Plantation Middle School

It's a solid pick for families who prioritize schools, thanks to the Nova cluster including Nova High School and the College Academy at Broward College. The area is a settled, green suburban stretch of Fort Lauderdale with real water access, evidenced by 57 waterfront listings and 122 homes with pools currently active.

It's moderate for the region, with a median list price of $335,000 and an average of $286 per square foot. That said, the range is enormous, from $69,900 up to $6,825,000, so your budget can go a long way or straight into luxury territory.

Over the past 12 months, 387 homes sold at a median price of $420,000, while active listings sit at a $335,000 median. The typical home runs about 1,331 square feet, so pricing tracks closely with size and whether the property has water or pool features.

It's balanced and steady rather than overheated. Homes take a median of 48 days to sell, and sellers are receiving roughly 96% of their asking price, which tells buyers there's room to negotiate but not a fire sale.

The median HOA runs about $245 per month, though many single-family homes here carry no association at all. Property taxes come in around $4,025 per year at the median, and if you're renting instead, expect roughly $2,550 per month.