Downtown vs. Midtown vs. Southwood: Where Tallahassee Professionals Actually Live

If you've just taken a job in Tallahassee, or you're ready to leave the apartment you picked in a hurry, you've probably narrowed it down to three names: Downtown, Midtown and Southwood. Here's the honest short version. Choose Downtown if you work near the Capitol and want to walk to the office. Choose Midtown if your evenings matter as much as your commute. Choose Southwood if you want a house, a yard and a slower pace.

Why these three keep coming up

Tallahassee runs on government and higher education. HUD lists the State of Florida as the area's biggest employer, with about 30,900 jobs, followed by Florida State University at roughly 14,300. That means many of the people house-hunting here are legislative staffers, attorneys, lobbyists, agency employees and faculty. Most work near the Capitol or along the southeast office corridor, and these three neighborhoods are closest to both.

The quick comparison

Downtown: if you'd rather walk to work

Downtown makes the most sense when your day revolves around the Capitol, the Florida Supreme Court, a state agency or the firms around them. During session, walking to a committee hearing instead of hunting for parking makes a real difference. Housing is mostly condos and apartments near Kleman Plaza, Adams Street and Monroe Street. If you're picturing a backyard, look elsewhere.

What tends to win people over is Cascades Park. It has 24 acres of trails, ponds, an interactive fountain and the Adderley Amphitheater, a few blocks from the Capitol. It was paid for with the local penny sales tax, and the Florida chapter of the American Planning Association named it one of its "Great Places in Florida" 

Midtown: if your evenings matter

Midtown starts just north of downtown and follows Thomasville Road and Monroe Street up to roughly Bradford and Betton Roads. Lake Ella sits in the middle, and most evenings you'll see people walking the loop or heading to dinner.

Many young professionals move here once they want a neighborhood with some personality. Coffee shops, restaurants, wine bars and fitness studios are often a short walk apart. The homes range from historic bungalows to newer condos.

The catch is that older houses need upkeep, and Friday-night parking can test your patience. For most people who choose Midtown, that's a fair trade.

Southwood: if you want room to breathe

Southwood feels like a different town. It's a master-planned community on the southeast side, built by the St. Joe Company on about 3,300 acres. It has its own town center, an 18-hole golf course, lakes and trails (Tallahassee Magazine), and a 123-acre Central Park sits right in the middle.

People often overlook that the Capital Circle Office Complex, a large state office campus, anchors the community. If you work there, your commute may beat that of your friends who live downtown.

Southwood is great for families and anyone who wants a newer single-family home. Just budget for two things. One is the drive to Midtown or the Capitol. The other is HOA fees plus assessments from the Capital Region Community Development District, which maintains the community's shared infrastructure.

Still torn? Ask yourself three things

Where's your office? 

If it's near the Capitol, go Downtown or Midtown. If it's at the Capital Circle Office Complex, Southwood makes more sense.

What do your evenings look like?

If you want to walk to dinner, pick Midtown. If you'd rather have a quiet street or a tee time, pick Southwood.

Do you really need a yard? 

Be honest. If you don't, Downtown and Midtown open up. If you do, Southwood is the easiest place to find one.

The in-between option

Plenty of people don't want to choose between Downtown and Midtown. They want to walk to work and also walk to dinner. North Monroe Street, the stretch between the Capitol and Midtown, is worth a look for exactly that reason.

Full disclosure: that's where we are. Industry Tallahassee is at 440 N Monroe St, and we wrote this guide to answer the questions people ask while deciding where to live. We've tried to be fair to every neighborhood, including the ones we're not in. If the in-between sounds like you, browse our floor plans, from studios to two-story townhomes, or see what's within walking distance.