Key West lifestyle
Living in Key West
Porches, bicycles, sunsets and the practical realities of island life, from someone who grew up here.
Old Town
Why the porches face the street
Before air conditioning, the porch was the coolest room in the house. Old Town’s houses were built tall and shaded, with deep porches, tall windows and louvered shutters to pull the breeze through.
They still work that way on a good evening, and they’re a big part of why Old Town feels like a neighborhood rather than a museum. Read more in how to read a Key West house.
Neighborhoods
One island, several characters
Key West is small, but each part of the island has its own housing, pace and price range.
Old Town
The historic district: 19th-century wood-frame houses, shaded lanes, Duval and Whitehead streets and the harbor. Walkable and lively, with historic-district guidelines on exterior changes.Truman Annex
Former naval property at the western edge of Old Town, developed as a gated residential enclave of homes and condominiums near Fort Zachary Taylor.Casa Marina
The south side of the island near Higgs Beach and the historic Casa Marina hotel, with somewhat larger lots and a quieter pace a short ride from Duval.Midtown and New Town
Mid-century homes, condominiums and canal-front streets on the eastern half of the island, closer to the airport, Smathers Beach and everyday errands.
Island realities
What locals know
Getting around
Most of Key West is easier by bicycle than by car. Off-street parking adds real value in Old Town; ask whether a home has it.The seasons
Winter brings visitors, events and full restaurants; late summer is quieter and hotter. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so storm shutters and a plan matter.Sound and location
A home a block off Duval lives very differently from one six blocks away. Visit a street on a Friday night as well as a Tuesday morning.Maintenance
Salt air, sun and humidity are hard on wood, metal and mechanical systems. Older houses reward owners who keep up with them.