What it's like to live in Sebastian
Sebastian is a small city in Florida with crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Sebastian deals with commute times longer than most cities, larger class sizes than the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Growing population
The not so good
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Sebastian compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Sebastian
Based on Sebastian's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,902
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,040 a year
- 56% of Sebastian renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$63,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,700
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,451/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,451 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $317,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $317,000 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 57% below US
141 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 848/100k · Sebastian Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 20% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.1 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 54°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 25% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (72 miles away).
Bottom line
Sebastian's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are commute times longer than most cities and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,451/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Sebastian
All Florida guides →Moving to West Vero Corridor →
10 mi away · pop. 10,461
Rent $1,706/mo · Income $61,927
Compare with Sebastian →Moving to Vero Beach →
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Rent $1,221/mo · Income $69,758
Compare with Sebastian →Moving to Vero Beach South →
12 mi away · pop. 30,344
Rent $1,314/mo · Income $73,420
Compare with Sebastian →Moving to Florida Ridge →
15 mi away · pop. 20,889
Rent $1,342/mo · Income $66,625
Compare with Sebastian →Not sure Sebastian is the one?
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