Investigate Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa area) and individual schools like Palm Harbor University High (Pinellas County). Also Spanish River High School, Boca Raton High School, West Boca High School (Palm Beach County). Count how many HYPS, Chicago, MIT and/or Duke acceptances you see. Compare to DC area.
Get to know friendly, smart, accomplished yet unassuming people in Florida unlike in DC, land of one-uppers.

We just relocated to Florida and it's the best decision we've made in years. Yes, Orlando is a sweaty cesspool. So move to a beach town. This is not rocket science. There was another thread on this forum about Sarasota -- check out that area. It's got top schools and only 2 hours from Orlando. Easy for seeing your family every month, or having them pitch in when you need backup. I also love being close to family, and spent the last 20 years in DC lonely and unstuck (despite an awesome husband). Also, I check the DC and florida weather most days, and coastal Florida is almost always better. I don't know why people in DC love to criticize florida weather. No one in DC actually likes DC weather.

Resurrecting an old thread to say we are considering a move to Orlando to be near family as well. DH has a job that he can do from anywhere and I could stay at home with DD. (I could here too but somehow would feel judged if I did....anyone else?) We love being here in DC but would love to raise our daughter near family. So torn!

I've lived away from my family and really didn't like it. I may not LOVE the area I live now but I do love being close to my family. I was single then but now that I'm in a relationship, despite the fact that I love my partner very much I don't want us to be our own figurative island. If I were in your position I would look for someplace within, say, 2-3 hours of your family that you would enjoy living in more than Orlando.

Do a real budget including state taxes and housing costs in DC compared to Florida. Add in expenses to visit family however often you might want or need to do that. DC is a luxury few of us can really afford.