Miami vs. Ft. Lauderdale - what's more liveable?

[911_abuser]

As someone intimately involved with law enforcement in Fort Lauderdale I can tell you that ~~~~PER CAPITA~~~~ the crime level is HIGHER in Broward. Dade county has a LOT more people.

Dade county has more crime because it has more people. But you are as likely to have a problem in Broward as you are Dade.

In Dade you avoid little haiti and the downtown/liberty city area and in Broward stay out of any city with "Lauder" in it. This includes Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale and Lauderhill. The only exception is Lauderdale by the Sea.

You hear of a lot more crime from Dade because its bigger and its not as fragmented with different cities as Broward is.

Fort Lauderdale for example has cut its police presence down big time due to budget/law suit concerns. How secure does that make you feel?

And besides its not like there is rural countryside between the two cities. Its like one big city with two epicenters.

 

[MikeJacobs]

We still haven't heard from Juan (Jose lol) who just moved to Miami from up north, but I'll throw my $0.02 in anyway.

I lived in Manhattan for 4 years and Manhattan Beach (CA) before that, and moved here a year ago. I'm more a Californian at heart, but have some perspective on leaving NYC for paradise.

There's more diving in Broward & Palm Beach than Miami-Dade, and because you are on Scubaboard, so our opinions may be somewhat skewed.

I appraise commercial real estate all over Florida so I see quite a bit of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Miami traffic can be incredible, so you'd feel more at home for sure. Broward culture isn't as strong but Miami ain't no NYC either, and Broward is coming along.

Crime is everywhere here - I think the statistics suggest you're more likely to be a victim of violent crime here than in NYC. Don't leave your bike unlocked in your GARAGE lol.

I don't really see a difference in skilled labor employment... maybe Broward has the advantage but if this is a concern get the job first and THEN move nearby. Don't commute here if you can help it.

All this said, as a diver I think you'll enjoy a higher quality of life in Broward. You can live ON THE SAND here for $700 as long as you don't mind a beach cottage type apartment, and shore dive every day. You'll be closer to the bulk of your students once you're an instructor and your training will be closer as well.

Best of luck to you!

 

[AquaDog]

might be an alternative. A tad less crime and traffic congestion although it is a fast growing area. Naples only 60 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Myers only 90 minutes. Right across Alligator Alley. I do most of my personal dives on the east coast. But we do have some good diving here on the west coast too, just further out off-shore.
Good luck in your decision.

 

[aujax]

Holy crap Mike,

that sounds so sweet - living on the beach for $700 and doing shore dives every day!!! almost too good to be true!

i'm thinking though that if I want to find work as an instructor I'll really have to go wherever the work is. Does anyone have an idea how hard it would be to find a dive instructor's job in Broward?

 

[BradB]

Well, Aujax just to give ya a born and bred southern guys perspective the first time I went north of North Carolina was 2 months ago when I drove to New Rochelle(basically NYC) to take my son to Iona College. From the time I hit the NJ Turnpike to within 2 blocks of the Iona campus I was firmly convinced that" No way in hell was I gonna leave my child in this crap hole, darn I wish I had brought my guns". Then we hit an absolutely beautiful campus and a little east and north of that multi-million dollar homes. Two blocks west of that was an area which was similiar to what we in Orlando know as Parramore Avenue. Like Mike I am also a commercial real estate appraiser and the few times I have ventured into that vicinity I am packing either a police escort or a Glock 9mm. It is a weird place and if you can deal with that you should have no problem with south Florida. That is if you are willing to learn to speak Spanish. But seeing as you are from Brooklyn you most likely are already pretty much already there.

Personally, although I might dive south of Pompano Beach you absolutetly could not pay me enough to actually live or work south of that.

 

[aujax]

Thanks for the interesting reply Brad,

Never been over to Iona college, but sure sounds nice. I've lived in West Philadelphia in the ghetto for a couple of years, and now I've been here in Brooklyn for four, albeit in a nice section. Never once felt in danger in either place, but maybe I've just been lucky. I think NYC has become really safe over the years, while the nasty elements have fomented in other parts of the country. There's a lot of Spanish-speaking people here and I've picked up a little - never really bothered me too much. I think it might if virtually everyone around me is speaking it though...

 

[Idigguns]

I live in Dania Beach, just South of Ft. Lauderdale. It's about 10 min. driving North to get to Ft. Lauderdale or 20 min. driving South to get to Miami. I spend most of my time in Ft. Lauderdale, however. It is nice being close to Miami, but I wouldn't want to live there. If you don't speak Spanish, you probably wouldn't want to live there either! I like the beaches better here, and the diving. I also like the biking and kayaking better here.