If year-round warm weather and ocean breezes sound tempting, Fort Lauderdale may be the perfect place to call home. This community-minded, coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean is just 30 miles north of Miami, and city officials are working hard to make it “the city you never want to leave.” With an average winter temperature of 78 degrees, Fort Lauderdale is a visitors paradise, featuring numerous art, music, theater, boating, sports, recreation, and cultural events year-round. Curious? Check out the arts calendar, and get a first-hand look at the beaches through one of the city’s live beach cams.

As of September, 2022, the average price for a single family home in Fort Lauderdale was $475,000. The city officers home buying assistance for medium-to-low-income buyers, and buyers will find a wide range of available properties, from waterfront condos to suburban homes and ranches. Through Fort Lauderdale’s purchase assistance program, eligible buyers can borrow up to $75,000 in the form of a 15-year, deferred payment loan for use with a down payment, closing costs, and principal reduction.

Fort Lauderdale is a densely populated, urban city. It has nearly 170,000 residents, and is a global hub for international arts, business and culture. American Express, AutoNation, Citrix Systems, DHL Americas, Embraer, Ford, Magic Leap, Microsoft and Motorola all have corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. Job seekers will find a strong job market and low unemployment, with opportunities in manufacturing, tech, healthcare, aerospace and leisure and hospitality.

The Broward County school district serves 256,000 students, and represents 170 different countries and 147 languages. Through a nearly $1 billion SMART bond, Broward County Public Schools invests in safety, music, art, athletics, renovations, and technology (SMART) at every school.

Known as the “Venice of America,” you can get just about anywhere by boat on Ft. Lauderdale’s 165-miles of inland waterways. Trains, buses, carpools and bike sharing are also available to help you get to work, the beach, or to neighboring cities.

Fort Lauderdale is surrounded by nature and abundant wildlife. Trails, parks, and preserves are a huge draw for locals and visitors alike, including the subtropical wetlands of Everglades National Park, home to frogs, toads, alligators, birds, fish, panthers, crocodiles, and snakes. Within the city itself, plans are underway to create a comprehensive network of urban trail facilities. The LauderTrail plans to connect 35 neighborhoods, 45 parks and greenspaces, 12 schools, 270 businesses, two railroad stations, 17 bus routes, and 12 Water Taxi stops. The city maintains numerous parks, golf courses, rec centers, and swimming pools, including a newly renovated Aquatic Complex. The complex features a permanent 101-foot, precast concrete dive tower, the first permanent high diving tower built in the western hemisphere.

While much about living in southern Florida is enviable, there are some aspects to life here that can be challenging. You won’t be able to avoid traffic congestion or hot, humid summer weather and hurricane season. Still, there’s a lot here to love. Learn more about what Fort Lauderdale has to offer through Welcome Home, a guide put together by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, an economic development organization.