These Are The 10 Most Boring Places In Florida


We used data and science to identify which places in The Sunshine State are total snoozefests.

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This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out.

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There’s no denying it: there are plenty of places in Florida that are downright beautiful and full of excitement.

Unfortunately, not all towns and cities in FL are so lucky.

Just like in all U.S. States, there are definitely some boring places within Florida’s borders. You know the places: the ones where everyone has an AARP card and the most exciting thing they do all day is post a picture of their grandchild on Facebook.

Like Sanibel, for instance. In our latest analysis, we found that this city was the most boring city in all of Florida. But don’t feel bad if you’re a resident of Sanibel. There are plenty of other boring, lackluster cities in Florida as well.

Here they are. Try not to jump out of your seat with excitement:

  1. Sanibel
  2. Wildwood
  3. Punta Gorda
  4. New Smyrna Beach
  5. Longboat Key
  6. Marco Island
  7. Naples
  8. Venice
  9. Palm Beach
  10. Indian River Shores

Before you get all upset if your city’s name is on the list, rest assured that we didn’t use personal opinion when it comes to what classifies a city or town as “boring” or “exciting”. We crunched actual numbers to figure out which towns are statistically more boring.

And we get it: Lots of these are rich places along the coast. We’re not saying tooling around on your boat or laying by the water all day is necessarily boring. But the population in these cities certainly is snore inducing.

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How we determined the boring cities in the Sunshine State

In order to find the most mind-numbing and down-right boring places to live in Florida, we used the U.S. Census data to gather up all of the places in the state with populations greater than 5,000. That left us 214 cities in Florida to rank.

Then, we recorded the following boring criteria for each place:

  • % of Population Over 35 (Higher is more boring)
  • % of Married Household (Higher is more boring)
  • Average Age (higher is more boring)
  • % of Households With Kids (higher is more boring)
  • % of Households with People Over 65 (higher is more boring)
  • Population density (lower is more boring)

Next, we ranked each place according to the seven criteria above from 1 to 214. The lower the number, the more boring the place.

We averaged these rankings into an overall score, where again, the lowest score was the most boring, least fun, and/or mind-numbing. And, the winner, who’s celebration consisted of a long sigh, is: Sanibel.

But, like all U.S. states, there are good and bad, fun and boring, places everywhere you go. So read on for a look at the most boring places in Florida or hop down to the end of the page and check out the complete list for the state.

Grab your rocker and hold on.

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1. Sanibel

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 6,655
Average Age: 66.0
Married Households: 72.0%
Households over 65: 78%

Hey, we get it: You’re on an island. How boring could that be? Well, living here might get a little tedious after while, no matter how many cocktails you want to sip on with your feet in the water.

Sanibel actually blew away the competition. A whopping 78% of residents are over 65 (read, elderly). That’s not the type of place where you’d want to go to see some excitement, that’s for sure.

Plus, more than 7 in 10 people are married, and the average age is 66.

The most fun might be shuffleboard or a card game here or there.

2. Wildwood

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 6,601
Average Age: 58.1
Married Households: 58.9%
Households Over 65: 65%

Not only is the average age of Wildwood pushing 60, but it’s the 5th least densely populated place in the state. This sprawling city northwest of Orlando has the distinction of having 65% of its population over the age of 65.

Overall, it’s the 17th ‘oldest’ place in the state of Florida. Certainly not brimming with excitement here, either.

3. Punta Gorda

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 16,796
Average Age: 64.0
Married Households: 62.7%
Households over 65: 75%

This mostly gated community just north of Cape Coral is top ten in two categories – average age (64) and number of married households (63%). It’s also has the 12th least number of people under 35.

That means Punta Gorda is way older than Wildwood, but there are a few people between the ages of 35 and 65 who might one day want to mix it up from time to time before their time in the sun sets.

4. New Smyrna Beach

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 22,775
Average Age: 53.8
Married Households: 57.4%
Households Over 65: 55%

When you compare New Smyrna Beach to the cities above, you start to see a slightly younger population emerging. ‘Only’ half of the population is over the age of 65, and slightly more than half are married. So, perhaps, you can count on having a halfway good time here if you’re looking for something beyond a book by the pool.

5. Longboat Key

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 6,658
Average Age: 71.4
Married Households: 71.7%
Households Over 65: 3.1%

You knew you’d see at least one key here, and it certainly isn’t Key West.

Since there are lots of retired people in the Keys, they can be a little sleepy at times. Take Longboat Key for instance. The average age here is 71.4, which is the oldest city in Florida.

But wait, it gets more boring. 87% of the residents are over 65, and only 300 people here are under the age of 35. That’s just about as snoozefest as it can possibly get, even for Florida.

6. Marco Island

Boring Florida

Source: Public Domain

Population: 16,702
Average Age: 63.1
Married Households: 67.9%
Households Over 65: 72%

Marco Island is the 13th oldest city in Florida, and 68% of its residents are married. That’s the 6th highest number in the state. When the average age of a city is only 63 years old, that’s a telling sign of what the nightlife is like here. You’d be lucky to see lights on after 8 o’clock.

7. Naples

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 19,990
Average Age: 63.9
Married Households: 62.4%
Households With Kids: 76%

Ah, Naples. Lots of shopping and great, sandy beaches. Talk about a fun place for snowbirds to come and hog the roads all winter long.

But don’t worry. The restaurants and malls will be a lot emptier come May. You can practically see the slow-moving cars lined up on I-75 already.

8. Venice

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 20,893
Average Age: 67.0
Married Households: 55.8%
Households Over 65: 77%

Venice has the 5th oldest residents of the 214 cities we measured. Does that surprise you? Probably not. We’re actually surprised that only 56% of the population is already married, considering that 86% of Venice’s populace is over the age of 35.

The rest are most likely late bloomers.

9. Palm Beach

Boring Florida

Source: wikipedia

Population: 8,523
Average Age: 68.4
Married Households: 59.8%
Households Over 65: 76%

Would it be a surprise to you that only 6% of households in Palm Beach has children? Not when the average age is pushing 70. Growing up there must be such a bore.

Well, the ocean is magnificent. But after that, who do you play with that’s your own age?

10. Indian River Shores

Boring Florida

Source: Public Domain

Population: 3,938
Average Age: 71
Married Households: 78%
Households Over 65: 88%

This affluent town on the edge of the Atlantic is totally boring when you look at the data. It’s the absolute oldest place in the state, where the average age is 71, and the number of elderly people is just about 90%.

To put that into perspective, in Florida City, the youngest city in the state, the average age is 23.

8 in 10 people are married, and only 3% have kids in Indian River Shores.

That, folks, is a real snoozefest.

Now That You’re Asleep

If you’re looking at which cities in Florida have the oldest populations, where most people are married, this is an accurate list. In fact, we look into account the number of people with children as well, but the old age of these cities completely skewed the data.

Where are the most exciting cities in Florida? The usual suspects: Orlando, Miami Beach, Florida City, Oakland Park, North Lauderdale.

We also wrote about the 10 dumbest cities in Florida if you’re curious to read that story.

Detailed List Of Boring Cities In Florida

City Rank Population Average Age Married Households Households With Kids
Sanibel 1 6,655 66.0 72.0% 6.1%
Wildwood 2 6,601 58.1 58.9% 18.8%
Punta Gorda 3 16,796 64.0 62.7% 10.9%
New Smyrna Beach 4 22,775 53.8 57.4% 17.5%
Longboat Key 5 6,658 71.4 71.7% 3.1%
Marco Island 6 16,702 63.1 67.9% 10.1%
Naples 7 19,990 63.9 62.4% 10.7%
Venice 8 20,893 67.0 55.8% 7.3%
Palm Beach 9 8,523 68.4 59.8% 6.5%
Southwest Ranches 10 7,495 42.3 55.5% 41.7%
Fernandina Beach 11 11,681 49.4 54.5% 23.9%
Bonita Springs 12 45,243 53.6 57.8% 14.9%
Palm Coast 13 76,455 46.1 53.9% 25.8%
DeFuniak Springs 14 5,367 49.3 43.5% 27.0%
DeBary 15 19,284 48.2 57.3% 23.8%
Sebastian 16 22,154 49.8 53.8% 24.9%
Lady Lake 17 14,047 63.2 54.6% 12.1%
Tavares 18 14,133 52.0 53.6% 20.3%
North Port 19 57,554 41.7 52.3% 32.0%
Fort Myers Beach 20 6,457 62.5 55.9% 7.3%
Clermont 21 29,048 42.4 59.6% 33.3%
Ormond Beach 22 38,345 49.2 52.2% 21.5%
Edgewater 23 20,799 47.5 52.4% 23.6%
Palm Beach Gardens 24 49,273 48.3 52.4% 20.9%
Tequesta 25 5,697 49.0 50.2% 29.9%
Cape Coral 26 158,415 42.6 53.7% 32.9%
Tarpon Springs 27 23,564 50.8 52.4% 20.9%
Gulf Breeze 28 5,924 42.8 56.8% 39.3%
Cocoa Beach 29 11,299 54.8 48.9% 17.0%
Lighthouse Point 30 10,550 49.5 62.2% 20.0%
High Springs 31 5,422 36.2 60.2% 44.4%
Port Orange 32 56,585 48.4 51.9% 22.1%
Zephyrhills 33 13,693 50.0 45.0% 23.0%
Inverness 34 7,230 55.8 38.6% 17.4%
Winter Haven 35 34,561 44.7 45.9% 25.3%
Seminole 36 17,291 53.3 49.7% 17.8%
Satellite Beach 37 10,241 45.3 56.7% 24.9%
Lake Mary 38 14,188 44.3 53.8% 27.3%
Rockledge 39 25,202 44.8 53.5% 29.2%
Lake Wales 40 14,480 38.1 48.7% 32.0%
Fort Meade 41 5,725 40.8 42.9% 31.5%
Safety Harbor 42 16,937 49.6 57.1% 20.3%
North Palm Beach 43 12,165 52.1 49.7% 16.6%
Jupiter 44 56,219 45.7 53.3% 27.0%
Vero Beach 45 15,475 50.6 41.5% 18.8%
Belle Isle 46 6,145 47.0 59.6% 26.4%
Key Biscayne 47 12,560 40.9 65.8% 41.3%
Mount Dora 48 12,514 44.0 50.7% 24.0%
Wellington 49 57,713 39.6 57.8% 41.4%
Port St. Lucie 50 166,641 39.7 53.0% 35.8%
Titusville 51 43,902 44.4 46.3% 25.5%
Treasure Island 52 6,741 54.3 52.8% 10.4%
Palmetto 53 12,769 48.2 47.3% 21.6%
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea 54 6,166 60.6 49.3% 3.7%
St. Augustine Beach 55 6,323 48.4 54.1% 23.1%
Dunedin 56 35,421 51.8 46.5% 19.2%
West Melbourne 57 18,776 41.6 50.6% 27.9%
Niceville 58 13,217 41.4 56.7% 30.9%
West Miami 59 6,089 42.2 46.0% 37.0%
St. Pete Beach 60 9,394 53.3 48.3% 11.7%
Palmetto Bay 61 23,863 40.6 57.2% 41.5%
Palm Bay 62 103,602 40.2 48.8% 33.6%
Leesburg 63 20,627 40.2 45.2% 27.3%
Sebring 64 10,399 44.3 39.1% 21.6%
Parkland 65 24,888 39.0 61.9% 53.2%
Groveland 66 9,012 36.6 51.8% 43.8%
Orange Park 67 8,491 47.1 46.3% 22.5%
Pinecrest 68 18,619 38.9 59.1% 39.2%
Eustis 69 18,820 41.3 43.6% 28.8%
Cape Canaveral 70 9,934 54.2 45.4% 11.2%
Starke 71 5,453 43.0 37.2% 33.1%
Boca Raton 72 86,671 45.8 48.9% 22.9%
Indian Harbour Beach 73 8,253 48.5 44.3% 24.0%
Hialeah 74 228,943 42.6 44.0% 35.9%
Brooksville 75 7,728 45.3 35.0% 28.3%
Bartow 76 17,570 35.7 43.0% 36.9%
Newberry 77 5,083 38.6 48.4% 30.1%
Marathon 78 8,405 41.3 44.7% 22.1%
Fellsmere 79 5,233 29.3 58.8% 50.9%
Weston 80 66,435 38.6 60.7% 52.4%
Orange City 81 10,823 47.4 37.0% 19.6%
Aventura 82 36,307 46.6 51.7% 20.5%
Tamarac 83 61,586 46.6 43.0% 24.4%
Lake Alfred 84 5,075 31.3 46.3% 36.7%
Alachua 85 9,165 38.0 46.1% 31.4%
Hialeah Gardens 86 22,136 39.7 47.9% 47.7%
Deltona 87 85,415 38.0 52.4% 35.8%
Mascotte 88 5,155 29.4 56.3% 63.4%
Apopka 89 43,137 36.7 55.5% 37.8%
Minneola 90 9,634 33.6 56.7% 45.9%
DeLand 91 27,399 39.1 41.7% 29.2%
Green Cove Springs 92 6,957 40.8 40.5% 30.6%
Surfside 93 5,839 42.2 55.7% 29.2%
Longwood 94 13,753 42.0 45.0% 31.8%
Cooper City 95 30,717 40.0 54.9% 42.1%
Sunny Isles Beach 96 21,167 49.3 48.0% 14.2%
Pinellas Park 97 49,443 44.3 45.5% 24.6%
Lynn Haven 98 18,743 36.4 56.2% 35.2%
Panama City Beach 99 11,750 39.8 48.0% 26.4%
Haines City 100 20,844 33.5 46.2% 38.6%
Winter Springs 101 33,438 39.0 48.2% 31.7%
Miami Springs 102 14,061 42.7 49.5% 32.8%
Destin 103 12,623 39.3 53.0% 25.2%
Callaway 104 14,491 38.1 52.9% 33.5%
Lakeland 105 98,970 40.3 42.0% 25.6%
Atlantic Beach 106 12,783 44.5 49.1% 23.1%
Gulfport 107 12,079 50.7 36.5% 17.8%
Largo 108 77,898 47.7 42.1% 18.5%
Melbourne 109 76,768 44.8 42.8% 22.9%
Auburndale 110 13,814 35.4 48.0% 39.2%
Oldsmar 111 13,663 37.2 48.4% 38.2%
Pembroke Pines 112 157,324 39.9 48.6% 35.2%
Stuart 113 15,741 46.5 36.4% 16.1%
Clewiston 114 7,119 34.6 49.5% 36.8%
Margate 115 54,281 42.0 44.0% 29.0%
South Daytona 116 12,277 43.4 39.3% 28.5%
Quincy 117 8,046 38.3 31.3% 32.0%
New Port Richey 118 14,985 46.0 39.1% 21.6%
Hallandale Beach 119 37,758 46.8 42.0% 18.1%
Clearwater 120 108,551 44.5 42.0% 23.1%
Royal Palm Beach 121 34,699 36.6 52.5% 41.8%
Delray Beach 122 61,875 46.3 39.9% 19.0%
Cocoa 123 17,196 40.4 37.7% 28.7%
Oviedo 124 34,595 33.9 56.1% 44.7%
Winter Garden 125 35,750 34.0 57.0% 42.7%
Sarasota 126 52,588 46.1 38.6% 20.7%
Coconut Creek 127 54,213 40.2 46.2% 31.3%
Winter Park 128 28,497 42.7 45.7% 22.1%
Perry 129 7,046 35.4 31.4% 31.9%
Deerfield Beach 130 76,330 43.6 41.3% 24.2%
St. Cloud 131 37,905 35.7 48.0% 41.1%
Boynton Beach 132 69,257 43.3 41.2% 24.8%
Dade City 133 6,532 40.6 36.2% 24.5%
Pahokee 134 5,859 34.4 43.1% 38.9%
Miami Lakes 135 29,866 38.6 48.8% 38.9%
Avon Park 136 8,862 35.3 37.7% 29.8%
Bradenton 137 50,329 41.8 41.9% 23.5%
Plant City 138 35,398 33.4 46.4% 40.1%
Plantation 139 86,999 40.8 47.7% 30.5%
Davie 140 93,842 37.9 46.6% 37.5%
Ocoee 141 37,084 35.6 51.7% 39.6%
Panama City 142 36,205 39.1 41.1% 28.6%
Sweetwater 143 19,005 38.1 42.3% 42.8%
Live Oak 144 6,918 34.3 29.1% 38.0%
Sunrise 145 86,834 38.7 46.2% 32.9%
Neptune Beach 146 6,702 41.5 51.4% 22.3%
Fort Myers 147 64,488 38.2 38.7% 29.6%
Valparaiso 148 5,119 26.9 41.9% 30.1%
Doral 149 47,076 33.7 55.6% 53.4%
Crestview 150 21,659 30.6 51.4% 39.5%
Coral Gables 151 48,093 40.4 47.6% 24.5%
Ocala 152 56,828 36.1 41.4% 29.3%
Pensacola 153 52,268 41.9 40.0% 23.1%
Marianna 154 7,939 38.7 34.0% 27.4%
Cutler Bay 155 41,434 36.1 47.4% 39.4%
Hollywood 156 143,273 41.7 43.6% 28.1%
St. Augustine 157 13,271 43.2 32.2% 17.3%
Jacksonville 158 829,721 35.5 43.9% 31.3%
Coral Springs 159 123,476 36.5 49.8% 44.7%
Pompano Beach 160 101,749 42.4 37.4% 24.0%
Holly Hill 161 11,665 43.5 25.9% 23.9%
Fort Walton Beach 162 19,962 40.3 43.0% 26.5%
Macclenny 163 6,390 31.9 42.8% 45.2%
Fort Pierce 164 42,395 36.0 37.6% 30.9%
Jacksonville Beach 165 21,562 42.5 42.1% 19.8%
Okeechobee 166 5,613 35.0 40.3% 35.4%
Lake City 167 12,111 36.1 31.1% 29.7%
Daytona Beach 168 61,622 41.3 30.8% 18.0%
Springfield 169 8,991 36.2 42.4% 27.4%
West Palm Beach 170 100,778 39.9 35.4% 22.9%
Miami Shores 171 10,529 39.5 40.4% 32.0%
Miramar 172 124,900 33.9 47.0% 50.8%
St. Petersburg 173 246,642 41.8 38.9% 24.0%
Arcadia 174 7,616 30.8 32.6% 37.2%
Dania Beach 175 30,076 40.8 38.8% 26.0%
South Miami 176 11,839 37.1 42.8% 36.1%
Lauderdale Lakes 177 33,259 38.9 34.4% 34.2%
Key West 178 24,934 41.7 37.1% 21.3%
Wilton Manors 179 11,868 48.0 28.0% 12.4%
Lantana 180 10,669 40.4 40.5% 26.3%
Greenacres 181 37,940 36.2 41.2% 35.4%
West Park 182 14,415 35.2 34.5% 43.7%
Kissimmee 183 61,889 32.9 42.3% 42.1%
Maitland 184 16,057 38.9 46.8% 25.1%
Casselberry 185 26,376 37.9 40.1% 26.9%
Bay Harbor Islands 186 5,730 41.5 40.5% 24.6%
Riviera Beach 187 32,814 37.6 35.5% 30.6%
Fort Lauderdale 188 168,603 42.3 34.9% 21.6%
Palatka 189 10,532 30.6 28.5% 34.5%
Sanford 190 54,170 34.0 39.0% 34.8%
Milton 191 9,008 33.6 41.8% 26.0%
North Miami Beach 192 42,349 36.3 38.5% 35.3%
Belle Glade 193 17,650 33.7 33.6% 38.3%
Florida City 194 11,594 23.9 30.3% 56.6%
Palm Springs 195 20,248 33.3 39.7% 37.6%
Miami Gardens 196 109,150 33.6 33.4% 39.3%
Homestead 197 61,714 30.9 40.6% 46.0%
Altamonte Springs 198 41,795 38.7 39.3% 25.0%
Lauderhill 199 68,216 35.3 33.7% 37.7%
Miami 200 407,526 39.0 34.6% 26.3%
Lake Park 201 8,251 37.4 36.4% 29.5%
North Miami 202 59,952 34.5 35.8% 37.2%
Tampa 203 343,768 34.8 37.2% 28.8%
Opa-locka 204 15,529 31.1 25.6% 43.8%
Oakland Park 205 42,217 38.4 35.3% 28.5%
Pembroke Park 206 6,122 34.7 35.4% 30.1%
North Lauderdale 207 41,778 30.6 38.8% 48.0%
Temple Terrace 208 24,889 33.7 39.3% 27.7%
Lake Worth 209 35,401 35.0 33.2% 32.9%
Miami Beach 210 89,412 39.3 35.7% 18.1%
North Bay Village 211 7,264 36.2 42.1% 23.1%
Orlando 212 244,931 32.8 35.0% 26.6%
Tallahassee 213 183,638 26.1 30.1% 23.1%
Gainesville 214 125,845 25.0 24.5% 18.0%

About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.