200 years ago, Tallahassee officially became the top city in Florida.
For thousands of years before that, though, the area was occupied by indigenous tribes.
It wasn’t until the 1600s that the Spanish claimed this part of North America.
However, famed explorer Hernando de Soto came upon what is now Tallahassee in the late 1530s.
Tallahassee is a Native American word meaning “old town” from the Creek tribe.
General Andrew Jackson, before he was president, pushed out tribal members by burning their establishment to the ground.
This wouldn’t be the last time Jackson took aim at the Native people.
Unfortunately, the numbers never rebounded.
That’s why, today, half the population is of European descent.
While the history of the city could easily be considered dark, the present is much more bright.
Come along with us as we discuss the pros and cons of living in Tallahassee, FL.
Contents
Pros of Living in Tallahassee, FL
1. Cost of Living
There aren’t a ton of capital cities that are affordable to live in.
Tallahassee just so happens to be on that list.
The first reason is housing prices.
Compared to other cities in the state, the homes are below-average pricing.
That offers many the opportunity to live in a bustling city without it eating up their entire paycheck.
Also, things like electricity, water, and groceries are below average for Florida.
That’s not to mention the discounts locals get at some attractions and theme parks.
2. Job Opportunities
A big bonus of living in Tallahassee is the diverse opportunities to start or expand on a career.
Since it’s a capital, there are a lot of businesses with a presence.
For starters, this is where the government of Florida is headquartered.
So, jobs working for the state are in abundance.
Interested in education?
With two major colleges in town with all kinds of openings.
How about healthcare?
There are multiple hospitals with a significant amount of need.
These are state-of-the-art hospitals with a multitude of specialties.
That only scratches the surface of the ways to make money here.
3. Vitamin D
They don’t call Florida the Sunshine State for anything.
Many move here to soak up the sun without also soaking up an overwhelming amount of people.
Tallahassee has the benefit of having the resources of a big city but avoiding an influx of tourists and spring breakers.
Yet, citizens are close enough to take a quick drive to the beach.
Thanks to that proximity, the weather is relatively nice all year.
Of course, that means no snow days for the kids.
But that also means they don’t have to shovel snow.
4. Higher Education
Speaking of kids, if you live here, you get to pay a smaller tuition if they grow up and attend one of the local higher education institutions.
There are four-year universities, such as Florida State University as well as two-year colleges like Tallahassee Community College.
As far as interests go, there’s a wide range of subjects that can be majored in across a variety of schools.
That’s a smart way for the city to keep talent around.
5. Outdoor Activities
Tallahassee is 103 miles and there’s almost one park for each one.
Overall, there are 94 parks that take up 4,000 acres of land.
That includes 70 miles of walking trails.
Voted the top activity is St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
SMNWR showcases local fauna and flora in their natural habitat.
Another place to learn and take in some rays is the Tallahassee Museum.
This is an open-air zoo full of species that thrive in this area.
6. Restaurant Variety
If you’re a foodie, Tallahassee is definitely here to please.
Every type of food you can think of is represented in the downtown and suburban sprawl.
Hungry diners can choose from luxury restaurants and cheap eats.
Try Shula’s 347 Grill for some high-end steak or Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack for some budget-friendly burgers and seafood.
7. Nightlife
Tallahassee is kind of in the middle of nowhere, Florida.
There is a large college-age population, though.
So, perhaps naturally, it makes sense that someone saw a business opportunity.
Nestled downtown is a nightlife scene that is one to be rivaled with.
There’s entertainment, breweries, and plenty of chances to dance.
Let’s not leave out places to get your game on.
Whatever way you get your party started, there’s likely a place to cater to it.
8. Cultural Scene
There’s history and culture represented here in a number of sites.
For one, there are several places celebrating African-American heritage, such as Frenchtown and the Grove Museum.
Then, Ash Gallery and Railroad Square Art District show off art from more than 50 artists inspired by life and beyond.
To find out more about the cultural events, check out Tallahassee’s tourism website.
Cons of Living in Tallahassee, FL
1. Population
Tallahassee isn’t a huge capital, which is great for residents.
The thing is, people from other areas have figured that out.
In the past 30 years, the population has doubled.
That may seem like a lot of time, but it’s hard to accommodate with city planning.
It’s causing havoc for locals who are becoming resentful of a steady influx of movers.
2. Crime Rates
As with every capital, crime lurks around the corner.
The violent crime rate in Florida is at 4 per 1,000 but in Tallahassee, the rate is doubled.
As far as property crime goes, that rate is almost doubled, too.
You’re much more likely to be a victim of a property crime than a violent one if that’s any consolation.
3. Limited Public Transportation
We start off here by giving kudos to the city for at least having a form of public transport.
As Tallahassee isn’t a walkable city, it helps that the bus system goes somewhere.
It could be more extensive and reliable, though.
4. Natural Disasters
When it comes to things like tropical storms, Tallahassee is in a better location than many cities lining the coast.
While direct hits are less frequent, this Floridian stronghold does still come in contact with dangerous weather.
5. Location
The location might be good for avoiding the brunt of hurricanes, it’s otherwise kind of awkward.
Tallahassee isn’t particularly close to any other city.
In fact, it’s closer to the Georgia border than it is to anything notable.
You’re unlikely to visit when all the tourist attractions are in a different part of the state.
6. College Town
Of course, this con is heavily dependent upon perspective.
For students, there are activities, nightlife, and proximity to beaches.
For everyone else, it can be annoying to have an influx of 20-somethings at all times who can be quite rambunctious.
Because it’s a college town, Tallahassee more or less shuts down in the summer.
That has an impact on when things are open for locals.
7. Summer
The weather can be a pro but sometimes the summer can be a lot to deal with.
Many flock here for the warm weather, since it doesn’t get overly heated.
However, the humidity can be tough to bear if you aren’t used to it.
Who wants to be walking around sweaty for months on end?
8. Small Airport
You might think with the state government meeting here that the airport would be substantial.
Similar to another capital, Little Rock, Tallahassee’s airport is lacking.
Technically, it says international but that’s more or less a joke.
Few flights going anywhere substantial would be a buzzkill for frequent flyers.
Pros and Cons of Living in Tallahassee, FL – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Tallahassee, FL | Cons of Living in Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|
| 1. Cost of Living | 1. Population |
| 2. Job Opportunities | 2. Crime Rates |
| 3. Vitamin D | 3. Limited Public Transportation |
| 4. Higher Education | 4. Natural Disasters |
| 5. Outdoor Activities | 5. Location |
| 6. Restaurant Variety | 6. College Town |
| 7. Nightlife | 7. Summer |
| 8. Cultural Scene | 8. Small Airport |
Tallahassee Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Tallahassee Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tallahassee known for?
To start with, it’s the capital of Florida.
With Tallahassee not even being in the top five most populated cities of Florida, many find it a surprise to learn this city just over the border of Georgia is the capital.
Even though it can be a strange place to associate with the most important place in the state, there’s more going on than you may realize.
For example, Tallahassee is a college town.
Florida State University, FSU, calls the capital home.
Florida A&M University also shares the city.
This brings an influx of people to town at various times of year for college sports and even campus tours.
For tourists, Tallahassee is known for having the most hills in all of Florida.
Hiking enthusiasts are fans, to say the least.
How far is Tallahassee from the beach?
It’s not uncommon for someone unfamiliar with the terrain to assume practically all of Florida is beachfront property.
To be fair, the state is long and narrow with as much as 8,400 miles of coastline.
Even so, that still leaves quite a bit of inland towns.
With that being said, there really isn’t anywhere that is beyond a short drive to the ocean.
So, where does Tallahassee fall in line?
The closest major body of water is the Gulf of Mexico, 22 miles south.
If Shell Point Beach isn’t popping enough, locals often drive two hours west to Panama City Beach.
Panama City is a major attraction for college students, so that’s an option depending on what you’re looking for in a beach trip.
Is Tallahassee a good place to retire?
From a financial standpoint, Tallahassee would be a wise choice for retirement.
In fact, it was recently ranked as one of the best cities to retire in by a major publication.
The first reason is it gives off small-town vibes despite being a major city.
That’s because it’s not a huge city but because it is a capital, there’s a lot going on and plenty to see.
Thanks to that, on average, it’s cheaper to live here than other big Florida cities.
Tallahassee offers city appeal and resources without the negative parts of being an urban nightmare.
Housing prices are more affordable than in other capital cities, the weather is good for your bones, and the location isn’t close enough to the water to be directly impacted by natural disasters.
What's the ethnic breakdown of Tallahassee?
This northern Floridian location is not overwhelmingly white but perhaps not as diverse as expected.
To start, the largest demo is Caucasian at just a smidgeon over 53%.
Next are African Americans who take up around 36% of the pie.
7% of the city is Hispanic.
4% are Asian.
Of course, that’s a simplification of the numbers.
That doesn’t take into account those of mixed ancestry or anyone who falls into a group that isn’t represented due to low numbers.
Although it’s nice to see some diversity, those numbers are not necessarily representative of Florida as a whole.
For example, the southern tip of the state has a Hispanic population of around 70%.
Is Tallahassee more liberal than other parts of Florida?
Tallahassee would be comparable to Austin, in this regard.
Austin is the unassuming capital of Texas and is quite liberal compared to the very conservative majority of the state.
Like Austin, Tallahassee has more than one higher education institute and a large population of young adults.
As is typical of this demographic, that tends to sway the votes and opinions more left than right.
When it comes to election time, Florida can count on Tallahassee as leaning heavily Democrat while the state often has a majority of Republican votes.
Tallahassee offers affordable living and diverse job opportunities, but the city’s population growth has caused some issues with traffic and crime rates.
I spent a year in Tallahassee, and the friendly locals and vibrant college atmosphere made it a memorable experience. The cost of living was a big plus, but the traffic congestion and occasional tropical storms were drawbacks. If you enjoy a laid-back lifestyle with access to outdoor activities and cultural events, Tallahassee might be a great fit for you.
Tallahassee offers a rich blend of cultural experiences, from its historic sites to the lively arts scene. The cost of living is relatively reasonable, making it an attractive option for many.