What To Know About Living in Ocala, Florida, Marion County

Central Florida’s rolling hills, majestic live oaks, large inland lakes, and open pasture land make quite the impression on a drive from East to West Coast. No city quite exemplifies the look as much as Ocala, the so-called “Horse Capital of the World.” This is a destination city in equestrian circles. Part of the allure of living here is owning your own horse farm. However, Ocala is more than pasture land and barns. It has transformed over the decades, with its farmland turning over into affordable retirement communities.

We’ll examine what you need to know about living in Ocala, its best things to do, and some of its top communities.

Life in Ocala

Ocala is not on most people’s radar for 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 ten places to live in Florida, and one of the ten safest places to live.

The city covers a vast area across Marion County in central Florida, with 65,000 people living in its city limits and an even larger metro area with 350,000 residents. 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’s roots go back to pre-colonial days, but the city we know today started in 1849. It developed around Fort King as a major agricultural production center, particularly for those prized Florida oranges.

As for horse racing, the first Thoroughbred racing farm developed in the 1940s. Ever since it has become a proving ground for racehorses and a top wintering spot for the horse industry. There are 400 thoroughbred farms still in the region today. However, the equestrian community is not just thoroughbred horses and racing. It’s expanded through the Florida Horse Park equestrian complex to include dressage and jumper events for many different breeds of horses.

The city has become an economic center for its surrounding central Florida counties. That also means endless have plenty of stuff to do in Ocala, Florida. It has a community college and top charter schools. Paddock Mall is just one of the large shopping malls. Attractions include a historic downtown district with Victorian-era homes. The Appleton Museum of Art has an extensive contemporary and pre-Columbian artwork collection. It even has a refined art scene, as Ocala has a theater, ballet, and its own symphony orchestra. Try walking the Ocala Downtown Square and finding all the horse statues in the Ocala scavenger hunt.

Expanding the stuff to do are all the Ocala Parks. History buffs will want to check out the famous Silver Springs State Park. It even has wild monkeys! Many of the master-planned neighborhoods have also preserved green space for sports and recreation.

On its west side awaits the Ocala National Forest, where its thousands of acres of protected pine forests and hidden natural springs are a delight to wander. Find scenic views of crystal-clear rivers, surprisingly large hills, and Florida wildlife. Having this at your backdoor increases the outdoor activities available by living in Ocala.

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 16% 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 a family of four with one working adult would need to make $36.36 an hour to meet their expenses living in Ocala. A single individual could expect to pay $$4,225 in food, $11,447 in housing, and $9,277 in transportation costs. The required annual income after taxes to cover expenses was $35,167. So you can see why retirees like living in Ocala, FL.

Ocala Real Estate Market

You’ll find a lot of diversity in Ocala’s real estate market. This is a great place to look for horse lovers who dream of owning an equestrian property. Listings include ample pastureland or communities with custom homes 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.

Near Ocala’s outskirts, in southern Marion County, is the retirement haven of The Villages. This famous active-adult community is still growing.

In the first quarter of 2024, looking at Marion County, a total of 2,125 homes sold. The median sale price of an Ocala single-family home was $285,250, up 1.9% 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 a retention pond or reservoir.

That said, that doesn’t mean that there are no other options. Find lakes outside the city limits in Marion County. Near Silver Spring Shores 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, an active adult community 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 is a prime city to live an equestrian lifestyle. This is Florida’s horse country. 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 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 historic downtown, which has 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 and historic gazebo for the frequent live performances and festivals.

Silver Spring Shores is an independent town outside of Ocala’s city limits to the south. The real estate here is relatively affordable, and you live near the tourist attraction, Silver Springs State Park. 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. Have your necessary amenities plus entertainment and dining close at hand.

Living in Ocala, FL

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