Very low crime rate.
http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime....Gorda&state=FL
There are still a lot of people living in FEMA trailers there waiting for their homes to be rebuilt from the damage Charlie caused a couple years ago. Several homes still have blue tarps covering the roofs.
Lots of employment opportunities there and the weather is pretty nice year round. Lots of rain in the summer (June-September) Very humid in the mornings and less so in the afternoons.
Great recreational area. Fantastic fishing, boating, swimming. Good health care. Bad traffic in the winter months November - April when the snowbirds migrate down.
All-in-all it's a great place to live and raise a family. Just need to remember when they warn of a possible hurricane, you board up and leave.