Key West
The end of the road: bikes, sunsets, live music and island time.
You bike to coffee, spend the afternoon on the water and walk to Mallory Square for the sunset.
The scorecard
Tap any score for the local's take.
Nightlife4
Music starts before lunch. Sloppy Joe's has bands from mid morning until 2am, the bar pours until 4, and there's a stage on nearly every block of Duval Street.
Meet people5
On an island this small you run into people constantly. Southernmost Runners meet three times a week, the Community Sailing Center teaches and races, and sooner or later everyone ends up at the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration.
Peace and quiet1
This is not the quiet Key. Cruise ships and festival weeks keep Old Town busy all year, and spring is the fullest.
Walkability5
The whole island is about 4 miles long and a mile wide. Most trips in Old Town happen by bike or on foot, and a car can sit for days.
On the water5
The water is the neighborhood. Garrison Bight has 245 slips and Charter Boat Row, the Historic Seaport lines the harbor, and the reef is about 7 miles out.
Beaches2
The honest answer: the beaches are small. The reef blocks the waves that build wide sandy beaches, so Smathers is imported sand and Fort Zachary Taylor is rocky. Bring water shoes and a snorkel.
Dining and arts4
A nonprofit cinema with three screens, a playhouse that has run since 1940, free galleries at The Studios of Key West, and a festival most months, from Hemingway Days to Fantasy Fest.
Outdoors and wellness4
Outdoors here means on or under the water: reef snorkeling, sailing, and Dry Tortugas National Park 70 miles west by ferry or seaplane. On land there's a 15 acre botanical garden and not many trails.
Affordability1
One of the most expensive towns in Florida, with small lots and high insurance on top.
Airport access3
Key West's own airport (EYW) is minutes away, with six airlines and many seasonal routes. Miami is about a four hour drive.
Scores last checked October 2026. Scores rate what the town offers, never who lives there. How we score
Community and social scene
A night out starts at Mallory Square, where the Sunset Celebration happens every single evening. From there it's a walk or a bike ride to dinner, then live music on and around Duval Street for as long as you want. Bars can pour until 4am.
Community at a glance
Tap any row for places and times.
PickleballOn the map
See pickleball courts near Key West on the mapTennisOn the map
See tennis courts near Key West on the mapGolfOn the map
See golf courses near Key West on the mapLive musicOn the map
Music starts before lunch.Sloppy Joe's has bands from mid morning until 2am, the bar pours until 4, and there's a stage on nearly every block of Duval Street.See live music near Key West on the mapTrivia nightsOn the map
See trivia nights near Key West on the mapPro sportsOn the map
No major league team within 50 miles. The closest is Inter Miami (MLS) in Miami, about 130 miles away.Miles are in a straight line, so the drive is longer.Places of worshipOn the map
See places of worship near Key West on the mapWe don't list or rate congregations. The map shows what is in and around town.More ways to meet people
Southernmost Runners
A local running club that meets three times a week.Community Sailing Center
Lessons for adults, member sailing and racing off Palm Avenue.Happy Hour with the Historian
An evening series from the Key West Art & Historical Society, which runs four museums.Truman Waterfront Farmers Market
Thursdays from 1 to 6pm.The Studios of Key West
Classes, free galleries and a rooftop on Eaton Street.We write about places and events, never about who lives there. Times and dates change, so confirm before you go.
Things to do
The honest details
- Home prices
- $1.05M median (Redfin, Aug 2026)
- Nearest hospital
- Lower Keys Medical Center, about 3 miles. Nearest trauma center: Jackson South Medical Center (Level II), about 116 miles. Straight line distance, so the drive is longer.
- Airport
- Key West (EYW)
- Season
- Visitors year round
- Heads up
- Long evacuation route, high insurance, small lots
- Insurance
- Florida averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address. Read more
- Why people love it
- One of a kind walkable island. Big social scene.
- Know before you go
- Expensive. Far from the mainland.
- Schools
- See official grades and district info on the Florida Department of Education site.
Common questions about Key West
Is Key West walkable?
Yes. It is one of the most walkable towns on the Florida coast. The whole island is about 4 miles long and a mile wide. Most trips in Old Town happen by bike or on foot, and a car can sit for days.
Does Key West have a good beach?
It has a modest one. Better beaches are a drive away. The honest answer: the beaches are small. The reef blocks the waves that build wide sandy beaches, so Smathers is imported sand and Fort Zachary Taylor is rocky. Bring water shoes and a snorkel.
Is Key West affordable?
No. It is one of the most expensive spots on the Florida coast. Home prices: $1.05M median (Redfin, Aug 2026). One of the most expensive towns in Florida, with small lots and high insurance on top.
What is the nightlife like in Key West?
Really good for a beach town. A night out starts at Mallory Square, where the Sunset Celebration happens every single evening. From there it's a walk or a bike ride to dinner, then live music on and around Duval Street for as long as you want. Bars can pour until 4am.
How busy does Key West get?
It is busy most of the year. This is not the quiet Key. Cruise ships and festival weeks keep Old Town busy all year, and spring is the fullest.
Is Key West good for boating and fishing?
Yes. Life here revolves around the water. The water is the neighborhood. Garrison Bight has 245 slips and Charter Boat Row, the Historic Seaport lines the harbor, and the reef is about 7 miles out.
Which airport is closest to Key West?
Key West's own airport (EYW) is minutes away, with six airlines and many seasonal routes. Miami is about a four hour drive.
What should I know before moving to Key West?
The main things to plan for: Long evacuation route, high insurance, small lots. Florida homeowners insurance averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of dwelling coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address before you commit.
The closest matches to Key West across our ten scores.
Miami (Brickell and the Grove)
Also strong on meeting people and boatingThe mainland city on Biscayne Bay, from the towers of Brickell and Edgewater to the shady streets of Coconut Grove and the murals of Wynwood.
West Palm Beach
Also strong on meeting people and walkabilityThe downtown of Palm Beach County, with Clematis Street, a waterfront, the Norton Museum of Art and a Brightline train station.
Miami (South Beach)
Also strong on meeting people and walkabilityArt deco, ocean views and a city that never slows down.
St. Petersburg
Also strong on meeting people and walkabilityA sunny waterfront city with a walkable downtown, the Dalí Museum, murals on every block and Gulf beaches 20 minutes away.