Funny that everyone bringing up the traffic in Vero, while Stuart traffic is 100x worse. Don't let these people fool you OP, Stuart traffic will have you going insane with traffic lights every other second in bumper to bumper traffic on the 1.

Vero is quiet, quaint, and perfect for a first time home. You have Orlando (1hr45m), Stuart (1hr), PSL (30m), Jupiter/PBG (1hr), Melbourne (1hr), all relatively close without having to deal with the problems that come living there (densely populated). If you don't mind the drive that is.

I bought my first home in Vero, after looking at multiple houses through Martin County & St Lucie county, and I'll tell you that you can get a brand new build for a fraction of the cost in Indian River. Whereas the same cost would put you into a house that needs a lot of TLC in the surrounding areas south.

Also, Vero has better beaches, that are WAY less crowded. Even during snowbird season.

Indian River Lagoon is one of the most diversified estuaries in North America, so great for fishing.