We will be in Florida this summer - for work mostly but since it's only few months we will most probably look for a furnished condo/ apartment. I have read a lot about crime in those areas. I read that there are break ins even in gated communities! Is it as bad really?
We are looking at Juno beach or Jupiter area, which I read are safer for families. I know people recommend gated communities while buying houses, but how much difference would it make for a vacation rental or a apartment? I will be home alone all day with kids, so security is important to M.. Should I look only for gated rental places or is it ok to stay anywhere in the these areas?
Also, where I live I don't think twice going out any time of the day or night , but how is it in these areas? is it safe to go out by myself in the evenings? I also read some places are safe while couple blocks down the road, it's totally unsafe. How do I recognise these unsafe areas?
I have been to this place before and I think it's very nice, never had a bad experience in the really short time I was there. But I read the crime rate is very high and everyone is concerned about it. SO I thought I will ask you moms, if you have lived in these areas, could you please help M. make a decision. Thanks!
Are you sure you have the towns right? Neither Juno nor Jupiter are considered North Florida. I'm in Venice which is directly West of Juno and its considered Southern Florida.
I lived in Jacksonville B. for five years so I can tell you all about North Florida if that's where you decide. I know we have a couple mamas from Boca and Ft Lauderdale, maybe they can give you some tips.
Either way, a little clarification would help. :)
Thank you Amanda! I'm from South FL and was thinking the same thing!
Jupiter and Juno beach are not really high-crime areas, so I'm thinking that maybe you are mixing up some J-names. In fact, Jupiter and Juno (South FL- and on the border b/w Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties I believe) are fairly small and quiet towns that you tend to "drive through" on your way to somewhere else.
I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and lived in an ungated community. Many of my friends lived in gated communities. Of course there is crime in an urban setting, but people are not getting mugged on the streets! It's not that hard to break into a gated community... hop the fence, get to know the security guard, etc. Seriously, the "guard" at my friend's house knew my car and never even called them to say I was headed in, just waved and let M. through.
How can you tell if they are safe locations? Call the local police station and ask. Bottom line, if you are paying more in rent, you will probably be in a "nicer" location. Follow the same safety rules you follow in your home. Keep the doors locked, don't let strangers into your home, don't go somewhere alone at night without telling someone you are going out.
My great aunt lived in Port St. Lucie and it is a beautiful, quiet little town. It's about 30 minutes North of where you are looking at this point, so consider that as well.
These areas are in south Florida. I have family in West Palm Beach and it is nice there.
I would use a realtor to find a rental and describe to them what you are looking for. As another poster mentioned to go by the cost, more money better area. It doesn't really matter if it’s gated or not, I have seen some very nice gated communities and some really bad ones.
Amanda C. is right . . . Jupiter is in the northern tip of Palm Beach County (southeastern Florida). Jupiter is considered very nice as far as I know, but I've never lived there. I live in Boca - the southern tip of Palm Beach County (just north of Broward). We do not live in a gated community. There are spots down here that are bad, and sometimes they are near very nice areas. South Florida is a polarized mix of very wealthy and very poor.
I'm not knowledgeable about northern Florida. My parents have a home in Ormond Beach (north of Daytona) and it seems very quiet and safe. Their community looks gated but it's not
Good luck and hope you have a wonderful time!
I lived on the Redneck Riviera (panhandle gulf coast)... So I'm not as familiar with the rest of FL...
But breakins happen in gated communities EVERYWHERE. None are stoppable to someone on foot (ya wanna know the ways to get in and out of one of those places, just ask the neighborhood kids). So it's not surprising to hear they happen.
There are some reeeeeally scary places in FL. There are some reeeelly poverty torn, gang ridden, spring break lunatic (where the gated areas are to keep all the drunk kids from driving through), mobbed up, drugged up, redneck w rifles, biker ganged up areas.
You're not talking EborCity, or the bad side of Little Havana, though. The breakins you're hearing about in those areas are more teen prowling and stalker girlfriend, and post hurricane looting, breakins. Normal bedroom community crime... Not ScarySideOfPoverty Crime.
Find out what "gated" really means. My sks' mom lived in a gated community - which was never closed at the entrance, so it was basically just a big fence with an open gap. The gate *could* close, it just never was. When we picked the kids up, we never had to key in or anything. So if you are looking for something where you need to key in, make sure they actually do.
I know little about that side of Florida since my family lived on the Gulf side. Still Jupiter is where our Cardinals have their training facilities, can't imagine they would put such a thing in a high crime area, ya know?
Granted I haven't traveled all over Florida but when I think of high crime that is probably one of the last states I think of.
