Moving to the panhandle

[beachmouse]

The good jobs here often require an active security clearance and some additional connections to the Department of Defense help.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by ndituri1224

Hi all! Apologies since I'm sure this has been asked many times before, with varying circumstances. My husband, 3 young children, and I currently live in Naples, FL. We are looking to move next summer during school break. We're open to anything from Clearwater up to Pensacola. Here are a few things we hope to find:

-CPA work for my husband
-good schools
-no more than 30 or so minutes from the beach
-more relaxed lifestyle
-friendlier people than in SWFL
-nice outdoor facilities....parks, trails, splash pads, etc.
-a little cooler in the fall and winter than here

Thank you for your help!

Niceville High School is one of the best schools down there, and probably one of the most normal towns, as Eglin is a big employer.

Tallahassee has jobs but I would not move around there unless you are from there. I personally do not like P'cola too much but some may.

If you want an actual life outside of the touristy stuff though, I'd say go to coastal Mississippi or Alabama. Bay St. Louis, Ocean Springs in Mississippi, and Fairhope/Spanish Fort area of Alabama. Beaches are brown in MS, and semi-brown in AL, keep that in mind. Nothing like the FL panhandle, those are the best beaches in the country.

I guess it's all about what's most important to you.