Living in Davie, Florida
Horse trails, wide streets, and ranch roots in the middle of Broward's suburban map
Davie, FL: Quick Facts
Updated September 2026What makes Davie different from the other Broward towns?
The equestrian zoning: Davie preserved wide streets, horse trails, and ranch properties large enough to hold horses, a rarity anywhere in South Florida. It also hosts the annual Davie Pro Rodeo at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds.
What is the median home price in Davie?
The median sale price was $520,000 in February 2026 (Redfin, up 2.0% year over year, 45 homes sold). Equestrian properties sit well above the median.
What are property taxes like in Davie?
Davie's median effective rate is about 1.30% (Ownwell), with Broward County rates ranging roughly 0.94% to 1.44% by tax district (Broward Property Search, April 2026).
How far is Davie from the beach?
Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood beaches are about 20 to 25 minutes east. Davie trades immediate beach access for larger lots and a quieter pace.
How do residents get back to New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is about 20 minutes east with extensive direct service to Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK. Miami International (MIA) is about 35 to 40 minutes south.
The Welcome
A Welcome to Life in Davie
Living in Davie means having the last open-feeling corner of eastern Broward County: wide streets that were laid out for horses, ranch-style lots that still hold them, and a town identity built on the rodeo and the Western heritage rather than on high-rise condominiums. It is the space-and-character pick among the Fort Lauderdale area towns on this site.
The median sale price was $520,000 in February 2026 (Redfin, February 2026), up 2.0% year over year, with 45 homes sold that month. Davie delivers that price with some of the largest residential lots in Broward, plus Nova Southeastern University on its eastern edge and easy access to both Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
The NJ adjustment here is about space and pace: bigger yards, slower streets, and a suburban routine that still keeps Fort Lauderdale's airport and downtown about 20 minutes away. The equestrian zoning means rules about horses and property use that most Florida towns do not have, and both the tax and insurance picture are covered with sources below.
Key Numbers for Davie
Median Sale Price
$520,000
February 2026 (Redfin, +2.0% YoY)
Property Taxes
~1.30%
Davie median effective rate (Ownwell)
State Income Tax
0%
Florida has no state personal income tax
Airport Access
FLL 20 min
MIA 35-40 min; NJ flights from both
Every figure above carries a named source and as-of date. See the Data Sources list at the bottom of this page.
Where You Could Live
Neighborhoods and Areas in Davie
Davie is a town of distinct bands: the equestrian-zoned ranch areas, the university corridor, the older suburban neighborhoods, and the newer developments near the Turnpike. Lot size and zoning change more between them than home style does.
The Equestrian & Ranch Areas
The heart of Davie's identity: horse-zoned properties with stalls, paddocks, and wide ranch lots, plus the horse trails and the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds that host the annual Davie Pro Rodeo. If you want horses in Florida, this is where Broward makes room for them.
The University Drive / NSU Corridor
Nova Southeastern University anchors the eastern edge of Davie, bringing the campus, its events, and the restaurants and services that follow a university. This corridor has the town's most urban-feeling stretch.
The Established Suburban Neighborhoods
The classic Davie subdivisions with wide streets, ranch and contemporary homes, and mature landscaping. Quiet, safe to navigate, and built around the town's parks and community facilities.
The Newer Lake & Golf Developments
Toward the western edges near the Turnpike and Flamingo Road, newer single-family communities cluster around lakes and golf courses with more conventional suburban amenities, trading some of Davie's ranch character for newer construction.
A Week in the Life
Daily Life in Davie
Davie's week runs on its contradictions: rodeo grounds and universities, horse trails and shopping corridors. Mornings may include trail rides, afternoons campus runs, and evenings split between University Drive's restaurants and the parks.
Parks & the Outdoors
Tree Tops Park, a 232-acre Broward County park in Davie, anchors the outdoor side with trails, canoeing, and natural habitat, and the town's many parks and the Davie Dog Park cover the everyday routine. The horse trails that crisscross the town are themselves a recreational system unique to Davie.
On the Water
Davie is inland, so the water life is the county's: the New River and the canals that run through Broward's suburbs for boating, with the Atlantic beaches of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood about 20 to 25 minutes east. Water matters less here than space.
Dining & Local Spots
The dining scene runs along University Drive and Griffin Road with plenty of local character. Favorites include Francisca Charcoal Chicken (franciscarestaurant.com/davie), Davie's Best Pizza Bar (daviesbestpizza.com), La Rural Mexican Grill (laruralmexicangrill.com), and Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill (flanigans.net).
Shopping
University Drive and the Sawgrass Mills corridor carry the shopping, from strip-center staples to the region's big outlet mall just to the west. The town center areas around the university add cafés and services within walking distance of campus.
Events & Community Life
The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds host the annual Davie Pro Rodeo and a year-round schedule of rodeo and equine events, and the university brings concerts, lectures, and cultural programming. It is a calendar that runs from country to campus.
Getting Around
Getting Around, and Getting Back to New Jersey
By Air
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is approximately 20 minutes east with extensive direct service to Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK. Miami International Airport (MIA) is about 35 to 40 minutes south, making Davie one of the better-positioned towns for NJ travel.
On the Road
I-595 and the Florida Turnpike put Fort Lauderdale and Miami within easy reach, with University Drive and Griffin Road carrying the local traffic. Driving to Bergen County is approximately 10 to 11 hours via I-95.
Transit
Tri-Rail service is available from stations in nearby Fort Lauderdale, connecting to the regional airports and the rest of the corridor. Daily errands are car-based, with the university area the main walkable pocket.
The Numbers
Cost of Living: NJ vs. Davie
Davie's value is space per dollar: the February 2026 median sale price was $520,000 (Redfin, up 2.0% year over year), and most of that buys larger lots than neighboring Broward towns offer. Florida has no state personal income tax, and Davie's median effective property tax rate is about 1.30% (Ownwell).
Housing Overview
The $520,000 February 2026 median (Redfin) spans the equestrian properties at the top, the established suburban neighborhoods in the middle, and condominiums near the university corridor at the entry level. Ranch-style homes on big lots carry the Davie premium.
Utilities
Florida Power & Light (FPL) is the dominant electric utility and air conditioning drives summer bills. Water and sewer come through the regional utility. Properties with horses or large lots add their own maintenance costs that standard suburban homes do not.
Insurance Considerations in Davie
Florida insurance pricing is moving in different directions depending on policy type and region. Ask a licensed Florida insurance agent what applies to the specific property you are considering. Published regional averages put Florida's average annual homeowners premium at $8,292 in 2025, the highest of any state and up 18% from 2024, against a U.S. average of about $2,948 at the end of 2025 (Insurify's Insuring the American Homeowner Report, March 2026). The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Insurance Information Institute, as reported in May 2026, dispute headline figures like that and cite a state average of about $3,815 a year for a standard policy that includes wind (USA TODAY Network-Florida, May 4, 2026). As an inland Broward town, Davie is generally outside the coastal wind bands, but flood considerations still vary by exact location.
Consult your carrier or licensed Florida insurance agent for current rates and coverage options.
Florida insurance pricing is moving in different directions depending on policy type and region. Ask a licensed Florida insurance agent what applies to the specific property you are considering.
Property Taxes in Davie
Davie's median effective property tax rate is about 1.30% (Ownwell, based on Broward County assessment records), while Broward County's overall effective rate runs roughly 0.94% to 1.44% depending on tax district (Broward Property Search, April 2026). Homesteaded properties receive the Florida Homestead Exemption (up to $50,000 of taxable value) and the Save Our Homes cap on annual assessment increases (3%). Property tax figures are informational only and are not a promise of savings; consult a licensed CPA or Florida tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Bergen County, NJ (context)
~2.3%
Effective rate used across this site for comparison. On a $600,000 home: ~$13,800/year.
Davie / Broward County, FL
~1.30%
Davie median effective rate of home value (Ownwell, based on Broward County assessment records).
Florida has no state personal income tax. Homesteaded properties receive the Florida Homestead Exemption (up to $50,000 of taxable value) and the Save Our Homes cap on annual assessed value increases (3%). Property tax content is informational only and is not a promise of savings; consult a licensed CPA or Florida tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Schools & Education
Public schools in Davie are part of Broward County Public Schools. The following is a factual list of schools with no ratings or rankings.
- Western High School: a public high school located in Davie (Broward County Public Schools)
- Public elementary and middle schools are located throughout Davie within Broward County Public Schools
- Nova Southeastern University is located in Davie
- Florida Atlantic University's main campus is nearby in Boca Raton
Your Davie Relocation Playbook
Moving from New Jersey to Davie follows the same path as any NJ-to-FL move: research and budgeting first, then property selection, financing, the sale of your NJ home, and the final transition. The full NJ to FL Relocation Checklist walks through every step from 12 months out to after the move.
The Southbound Advisory Council Approach
Scott Selleck's Southbound Advisory Council is designed specifically for NJ-to-FL relocators. From your first conversation, you receive a structured timeline, vetted agent referrals in your destination market, and ongoing support through every phase of the move.
Questions About Living in Davie?
Davie is the space-and-character pick in Broward, and the equestrian lifestyle is genuinely unique in South Florida. I can help you compare it against the other Fort Lauderdale area towns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Davie
What makes Davie different from the other Broward towns?
The equestrian zoning: Davie preserved wide streets, horse trails, and ranch properties large enough to hold horses, a rarity anywhere in South Florida. It also hosts the annual Davie Pro Rodeo at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds.
What is the median home price in Davie?
The median sale price was $520,000 in February 2026 (Redfin, up 2.0% year over year, 45 homes sold). Equestrian properties sit well above the median.
What are property taxes like in Davie?
Davie's median effective rate is about 1.30% (Ownwell), with Broward County rates ranging roughly 0.94% to 1.44% by tax district (Broward Property Search, April 2026).
How far is Davie from the beach?
Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood beaches are about 20 to 25 minutes east. Davie trades immediate beach access for larger lots and a quieter pace.
How do residents get back to New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is about 20 minutes east with extensive direct service to Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK. Miami International (MIA) is about 35 to 40 minutes south.
Data Sources
Every figure on this page carries a named source and as-of date. The list below is the full set of sources used on this page. Figures may change; always confirm current data at the source before making decisions.
- Redfin, Davie housing market data (median sale price $520,000, February 2026, up 2.0% year over year), redfin.com
- Ownwell, Davie property tax profile (median effective rate ~1.30%, based on Broward County assessment records)
- Broward Property Search, Broward County property tax rates, April 2026 (county effective rates ~0.94% to 1.44% by district)
- Insurify, Insuring the American Homeowner Report, March 2026 (Florida average homeowners premium $8,292 in 2025; U.S. average ~$2,948 at end of 2025)
- USA TODAY Network-Florida, May 4, 2026 (Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Insurance Information Institute estimate ~$3,815 for a standard policy including wind)
This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for fair housing compliance. School information is limited to district, school names, grade configuration, public or private status, and location. Figures are published averages or market data, not quotes.
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