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I'm very familiar. My family has lived there for years and it has changed a bit. A good realtor can get you in the right area (Pruitt is one). As with any place, there are pockets of crime. One of the reasons is that folks come down from the north hoping to find work and there just isn't that much. They find themselves in a bad situation and thats when they start with alcohol, drugs, domestic violence, etc. Palm Bay has some good schools, but private is the way to go. Melbourne High School is a cesspool - I wouldn't send my worst enemy there. The beaches are OK, but I am biased as I live in CA. Within an hour or so of great attractions such as Disney, Busch Gardens. Just south is Vero Beach and its where the tropics begin, about 30 miles south of Melboure.To the immediate north is Cocoa Beach and NASA. Its fun to watch a space launch on tv and then run into the back yard to see it going up...Brevard county cost of living is very reasonable and most of the "money" is on the river (Indian). It can get costly, but real folks can live in the area, too. Lots of fishing, some surfing, a small city with good medical care, restaurants and even a ballet! The area is growing fast and there are some new housing areas that are just terrific.Its so hot in the summer you think you are going to die, outrageous lightning storms (beautiful, but really, really scary), beautiful sunsets, high humidity. As anywhere, its what you make it. Keep your kids busy, find a church you like, volunteer at the hospital. There are lots of old rednecks and snowbirds, but it is the richness of life. Be careful on the highways in the winter, cause old folks like myself winter there.!!
Good luck and look at the positives.
so overall youd say its not a bad place to raise a family?vegas is bad,its getting worse by the day.i guess for adults who are single or without kids its ok but familys(it just isent for familys)so melbourne has good hospitals?healthcare?the high school in melbourne is bad than?like alot of gangs or education wise bad?i do appreciate any help!
Actually there are a few different high schools you could be zoned for in the Melbourne/ Palm Bay area. Depending on where you're looking to move in the area, you could be zoned for Melbourne High, Eau Gallie High, Palm Bay High, or others. Check out the Brevard Public Schools website -- http://www.brevard.k12.fl.us (broken link) for info on all the schools and zoning boundaries.
I had concerns before our kids started at Melbourne High (we live in Melbourne Beach and are zoned for Mel. High) because it was a big change from middle school -- kids from different parts of the area, large # of students, etc. -- and we looked into all our options for high schools. I asked MANY friends with older kids who attend/attended Mel. High what they thought about the school, and what I heard over and over was that they were very happy with it -- that kids can find trouble to get into anywhere if they're looking for it, but if they're serious about their classes, they will find a great education there... that they'd never had any concerns about their kids' safety there, and that if they are in honors classes the kids they are interacting with are the other kids in honors classes. Most of the people I talked with could easily afford private school if they preferred that option. We decided that we'd give it a try and see how it went the first year with our son, and we were VERY happy. We didn't see any reason to change schools and now both of our kids are going there.
One thing I have found at every school our kids have been in, including Mel. High, is that I've had to stay on top of what's going on with them, especially whether they are in the right classes -- are they being challenged enough, is it too easy for them, are they falling behind, is they're something they're not "getting", etc. The kids aren't always aware that they can or should do something about it -- obviously getting extra help is important, but also (early in the semester) moving to/from honors level, Pre-AP, etc. The guidance department is also a great resource for students in all 4 years of high school, but I think a lot of the students don't meet with their guidance counselors until junior year.
As far as healthcare and hospitals, I unfortunately have had a lot of experience with both! (Not unfortunate because I've had bad experiences with them, just wish I hadn't had to go through the illnesses and surgeries, etc. in the first place!) With all the medical things I've had to deal with, I've only met 2 doctors who I wouldn't recommend. I've been in the hospital for a c-section, intestinal surgeries, and hip replacement; between my husband and I and the 2 kids, we have needed GP's, pediatrician, GI specialists, ENTs, OB-GYN, rheumatologist, general and specialized surgeons, dentists, orthodontist, etc. etc. I have no complaints at all about the health care here.
We have lived here for about 20 years and we think this is a great place for our kids. I don't know much about Palm Bay or Melbourne areas, just the beachside areas near where we live, but if you have any other specific questions I'll be happy to try to help if I can. Good luck in your decision, kids2001! -- Amy
There is a lot of jobs to be had and a lot of money to make there. The schools are good. The area is growing fast and there is a lot of traffic, but thats the worst of it.
I'm interested to hear others on the job market in Melbourne/Palm Bay. We were considering the area, but heard some remarks about it being very difficult to find work here. What do others think? Seems like a nice area, but we are in our early 30s (not even close to being able to retire) and we will need to be in an area where jobs are pretty plentiful.
I have lived in most parts of brevard county, except for Titusville. If you are into boating Sebatian Inlet is definitely a plus.
The West Melbourne and Viera areas are nice, they have just in the last couple of years built alot of nice shops like Ross, Old Navy and Belk at Viera right off of 95. Also there's SuperTarget, Super Walmart and even the Melting Pot Restaurant all in the same area. The housing prices in most of Brevard, again except for Titusville have skyrocketed in the past couple year just like most of Florida. So many people are commuting to Orlando from there.
Palm Bay is probably less expensive, but alot of the older homes aren't on city water, they are still on septic. Also, alot of the areas are in the flood zones. Palm Bay got hit pretty hard a couple years ago when all the hurricanes came through so you may want to ask about recent damage. It's taken some people a couple years to even get their roofs fixed.
I have a close friend with two daughters in Mel High and they both love it. The one is a senior and is crazy about the drama program and the other is a Sophmore and is crazy about her teachers. And believe me, kids will find trouble anyway if they look for it. Kids just need to be in positive activities so they don't get mixed up with the wrong crowd.
I have lived in most parts of brevard county, except for Titusville. If you are into boating Sebatian Inlet is definitely a plus.
The West Melbourne and Viera areas are nice, they have just in the last couple of years built alot of nice shops like Ross, Old Navy and Belk at Viera right off of 95. Also there's SuperTarget, Super Walmart and even the Melting Pot Restaurant all in the same area. The housing prices in most of Brevard, again except for Titusville have skyrocketed in the past couple year just like most of Florida. So many people are commuting to Orlando from there.
Palm Bay is probably less expensive, but alot of the older homes aren't on city water, they are still on septic. Also, alot of the areas are in the flood zones. Palm Bay got hit pretty hard a couple years ago when all the hurricanes came through so you may want to ask about recent damage. It's taken some people a couple years to even get their roofs fixed.
I have a close friend with two daughters in Mel High and they both love it. The one is a senior and is crazy about the drama program and the other is a Sophmore and is crazy about her teachers. And believe me, kids will find trouble anyway if they look for it. Kids just need to be in positive activities so they don't get mixed up with the wrong crowd.
hope this helps
Gina
thanks for the info it help!hows healthcare?are the doctors and hospitals good?and place you think or herd better than the other?with kids good doctors are important!are there alot of familys around palm bay or melbourne?from the 2 witch would you try to relocate into first?thanks for your help again,a move is a big thing and you always want to make the right choice!is it easy to find jkobs around there?hows crime?sorry for so many questions
Traffic bad, roads bad, crime, and lack of jobs for nonprofessionals, so teenagers are out of luck looking for work.
Try Vero Beach maybe, or closer to Orlando where there are more jobs.
Melbourne, Palm Bay, all of Brevard County Job Market Sucks. There are more people here than there are jobs, and they are still building homes and apartments.
Hate it here, and it isn't very pretty at all. Beat up roads and small businesses. Viera is the prettiest area but could get expensive as they grow, which will take awhile because of the housing market as it is right now.
It is very bad for people not in technical, medical fields, or experienced professionals. Subscribe to Florida Today and look at the slim pickings listed for the whole of Brevard County-mostly electronic assembly and medical office (that is what the temp agencies are full of). Also, check Careerbuilder or Monster.
People I know, including myself constantly send in resumes everywhere and apply to all temp agencies, but have to wait for months for even an interview. All jobs ask for experience and specific experience in certain areas. So anyone trying to get a foot in or learn on the job can forget it. For each job opening there are hundreds applying.
Stay away from Fiserv, they treat their employees like old furniture, dump them when they get tired of them or like mean girls, if you don't kiss up to the leads or the big boss or they don't like the way you part your hair they try to find ways of getting rid of you, even make up stuff that they can't prove. It is also about quantity instead of quality work, like fast food (which doesn't make sense when doing legal or financial work). I was too detail-oriented for them, I could not do sloppy work, be mistreated, or have a supervisor who created more interference than efficiency and talked bad about her team (she was a favorite because of this, any other place she would be fired or demoted). They won't stay in business long the way they manage or allow certain people to run the business (high turnover=high mistakes & inefficiency). They are soooo not professional at all.
Sorry, I am ranting, but they are a major entry-level employer and lots of good hard-working people desperate to work have been burned by them. The other big entry-level employers are mostly call-centers. Which are okay if you like that sort of thing.
Last edited by Jesterina; 12-22-2007 at 08:46 PM..
palm bay would have more crime than the other areas you mentioned. viera is imo the nicest area. sebastian is very nice but not a lot to do here besides the beach area. there are not many jobs in sebastian so i think it is better for retirees. the crime rate is really low here. for work, i would consider viera or melbourne. they are more developed areas and viera seems a little more upscale.
Im in a sub-division of West Melbourne and just love it,the schools are less 1/4 mile and all the kids are there.(kindergarden,grammer and a brand new middle school)
South is Palm Bay,not too crazy about that place as they do have their problems. North is Melbourne where I brought my first house and to the east is 7 1/2 miles to the ocean,just far enough away from the brunt of any hurricanes.
My husband and I are planning on moving back to Florida hopefully within 6 months, we are looking at double wides in the internet, does anyone have info on River Grove 1 a 55+ community in Micco. we really liked several homes there.
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thanks for the info
Traffic bad, roads bad, crime, and lack of jobs for nonprofessionals, so teenagers are out of luck looking for work.
