What To Know About Living in Ocala, Florida

Central Florida is a distinct region of rolling hills, majestic live oaks, large inland lakes, and open pasture land. No city quite exemplifies the look as much as Ocala, the so-called “Horse Capital of the World.” This central city is a well-known stop among equestrian circles, and part of the allure of living here is owning your own horse farm. However, Ocala has been transforming over the decades, with that same farmland turning over into affordable retirement communities.

We’ll look at what you need to know about living in Ocala and some of its top communities.

Ocala Profile

For most people, Ocala is not on their radar when living in Florida. It’s not near a beach, after all! So it may surprise you that Ocala is rated in the top 20 places to retire, the top 10 places to live in Florida, and one of the ten safest places to live.

It’s actually a vast area in central Florida, with 64,000 people living in its city limits and an even larger metro area with 350,000 residents.

Ocala’s roots go all the way to pre-colonial days. It was the site of several significant Seminole Wars in Florida’s history. The modern city was founded in 1849 and developed around Fort King. Ocala was a major center of agricultural production, particularly for oranges. The first Thoroughbred racing farm was developed in the 1940s, and the area has become a proving ground for racehorses. There are 400 thoroughbred farms still in the region today. However, the equestrian community is not just track racing but includes dressage and jumper events for many different breeds of horses.

The city has grown into an economic center for the surrounding region. It has a community college, large shopping malls, art museums, and many dining choices. Attractions include a historic district with Victorian-era homes and famous state parks like Silver Springs. The Appleton Museum of Art has an extensive collection of contemporary and pre-Columbian artwork. Ocala has a theater, ballet, and its own symphony orchestra.

Its location along I-75 and the junction of the Florida Turnpike make it easy to get to Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, and destinations beyond.

Ocala Cost of Living

One of the reasons that Ocala stands out as a place to live in Florida is the affordable cost of living. Your overall expenses are 19% cheaper here than in Florida. Housing is where you’ll find the most cost savings, as it comes in at 37% under what you’d pay in Florida. The only expense category that exceeds the national average is utilities.

MIT estimates two adults, with one working and no children would need a living wage of $25.47 in Ocala. A family of four with one working adult would need to make $36.36. A single individual could expect to pay $3,926 in food, $8,880 in housing, and $5,477 in transportation costs. The required annual income after taxes to cover expenses was $28,926. So you can see why retirees like Ocala.

Ocala Real Estate Market

You’ll find a lot of diversity in Ocala’s real estate market. This is a great place to look if you want to own an equestrian property. You can find ample pastureland or live in a community with a custom home on 5-10 acres that connect to horse riding trails.

At the same time, Ocala has master-planned communities jam-packed with amenities. Some are built around golfing, while others seek an inclusive village lifestyle where you never have to leave to find what you need. There are historic real estate options in Victorian or old Florida styles. Condos are available for more affordable living options.

In February 2023, looking at the entire Ocala metro, there were 4,531 homes for sale. The median list price was $300,000. Pricing ranged from vacant lots for $4,800 to expansive pasture land for $21 million. Prices were up 12.8% year-over-year.

Can you find waterfront homes?

This is central Florida. If you do have a waterfront property in Ocala, it’s most likely to be some kind of retention pond or reservoir.

That said, that doesn’t mean that there are no other options. Outside of Ocala city limits and near Silver Spring Shores, there are lakes. You may find some homes along the Ocklawaha River. The metro area towns of Dunnellon and Rainbow Springs have homes along the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers.

Are there golf communities?

In a Florida retirement destination, you can bet there are golf communities. One of the largest is On Top of the World Ocala, where single-family, townhomes, and condos have golf course views on its two private 18-hole courses.

The Country Club of Ocala has no age restriction for its gated community. The homes here are custom-built around an 18-hole course. The typical homes run from 2,500 to 6,000 sq ft, with pricing starting at $350,000 and going up to over $1 million.

Golden Hills is built around the Ocala National Golf Club 18-hole course designed by Rees Jones. The 225 homes here range from 2,000 to 5,000 in square footage.

Many of the homes in the ten neighborhoods are custom-built on larger lots, from a quarter to a full acre. They include estate-sized homes up to 15,000 sq ft. The community is gated and spans 1,200 acres. Its additional perks include a tennis center, spa, and fitness center. You can combine a love for golfing and horses at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club.

Candler Hills, Oak Run, Del Webb Spruce Creek, Ocala Palms, Stone Creek, Summerfield, and The Villages are all retirement golf communities with a 55+ age restriction. We’ll discuss a few under retirement communities.

Are there equestrian communities?

As the Horse Capital of the World, Ocala has many opportunities to live an equestrian lifestyle. You can find land to run your own barn or live in a community with a shared barn and riding trails and facilities. Over 40 equestrian communities are available. Remember that some of these will be outside the city limits or in a metro suburb. Here are a few options:

Meadowood Farms is a deed-restricted 1,800-acre community in West Central Ocala. It is designed as a family-friendly equestrian community with its own park and a property owners association. It calls its homes “mini-estates” ranging from 1.25 to eight acres.

Ocala locals know Hunterdon as a “Millionaire’s Row” because of the beautiful luxury homes and the treasure trove of equine amenities. Inside the community are two riding arenas, bridle paths, and a community barn.

Across from the Florida Greenway is the gated equestrian community of Via Paradisus. The community has two private entrances, one specifically designed for horses and the other for vehicles. There’s a private trailhead with fenced trailer parking, round pens, and a horse-washing area. Lot sizes start at three acres.

Hempstead Southern Oaks is a luxury equestrian community with homesites starting at ten acres. There’s a bridal path that runs through the heart of the community. All homes are custom-designed, and residents are just five minutes from the World Equestrian Center.

Again, you have Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club with its outdoor training arena, riding trails, and barn facilities. The neighborhood is adjacent to the World Equestrian Center.

Are there retirement communities?

Affordable retirement, golfing, tennis, pickleball, and equestrian culture are all drawing people here. As such, Ocala has an abundance of retirement communities to pick from.

The Villages may be the most well-known retirement option. This self-sustaining master-planned community south of Ocala is a collection of age-restricted villages built around golfing and all the amenities you want in retirement. Each village was designed to have its own distinct style and character. The locals love getting around “Florida’s friendliest community” in their customized golf carts.

On Top of the World in Ocala is a privately owned retirement community of 10,000 homes. The developer specializes in neighborhoods with active adult living, delivering many inclusive recreational activities while building homes that are energy efficient. The community encourages a full social life with resident clubs, live music events, and block parties. In Ocala, the development has numerous neighborhoods like Candler Hills and Indigo East.

Ocala Palms is a smaller community with a gated and guarded entrance. Its amenities include a clubhouse, swimming, pool, and some social clubs. It’s near the Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club.

Oak Run delivers a country club-style atmosphere in an active adult gated community. There are four activity centers spread across Oak Run. The amenities include six pools, five whirlpools, golfing, and social clubs.

Del Webb has several luxury retirement communities in the Ocala area. Stone Creek may be along its largest, breaking down into different neighborhoods. Its amenities include an 18-hole golf course, swimming pools, a sports complex, restaurants, and social clubs.

What are the best places to live in Ocala?

For the purposes of brevity, we won’t mention any of the above communities, which have already been curated for their excellent lifestyle and specific amenities. We’ll look at other communities that may not have fallen into one of these categories.

Historic downtown Ocala is notable for its Victorian-style homes. You can find homes dating to the 1890s-1910s, with styles changing from Queen Anne Revival near the park to bungalows as the city expanded east. Residents live near the amenities of downtown Ocala, which provides some excellent farm-to-table dining, craft breweries, live music venues, boutique shopping, and art attractions. The historic town square has a built-in stage for the frequent live performances and festivals that take place here.

Silver Spring Shores is an independent town outside of Ocala’s city limits to the south. The real estate here is pretty affordable, and you live near Silver Spring State Park. You can find various real estate options, from master-planned developments to more established housing.

Fore Ranch is a development on the city’s west side built up in the 2000s. It breaks into several neighborhoods with single-family homes, condos, and townhomes. It’s very close to the Heathbrook Shopping Center, so you’ll have your necessary amenities plus entertainment and dining close at hand.

Living in Ocala

As you can see, Ocala has so many communities for you to pick from for a city of its size. Each of these communities is often centered around a collection of amenities, whether equestrian living, golfing, or retirement. A local real estate agent can help you pinpoint where in Ocala to find your dream home.