Though it is the state capitol of Florida, Tallahassee has more in common with cities in Georgia than it does with other major Florida cities like Miami and Tampa. Waterfront in Tallahassee is river, not ocean. The swampy Everglades are replaced with the cool shade trees of the Apalachicola National Forest, and the workforce is employed primarily in computer and administration trades rather than in tourism and hospitality. "Tallaclassy" as the city is colloquially known, is an elegant city that nearly 170,000 people call home. It's been rated among the top college towns in America for both students and adults and has some of the best city parks in the country.

Such an elegant city would be expected to have a high cost of living and steep real estate prices, but if you're among the many people who are considering a move to Tallahassee, you'll be happy to know that's not the case here at all. The cost of living is actually twelve points below the national average and the housing prices trail the Florida average by about $30,000. The lack of northern snowbirds and tourists snapping up the choicest condos and rental properties has made it much easier and more affordable for permanent residents to find housing to suit their budgets.

As to what sort of housing you might find in Tallahassee, the answer is: all kinds. Tallahassee has a developed downtown area with condos and upscale apartments for professionals, college neighborhoods with plenty of affordable flats for students, and lots of single family homes in a variety of styles to suit anyone who'd like a little extra space. Housing styles occupy all points on the architectural spectrum from historic homes in the Italianate, Victorian, Antibellum, and Southern Vernacular style to brand new town houses and McMansions popular with suburbanites.

A Tallahassee real estate agent is the best person to ask for advice about neighborhoods, as there are over forty of them, each with its own character and budget range. Generally, though, some of Tallahassee's most unique neighborhoods include Frenchtown, a historic neighborhood where you can find the best examples of Southern Vernacular house styles and a great deal on a fixer-upper, and Southwood, which is like a small town in the midst of a big city. The most popular neighborhoods with home buyers tend to be new subdivisions in the Killearn Lakes area.