Well up on the Atlantic coast of Florida 100 miles south of Jacksonville, New Smyrna Beach has much to offer. Residents, whether young families or retirees, enjoy home-town charm, delightfully temperate weather all year, plenty of sunshine, pristine beaches, and beautiful waterways. A vibrant community, the city has a beachside shopping district and a historic downtown as well as numerous parks and recreational opportunities.

New Smyrna Then and Now

New Smyrna's history is rich indeed, especially for the youngest of the eastern seaboard states, and in fact unique. In 1768 a Scottish surgeon and entrepreneur got a grant from the British crown to found a colony with an eye to commercial production of corn, indigo, rice, cotton, and hemp. The singular aspect of the experiment--which lasted until 1777--was that no fewer than 1,225 settlers arrived at the site on the west bank of the Indian River.

Today New Smyrna remains an ideal place to live, work, and play, if for slightly different reasons than 250 years ago. The city limits encompass not quite 28 square miles just 15 miles south of Daytona Beach, four hospitals and medical centers, two municipal airports, five primary and middle schools, and one high school. At the last census, New Smyrna's population tallied out at 21,000 year-round residents, median age 53.

Real estate is surprisingly affordable for a beach resort. The outdated median house value at the last census was $101,000. Selling prices today run from about $80,000 to $800,000, depending on whether you're looking at a condominium or townhouse or a single-family home. However, 28 square miles is a fair stretch of territory, which makes finding a local real estate agent to help navigate the neighborhoods and narrow the focus on home style all the more important.