Most Populated Cities in Florida for Business Opportunities

Jacksonville is the most populated city in Florida. Furthermore, it also falls on the list of most populous cities in the US. With over 997K people, The ‘Bold New City of the South’ kicked out Austin, Texas, to grab the tenth spot not too long ago.

Having the shortened nickname Jax, its average and median household income are $91,636 and $70,533 respectively. While all types of businesses can succeed there, Jacksonville’s Office of Economic Development has targeted seven significant sectors, with some of them being Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technologies (IT), Finance, and Insurance.

Formerly, the beautiful city had only one area code, 904, and was assigned 324 later. 

Miami is the second most populous city in Florida and has 460K plus people living there. The Magic City’s employment rate is 64%, and the median household income is $60,989.

Tourism & Hospitality, Real Estate & Construction, Aviation & Aerospace, International Trade, Technology & Startups, and Maritime Services are some of Miami’s major business industries. Because of the growing population and demand, multiple area codes, 305, 786, and 645, were introduced in 2023.

Tampa is third on our list with a 408K+ population. It is a city in Tampa Bay that is popular for its cultural offerings and museums, such as the Tampa Museum of Art and Glazer Children’s Museum.

Also known as The Big Guava, Tampa’s appropriate tax structure, robust labor force, and development incentives make it a favorable place for doing business. The city’s Economic Development Council targets mostly Financial & Professional Services, Logistics & Distribution, and Life Sciences & Healthcare industries, among others.

Since the 813 area code was running out of numbers, the Florida Public Service Commission added a new area code, 656, for Tampa in 2022.

Orlando has over 325K people and is fourth on our list of most populated cities in Florida. Well, from 2018 to 2019, 30% of its population was organic, as the birth rate outnumbered the death rate.

Famous as the ‘Theme Park Capital of the World,’ Healthcare, IT, Finance, and Aerospace are other booming industries besides Tourism in Orlando. It has a 67.7% employment rate and a $65,654 median household income.

Represented by 407 and 689 area codes, it also has an overlay area code, 321. 

With over 264K residents, St. Petersburg ranks 5th among the most populous cities in Florida. Similar to Tampa, it is also a part of the Tampa Bay Area.

Covered by the 727 area code, the Sunshine City’s unemployment rate is just 4.6%, less than the US average of 6%. Alongside Tourism, which generates over $2 billion annually in direct revenue, some of St. Petersburg’s prospering industries are Financial Services, Marine Science, Medical Technologies, and IT.

St. Pete has a median household income of $69,941 and a 60% employment rate.
 

Port St. Lucie has more than 257K people and is on the 6th of our list. Located on Florida’s Central East Coast, some of its famous attractions include top-notch golf courses, restaurants, nature preserves, and parks.

Popular as ‘A City for All Ages,’ Port St. Lucie’s economic scenario is transforming as its population grows. While Health Care Services are among the top, its other well-performing industries are Hospitality & Food Services, Retail Trade, and Customer Service.

772 area code’s heart, Port St. Lucie, is also one of the best places to live in Florida.

7th on our list, Cape Coral has a population of around 234K. It has 400 miles of canals, making it a proper boating destination.

Being the largest city in South Florida, it has 9K plus businesses focusing on different industries, mainly Technology & Biotechnology, Medical & Healthcare Operations, and Corporate Headquarters. Cape Coral has a 56.8% employment rate and a median household income of $76,991.

Among the places covered by area code 239, its prime city is Cape Coral.

Hialeah ranks 8th on our list of most populated cities in Florida, with a population of 220K residents. It has many bustling street markets to get clothing, fresh produce and household goods.

The ‘City of Progress’ also has a project called the “City of Hialeah 2050 Masterplan,” which is aligned for the next quarter of a century and targets all types of enterprises. In the past, the cloth and manufacturing industries were prevalent, but they have been replaced by technology and electronic businesses now.  

Hialeah shares its area codes 305 and 786 with Miami.

Tallahassee’s population exceeds 203K and is the ninth most populous city in the Sunshine State. Represented by the area codes 448 and 850, it is Florida’s state capital.

Nicknamed Tally, it has a stable economy with a median household income of $53,867 and a high employment rate of 63.7%. Some major industries in the ever-growing city are Healthcare, Education, Tech & Startups, and Government.

Moreover, because of its high technology centers, Tallahassee is at times called “Silicon Valley South.”

With over 184K people, Fort Lauderdale is the 10th most populated city in Florida. Like Cape Coral, it has 165 miles of waterways and earned the nickname “Venice of America.”

Covered by the 954 area code, Fort Lauderdale has a vibrant job market. Tourism & Hospitality, Maritime & Marine, Healthcare, Real Estate and Construction are some of the key booming industries there. Compared to other cities in Florida, its median household income, $81,544, is higher.

Looking at the median household income and employment rates, it is no wonder the cities mentioned above have the highest populations in Florida. Plus, most people work in similar industries like Manufacturing, Hospitality, Healthcare, and IT across the state.

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