
Whether you're searching for affordable cities and towns to buy a home or the places with the lowest cost of living to rent, consider the following zip codes.
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Top 10 most affordable places to live in Florida
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Petersburg 🥇 | 100.0 | $162,593 | $1,798 |
| 2 | Fort Myers 🥈 | 96.8 | $251,199 | $1,673 |
| 3 | Tallahassee 🥉 | 95.2 | $394,375 | $1,265 |
| 4 | Jacksonville | 91.4 | $219,046 | $1,371 |
| 5 | Milton | 89.1 | $288,004 | $1,709 |
| 6 | Pensacola | 88.1 | $270,446 | $1,397 |
| 7 | Orange Park | 87.3 | $297,046 | $1,433 |
| 8 | South Highpoint | 86.6 | $250,941 | $1,556 |
| 9 | Crawfordville | 86.6 | $287,320 | $1,624 |
| 10 | Port Charlotte | 84.1 | $217,929 | $1,722 |
What these affordable cities and towns have in common
The 10 zip codes we ranked share a common trait: a low cost of living relative to the Florida median.
Median home values, rental costs, and property taxes generally sit below the state averages, while household incomes remain strong enough to keep home affordability ratios manageable. Below, we look at each market in detail.
1. Saint Petersburg
Here's why the 33716 zip code in Saint Petersburg is Florida's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Saint Petersburg
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $162,593[1] | No. 7 | -$242,026 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.2 | No. 1 | -3.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 4.3%[2] | No. 1 | -31.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.0%[3] | No. 264 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,798[4] | No. 158 | -$380 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 175 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $75,226[5] | No. 329 | -$3,479 |
| Property taxes | $1,068[6] | No. 23 | -$1,910 |
| Energy costs | $0.17 kWh[7] | No. 612 | $0.02 |
Saint Petersburg's 33716 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Florida, leading the 679 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $162,593, making it the 7th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 0.0% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,798 per month, which is the 175th cheapest amount in Florida.
The median property tax for homeowners in Saint Petersburg is $1,068 per household, the No. 23 ranked market in Florida.
Residents pay $0.17 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 612 among Florida markets.
📈 Thinking about buying in Florida? See our complete housing market outlook for the data, trends, and timing insights Florida buyers need to know.
2. Fort Myers
The 33919 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Florida.
🔎 Key data about Fort Myers
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 96.8 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $251,199[1] | No. 83 | -$153,420 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 4 | -2.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 18.9%[2] | No. 26 | -17.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.1%[3] | No. 26 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,673[4] | No. 110 | -$505 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.08% | No. 79 | -0.7% |
| Median household income | $80,451[5] | No. 270 | $1,746 |
| Property taxes | $2,154[6] | No. 245 | -$824 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[7] | No. 101 | -$0.01 |
Fort Myers's 33919 zip code has a median home value of $251,199, which is the 83rd-cheapest housing market in Florida. You can rent for an average of $1,673 per month. That's the 110th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $80,451, which ranks 270th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Fort Myers pay a median property tax of $2,154 per year, making it the 245th-most affordable market in Florida.
Fort Myers ranks No. 101 among Florida energy markets. You'll pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
3. Tallahassee
The 3rd-least-expensive place to live in Florida is Tallahassee's 32309 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Tallahassee
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 95.2 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $394,375[1] | No. 413 | -$10,244 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.5 | No. 18 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.9%[2] | No. 131 | -9.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.0%[3] | No. 264 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,265[4] | No. 5 | -$913 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.12% | No. 1 | -1.7% |
| Median household income | $113,412[5] | No. 66 | $34,707 |
| Property taxes | $3,173[6] | No. 450 | $195 |
| Energy costs | $0.16 kWh[7] | No. 604 | $0.02 |
The No. 413 cheapest housing market in Florida is Tallahassee's 32309 zip code, with a median home value of $394,375. Rents in the market average $1,265 per month, making it the 5th-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Tallahassee is $3,173, which makes it the 450th-cheapest place in Florida. Tallahassee ranks No. 604 among Florida markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.16 per kWh of electricity.
4. Jacksonville
The 32210 zip code in Jacksonville comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Florida.
🔎 Key data about Jacksonville
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 91.4 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $219,046[1] | No. 41 | -$185,573 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.6 | No. 36 | -1.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 21.8%[2] | No. 50 | -14.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.5%[3] | No. 108 | -0.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,371[4] | No. 15 | -$807 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.25% | No. 125 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $61,050[5] | No. 527 | -$17,655 |
| Property taxes | $1,419[6] | No. 71 | -$1,559 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[7] | No. 6 | -$0.02 |
The No. 41 cheapest housing market in Florida is Jacksonville's 32210 zip code, where the median home value is $219,046. Renters here pay an average of $1,371 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Jacksonville ranks 6th among Florida markets. Residents pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $1,419, which makes it the 71st-cheapest market in Florida.
5. Milton
The 32583 zip code in Milton ranks No. 5 among Florida's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Milton
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.1 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $288,004[1] | No. 160 | -$116,615 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 13 | -1.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 29.8%[2] | No. 220 | -6.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.0%[3] | No. 264 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,709[4] | No. 120 | -$469 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.00% | No. 60 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $85,440[5] | No. 221 | $6,735 |
| Property taxes | $1,344[6] | No. 54 | -$1,634 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[7] | No. 409 | $0.00 |
Milton's 32583 zip code has a median home value of $288,004, the 160th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 0.0% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Milton is $1,344. It's the 54th-cheapest market by tax rate in Florida.
6. Pensacola
The No. 6 most affordable city in Florida is the 32504 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Pensacola
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 88.1 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $270,446[1] | No. 112 | -$134,173 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.7 | No. 61 | -1.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 27.1%[2] | No. 140 | -9.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.0%[3] | No. 264 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,397[4] | No. 18 | -$781 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.92% | No. 43 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $72,672[5] | No. 374 | -$6,033 |
| Property taxes | $1,866[6] | No. 178 | -$1,112 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[7] | No. 409 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Pensacola's 32504 zip code, which has the 112th-cheapest home values in Florida. The median home value is $270,446. Rents average $1,397 per month, making it the 18th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity. It's the 409th-cheapest energy market.
7. Orange Park
Orange Park's 32073 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Florida.
🔎 Key data about Orange Park
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 87.3 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $297,046[1] | No. 189 | -$107,573 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.9 | No. 88 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 30.6%[2] | No. 248 | -5.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.5%[3] | No. 108 | -0.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,433[4] | No. 22 | -$745 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.87% | No. 37 | -0.9% |
| Median household income | $76,455[5] | No. 314 | -$2,250 |
| Property taxes | $1,847[6] | No. 169 | -$1,131 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[7] | No. 25 | -$0.01 |
You'll find the 189th-cheapest home values in Florida in Orange Park's 32073 zip code. The median value: $297,046. Renters in Orange Park pay an average of $1,433 per month.
Homeowners in Orange Park pay a median property tax of $1,847 per year, which is Florida's 169th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $76,455, which ranks 314th-highest in the state.
8. South Highpoint
The 8th-least-expensive place to live in Florida is South Highpoint's 33760 zip code.
🔎 Key data about South Highpoint
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 86.6 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $250,941[1] | No. 82 | -$153,678 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.6 | No. 41 | -1.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 12.8%[2] | No. 4 | -23.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.0%[3] | No. 264 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,556[4] | No. 56 | -$622 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.24% | No. 122 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $69,596[5] | No. 418 | -$9,109 |
| Property taxes | $1,720[6] | No. 139 | -$1,258 |
| Energy costs | $0.17 kWh[7] | No. 612 | $0.02 |
The 82nd-cheapest housing market in Florida is South Highpoint's 33760 zip code, with a median home value of $250,941. Renters pay an average of $1,556 per month, the No. 56 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in South Highpoint is $1,720, which makes it the 139th-cheapest place in Florida. The average household income of $69,596 ranks 418th.
9. Crawfordville
Crawfordville's 32327 zip code is one of Florida's most affordable towns, sneaking into the top ten of our rankings.
🔎 Key data about Crawfordville
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 86.6 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $287,320[1] | No. 158 | -$117,299 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 15 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 32.9%[2] | No. 323 | -3.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.0%[3] | No. 264 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,624[4] | No. 90 | -$554 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.93% | No. 46 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $84,138[5] | No. 233 | $5,433 |
| Property taxes | $1,705[6] | No. 134 | -$1,273 |
| Energy costs | $0.16 kWh[7] | No. 608 | $0.02 |
The 158th-cheapest housing market in Florida is Crawfordville's 32327 zip code, where the median home value is $287,320. Renters pay an average of $1,624 per month. It's the state's 90th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $1,705, which makes it the 134th-cheapest property tax rate in Florida.
10. Port Charlotte
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Florida goes to the 33952 zip code in Port Charlotte.
🔎 Key data about Port Charlotte
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 679 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.1 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $217,929[1] | No. 40 | -$186,690 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.6 | No. 30 | -1.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.8%[2] | No. 15 | -19.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.4%[3] | No. 3 | -2.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,722[4] | No. 125 | -$456 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.80% | No. 384 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $61,382[5] | No. 522 | -$17,323 |
| Property taxes | $1,980[6] | No. 207 | -$998 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[7] | No. 135 | -$0.01 |
Rounding out our top 10 is Port Charlotte's 33952 zip code, with the 40th-cheapest home values in Florida.
The median home value is $217,929. Rent in the market costs $1,722 per month on average.
The median property tax for households in Port Charlotte is $1,980, which is the 207th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Port Charlotte ranks No. 135 among Florida markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
Frequently asked questions about the least expensive places to live in Florida
Based on Clever's Affordability Score, the 33716 zip code in Saint Petersburg is the cheapest place to live in Florida.
The median home value is $162,593, and the median household income is $75,226, giving Saint Petersburg a home affordability ratio of 2.2, meaning a typical home costs about that many times the median annual income.
See our Affordability Score methodology and the full ranking of the 10 cheapest places to live in Florida.
The median home value in Florida is $404,619.
See the rankings above for how individual cities compare to these state-wide figures.
Florida is currently a strong buyer's market, according to Clever's Market Heat Index.
The index reflects the balance between buyer demand and seller supply, which affects how much negotiating power buyers and sellers have in any given market.
Markets also vary by city, county, and neighborhood. It's always good to check with a local real estate agent to understand the dynamics of a given local market.
The median amount homeowners pay in property taxes in Florida is $2,978 per year.
Property taxes are a key part of the overall cost of living, and they vary significantly by location. The per-city tax figures in the rankings above show how each of the 10 cheapest places stacks up against the Florida median.
📍 The 10 cheapest places to live in your region
How we ranked the most affordable cities and towns in Florida
We evaluated 679 zip codes in Florida with a population over 10,000 on home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Florida, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Florida average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Florida average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
Why you should trust us
Clever has earned home buyers’ and home sellers' trust with more than 4,000 5-star customer ratings on Trustpilot.
Our team is committed to making home purchasing more transparent by educating buyers and sellers through guides like this one. Our writers, editors, and industry-leading researchers strive to provide readers with the most up-to-date, accurate, and useful information.
Our research has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, Housing Wire, and many more publications.
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