Karen Burke

bout Vero Beach/Indian River Cost of Living

The cost of living index is based on the composite price of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, clothing and entertainment.

Cost of living indexes will generally be higher in areas that offer access to beaches, culture, arts and recreation. In addition areas, that offer a wider variety of services such as health and education will run higher due to higher wages, and increased quality of living.

Cost of living indexing explanation
A figure of 100 points is used as an average both for the USA and Florida. For example:
Boise Idaho is ranked at a 99
Boston Mass is rated at 127.60
San Francisco at 187.23
Statewide, Florida cities come in from a low of 90 and up.
One way to compare Florida areas to salary requirements
For example-If you were relocating from Portland Oregon (whose rate 1s 120) to Vero Beach, and you currently make $50,000 per year, the formula is as follows
Take the destination index, in this case Vero-122.87 and divide by Portland’s index-120, then multiply by a salary of $50,000. This will give you a figure of $51,195.00 which would be required to make in Vero Beach to have the same quality of life.

See comparable Florida statewide
* Re cost of living--in some areas Real Estate has went up dramatically however costs that factor in such as food, transportation, rents etc have not increased at the same rate-so in some areas, even though housing is expensive, the overall rating may still be low
2007 stats per Sperlings best Places http://www.bestplaces.net/

Bradenton-114
Cape Coral-Ft Myers-108.0
Ft Lauderdale-132.0
Fort Walton-Destin-120
Jacksonville metro-94.0
Key Largo-146.0
Key West-168.0
Miami metro-138.0
Melbourne-92.72
Orlando metro-94.0
Palm Bay-84.56
Palm Coast-Flagler-125.01
Panama City-86.35
Pensacola metro-82.0
Sarasota-108.75
Tampa 94.60
St Pete-Clearwater-91.58
Vero-Beach Indian River-122.87
West Palm Beach metro-112.05
(Population Weighted-State Average=100
See national comparisons
Cost of living (100 = nationwide average

Karen Burke
REALTOR®
ABR®
Peters Cook & Company
1401 A1A
Vero Beach, Fl. 32963
Phone 772-532-8896
Fax 772-234-8112
E-mail

yourverobeachagent.com
ABR Accredited Buyer
Representative

Sebastian Florida

The City of Sebastian, Florida is located in Indian River County approximately midway through the east coast of the Florida Peninsula between Melbourne and Vero Beach in an area known as the Treasure Coast. It is recognized as the home of Pelican Island, the first designated wildlife refuge in the United States, a Millennium City, and a Tree City USA.
The City of Sebastian was first incorporated as the Town of Sebastian in 1924. Current population is approximately 20,000. The City has seen rapid growth in the past several years and it is anticipated to continue. The City of Sebastian boasts beautiful parks, public and private elementary schools, middle schools, and a high school just outside of its limits, an unobstructed view of the intra-coastal waterway in the Indian River Lagoon along its dazzling riverfront district, close proximity to Atlantic beaches, a year round average temperature of 73.4 degrees, a police department, shops and restaurants, many churches, several City festivals each year, monthly arts and crafts shows, concerts in the park, a municipal golf course and airport, and a central location with easy access to I-95 and the Florida Turnpike.

For more info please see http://www.cityofsebastian.org/

Karen Burke
REALTOR®
ABR®
Peters Cook & Company
1401 A1A
Vero Beach, Fl. 32963
Phone 772-532-8896
Fax 772-234-8112
E-mail

yourverobeachagent.com
ABR Accredited Buyer
Representative

AUTOMOBILE
These major north/south routes are important arteries that connect a number of communities: Titusville in the north; Cocoa , Cocoa Beach and Rockledge in central Brevard; and Melbourne, Melbourne Beach and Palm Bay in the south
Interstate 95 skirts Brevard County on its north/south trip from Maine to Miami. Interstates & Highways

Running from Maine to Miami, I-95 is the most heavily traveled north-south interstate on the East Coast, and for the convenience of businesses and residents alike, it runs directly through Brevard County.
State Road A1A along the coastline.
US1 In the barrier islands (Melbourne Beach to Port Canaveral.
East West routes
State Road 405 to the north, which traverses the NASA Causeway to the space center

S.R. 528 (the Beeline Expressway) in the center of the county. For goods and persons traveling to Orlando, Tampa and all points west, SR- 528 directly links to other major Florida highways like I-4 and the Florida Turnpike.
S.R. 524 (the Bennett Causeway), merges with the Beeline, crosses the Indian River to Merritt Island and then the Banana River to the town of Cape Canaveral and Port Canaveral.
State Roads 502 (Barnes Boulevard) and 509 (Wickham Road) serve Vierra and Melbourne.
S.R. 518, connects Melbourne with the beach communities of Indian Harbour, Canova, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach.
S.R. 509 travels north/south through the county's southern section and connects with Eau Gallie Boulevard.
Airlines

At least five airlines serve passengers at Melbourne International Airport. Melbourne’s main carrier is Delta with service to Atlanta, Wash DC and New York/
Orlando International, is just 50 miles and about 45 minutes away via the Beeline Expressway (S.R. 528). From either place you can fly almost anywhere.
Smaller executive airports are scattered around the region, including the Space Center Executive Airport.
Cruise ships

The state's third-largest cruise-passenger port, Port Canaveral, also handles lots of space-related and commercial cargo at its deep-water facility. The East Coast Railroad carries freight by rail. Greyhound buses also provide transportation in the county.

Rail Service

Running directly through Brevard County, Florida’s East Coast Railway connects with Norfolk Southern and CSX and provides another ground-based transportation option for business.
There are Amtrak stations located in Delray beach, Tampa and Jacksonville.
There is also a unique car Auto Train (Amtrak) located in Sanford Florida.
The Auto Train offers rail transportation for passengers and their personal vehicles between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando.
Passengers are allowed to take their automobile, small van, light duty truck, or motorcycle when they travel north or south.
Wide coach seats or private first-class sleeping compartments and dining cars and meals are offered.
Reservations required. See your travel agent, call 1-800-USA-RAIL, 1-877-SKIP-I-95, or visit tickets.amtrak.com for reservations and fare information.
In conclusion, whatever mode of transportation you need, be it for personal or for business, Melbourne is in a great location and has the transportation options.

For more information please go to http://www.yourverobeachagent.com/transportation.html

Flying In?
Vero Beach and Sebastian each have muncipal airports that are open to general aviation traffic. If you are flying in by private plane, please don't depend on high density or skyscrapers to guide your way. More likely you'll just see the sea, the river and lots of tree tops!
The Vero Beach Municipal Airport received the 1995 General Aviation Airport of the Year Award from the Florida Department of Transportation. The winning airport is selected based upon accomplishments in the areas of airport facilities improvements, airfield safety and security, aesthetics, and management. Commercial air service is available from Melbourne, (located 25 miles north of Sebastian), Orlando or West Palm Beach.

One if by land...
Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 both provide north/south travelers access to the eastern side of the county on the mainland. Route A1A runs the entire length of the barrier island, from Brevard County in the north (Sebastian Inlet) to St. Lucie County in the south (north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet).
Two if by Sea...
The Indian River Lagoon, a part of the Intracoastal waterway, is the "access by sea". Cruise on in from either the Sebastian or Ft. Pierce Inlets. To make life easier on both yachtsmen and motorists, a new high span bridge opened in Vero Beach in the summer of 1995 replacing the drawbridge.
Our county is sometimes discovered by international or out-of-state yachtsmen who arrive via the Indian River. It's been known to happen that some who put into port for a night fall under the spell of our area and become part-time or permanent residents.

No matter how you arrive, there, on the opposite shore will be someone to make you feel welcome in Indian River County.

For more information please go to http://www.yourverobeachagent.com