Is Homestead, FL A Good Place To Live?

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

It’s very rare that you will hear of a town that sounds cozy and welcoming, just by the name alone. Such is the case with Homestead, a small town in Florida that’s home to over 65,000 people. Located right near Miami, it’s easy to see why so many people are flocking to the area. But, is it really as good of a place as the name suggests, or are there reasons to try to find a different place to call home?

Homestead, FL offers low home prices, proximity to the beach, and plenty of entertainment. Unfortunately, high crime rates, poor schools, and difficulty obtaining decent employment will make most people think twice before they move to Homestead. Most people do not advise living in this area.

While there are a lot of places in Florida that offer a ton of benefits for people who want to move, Homestead isn’t most peoples’ idea of a good home. Here’s what you should be aware of before you move home…

Do You Need to Hire Movers?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

Why Is Homestead, FL A Good Place To Live?

Homestead might have a pretty bad rap, but it’s not an entirely terrible place to live. There are some perks that make it worth your time. They include…

Low Home Prices

It is oh, so hard to find a place that has low housing prices these days. Homestead offers houses at a median price of $210,900. This places it at the lower end of the spectrum as far as housing goes for both Florida and nationwide standards.

Both renting and homeownership are doable here, as long as you have some kind of steady income. This makes it attractive for people who live blue-collar lifestyles as well as people who have a need to save up money. It’s also a good option for young single individuals who want to save money.

Beach Proximity

It’s possible to be a total beach bum here, simply because you’re right next to the Atlantic ocean. The beaches in Miami are famous for having mellow ocean temperatures, and the climate makes this place the ultimate venue for fun in the sun.

Fans of living life by the beach will find Homestead to be the perfect place to live. Homestead offers a lot of benefits to people who want to have the best possible experience at the beach on a regular basis. Since the area is known for having calm weather year-round, you will be able to soak up all the sun and sand that you want.

Entertainment Galore

If there is one thing that Homestead offers, it’s close proximity to a wide range of different entertainment forms. You can hit the beach year-round if you want to, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Homestead is a Miami suburb, which means that you’re literally only a quick drive away from the hottest clubs in America.

Within Homestead’s city limits, you can get to check out the local video gaming arcade, multiple performing arts centers, as well as more exotic options like the Homestead Rodeo and a racing speedway. Because there are a lot of different activities to try out here, you might notice an influx of tourists in the area from time to time. This is a normal part of living in Homestead.

What Are The Pitfalls Of Living In Homestead, FL?

Living in Homestead offers a lot of fun, but this is not exactly a good place to raise a family. Most people tend to be leery of this area. Here’s why…

High Crime Rates

There’s a serious problem in and around Miami when it comes to crime. Homestead is no exception to the rule. Both violent and property crimes are far above average, with much of the issues at hand being credited to a high rate of gang activity.

Violent crime has a 953 per 100,000 people rate in Homestead, which is almost twice the national average. Thefts and burglaries are also far above the national average, with around 2,000 reported combined incidents occurring in the last year alone. Homestead is currently seen as safer than only 9 percent of other towns. This makes it rank as a legitimately dangerous area.

Overall, you have a 1 in 25 chance of being a victim of a crime as a Homestead resident. Those aren’t chances that you want to have happen in a neighborhood that you want to live in. Though the crime rate has been decreasing steadily over the past 10 years, the truth is that this still isn’t a good place to live due to the crime.

Poor Schools

Saying that you graduated from the Homestead school system is not a bragging right. In fact, employers are likely to wince if they hear it. This is for a number of reasons, not even including the fact that gangs have a lot of sway among many kids in the school district.

The schools in Homestead are grossly underfunding, with each student only getting around $9,000 per year. Moreover, the actual teaching going on is dubious. Due to extreme strife among students and a lack of a supportive environment, test scores are at an extremely low rate.

People who want to have kids often leave Homestead when they’re ready to have a baby. The bad schools are to blame, and no one could blame families who want to have a better life for their kids.

Bad Economy

The economy in and around Homestead is hit-or-miss. There are places around here that are hiring, but they are not going to be jobs most people want to have. The median household income is around $40,000. This is far below the average American household income of $61,000 or so.

The unemployment rate currently sits at 6.8 percent, and around 28 percent of all locals live in poverty. This means that you are not going to be finding upscale work situations in Homestead. While it’s possible to get a good-paying job in the Miami region, this area is not what most people want to deal with as a young professional.

Aggression In Locals

Maybe it’s due to the high crime rate, or maybe it’s because the area suffers from crippling economic disarray, but whatever the issue is, there’s an anger problem here. While there have been some reviews claiming that Homestead is a community-centric area that has friendly locals, we can’t lie about what we’ve found.

Multiple reviews mention that locals are very aggressive towards others, often to the point that newcomers feel intimidated. Many people who move to the area tend to prefer to keep their heads down as a result of the rough attitudes that people have.

Traffic

Public transit is somewhat lacking in the Homestead area, though it’s not as bad a problem as it is elsewhere. Transit is limited here, which means that you will most likely need to have a car to get from place to place. Since most people tend to need cars, there is a higher propensity for traffic jams in the area. It’s not unlikely that you will end up in a traffic jam at least once a day.

Traffic is often compounded by bad potholes, difficult signals, and rough parking. Don’t be shocked if you find out that you may need an extra 15 to 20 minutes just to make sure that you get to your place.

Do You Need to Hire Movers?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.


Related Questions

Is Homestead a diverse area?

If there is one area that Homestead truly shines in, it’s diversity. The area has a very high number of Latinx and Hispanic communities, but that’s not all they have. There are people from virtually every demographic here, and the area is also noted for having a very tolerant outlook on people from other walks of life.In terms of diversity, Homestead offers an A+ rating in our books. This is particularly good for people who want to learn of other cultures, or for people who like having a wide range of different foods to eat.


What parks are close to Homestead, FL?

Fans of camping and outdoors adventures will not have to look too far for a good time around Homestead. The area is very close to the Florida Everglades,  one of the most unique ecosystems in the United States. Another major perk to this area is its proximity to Key West. Some folks call it the gateway to the Florida Keys.Needless to say, you will never be short on fishing, camping, or birdwatching in the Homestead area. It’s a great place for that.


Is Homestead a youthful area?

While some might suggest that the cheap prices make this a good place to retire, the truth is that Homestead is more popular with young people. The average age of a Homestead resident rests at 31.1 years. This makes it an exceptionally youthful town, and the truth is, it’s really geared towards younger living too.Due to the heavy emphasis on nightlife, surfing, and youthful culture, it’s better to live in Homestead as a younger person. It’s a good way to ensure that you will be able to fit in.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

More by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Next