Two South Florida cities, Coral Springs and Coconut Creek, have been designated the best cities to reside in the region.

Money Magazine in its latest publication rated the North Broward city of Coral Springs as the number one place to live in the state and Coconut Creek the second best, Nationally, Coral Springs was ranked as the 44th best city in which to reside, and Coconut Creek, just a few miles south-east of Coral Springs was ranked 48th.

In ranking the cities, the magazine reviewed information from 800 U.S. cities with populations of up to 300,000 residents and made the placements based on cost of housing, population diversity, the state of the city’s economy, quality of schools, strength of government, and the focus given to arts and leisure.

Coral Springs is one of the fastest growing cities in South Florida, a growth that has spiked over the past 20 years. The most recent data indicates the city has a population of 126,000. The majority of the population (60 percent) is middle class Americans earning an average salary of $52,800 per annum, and 40 percent are professionals (medical personnel, attorney, teachers, accountants, etc.). It is a very diverse city, with a majority White population, but with large percentages of Blacks, including over 25,000 residents from the Caribbean, and Hispanics.

Gaille Ferraro, originally from the French Caribbean island of Martinique says she first moved to Coral Springs in 1988, after living a few years in South Miami. “When I got here it was like living in a big open pasture. My nearest neighbor lived half a mile down the street, and farmers let their cows roam in the open lots feeding off the vegetation. By the mid 90s every lot on the street had a house and on almost every street, expansive housing developments were being constructed. Still, the city has not lost its exclusivity as a prime residential suburb, one that is very safe to live.”

Realtor Janelle Darcy attests to the popularity of Coral Springs from the requests she gets from consumers home shopping, especially people from out of town who “eight times out of 10” request properties in Coral Springs as their first choice.

This is the second time that Coral Springs has been ranked as the best city in which to reside in Florida.

Coconut Creek is a much smaller city than Coral Springs, with a population estimated at just under 53,000. It is the home of Broward College, and boasts quiet neighborhoods, with properties surrounded by lush vegetation, and craftily created landscapes. In former years, the city was renowned for its wildlife, mainly butterflies (Butterfly World, the world’s largest Butterfly aviary and theme park is located in the city) and was named one of Florida’s Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Unlike Coral Springs where the average age of the population is 42 years, Coconut Creek’s population is older, averaging 54 years, and is home to many retirees.

Dennis Bravo, a retired New York City banker, and his wife, have been living in the city for six years. “From the first day I arrived here I have been living in paradise,” said Bravo, as he pruned rose bushes on his lawn. “Compared to New York, this is heaven on earth; it’s very peaceful and secure.”

Both cities received high marks from Money Magazine for security, population diversity, quality of schools and the quality of the natural environment.