Lived in Volusia County for three years. New Smyrna Beach is great. DeLand, though inland, is a neat town (Stetson gives it a "scene") and NSB is only 25 minutes from DeLand....Daytona Beach is a rancid pot of feces and piss. Stay away.
as to which coast; I grew up on the Gulf Coast but have lived on both. Prefer the Gulf Coast. Nicer beaches as long as you aren't into surfing, fishing is cheaper and more accessible, and there is a cool blend of the Nature Coast (Pasco north is marsh flats and salt creeks) and the beach scene (Clearwater, St. Pete Beach, Anna Maria, Sarasota, Boca Grande (which is a must visit resort island btw). There is a cool blend of cultures...Southern, Cuban, Italian. Tampa is mediocre, but it has good venues and pro sports and easy access to the Orlando theme parks and the Gulf Beaches. The state is narrow, so even if you want to weekend on the east coast, it's only about 2.5 hrs to NSB. Cocoa, etc., while nastier, are probably less than that.
Try to avoid living in west Pasco or west Hernando (Counties north of Tampa). The eastern parts of those counties are ok. Tampa; South Tampa is crazy expensive but probably worth it due to a nice restaurant and bar scene and good schools, and traffic is horrible coming into downtown from the north. Carrollwood has some nice areas.
PM me for info on Central or North Florida. I know nothing about South Florida. It's a whole different state down there.