11 Best Places to Live in Florida

6) Melbourne

U.S. News & World Report ranked Melbourne as the 40th best place to live in 2016. It’s located in Brevard County on the east coast about halfway between Jacksonville and Miami. The population is around 80,000, while the county has about half a million residents. In 2009, Forbes Magazine rated Melbourne as the best metropolitan area in the state for affordable housing and commute times. The median salary is $44,040. The area has plenty of recreational activities such as boating, golfing, art galleries, restaurants, beaches and fishing on Lake Washington. In addition, Westshore Junior/Senior High School is ranked one of the ten best in the state by U.S. News & World Report. A little known fun fact is that Jim Morrison, famed lead singer for The Doors musical group, was born here.