"The jewel of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island's soft white beaches overlook the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico." - Trip Advisor
Beloved by tourists and locals alike for its pristine beauty, Marco Island is a touch of unsullied paradise on the coast of southwest Florida. 14,000 people call Marco Island home year-round, although the population swells to double that figure during the winter and vacation months. If you're planning on living in Marco Island, you'd better like an abundance of sunshine and average winter afternoon temperatures hovering in the mid-60s...but then again, who wouldn't? There are a million reasons why this restful spot was crowned as one of the country's top three beaches by Trip Advisor in 2013. And the locals know these reasons better than anyone.
Paradise comes at a cost and locals are more than happy to pay it
"The jewel of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island's soft white beaches overlook the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico." - Trip Advisor
Beloved by tourists and locals alike for its pristine beauty, Marco Island is a touch of unsullied paradise on the coast of southwest Florida. 14,000 people call Marco Island home year-round, although the population swells to double that figure during the winter and vacation months. If you're planning on living in Marco Island, you'd better like an abundance of sunshine and average winter afternoon temperatures hovering in the mid-60s...but then again, who wouldn't? There are a million reasons why this restful spot was crowned as one of the country's top three beaches by Trip Advisor in 2013. And the locals know these reasons better than anyone.
Moving to Marco Island
Paradise comes at a cost and locals are more than happy to pay it. Home prices here are steep -- a whopping triple the national average, in fact -- and the rents aren't exactly going to make you do cartwheels. But Marco Island has plenty of other cartwheel-worthy attributes, including terrific air quality and consistently low crime rates. Furthermore, Marco Island condo rentals abound, as do housing for rent opportunities. So while apartment hunters in Marco Island should be prepared to pay big bucks for sought after living spaces in this coastal paradise, the trade-off is an exceptional quality of living well worth the price.
Depending on the season -- summers in particular are tough without advance notice -- it can be even harder to find an apartment. Know what you're looking for and be prepared to act fast. Additionally, you can accelerate the process by having all of your documentation on hand -- from references to your completed rental form. And don't forget your checkbook. If you do find something you love, you'll want to put down that security deposit to make it yours.
Neighborhoods in Marco Island
It's fair to say there are no bad neighborhoods in Marco Island -- just nice and nicer. Two popular areas to call home in Marco Island include the following:
Old Marco Village: This area bustles with a diverse combination of tourists and locals all enjoying easy access to the island's offerings, from premiere restaurants to water sports.
Tigertail Beach: This neighborhood is home to the eponymous Tigertail Beach, a beloved spot for natives and visitors alike. Furnished apartments are common in Marco Island -- whether you're looking for a studio for rent or two-bedroom apartment.
Living in Marco Island
There's no point in talking about Marco Island without acknowledging its beaches. Beach bums will love getting their sun on at Tigertail Beach or South Marco Beach. Each has their own unique flavor and offers a range of activities from bird watching to shell collecting. While Marco Island gives those lucky enough to live here the perfect excuse to lay in the sun, motivated fitness enthusiasts can enjoy water sports, including boating, snorkeling, swimming and parasailing. Landlubbers, meanwhile, may prefer biking, golfing and tennis.
Those looking for some therapy of the retail variety can head to one of the two upscale dining and shopping complexes, The Esplanade or Marco Town Center Mall. If you love the nightlife and love to boogie, Marco Island offers plenty of that thanks to a vibrant nightclub scene, but if you prefer to watch a different kind of wildlife in action, dolphins (and baby dolphins!), sea turtles and exotic birds can all be spotted in and around Marco Island's coastal waters.
While Marco Island may stretch your budget, it will also afford you access to an idyllic environment. In short, you would be hard-pressed to find a more relaxing spot to call home.
