Like most of Florida Vero does have it's retiree population but there's still a decent amount of year round people.
I'm not sure now but I think it's about 50k while just south of Vero is Ft. Pierce. (about 10 minutes south) It's a little smaller but has grown fast.
When I lived there about 7 years ago it was about 25k population.
Housing Rentals were pretty low but they've surely gone up with the growth there but probably still cheaper than Vero.
I'm tempted to go back and do some advanced rating training there.
Here's a school in Ft Pierce, though i know nothing about them.
http://www.tradewinds-flight.com/