Best of the South
Population: 13,200
Typical single-family home: $325,000
Estimated property taxes: $5,200
Pros: Big-economy jobs, small-town feel, no income tax
Cons: Florida summers, Florida hurricanes


Charlotte Smith-Wilkes used to commute an hour and 20 minutes to work each way when she lived in Miami. Now that the insurance executive lives in Lake Mary, the trip takes her four minutes flat. "We were looking for a calmer place to live, a place to raise children," says Smith-Wilkes, 48. She and her husband arrived 10 years ago and now have two daughters. "You get really spoiled," she says, "because everything is so close."

Less than a decade ago, "everything" might have referred to Orlando or Disney World, which are 30 minutes away, or to Daytona Beach, reachable in 45. But growth has brought Lake Mary residents plenty of shopping, restaurants and events in their own backyard. There are lakes for boating and fishing, and the Timacuan Golf Course lies in the center of town. The downtown is a work in progress, but plans are moving ahead to create multiuse plazas that incorporate retail, office and residential space.

Recreation is one thing, but jobs keep Lake Mary humming. On weekdays the population rockets from less than 14,000 to more than 35,000 as commuters arrive. AAA and Ruth's Chris Steak House keep their headquarters here, while others, like the Hartford and AT&T, maintain a large presence in the area's office parks.

All of the development has pushed housing prices higher, but a four-bedroom, three-bath house can still be had for $300,000. Of course, there's always the weather to worry about. In 2004 the town spent more than $2 million cleaning up after hurricanes. Three years later, though, the streets are once again lined with palms and flowering crape myrtles, and residents are more than willing to risk a storm for the town's amenities. "We're away from the tourists, we're close to the beach, and there are really good schools," says Tracy Paone, 39, a stay-at-home mom who lives here with her husband and two children. "To me, it's just right."