Depends on the beach style you like, and the demographics you seek. Fine, soft sand and shells dominate the West coast, and the water is generally warmer but murky; not good for snorkeling. Very low or no waves on the west coast. The demog. is mostly anglo-American seniors. A rougher, coral based granular sand in on the east coast, but this results in clearer, snorkelable waters, more dive sites, bigger surf, and a greater variety in the demog...Spanish American mostly near Miami, becoming more Anglo as you go up the coast. The Keys have only man-made beaches; the rising ocean (over the last millenia as well as recently) has created a plant based (Mangrove) shoreline with some coral-based gravel beaches in some state parks. But this is where you see huge stretches of blue-green water, and the Coral reefs are a huge attraction for lookers and fishermen. The cost of living is sky-high in the Keys; and the folks are mostly anglo. Key West is totally unique. Visit all three areas, talk to realtors, then make a decision. Check out zillow.com; a totally unique real-estate site that lets you get a google-earth view of communities and their prices for homes!