Whether you want to be closer to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or another part of Disney World, Orlando is a great place to live. This is true for young singles and families who want to settle down, as well as investors who want to add valuable properties to their portfolios.
But as amazing as Orlando is, the city is mighty vast, and it can be hard to determine which neighborhood is the right place for you, especially if you haven’t visited central Florida on your own yet.
With the insight we’ve compiled below, you’re sure to have a better grasp of what each Orlando neighborhood has to offer by the end of this article!
Exploring Orlando’s Top Residential Gems
Without further ado, let’s take a close look at 9 of Orlando’s most captivating neighborhoods.
#9: Downtown Orlando: The Heart of the City
Image courtesy of Ben Laube Homes
We’ll start our journey at the heart of the city in downtown Orlando, Florida, which is one of the most diverse areas in all of Florida. Not only is there an abundance of cultures and ethnicities, but even the housing options are versatile. You can choose from a spacious townhouse, a master-planned community, or a towering apartment building when you live in the downtown area.
You’ll also never be bored when you live in downtown Orlando. Whether you’re looking for the top restaurants, nightclubs, bars, or coffee shops, you can find them all in the downtown area. You’ll also have access to Thornton Park, Lake Eola Park, and the Orlando Urban Trail, all of which are a great way to get some fresh air in the city center.
Popular places: Lake Eola Park, Orlando Science Center, Wall Street Plaza
Location: Central Florida
Average home value: $335,100
Population: 14,715
Crime rate: Safer than 4% of U.S. neighborhoods
#8: Lake Mary: The Little Silicone Valley
Image courtesy of Visit Florida
As its nickname “Silicone Valley” indicates, Lake Mary is known for its many computer software and engineering companies, including Veritas Technologies, SAP America Inc., and Nexshore Technologies. Because these types of companies tend to employ younger individuals, most of the residents of Lake Mary are between 20 and 40 years old.
In addition to being a center of industry, Lake Mary is also home to one of my favorite coffee shops in the Orlando area, NewCity Coffee Company.
For those who love a lakeside lunch or paddleboarding session, there are a handful of lakes peppered throughout this area, including
- Twin Lakes
- Sawyer Lake
- Banana Lake
- Island Lake
- Lake Marietta
- Lake Como
- Amory Lake
- Dawson Lake
- Lake Emma
- Crystal Lake
- Lake Mary
- Linden Lake
- Rice Lake
- Hidden Lake
- Lake Minnie
- Lake Bingham
- Lake Myrtle
Together, these bodies of water add unique character to Lake Mary in a way you likely won’t find anywhere else in Florida.
Popular places: Planet Obstacle, Mystique Escape Room, Trailblazer Park
Location: East of Heathrow and west of Lake Jesup
Average home value: $465,659
Population: 16,765
Crime rate: 27% less than the statewide average
#7: Baldwin Park: Community-Centric Living
Image courtesy of TDON Development
For young families and retirees who want to be close to downtown Orlando but not get caught up in the hustle and bustle, consider moving to Baldwin Park. With a number of great walking paths, tennis courts, and parks, Baldwin Park is one of the more family-friendly neighborhoods in the heart of Orange County.
It also has a decent mix of apartments, colonial homes, condos, and bungalows, giving you plenty of housing styles to choose from. Throw in the fact that the average home costs less than $370,000 and this could be the Orlando neighborhood for you.
Popular places: Lake Baldwin Park, The Plaza Live, Meza Orlando
Location: Northeast of Downtown Orlando
Average home value: $426,000
Population: 7,889
Crime rate: 34% higher than the statewide average
#6: Winter Garden: A Slice of Old Florida Charm
Image courtesy of Visit Florida
Winter Garden is easily one of the most charming neighborhoods in the Orlando area. In addition to its bounty of local hops and restaurants, the town also hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday–perfect for those who want to explore all downtown Orlando has to offer.
The historic West Orange Trail also runs through the city, making it great for runners and bikers while providing easy access to the nearby town of Apopka. Winter Garden is also one of the more affordable places to live in Central Florida, with most residents owning property rather than renting.
Popular places: Plant St. Market, Crooked Can Brewing Company, Winter Garden Village
Location: South of Lake Apopka
Average home value: $323,800
Population: 44,888
Crime rate: 17% less than the statewide average
#5: Altamonte Springs: A Perfect Place to Raise a Family
Image courtesy of Altamonte.org
Located just north of the city center, Altamonte Springs is one of my favorite suburbs of Orlando. In fact, it’s one of the safest cities in the area.
Because of how safe and accessible this Orlando neighborhood is, it’s extremely popular for families where one or both parents commute into the city for work. When it comes to shopping, eating, and entertainment, however, there’s no need to travel to the heart of the city.
Altamonte Springs has plenty of restaurants:
You can also stop by Altamonte Mall for all your shopping needs, or take a stroll along Lake Lotus Park thanks to its walking paths and light features.
Popular places: Cranes Roost Park, Sufii Day Spa, Enzian Theater
Location: South of Heathrow and Lake Mary but north of Winter Park
Average home value: $188,000
Population: 43,969
Crime rate: 48% greater than the statewide average
#4: Celebration: Disney’s Dream Community
Image courtesy of Orlando Sentinel
If you want to be in the heart of everything Disney World, Celebration is the neighborhood for you. You’ll have easy access to Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, Disney World, and much more! You’ll also never have trouble finding renters if you’re looking for an investment property, as Celebration is one of the top vacation spots in the country.
Popular places: Farmer’s Market, Now Snowing, Buca di Beppo
Location: South of Bay Hill
Average home value: $527,500
Population: 11,264
Crime rate: 72% less crime than the national average
#3: Bay Hill: Golf and Grandeur
Image courtesy of Floridagolfer.com
Located right between Doctor Phillips and Disney World, Bay Hill is one of the most upscale and luxurious neighborhoods in Orlando, Florida. While Bay Hill is known primarily for its world-class golf courses, including Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Bay Hill attracts families and retirees alike.
Housing in Bay Hill is on the more expensive side, especially if you’re in the market for single-family homes. However, once you’re immersed in the community and make yourself at home, you’ll quickly discover why people who move to Bay Hill rarely ever leave.
Popular places: ICON Park, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Madame Tussauds
Location: North of Celebration
Average home value: $553,000
Population: 4,815
Crime rate: 74% lower than the statewide average
#2: Winter Park: Suburban Elegance
Image courtesy of Visit Orlando
According to Niche.com, Winter Park is the second-best suburb to call home in the Orlando area, right behind Heathrow. Whether you’re looking for the best breweries and coffee shops in the area or some of the top public schools in Florida, Winter Park is the place to be.
As the home of Rollins College, one of the oldest liberal arts schools in the state, Winter Park is also known as a mini college town. Even though Winter Park is home to a large demographic of college-aged young adults in the area, the average home is more costly than most students can afford. With homes priced at nearly $500,000 in Winter Park, it’s also one of the more expensive Orlando neighborhoods.
Popular places: West Orange Trail, Winter Gardel Bowl, Curry Kitchen
Location: South of Altamonte Springs, Orlando, FL
Average home value: $445,634
Population: 29,131
Crime rate: 51% higher than the statewide average
#1: Heathrow: The Top Neighborhood in Orlando, FL
Image courtesy of Heathrow Community
In addition to being rated as the best overall neighborhood in Orlando, Heathrow was also named as one of the top ten places to live in all of Florida. Heathrow offers a suburban feel to its residents, most of whom own their homes rather than rent.
While Heathrow doesn’t have a ton of shopping or dining options on its own, it is conveniently located between Orlando and Lake Mary. As such, you’re within a 20-minute drive from all the food and entertainment you could ever need.
Popular places: Universal Studios, Heathrow Legacy Country Club, Elev8 Fun
Location: West of Lake Mary, Orlando, FL
Average home value: $995,000
Population: 6,981
Crime rate: 74% less than the national average
Final Thoughts
If you’re moving to an Orlando neighborhood and planning on downsizing, a storage unit can help you bridge the gap between your old space and your new space. While you’re acclimating to Orlando, Florida’s high cost of living, you’ll want to save where you can. Cutting on storage costs is a great place to start.
Consider using Neighbor to find the perfect storage solution near you. Neighbor is a peer-to-peer storage marketplace offering safe and affordable storage for all your belongings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is the Best Area to Live in Orlando?
The answer to this question is subjective. Technically speaking, the best area in Orlando will depend on your personal preferences. However, if you’re a busy professional or part of a family, all of the neighborhoods we talked about today are places worth considering.
What is the Safest Neighborhood in Orlando?
Of all the neighborhoods in Orlando, Celebration is the safest. By looking at the crime rate in each neighborhood, you can determine the safety level that each area has to offer. For instance, by checking Celebration’s crime rate, you can see that the neighborhood experiences 72% less crime than all other parts of the country.
Which part of Orlando has good schools?
On our list of top neighborhoods to move to in Orlando, Winter Park has the best schools. In fact, Niche.com has an entire article dedicated to the top schools in Winter Park.
Is Orlando an Expensive Place to Live?
Orlando can certainly be an expensive place to live, but it’s not necessarily costly by default. With a little bit of research, you can identify budget-friendly parts of Orlando. For example, Baldwin Park is a less expensive part of the city.
