Best Places to Live in Central Florida
Florida is a stunning state to live in the US. Whether you love the magical beaches, outdoor activities, or exciting nightlife, there is something for everyone.
For those looking to move to Central Florida specifically, you’ve come to the right place. Our years of experience in the real estate market mean we know the best places to live in Central Florida.
These places have been ranked depending on many factors. Including culture, amenities, safety, education, and more.
To find out the best places to live in South Florida, take a look at this article.
22. Sanford
If you like living in a more traditional place then Sanford could be perfect for you. The city really prides themselves on their history, which can be seen in their architecture, and old antique shops.
But there are still lots of modern amenities in Sanford, such as their large shopping centers, and quality healthcare facilities.
The property market is varied too. If you’re looking for a historical home, they’ve got them, or if you’re looking for modern properties, you can get these too.
21. Ormond Beach
This is a city with a rich culture and history, based on the East coast of Florida. Outdoor amenities include the Tomoka State Park, and multiple golf courses.
Downtown you’ll find many restaurants, shops, and cultural venues. Education is a priority to the cities’ values too, so it’s a great place to send your children to school.
20. Ocala
For families that love horses, this is the place to live in Central Florida. Ocala is known as the ‘Horse Capital of the World’ due to the county being a part of everything equestrian, and also being home to some of the best equestrian champions.
There is more to this city than just horses though, it’s home to one of the world’s largest artesian springs, Silver Springs, which is absolutely beautiful.
There are lots of top healthcare facilities in Ocala too, making this an ideal place in Central Florida for retirees, or people approaching retirement.
You might just need to be a bit careful about safety in Ocala, which is why the city doesn’t go any higher on our list.
19. Deltona
Deltona is a beautiful city located in between Daytona Beach and Orlando. This is due to the abundance of parks and lakes, as well as the Lyonia Preserve.
If you’re not a fan of the outdoors though, Deltona can still be an excellent place to live. There’s a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment choices which will not leave you bored.
The housing market in Deltona is pretty reasonable too. This is definitely a place worth considering when looking for places to move to Central Florida.
18. Lakeland
Funnily enough, there are a huge 38 stunning lakes based in Lakeland. It’s the perfect place for those that love the water, water sports, and more outdoor activities.
If your children are approaching the end of high school, you can keep them close to home by sending them to Florida Southern College when they graduate. The college is located right in the middle of Lakeland!
17. Altamonte Springs
Safety is one of the great aspects of living in Altamonte Springs. The cities’ low crime rates give you a lot less to worry about when you’re spending a day in the center of the city.
There’s always lots going on in Cranes Roost Park, which is the entertainment hub of Altamonte Springs, so there’s always something for you to do.
Business is booming in the city too, so if you’re looking to move somewhere to progress your career path, this could be the place.
16. Clermont
Clermont is a city known as the ‘Choice of Champions’ due to the history the city has of producing top level athletes, and world class Olympic training facilities.
The city also has a lot of fantastic areas for outdoor activities to take place. The hilly terrain makes it good for mountain biking, and hiking, and the lakes obviously suit water sports. If your children like playing in the outdoors, you should think about moving to Clermont.
What makes the place even better for your children is the brilliant education system. The city lives up to its name by always promoting health and wellness to their youngsters. This is a top place to live in Central Florida for active families.
15. Kissimmee
The education standard in Kissimmee is excellent, making this a great place in Central Florida to relocate to if you have a young family.
Your children will also love the fact it’s based not far from the Walt Disney World Resort! You’ll be able to have lots of amazing family days out at one of the best amusement parks in the world, which is less than a 20-minute drive away.
On top of this the housing market in Kissimmee is really affordable compared to other places in Central Florida. All of these reasons make the area one of the best places to live in Central Florida for families.
14. St. Cloud
If you want to live somewhere in Central Florida which has a balance of the city life, and peaceful areas to relax, take a look at St. Cloud. It’s a small city with a tranquil setting, low crime rates, and cheaper housing.
The city is based on the southern shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga, meaning there’s always fun outdoor activities available to families.
13. Oviedo
Oviedo is a more traditional city which has a rich agricultural history. The downtown area definitely has an authentic feel.
For families, Oviedo is a fantastic city to move to. This is because of the extremely low crime rates, and the variety of schooling options available.
12. Mount Dora
This is known as the ‘Festival City’ due to the amazing culture and events which draw people to the area from all across the world. They hosted at least 18 events in 2022, so there’s always something going on in the area to get involved with.
The constant tourism in the area can only be a positive for the economy too. There are always new people in the city looking for things to do, places to shop, and restaurants to try.
Because of this, Mount Dora would be the perfect for those looking to open up a small business in the city.
11. Lake Mary
Lake Mary has always been one of the best places to live in Central Florida. This is because of its wide variety of quality amenities, which include shops, restaurants, and parks. They’re all so great you’ll never run out of things to do or places to visit.
For those looking to move to find a job, Lake Mary has a strong job market. There will be plenty of employment opportunities available for you, no matter the sector you’re looking to go into.
10. Leesburg
Leesburg is a city in Central Florida which has a small-town feeling. It’s downtown is similar to Sanford, as it’s more traditional, and also has antique shops.
There are a vast amount of lakes and rivers in Leesburg, making it an ideal place for fishing and boating.
The small-town feeling of the city can be experienced during one of their many local events and festivals that take place throughout the year.
9. DeLand
DeLand is a top place for education, as Stetson University is located within the city. It’s a beautiful place to live due to the murals lining the streets, which combines well with the nice architecture.
There’s a lot to do in DeLand too. There’s a number of parks and St. Jons River is close by. It’s a safe place to live, and has affordable housing available.
8. Winter Springs
There are a lot of places for fun outdoor activities in Winter Springs. The Cross Seminole Trail is a stunning place and great for hiking or cycling.
The town center is always buzzing, with plenty of places to dine and shop. There’s lots to do in Winter Springs whether you’re a young adult, have a family, or approaching retirement.
7. Maitland
This is a city with a very rich history, which can be seen in the many art and history museums located in the area.
Maitland is located very near to Orlando, so you’re never far away from a day out in the big city. There is still lots to do in Maitland though, such as go to the theatre, community parks, or the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.
6. Windermere
Windermere is one of the top places to live in Central Florida because of its amazing beauty. It’s a small town which offers luxury living, and great schools.
Crime rates in Windermere are lower than the US average, and there are a range of housing options available to you.
5. Longwood
Longwood is a city with the vibe of an old-world. There are many landmark historical buildings and antique shops in the area.
The stunning Longwood Historic District is based in the middle of Longwood neighborhood , and is a lovely place to visit.
Although it does strongly value its’ roots, Longwood has not been left behind in terms of modern facilities. Their schools are top class, and community parks are well maintained.
4. Winter Park
Winter Park is the place to live if you love to shop. It’s filled with shopping malls which have luxury boutiques, art galleries, places to eat, and more.
Culture plays a big part in the city, with many museums and entertainment centers. Because all of this high-end luxury, the housing market can be quite expensive.
Winter Park is one of the most affluent areas in Central Florida. If you have the budget, it’s a beautiful place to call home.
3. Celebration
This is the place to live for Disney Land lovers, as Celebration was originally developed by the company! The census-designated place has amazing schools, low rates of crime, and so many housing options for your family.
It’s not far from the amazing Disney World either. If you’re trying to persuade your kids to relocate, just tell them they’ll be near the amusement park. Every child loves Disney.
2. Heathrow
This is definitely one of the most affluent places to live in Central Florida. Heathrow is a gated community which has a reputation for luxury living.
You’ll find lots of high-end shops and boutiques, alongside quality schools. It doesn’t take too long to get to Orlando either, making Heathrow an ideal place to live for big city commuters.
1. Winter Garden
Winter Garden is my pick as the best place to live in Central Florida. The schools are excellent, crime rates aren’t high, and there is so much choice when it comes to finding your dream home.
There’s lots of things to do in Winter Garden. The downtown area has lots of unique shops and places to eat, alongside run activities and regular community events.
You’ll feel right at home in the welcoming community of Winter Garden.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully at least one of the places in this article has piqued your interest. There are a range of places in Central Florida that suit anyone’s needs and wants.
We recommend visiting the cities for yourself too before considering relocating to them, but this article should at least narrow down those options for you.
If you’ve got any questions about any of these places, please fill out the contact form or leave a comment. Henry is the person that put this list together, and he would be more than happy to answer your queries.
