Tallahassee gets a bad rap, but there’s a lot to love about the capital of Florida! It’s a panhandle city, which means you won’t be getting the same kind of swampy heat that you get in southern Florida. And given its proximity to Georgia, you also get some hills (if you’re from a mountainous city you’ve got to adjust your expectations, pronto). Locals enjoy Tallahassee because there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy, while also getting the benefit of living in a big city. You can explore the state parks, take easy day trips to south Georgia, go for a float down Bear Paw, or take an awesome hike! If you’re at FSU, consider joining the Outdoor Pursuits group as well to see some nature and make some new friends at the same time. 

**Here's a fanatic local on what they love: **
*Incredibly humbling and amazing. It is the best of a transitional metropolitan-like city, bursting with cultural influences from all over the country, while simultaneously giving you the the small town, connected community vibes.*

*hands down, some of the most kindest and welcoming people that I've met in my life all came through Tallahassee, and if it wasn’t for the HORRIFIC flight prices to get in and out of the city, I would move back there tomorrow, have a whole gang of babies, teach for my Alma mater and love my soul mate/loved ones on the daily. Tallahassee is the perfect foundation for good living.*

For more reviews of what living in Tallahassee is like from locals check out: [**The Buzz**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/tallahassee?page=buzz)


It’s not *too* Florida

Best Part About Tallahassee 

Although it’s the capital, Tallahassee isn’t as big as Miami, Daytona, or many other big cities in Florida. This means that when it grows, the city feels it like when you try on your pre-pandemic jeans– a little too snug. The city is trying really hard to expand well, which means not sacrificing the city just for the sake of growth. The intent is to grow in a responsible manner without endangering the surrounding forest and protected lands. This means that we’re seeing compact growth in the city and, on top of a huge influx of tourists and out-of-towners for the FSU home games, it can make this very reasonably sized city seem crowded.

**Cons of living in Tallahassee from a local:**
*-Summer is HOT and long*
*-Airport facility is nice, but it’s small and flight options are VERY limited. Expect to connect to almost anywhere you want to go, and for prices to usually be a good bit higher than you expect. Most locals end up driving to Jax, Orlando or even Atlanta to catch better flights. (This is, without question, the thing I like least about living here.)*
*-Tallahassee is kind of remote. It’s 2+ hours to Jacksonville, which is the closest city-like place. In-between is a whole lot of nothing.*
*-There’s still kind of a dearth of options for young professionals. Tons of college students. Tons of established families who’ve settled down. In-between is way better than it used to be, but still kind of a lost population here.*

 It’s getting a touch crowded

Worst Part About Tallahassee 

Tallahassee is a true college town at its core. With three colleges in the city, including Florida State University, there is always something going on. The biggest draw towards campus, yearly, is going to be college football. With one of the most competitive programs in the US, FSU brings in almost 50 million in direct spending during the 6 home games every year. Despite also being the capital of Florida, FSU is really the heart of the city. This also means that the median age is younger than you’d see in most of Florida. At just 34 years old being the median age, it defied the FL standard which is widely associated with retirement and snowbirds. Standard to most college towns is going to also be the affordable cost of living. Everything you need to do is within a 10 mile radius and everything you need to buy is going to be way cheaper than larger cities like Miami and Daytona.

If you want to check out what happens in Tallahassee here's the calendar of events: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/fl--tallahassee/events/

Lifestyle of Tallahassee

Put a huge college town in the same space as the capital of Florida and what do you get? The top employers are in education and government. This is a city of college kids, young professionals who loved the city too much to leave, and families who enjoy all of the activities and low cost of living afforded to them. There are several large companies based in Tallahassee and the top employers are the State of Florida, FSU, and Leon County School board. The city also has a huge retail industry that supports the campus and students year round. Although you might not have a hard time finding a job in Tallahassee, be aware that if you’re moving from a larger city and finding a job locally, you might be making significantly less than you’re used to. Local young professionals suggest keeping that remote Silicon Valley money and living big in the city if you can.

Worklife of Tallahassee

It’s no secret that people are abandoning large tech cities in favor of a more relaxed lifestyle. States like Florida and Texas are receiving an influx of residents seeing if they can find a more affordable city without the stuffy atmosphere of other areas (*cough* Bay area *cough). Tallahassee will be much more easy to adjust to than other smaller cities and if you’re moving from California or New York, it’ll be much less of an environmental shock than its other FL city counterparts. 

Relax

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Being a college town, there are a ton of areas that boast an active nightlife alongside other amenities like grocery stores, parks, and more. Check out these neighborhoods if you’re looking for decent walkability and a ton of nightlife!
- Chapel Ridge
- Campus Circle
- College Town


College Students

Chapel Ridge

For young professionals moving to Tallahassee, think about living closer to work. The city isn’t that walkable, and you’ll want to avoid a long commute to have more time at home or out for happy hour. 
- Midtown
- Levy Park
- All Saints


Young Professionals

Midtown

Tallahassee is a great place for young families who need a lot of activities and a lot of places to get outside. For active people looking to start a family, you’re going to love living close to parks and being within a quick drive to grocery stores and other necessities.
- Liberty Park
- Woodland Drives
- Lafayette Park
- Los Robles


Young Families

Liberty Park

There’s nothing better than a college town for an older family. You can tailgate during football season and host outdoor BBQs in your yard big enough for the whole neighborhood. Tallahassee is also close enough to South Georgia and other national parks for weekend hikes and camping!
- Lakeshore
- Betton Hills
- Killearn Lakes


Established Families

Lakeshore

People who have recently said goodbye to the last of their kids to leave for college or work will love Tallahassee for the weather, easy access to the outdoors, and youthful energy. Check out midtown for great condo/apt options and also plenty of bars, restaurants and shopping within easy walking distance. 
- Midtown
- Levy Park
- Lafayette Park


Empty Nesters/Retirees

Tallahassee

**What is it like to live in Tallahassee, FL?**

Incredibly humbling and amazing. It is the best of a transitional metropolitan-like city, bursting with cultural influences from all over the country, while simultaneously giving you the the small town, connected community vibes.

hands down, some of the most kindest and welcoming people that I've met in my life all came through Tallahassee, and if it wasn’t for the HORRIFIC flight prices to get in and out of the city, I would move back there tomorrow, have a whole gang of babies, teach for my Alma mater and love my soul mate/loved ones on the daily. Tallahassee is the perfect foundation for good living.

**What is it like to live in Tallahassee, FL?**

Like anywhere there are good and bad things. The key is managing expectations. For a mid-sized town, it has a lot of activities that won’t bust your wallet thanks to a large university presence. The temperate climate allows a lot of outdoor activities. The terrain is more Georgia than south Florida so there are a lot of lakes, rivers and woods for hunting and fishing. Beaches are an easy drive away if that’s what you want.

Employment is not one of our better successes. Tallahassee came into being as a compromise when Florida became a state and for a very long time there are only three employment choices: state government (low pay, frustrating bureaucracy and declining benefits), universities (somewhat better pay but still on the low side, cut-throat academic politics, high turnover), and the service industry (lousy pay, poor employee-employer mutual respect, and very high turnover). If you’re in the technology sector, your choices are somewhat better but benefits and job stability are poor.

The universities are both a blessing and a curse. They provide a lot of cultural and entertainment opportunities at reasonable prices but also a lot of alcohol/drug related issues that you’d expect from a young, transient crowd. Students are often preyed upon by criminals, especially when it comes to affordable housing. Safety is a real concern.

We don’t have Broadway but we do have a thriving theater culture with a lot to choose from. We have a very diverse music scene. The best part is it is easy to become a participant rather than simply a spectator. If you want something really unique, check out the FSU Flying High Circus.

Yes, college football is not a religion; it’s much more important than that. We do love our football but you don’t have to participate. Just be patient with the ones who do. It only lasts a few months.

**What is it like to live in Tallahassee, FL?**

I'm proud to say I grew up in Tallahassee, and now that I've moved away from it, I feel a gaint feeling of nastalgia everytime I visit it. Tallahassee is a smaller town, but it is not a small town.

Tallahassee has every creed, race, religion, class, and personality type you can imagine.. It's what you make of it and also the area you live in can play a big role on your experience, but that is too long of a post to break down every area of town.

Not as vast in comparison to bigger cities but Tallahassee does have a strong locally ran communities: Railroad Square is the art district of town (First Friday attracts a good crowd, especially during school months) some bohemian galleries, shops, even eccentric decorated buildings that are open just for ambiance sake; Tons of locally owned food places scattered all over town; Lake Ella is a park that has a nice collection of locally owned cafes, coffee shops, and general stores.

Yes, college football pride runs deep here, but it is not everything and you can hide out easily from it, unless you live on campus; i'll hand that to you.



**pros and cons of living in tallahassee**

For context, I moved to Tallahassee in the mid-90’s and have been here ever since.

Pros:

Mild winter, beautiful spring & fall

People in general are quite friendly

Very good craft beer scene, solid dining options (though not on par with larger cities)

Quick and easy to get anywhere in town by car by car (rush “hour” is more like 20 min, and traffic is laughable compared to any metro area)

Tons of outdoor activities

Cost of living is pretty cheap

Gulf coast beaches are only a couple of hours away and are stunningly gorgeous.

Cons:

Summer is HOT and long

Airport facility is nice, but it’s small and flight options are VERY limited. Expect to connect to almost anywhere you want to go, and for prices to usually be a good bit higher than you expect. Most locals end up driving to Jax, Orlando or even Atlanta to catch better flights. (This is, without question, the thing I like least about living here.)

Tallahassee is kind of remote. It’s 2+ hours to Jacksonville, which is the closest city-like place. In-between is a whole lot of nothing.

There’s still kind of a dearth of options for young professionals. Tons of college students. Tons of established families who’ve settled down. In-between is way better than it used to be, but still kind of a lost population here.

Tallahassee, Florida

Stop Calling It Talla-nasty!

Looklyloo Score: 73

Chapel Ridge

College Students

Midtown

Young Professionals

Liberty Park

Young Families

Lakeshore

Established Families

Midtown

Empty Nesters/Retirees