Yup, you may be considered a transfer student if you take ANY courses at a community college during a gap year. Many colleges only accept junior transfers or accept very few transfer students, so you could be severely limiting your options by taking CC courses unless you stay for a full 2 years and complete required courses/units to qualify as a junior transfer. Merit money can also be more limited for transfers, but admission standards are often more relaxed for junior transfers…
Lots to think about, but I would fully explore all of your options before making a decision. Given how much you’ve moved and still managed to do well, I don’t doubt you could adapt anywhere and do well, but this may be the first time in your life where you get to decide where you’d prefer to live and continue your education. Take advantage of the opportunity and make the most of it. You’ve probably lived enough places that you have an idea of what kind of climate you prefer if you could choose. Are you most comfortable in an urban, suburban or rural environment? Also, some colleges have a few thousand students while others have 20K to 30K. What atmosphere do you think would best fit you? Smaller fish in a bigger pond, or bigger fish in a smaller pond?
If you can give people a better idea of your preferences, I think there are a lot of people here who could give you further suggestions of specific colleges to consider that would be good for your intended major and career aspirations, but right now I think you need to decide on whether to take a full gap year and apply as a freshman the following year, or go straight into CC with the expectation you’ll be there 2 years until you qualify as a junior transfer. As @Lindagaf said, your options for 4 year colleges and merit money for this coming fall would be slim pickings at this point.
Best of luck!