Best 6 Neighborhoods to Live in Orlando

Thinking of moving to Orlando? You’re not alone! The year-round sunny weather and an entertainment playground have attracted people to “The City Beautiful” for decades. Plus, Orlando has a growing tech sector, booming population, and quality education system.

When choosing the best place to live in Orlando, amenities, home prices, and the overall atmosphere are all essential factors in your decision-making. The upside is no matter where you choose to live, you’re always near some of the world’s best theme parks and entertainment destinations. Orlando has over 100 beautiful lakes, 100 parks and green areas for outdoor adventures, and 21 community centers. All in all, living in Orlando has many advantages.

For our list of best Orlando neighborhoods, we strictly looked at communities inside the official city limits. That means popular Orlando metro suburbs like Winter Park or Celebration are excluded.

Now, let’s dive into our picks for good neighborhoods in Orlando to buy a home.

Downtown Orlando

The central business district isn’t just home to many of the area’s top employers. Few downtowns have the same energy as downtown Orlando, with its packed mix of entertainment and dining. Over 320,000 people live in downtown’s high-rise condos, apartments, and Craftsman-styled single-family homes, which tells you about its attractiveness.

Orange Avenue is the epicenter of the downtown nightlife scene. Residents of downtown are close to the stadiums for the Orlando Magic and Orlando City Soccer Club. When not hosting a game, the Amway Center brings big-name performance artists on tour. Live music can also be heard at the many local bars and nightclubs.

For calmer recreation, year-round events draw visitors to Lake Eola Park, as do the classic swan boats. The cultural scene is diverse, with attractions that include the Orange County History Museum and CityArt Orlando, a venue comprising seven distinct art galleries. The overall community is highly walkable to downtown attractions.

In terms of pricing, downtown is an affordable neighborhood in Orlando, with a median home price of $380,000 and 88 listings on the market in October 2022. Many listings are condos and townhomes, but you can find single-family options, particularly in Thornton Park (home of famous Lake Eola) or Lake Eola Heights.

Delaney Park

Delaney Park is one of Orlando’s historic neighborhoods, with many homes dating back to the early 1920s. Its cobblestone streets, moss-dropped oaks, classic bungalows, and midcentury-styled homes have picturesque charm. The area gets its name from John Delaney, who donated the land for the seven-acre city park bearing his name.

The neighborhood has a central location, just south of downtown and east of Interstate 4. It’s bordered by Lake Davis to the north and Lake Rowell to the south. The Central Business District is a few blocks north, while the hospital is two blocks west.

Delaney Park’s quiet neighborhood has a small-town feel. It is zoned for A-rated schools, making it desirable to families and young professionals. The tree-lined streets are perfect for evening walks or morning runs. When residents want a break from cooking, they have many restaurants nearby, including some of Orlando’s best BBQ. There are also sports fields and parks for kids here.

Delaney Park had a median list price of $582,500, with eight homes for sale in October 2022. Delaney Park should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a historic home with a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, Lake Lancaster provides opportunities for waterfront living.

Lake Nona

Orlando’s newest neighborhood has been designed with families in mind. Located 12 miles southeast of downtown, Lake Nona is a master-planned community with plenty of amenities. For frequent fliers, the location couldn’t be more convenient; Orlando International Airport is beside Lake Nona.

The neighborhood is built around the large, man-made Lake Nona, but several other reservoirs are inside the community limits. Lake Nona itself is an excellent place for fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Plus, the US Tennis Association National Campus is on the lake’s shores. People come from around the nation and world to take lessons or compete in one of its major tennis events.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly neighborhood with modern amenities and a tight-knit community, put Lake Nona on your list to check out. Families have lots to do in Lake Nona. The family-focused Nona Adventure Park has a floating obstacle course and wakeboarding facilities. Laureate Park has creative playgrounds, rope climbs, and a zipline park. Kids love to visit its splash pool on the hottest days of summer.

With beautiful parks, community events, Medical City (a 650-acre health and life sciences park), and a range of housing options, Lake Nona is one of the most desirable places to live in Orlando. The median home price in this safe neighborhood was $808,300, and there were 212 listings on the market in October 2022. The area offers apartments, townhomes, senior living, and charming homes for established families.

Audubon Park

For an Orlando hidden gem community, look to Audubon Park, also known as the Garden District. The district earned the Great American Main Street Award in 2016, the highest possible national award for a community district.

The former Naval Training Center and Air Force Base brought countless military families into the area. They built the homes and named the area after the National Audubon Society, founded in 1905 to protect birds and their habitats.

Today, the bird-named streets enhance the charming quality of the oak-lined streets and numerous gardens. Three lakes and two parks add to Audubon Park’s natural look.

The neighborhood has a central location, just north of downtown and east of Interstate 4. It’s bordered by Winter Park to the north and Colonial Drive to the south.

The Audubon Park Garden District extends far beyond the original neighborhood, encompassing a bustling main street with coveted restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. East End Market is a trendy hub with local food and retail shops. Local Dome and Kadence are two of the 34 Michelin-recognized restaurants in Orlando. The open-air Audubon Park Community Market brings together farmers, fishermen, chefs, artisans, musicians, and neighbors, selling everything from freshly picked fruits to fully prepared meals.

The Harry P. Leu Gardens are one of Orlando’s most beautiful natural attractions. The 50-acre botanical garden is renowned for its 750 varieties of camellias. It also includes a butterfly garden, citrus groves, and oak hammocks.

If uniqueness, character, and location matter, put this area at the top of your list. Audubon Park delivers something different than the typical central Florida neighborhood. The neighborhood had a median list price of $515,000, with 12 homes for sale in October 2022.

Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park is one of Orlando’s most desirable and safest neighborhoods. The master-planned community was built on land once part of the Naval Training Center. It’s known for its New Urbanism design, which means that the community is pedestrian and bicycle-friendly with a mix of residential, commercial, and office space. Lake Baldwin Park should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a neighborhood with a small-town feel.

The community is located about four miles northeast of downtown Orlando and ten miles west of the University of Central Florida. It’s bordered by the neighborhoods of Winter Park to the north and Audubon Park to the west.

Lake Baldwin is the community’s beautiful centerpiece, made accessible with a walking trail that surrounds it. This is a very walkable neighborhood. The name comes from a former Secretary of the Navy. Lake Susannah is a second sizable lake with a connecting trail to Lake Baldwin. The development’s numerous parks include the expansive Blue Jacket Park, playgrounds, a dog park, and a pier. Residents also have access to three swimming pools, two fitness centers, and an open-air pavilion for gatherings. In sum, residents enjoy around 200 acres of parks and open spaces.

Baldwin Park has its own town center with shops, restaurants, and a movie theater. The weekly farmers’ market is a popular gathering place for residents. The community is also proud of his A-rated schools, with an elementary and middle school inside the Baldwin Park boundaries.

Around 4,000 individual residences, from condos to single-family homes, are available. Baldwin Park also has unique live-work spaces, with a street-facing two-suite office space attached to a traditional townhome. The median home price in Baldwin Park was $675,000, with 12 homes on the market in October 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Places to Live in Orlando, Florida

How safe is Orlando from hurricanes?

Located in Central Florida, Orlando is considered safer from hurricanes than most coastal areas in the Sunshine State. If you’re planning your move to the Theme Park Capital of the World, this city is located inland, approximately 60 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and 80 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. While Orlando is not prone to hurricanes, a storm can bring strong winds, a fair amount of rain, and occasional floods. But worry not. Orlando has a well-prepared infrastructure with strict building codes to withstand severe weather.

What is the best suburb of Orlando to live in?

Orlando has many charming suburban neighborhoods, but the suburbs are often the first choice for relocating families. Parents tend to value the calmer atmosphere, and excellent schools the suburbs of Orlando are well-known for. But not all suburbs are made equally. One of the best suburbs in the Orlando area for well-to-do families to live in is Winter Park.

The city of Winter Park is in a prime location near Orlando’s city center. It offers a wide range of spacious luxury homes for sale and has a median home price of around $468,000, which is pretty convenient for Florida. Amenities include two golf courses, parks, mini parks, playgrounds, splash pads, a tennis center with 16 tennis courts, a Saturday Farmers’ Market, community events, Rollins College, and more.

Not sold to Winter Park? Other suburbs you can explore include Winter Garden, Windermere, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Altamonte Springs, Heathrow, Bay Hill, and Maitland.

What is the safest area near Disney World?

Are you looking to have Mickey and Minnie as your neighbors? Then consider a move to Celebration, a coveted master-planned community around 9 miles from Walt Disney World and 21 miles south of Downtown Orlando in Osceola County. Celebration is one of the safest places to live near Disney World; The Walt Disney Company developed the area in the 1990s.

The low crime rates, strong sense of community, and proximity to “The Happiest Place On Earth” are some of the biggest draws to this area. Celebration is one of the top zip codes in Orlando and has many housing options, including stately single-family homes, townhouses, and modern apartments.

What is a good salary in the Orlando area?

According to MIT Living Wage Calculator data, an adult without children living in Orlando must earn about $49,769 annually to cover basic living expenses. Furthermore, the city’s median household income is around $65,354, according to the most recent census, suggesting that earning above this figure would provide a more comfortable living standard.

What is the safest neighborhood in Orlando?

College Park is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Orlando to live in. It is a quaint historic area with laid-back character, tree-lined streets, and a close-knit community. College Park is well-known for its low crime rates and strong neighborhood pride, making this upscale community a popular choice for families and well-established professionals.

College Park’s housing options include everything from quaint bungalows to more modern homes with high curb appeal, all within easy reach of downtown Orlando. Real estate here has a wide price range, perfect for first-time homebuyers, experienced investors, and luxury purchasers. Additional perks of living in College Park include urban amenities, water activities at Lake Ivanhoe, local events, city parks with plenty of natural beauty, easy access to quality healthcare, and high-ranked schools.

Living in Orlando’s Best Neighborhoods

Why vacation in Orlando when you can live there? With over 300,000 people inside its borders, Orlando’s many neighborhoods have a unique charm. Find a condo in a bustling urban center or select a more laid-back suburban feel. There’s sure to be a perfect neighborhood for you, and EZ Search can help you find it.