Hotel Recommendation Near Key Largo?
 

My sister and I are going to be visiting Florida in a few weeks. We're staying in Delray Beach but are hoping to be able to explore the keys a bit as well. We're planning to drive down through Miami to Key Largo and spend the night at a hotel thereabouts, then drive into the keys the next day and then drive back to Delray Beach. It looks like all the hotels that are actually in the keys themselves are quite expensive, so we're searching for a more affordable alternative. We thought Florida City might be an option, but we've heard that it's a high-crime area.
Does anyone have any thoughts/experiences/recommendations for lodging near the keys that is not too expensive and would be reasonably safe?
We've never been to Florida, so open to any suggestions or ideas about how to organize our trip to the keys in a better way. Thanks!

Seeing the Keys would be worth the time/expense, but you need to reorganize your trip to make the most efficient use of your time.
Are you only wanting to spend 2 days for this trip, with 1 overnight?
If so, then forget about staying in Florida City or Key Largo, as those are too close to your home base of Delray Beach.

I would leave Delray Beach very early on day 1 (you'll need to account for rush hour in Miami), getting into Key Largo as early as you can.
Once there, SLOW DOWN and enjoy the drive. Take your time, pull off to take in the sights, ect.
Plan to stay overnight in Marathon. Pick whatever hotel is reasonable.

The next day, visit Bahia Honda and Big Pine (key deer), then make your way back.
Time it so you miss Miami afternoon rush hour.

Sea Dell Motel in Marathon is $149 on weeknights when booked directly on their website.

In Key Largo, the Rock Reef Resort right at the water has a $179 rate if you book the "spring special" on their website, weeknights. However this resort has a 14-day in advance cancellation policy so don't book until you're sure you're going.