For new families moving to Orlando, choosing where to live can depend on many factors. If your family is moving to Central Florida, you should factor in where you’ll be working and how far you’re willing to drive since traffic can really add to a daily commute.
One of our favorite parts of living in Central Florida is the unique flavor each neighborhood has that makes each one so fun to explore. Moving to Orlando can be daunting when you realize how big of an area it truly is. Below you’ll find a little bit of information on many of the family friendly Central Florida neighborhoods.
And if you’re visiting Orlando seeing if it’s right for you, check out our guide for a perfect weekend in Orlando.
Altamonte Springs: Suburban neighborhood in Seminole County with easy access to I-4. Doesn’t have much for unique food and culture options but is a quick drive into Maitland and Winter Park to satisfy those needs.
Favorite spots: Crane’s Roost Park (Uptown Altamonte)
Apopka: A sprawling area with many greenhouses and plant farms. Apopka is a growing area and has an opportunity for families to live a suburban or rural life.
Favorite spots: Florida Cactus Farm and Aunt Gingibread’s Bakery
Audubon Park: Hip and trendy area in the city of Orlando with great food, drinks, and unique shopping.
Favorite spots: East End Market, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, and Leu Gardens
“Research areas that you would want to live, and then talk to folks that live there. Rent for a year to make sure that is where you want to be. You can have a very different experience in this area just living a couple areas over.”
Tips from a Momlando Reader
Avalon Park: Located in southeast Orange County not far from UCF. This neighborhood has a small town feel with schools and town center within the community.
Casselberry: Smaller suburban area in Seminole County with many great recreational parks and playgrounds.
Favorite Spots: Red Bug Lake Park
Celebration: Originally developed by Walt Disney World this master-planned community oozes old town charm. This community has direct access to Walt Disney World as well as several highways. The city center hosts many community and holiday festivals and has a fun atmosphere year round.
Favorite Spots: Celebration Hotel, Holler and Dash, and Columbia Restaurant
College Park: Hip art-deco neighborhood filled with bungalows and great community vibes Edgewater Drive, the main downtown strip has great restaurants, shops, and of course the cutest Publix.
Favorite Spots: Check out our full list here.
Doctor Phillips: A pricier area of town in Southwest Orlando. Great schools and homes. Close to Restaurant Row with so many acclaimed dining spots. A bit hard to get to from other parts of Orlando.
Downtown Orlando: Be in the thriving center of the city. Brand new high rises or older craftsman and bungalows make for great housing options. Traffic will be tricky but you’ll never run out of things to do or eat.
Favorite Spots: Artisan’s Table, Lake Eola, and The Pop Parlour
Heathrow: Part of Lake Mary, Heathrow sits northeast of Orlando. It’s an incredibly wealthy area tucked away from the hustle and business of other parts of Orlando.
Favorite Spot: Peach Valley Cafe
Ivanhoe Village: Artsy and antiquey, this neighborhood is going through a huge revitalization. Small restaurants, bars, and stores fill the main street of this district.
Favorite Spots: GypsetCo., Yay Tiny Shop, and Paper Goat Post
Lake Mary: Luxury suburban community northeast of Orlando. Boasts great schools, several golf courses, and a tight knit community feel.
Favorite Spots: Sophie and Trey
Lake Nona: Orlando’s newest and most up and coming area. Lake Nona is southeast of the airport and a bit of a drive from the main parts of Orlando. A planned community with plenty of opportunity for growth it has many unique businesses including the medical city.
Favorite Spots: Boxi Park and Canvas Market & Restaurant
“Living in Orlando doesn’t mean everything in Orlando is close. Research where you will work and where you want to live! Sometimes a few miles apart is a very long drive in traffic.”
Tips from a Momlando Reader
Longwood: A distinctly older and more established part of Central Florida. Longwood is mostly residential with the opportunity for traditional suburban homes or more spacious ‘rural’ properties.
Favorite Spot: The Back Porch
Maitland: Growth and construction in this area has led to many opportunities for new residents. This very small part of the city has beautiful residences and parks and recreation. New apartments and a sunrail station stop have led to expansion.
Favorite Spots: Farmer’s Market at Lake Lily and Art & History Maitland
Mills50: Creative and a bit kooky, this is a centrally located urban area of Orlando with a very distinct vibe. Just outside of downtown, the Mills50 area has restaurants, bars, and shops all walkable from many of its resident’s homes.
Favorite Spots: Check out our full list here!
Ocoee: A rural area between downtown and Winter Garden. This area is becoming more popular since you can buy newer housing at a lower price point and has easy access to other parts of town.
Oviedo: A rural area with close access to UCF. Oviedo has famous chickens and a quieter pace of life. Don’t let that fool you, this area is growing and a lot of new builds waiting for you.
Favorite Spots: Lukas Nursery, Arcadia Kids Museum, and Maple Street Biscuit Co.
Sanford: Distinctly outside of Orlando and about halfway to Daytona. Sanford residents enjoy a gorgeous waterfront area with access to Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. The revitalized downtown has historic charm and lots to do.
Favorite Spots: Wondermade and Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Thornton Park: A fun area in downtown with great access to restaurants, bars, and most importantly Lake Eola. The walkability to these things make this a great neighborhood to get out and do and see things.
Favorite Spots: Check out our full list here.
Windermere: Suburban area with a high price tag. With that comes great schools and such proximity to Disney such that many residents can see the fireworks from their homes.
Winter Garden: One of Central Florida’s most popular up and coming neighborhoods. Winter Garden downtown is extremely popular with the locals and boasts plenty to do. With close access to the theme parks this is a very desirable part of town that holds a lot of small town charm.
Favorite Spots: Garden Theatre and Plant Street Market
Winter Park: The original upscale in Central Florida. There are very expensive areas and great schools. The outskirts provide more affordable options but people won’t consider that actual Winter Park.
Favorite Spots: Check out our full list of where to shop and eat!
Winter Springs: Suburban area close to Oviedo and with proximity to UCF.
This is a curated list of desirable and unique neighborhoods throughout Central Florida. It is not an exhaustive list of ALL available places to live nor is it a declaration of which areas are better than others. Its purpose and intentions are to give an idea of where newcomers can start their search for their perfect place to live.
