You may associate Florida with miles of coastline and sandy beaches, but Orlando is home to more than 100 lakes. Sitting within Centra Florida, Orlando is a huge tourist destination for a variety of reasons, most importantly, its array of theme parks.
Also known as O-Town, apartment hunting in Orlando doesn’t mean you have to live near Walt Disney World, or constantly get bombarded by Harry Potter fans. The city has so much more to offer.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Orlando Wetlands is home to over 30 species of threatened and endangered wildlife. There are also over 100 parks. For nostalgic music lovers, Orlando is also the city where NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys got their starts back in the day. A delicious foodie scene and vibrant nightlife add even more layers of appeal.
No matter what draws you here, moving to Orlando, in the very center of Florida, provides a little something for everyone. Ready to check it out?
Life in Central Florida
You’ll find very few things to complain about when living in Orlando. Sure, there’s a rainy season from June through September, and the possibility of hurricanes from August to October, but its place in Central Florida, rather than on the coast, offers some protection.
The people are friendly and apartment rental prices are only slightly above the national average. They’re still well below the most expensive cities in the country.
You’ll find a balance of culture, outdoor activity, food and fun when moving to Orlando. The Grand Bohemian Gallery has an eclectic collection of art. Lake Eola Park hosts a weekend farmer’s market. And, there’s a lot of golf. Both private and public courses dot the landscape throughout the city and its neighboring communities.
Life is chill, but not completely about play. The job market in Orlando continues to grow and the city has a high ranking when it comes to job security.
The people of Orlando
Within the city of Orlando, there are over 307,500 residents, according to the April 2020 census.
The median age of people living in Orlando is 34.6. A large number of good schools draw in families, while the job opportunities within industries like hospitality and tech bring in a younger crowd.
Orlando covers 119 square miles and is the fourth-largest city in Florida. It has plenty of room for its diverse crowd of residents to find the perfect home.
Living in the home of the Walt Disney World Resort
While technically not in Orlando proper — the Walt Disney World Resort is in Lake Buena Vista — this is the home of those iconic mouse ears. It’s the city’s first theme park. The entire resort and theme park encompasses 30,500 acres, making it the same size as San Francisco.
It’s estimated that 17.5 million people visit the Magic Kingdom alone each year. It’s by far the most popular destination in Walt Disney World, with EPCOT a close second. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom bring in slightly fewer visitors, averaging out at around 9.9 million annually.
What does this mean besides a lot of tourists? It means jobs. You can work in one of the 36 resorts on Disney property or spend your days as one of the almost 70,000 cast members who work throughout the park.
The best Orlando neighborhoods
Stepping away from the theme parks and the tourist attractions, Orlando has a variety of neighborhoods, each with its own character. From the busy city center to more quiet locations, you can find a community that’s ideal for your own needs here.
Consider these few neighborhoods throughout the Orlando metro area, or narrow down your options by taking our Orlando neighborhood quiz.
Downtown Orlando
The most unique part of Downtown Orlando is Lake Eola. Yes, it’s a lake in the heart of the city, but it’s also a giant sinkhole that’s 80 feet at its deepest point. Of course, the park that exists around it adds some natural beauty.
Downtown provides the best parts of city living for Florida residents while still maintaining a vibe that’s more even keel. Attracting both singles and young families, it’s a great place to live while staying close to work and to the fun.
Winter Park
Originally a winter resort for businessmen coming from the north, Winter Park is now a historical and cultural hub. Only 12 minutes from Downtown, Winter Park’s bricked streets and sprawling estates make it both picturesque and a draw for more affluent residents.
Sparkling lakes and golf courses sit beside the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center. The area is also home to Rollins College and Full Sail University.
At the heart of Winter Park, you’ll find Central Park, an 11-acre park with fountains and a rose garden where the city frequently hosts special events.
South Eola District
As part of the historic center of the Orlando area, South Eola sits right beside Eola Park. Besides natural beauty, it shares the convenience of being in the city center with proximity to shops, restaurants and plenty of festivals.
This dense, urban area has above-average schools and a variety of housing. Residents can find traditional homes, high-rise buildings and even condos. Another perk of the area is that it’s highly walkable and has Downtown’s only dog park.
Lake Eola Heights Historic District
A designated historic district Lake Eola Heights is also pretty close to Lake Eola. It’s also one of Orlando’s most architecturally diverse neighborhoods.
Tree-lined streets give this area a high level of walkability and a strong community feel. While mostly residential, the location of this neighborhood means you’re never far from all the vibrancy and bustle of the downtown area.
Thornton Park
For those interested in the trendy part of town, head to Thornton Park. Also not far from Downtown, this particular neighborhood, though small, has its own Main Street where there’s always something going on, from block parties to wine walks.
Among the bungalows, brownstones and condos, you’ll find indie shops, neighborhood bars and restaurants of all kinds. The area encapsulates the laidback feel of Florida without requiring you to travel far from city life.
College Park
A more expansive Orlando neighborhood, College Park still feels like a tight-knit community. A favorite place for young professionals who don’t want to live downtown, but want an easy commute, College Park is where it’s at.
While the neighborhood doesn’t actually have any colleges within it, College Park does have plenty of small businesses for shoppers, as well as city parks, lakes and delicious restaurants. You can also visit Mills Gallery, a unique fine arts gallery, or spend the day walking along “Orlando’s indie side” — Ivanhoe Village.
Baldwin Park
Perfect for anyone moving to Orlando that wants the best outdoor experience, Baldwin Park provides waterfront views and plenty of outdoor activities. A draw for young professionals, living here, you’re close to just about everything, even the Orlando Executive Airport for faster travels. The difference is that living in Baldwin Park, you get a more scenic backdrop.
Another highly walkable area, Baldwin Park has multiple walking trails and a strip of shops and restaurants to stroll through at Village Center. There’s also dog-friendly Lake Baldwin Park beside, you guessed it, Lake Baldwin.
Lake Nona
If you’re looking for close proximity to Orlando, but not too close, Lake Nona is known for being 20 minutes away from everything. Initially forming as a “medical city” thanks to all the healthcare facilities in the area, Lake Nona today isn’t just a Florida hospital destination. It’s full of small communities and a lot of green space.
Attractive for families, it’s also close, but not too close, to Orlando International Airport making it a great neighborhood for those who frequently travel for work or fun. The area is also known for Nona Adventure Park, a water-based family entertainment area, its collection of golf courses and the food trucks and live music at Box Park.
What salary do you need to live in Orlando?
A good thing about moving to Orlando is the job market is strong. As of December 2021, the unemployment rate was only 3.8, which is considerably lower than it was just six months prior. With a variety of industries within the city, you also have plenty of job types to pick from when on the hunt.
Big industries in Orlando include hospitality, entertainment, technology and aerospace. There’s even a huge Lockheed Martin facility in Orlando that’s currently experiencing a rapid period of growth, and an Electronic Arts Studio cranking out video games.
If you can’t get enough of university life, consider opportunities at the Central Florida Research Park. It sits right beside the University of Central Florida.
For Orlando, health is another huge area of professional opportunity. The healthcare industry comes in second, behind Walt Disney, as the largest employer in Orlando, FL. This is, in part, due to the high number of Florida hospitals in the area including a large VA hospital.
The hospitality industry, beyond the theme parks, is also a great area to look into for work. There are plenty of hotels throughout the city.
Orlando residents may not have as much of a struggle finding a job, but with a living wage of $15.44 per hour, which is slightly above the state’s minimum wage, it’s also important to find the right job.
The median household income, according to the U.S. Census is $51,757, over $10,000 below the national average. However, that gives you an average monthly salary that makes the city affordable.
Is it expensive to live in Orlando?
Living in Orlando isn’t as expensive as you might think. Because Florida has no state income tax, moving to Orlando means saving money on your taxes. Although property taxes can get a little on the high side, the sales tax is only six percent, well below the most expensive states in the country. And, again, no state income tax is an attractive little feature when totaling up the cost of living when moving to Orlando.
Monthly rental prices average out pretty close to the national average, as well. A one-bedroom will cost you around $1,775 per month in rent, while a two-bedroom isn’t that much more at $2,080 per month. Additionally, the city’s cost of living index is 6.1 percent lower than the national average. Things like groceries and transportation might be a little more expensive, but housing, utilities and healthcare won’t break the bank.
For those thinking of buying a Florida home in Orlando, the median sale price is rising but is currently at $325,000, which, considering the number of mansions and estates in the area, is pretty good.
Is Orlando a good place to live?
Although you may end up dodging weather from a hurricane and traffic is a bit of a challenge, there are plenty of positives that make Orlando a great place to live.
Location
Calling Orlando home and being in Central Florida, makes it so much easier to explore the entire state. From Orlando, it’s only an hour to the sand, boardwalk and NASCAR in Daytona Beach. You can also get to Cocoa Beach within an hour and be right near the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Just two hours away, you’ll find the beautiful, white sands of Clearwater Beach or the historic old city of Saint Augustine.
Hopping in the car for three hours can take you to places like Miami or Naples.
Weather
Florida is synonymous with the sun, and living in Orlando doesn’t disappoint. With a tropical climate, your summers are hot and humid while winters are dry and chilly (not cold). The city gets over 300 sunny days per year on average, and only about 114 days with precipitation. This should make it really easy to plan outdoor events if you call Orlando home.
Theme Parks
Some may see it as a negative to living in Orlando, but having places like Universal Studios, Disney Springs, Legoland Florida and ICON Orlando, in addition to all the parts that make up Walt Disney World proper, means the fun will literally never stop.
You can’t just think about the Magic Kingdom when citing all Disney offers. There are 11 countries you can visit in a single day as you enjoy regional delicacies from all the EPCOT international food stalls. Disney Springs will also keep your belly full with so many dining options, but has the added value, not seen inside the theme park, of having Cirque du Soleil.
Of course, Universal Studios has elevated itself even higher in the eyes of tourists and locals alike with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, as well as its newer parks. You can also visit Universal Studios Volcano Bay and Islands of Adventure.
While some of these theme parks are more familiar than others, the local attraction many residents enjoy, shouldn’t get overlooked. The theme park known as ICON Park is identifiable by its 400-foot-tall observation wheel. The park also includes shops, restaurants and additional attractions like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the Orlando Aquarium.
Sports
You can get a little bit of most major sports living in Orlando thanks to the Amway Center. There you can watch the Orlando Magic shoot hoops, as well as the Orlando Solar Bears take to the ice.
For those who prefer soccer, the Orlando City Soccer Club plays Downtown at Exploria Stadium.
Another feature of Orlando that’s particular to sports fans is the Citrus Bowl. This big-time college football bowl game has been happening here since 1947. Known today at the Vrbo Citrus Bowl, the event got its start as the Tangerine Bowl when the members of the Orlando Elks Lodge funded the entire game on their own.
Culture and history
Deciding to visit each Orlando museum could take you quite a long time. The city’s cultural footprint is extensive. Some of the most popular stops include the Orlando Museum of Art and the Orlando Fire Museum. The Orlando Science Center is also a local favorite. It offers an experience-based entry into science and technology. And, of course, there are dinosaur bones.
For film buffs, the Orlando Film Festival takes place annually. Screening thousands of entries from over 30 countries, this is a popular event to bring together those who love making movies and those who love watching them. There’s also the Florida Film Festival, which takes place within the city limits of Orlando’s own Maitland every April.
If you enjoy live theater, the Mad Cow Theatre has a full season of shows and events each year to experience.
A cultural and historical trip through the entire city, though, wouldn’t be complete for Orlando locals without a stop at the Orlando Reeves historical marker. This plaque, erected in 1939, honors the city’s namesake.
Food
Once best known as a center for national chain restaurants and fast food joints, Orlando restaurants are evolving into a foodie paradise. New restaurant openings in the past few years lean more toward food halls, gastro pubs, craft breweries and more. Award-winning restaurants highlight fine dining establishments you won’t find anywhere else.
Famous foods of all kinds turn up in Orlando now, from the Nashville hot chicken at Cask & Larder to the tonkatsu ramen at Seito Sushi. For a truly unique experience, pull on a fur coat and head to ICEBAR Orlando. Featuring 70 tons of carved ice, this bar and restaurant is the perfect place to chill out in a frozen paradise.
College life
Orlando is not a college town, but that doesn’t mean those taking college courses aren’t drawn to the sun and fun of the city. Across Orlando are plenty of institutions of higher education including the University of Central Florida. There’s also a public research university, Seminole State College of Florida and Valencia College.
There are actually more than 35 colleges, universities and technical schools within the Orlando area. And, with an affordable cost of living, being a student in this part of the East Coast, makes sense to a lot of people.
Public Transportation
Although Orlando residents may complain about the traffic, the city has a surprisingly strong public transportation system. The LYNX bus system stops at places like Sea World and Disney, with additional stops in nearby counties. Running north to south, the SunRail electric commuter train extends the reach of the city’s public transportation. It connects Amtrak stations for easier access to go even further.
Orlando also offers a free spin around the city with the LYMMO bus rapid transit circulation. This runs seven days a week through Downtown.
Moving to Orlando
With a diverse collection of neighborhoods, it’s no wonder you’re thinking about making Orlando your next home. Affordable pricing should make searching for apartments easy, and when it’s finally time to move, our Moving Center can help make the transition seamless.
There’s nothing stopping you, so begin uncovering Orlando’s secrets and start making this sunny city feel like home.
