Tight-knit beach community along the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon
Snowbirds and permanent residents flock to Floridana Beach, a quaint community south of Melbourne on Florida’s Space Coast. The primarily residential neighborhood is on a barrier island between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Developed in 1951, Floridana Beach offers upscale coastal cottages and oceanfront villas, with the beach steps away in one direction and the Indian River and a nature preserve in the other. Highly ranked schools and aerospace jobs are also drawing homebuyers. “People here can enjoy a small-town mellow beach surfer lifestyle without the drama of city life," says Gibbs Baum, a Broker at One Sotheby's International Realty and a resident of the area. The call of the waves is what brought Barbara Van Dam and her family to Floridana Beach. “My husband was a surfer, and my kids are all surfers. In college, my husband would visit his mother in Pompano Beach and always stop here to surf,” says Van Dam, who originally moved there in 1976. “He knew since then he wanted to live in this area.” Van Dam lived in Floridana Beach until 1981, when she moved 1 mile north to Melbourne Shores. However, she owns Melbourne Beach Properties, Inc., which has an office in the community, where she’s been selling since 1978. “For us, it was amazing to live by the beach with no commercial activity,” she says. “There’s still none, except my office at the blinking traffic light, a gas station and a golf cart store.”
Steps from the ocean and surrounded by a nature preserve
With sand and the ocean steps from their doors, residents can spend days surfing, swimming and boating. "Boaters here explore the little islands that pop up during low tide,” Baum says. “People pull up on the beach to drink and hang out, and some do turtle volunteer work in the area." The 500-acre Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park hugs the community’s western side and is popular for hiking, biking and boating on the river. South Beach Community Park, recently renamed Nancy Higgs Park, offers a shaded playground, a dog park, a pond and trails. Its community center has a gym and provides programs for children and adults. Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is directly north and is the country’s most significant Loggerhead sea turtle nesting site, providing nesting habitats for one-fourth of the country’s sea turtles. “This is the second largest sea turtle nesting area in the Western Hemisphere,” says Van Dam. “The turtles come back to the beach where they were born, and you can see them come up at night. They lay about 150 eggs each time.” It also includes trails, kayak launches and the Barrier Island Sanctuary. Sebastian Inlet State Park is 7 miles south and is a hot spot for fishing and surfing. Surfers come from around the world to ride “First Peak” and “Monster Hole,” two spots on the inlet’s south side that create large waves. “Every four years, Sebastian holds a national surfing contest, one of only four places in the United States,” Van Dam says. “There are also a lot of little contests in between.”
Sebastian Inlet State Park offers visitors activities on the water.
Visitors can wander through trails that go through lush greenery at Bonsteel Park.
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Coastal cottages and million-dollar beachfront mansions
Floridana Beach is lined with coconut and royal palms and a canopy of mangroves. The neighborhood offers 400 single-family homes and vacation rentals. Architectural styles include ramblers, multi-story coastal contemporary dwellings, Mediterranean-inspired villas and custom builds. Homebuyers can also purchase plots of land. Most were built in the early 1950s, but there are also newer builds, constructed between 2020 and 2024, which start in the millions. Prices range from the mid-$500,000s for a three-bedroom to more than $5 million for a four- or five-bedroom beachfront estate. “All of the oceanfront housing is single-family,” Van Dam says. “It’s not a cookie-cutter community; they’re very eclectic.” Property sizes average between 1,200 square feet and 4,000 square feet. Most dwellings have multicar garages and in-ground pools. Lot sizes average a quarter acre, but many span more than an acre. Higher-end beach houses have resort-style backyards, oceanfront balconies and private walkways to the beach. Rental properties include two-bedroom condos, cottages and oceanfront multi-story properties. “There’s a three-month minimum for rentals,” Van Dam says. The area is prone to hurricanes, floods and high winds, so properties have hurricane glass, storm shutters, concrete foundations and tiles. Residents are within walking distance of public beach access points, the state park and a community center. Amenities include an oceanfront clubhouse, a basketball court and a beach park. “There are two 10-foot paths on either end of the subdivision, so everyone has access to the beach,” Van Dam says. There’s no homeowners’ association, but the community has a civic association. Membership is voluntary but required for clubhouse and beach access. Floridana Beach has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1/10, lower than the national average of 4.
Colorful ranch-style properties are common here.
Water-front Mediterranean-inspired properties line the streets.
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Close to mom-and-pop restaurants
Most shopping and dining options are along South Highway A1A. Anchored by Publix, Driftwood Plaza is 5 miles north and provides several restaurants, like Cheers on the Beach Pub and Grill. A staple for over 20 years, the eatery serves burgers, sandwiches and fish and chips. Café Coconut Cove is an upscale German restaurant with ocean views. Taste of the Islands offers diverse Caribbean and Latin cuisine. Indialantic Shopping Center is 10 miles north for more options. “The England Eatery has been here since we moved here, and it's still popular,” Van Dam says.
Cheers on the Beach Pub and Grill is where locals congregates for lively moments.
Whitey's Bait and Tackle is where the neighborhood gears up for fishing.
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Top schools in Florida Beach area
Brevard Public Schools serves the area and is the eighth-best district for athletes, according to Niche. Kids can attend the A-minus-rated Gemini Elementary, which offers ecology programs, followed by Herbert C. Hoover Middle, which has a B-plus Niche rating. Students can finish their education at Melbourne Senior High School, which scores an A-minus and offers a robotics club and basketball and soccer teams.
Gemini Elementary School is a highly rated, public school located in Melbourne Beach.
Herbert C. Hoover Middle School inspires students value education and build their own futures.
Melbourne High School offers a prestige Academy of Business and Finance program.
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A community that celebrates
Floridana Beach has a year-round South Beach Community Market, which occurs monthly at the community center. The Floridana Beach Civic Association hosts various events at its clubhouse, including a Fourth of July parade, an Easter party in April and a Christmas party and caroling in December. “The Fourth of July party is led by a fire truck, and kids decorate their bikes and ride along,” says Van Dam. “On Halloween, they do street parties where people have things in their driveways.” The group also provides youth and neighbor outreach programs, art classes and a church service at the clubhouse. “They’re very close, and everyone’s very friendly,” she says. “That’s what people like about it. Kids will grow up here, go to college and then come back. It’s like an old-fashioned village.”
Hot summers and touristy springs
The neighborhood's subtropical climate is a large part of its appeal. It's known for very mild winters and hot, humid summers. The city overall is susceptible to hurricanes. January through March are peak tourism times.
Thirteen miles from Downtown Melbourne
While the community is walkable, major thoroughfares provide access to the rest of the island and the mainland. South Highway A1A runs along Floridana Beach’s eastern edge, connecting to the Melbourne Causeway, three bridges that link the island with Melbourne. The bridges are part of U.S. Route 192, connecting to Highway 1, providing access to the rest of the area. Downtown Melbourne is 13 miles away, and Melbourne Orlando International Airport is 16 miles away. There is no public transit service in the community. Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center is the closest hospital, 15 miles west.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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Parks in this Area
Juan Ponce de Leon Landing
Fishing
Picnic Area
Beach
Bonsteel Park
South Beach Community Park
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Long Point Park
End Of North Jetty
Transit
Airport
Melbourne Orlando International
39 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Floridana Beach
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Floridana Beach, Melbourne sell after 89 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Floridana Beach, Melbourne over the last 12 months is $886,585, down 32% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Marly And David Simmons Team,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
5,456
Median Age
63
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
10.9%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
46.3%
Significantly above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$103,392
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$124,756
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.2%
College Graduates
45.2%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
13.2%
% Population in Labor Force
36.8%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
51''
Average Winter Low Temperature
54°F
Average Summer High Temperature
91°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
37/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
15/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
