Daytona Beach has the lowest median asking price of any city in this series and the shortest commute in the region, and it also has the lowest household incomes. All three of those facts are connected, and which one matters most depends entirely on whether you are bringing your income with you. Below is what the numbers say, and who should look at Port Orange instead.
Who Daytona Beach Fits, and Who It Doesn't
Strong fit: buyers who want to be near the beach at a price that still exists in this state; 55+ buyers, since Latitude Margaritaville and the communities out by the Speedway were built for exactly that; remote workers and anyone who brings their income with them, because the shortest commute in the region only helps if you are not competing in the local job market; investors working at lower entry prices than anywhere else in the four counties.
Weaker fit: buyers who need a strong local job market rather than a remote one; anyone who may need to sell quickly, because homes here take noticeably longer to go under contract than in the metro; families set on a specific top-rated school zone; anyone who would rather not plan around race weeks and Bike Week.
Still deciding between towns? We pulled the closed sales around a $350,000 budget and put Daytona Beach side by side with its neighbors: what $350,000 actually buys in each. Square footage, bedrooms, year built, and how many came with a pool.
Where Is Daytona Beach, and What Makes It Different?
Daytona sits at the east end of I-4, which is the single fact that shapes daily life here. Orlando is a straight run inland, the beach is a few minutes east of most addresses, and the mean commute of 21.1 minutes is the shortest of any city in this series because most people who live here also work here.
Daytona Beach Housing Market Snapshot (2026)
As of July 2026, the median sale price in Daytona Beach is $305,000, up 14.88% year over year across 63 closed sales, and the typical home went under contract in 53 days. That median rests on 63 closed sales, which is a small sample, so read the year-over-year move as directional rather than precise. There are 532 active residential listings as of August 30, 2026, with a median asking price of $288,000, or $226 per square foot.
Best Neighborhoods in Daytona Beach, FL: Communities to Know
Daytona Beach is really several markets that share a name. The beachside, the mainland, and the newer construction out along the LPGA and Speedway corridor price and behave completely differently.
- Latitude, Latitude Margaritaville, the large 55-plus community on the west side
- Legends Preserve, newer construction near the LPGA corridor
- Grande Champion, newer construction in the same 32124 pocket
- Pelican Bay, an established golf community on the south side
- Vineyards, mainland, closer to the 32117 side of town
The beachside condos and older single family homes east of the Halifax River are a separate market again, with insurance and age of construction driving cost far more than square footage does.
Daytona Beach vs. Port Orange: The Honest Comparison
| Daytona Beach | Port Orange | |
|---|---|---|
| Median asking price | $288,000 | $367,000 |
| Median price per square foot | $226 | $215 |
| Mean commute | 21.1 minutes | 25.3 minutes |
| Median household income | $50,130 | $68,955 |
| Population | 75,924 | 63,818 |
Port Orange costs more per home and pays its residents more. Daytona Beach is the cheaper entry and the shorter drive. Which one is right depends on whether your income is local or portable.
Schools, Commute, and Day-to-Day Life
Volusia County Schools serves the city, and assignment varies by address rather than by city name, so confirm the zoning for the specific property before you buy on a school reputation.
Mean travel time to work is 21.1 minutes, against 25.3 from Port Orange.
Is Daytona Beach, FL Safe?
Daytona Beach's reported violent crime rate runs above the Florida average, and the context matters more than the figure. Rates are calculated against resident population, while the offense count includes everyone passing through, and this is a city whose daily population is well above the 75,924 people who live here.
For someone living in a residential neighborhood here, the practical picture is the one common to most of Central Florida: vehicle break-ins and package theft rather than violence. The habits that matter are locking the car and closing the garage.
Figures are reported offenses from the FBI Crime Data Explorer for the Daytona Beach Police Department (ORI FL0640100), 2022, the most recent year that agency reported in a usable form. Reporting years differ between agencies, so this is compared to the Florida rate for the same year and is not comparable to another town's page.
Cost of Living in Daytona Beach, FL
Housing is the line that moves a Central Florida budget. Daytona Beach's median asking price is $288,000 against a median household income of $50,130, which puts a home at about 5.75 times household income here. That ratio, rather than the sticker price, is the number worth carrying between towns, and it is why a cheaper town is not automatically a more affordable one.
Florida charges no state income tax, so the property tax line matters more here than it would elsewhere, and a homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a primary residence. Millage varies by taxing district, so treat any single quoted rate as an estimate until the specific parcel is checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Daytona Beach, FL a good place to live?
It depends on whether your income comes with you. The median asking price is $288,000 and the mean commute is 21.1 minutes, both favorable, but the median household income here is $50,130, which puts housing at 5.75 times income. For remote workers and retirees that trade is strong. For someone competing in the local job market it is tighter than the sticker price suggests.
What is the median home price in Daytona Beach, FL?
The median sale price was $305,000 in July 2026, up 14.88% year over year across 63 closed sales. The median asking price across 532 active listings is $288,000, or $226 per square foot.
Is Daytona Beach cheaper than Port Orange?
On the asking median, yes: $288,000 against $367,000. Port Orange also has higher household incomes, so the affordability gap between them is narrower than the price gap alone suggests. See what $350,000 buys in each town.
Is Daytona Beach, FL safe?
The reported violent crime rate runs above the Florida average, though city rates are measured against resident population while the offense count includes everyone passing through. For residents, the realistic risk is vehicle and package theft rather than violence.
What is the cost of living in Daytona Beach, FL?
Housing is the deciding line. A median asking price of $288,000 against a median household income of $50,130 puts a home at roughly 5.75 times income, and Florida charges no state income tax, which shifts weight onto the property tax line.
What school district serves Daytona Beach, FL?
Volusia County Schools. Assignment varies by address within the city, so confirm the zoning for the specific property.
Thinking About a Move to Daytona Beach?
I work these four counties every week and I will tell you when a town is wrong for you. If you want the numbers for your budget before you tour anything, start with what $350,000 buys across Daytona Beach and its neighbors, or call me at 407-616-9019.
You can also browse homes for sale in Daytona Beach, which updates with current inventory.
