Moving to Orlando, FL

Plan Your Move to Orlando With SpareFoot

Planning a move to Orlando? SpareFoot can help. Use SpareFoot to find special deals and discounts on Orlando Moving Truck Rentals. If you need a storage unit as part of your move, SpareFoot makes it easy to find storage units in Orlando too.

Orlando At-A-Glance

You’ll be in good company. More than 100 people are moving to Orlando every day, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. The influx of new residents may be inspired by Orlando’s title of “most visited tourist destination in the country (more than 70 million visitors each year). 

The versatility of both urban and suburban living makes Orlando one of the best places to live in Florida. And although the fact that Orlando is home to “the Happiest Place on Earth” it’s more than just amusement parks and attractions. The affordability, sunny weather, solid economy, and endless entertainment makes it a no brainer location for those looking to move south. 

Orlando is More Than Just a Great Place to Visit

Visit Orlando says, “Whether you’re a theme park enthusiast, bird watcher, foodie, water sports fanatic, sun worshiper, arts patron, serious shopper or anything in between, the possibilities are endless in Orlando.” 

Nicknamed “The City Beautiful,” Orlando is located in Orange County and is the 23rd largest metropolitan area in the United States. Of course with dozens of theme parks and world-renowned attractions, there’s never a shortage of things to do. 

But Orlando is more than just a great place to visit. Orlando is quickly becoming a foodie destination with international cuisine and vibrant flavors. It’s also a sports fan haven with teams to root for in basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey. If sports and theme parks aren’t your thing, the Orlando Film Festival brings in over 1,000 entries every year from aspiring filmmakers. Don’t settle for just amusement park attractions when you can experience all that Orlando has to offer without venturing that far. 

You’ll Never Run Out of Job Opportunities in Orlando

Because of the sheer quantity of theme parks in Orlando, you’ll never need to worry about not finding employment opportunities. In 2021, Orlando was ranked one of the best cities for job seekers. But it’s not just service industry jobs that Orlando offers. Many Fortune 500 companies in the technology, health care and construction industries call Orlando home.

Other large companies that are headquartered in Orlando include NBC Universal, Amazon, AAA, Siemens, JetBlue, The Golf Channel and more. With so many opportunities at your fingertips, it’s no wonder that Orlando has been ranked number seven in the U.S. for job growth. 

Unemployment rate: 2.6% (as of March 2023)

Average weekly wages for all industries: $1,308 (as of May 2023)

Expect to Live Comfortably in Orlando

Living in Orlando is actually very doable! The cost of living is 2 percent lower than the national average and 3 percent lower than the Florida average. Another perk? There’s no state income tax in Florida so you won’t pay income tax, inheritance tax or estate taxes. Given you’ll save money regardless of whether you own or rent, moving to Orlando is a safe bet all the way around. 

Property taxes are below the national average and the housing market is trending up by just under 2 percent each year. The median home price in Orlando is $360,000 and the average worker makes $85,000 so it’s a very livable area. On the rent side, expect to pay $1,933 on average for a 962 sq. ft. apartment.

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There’s a Neighborhood for Everyone in Orlando

Orlando is home to over two million residents and great neighborhoods to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to raise a family or digs close to the city, these are the top neighborhoods to choose from:

Celebration: Keep the Walt Disney World vibes going by living in Celebration, an independent area for well-to-do families. The architecture, landscaping, parks, and landmarks are so well-groomed you might think you’re living in an alternate reality. 

Orlando Central Business District: If living near the hustle and bustle of city life is at the top of your wish list, the central business district is where it’s at. Dwell in sky-rise apartments and dine at urban establishments. 

Thornton Park: For families seeking a relaxed and trendy area, Thornton Park delivers. This extremely safe neighborhood features cobblestone streets, boutiques, bungalow-style homes and plenty of green space. 

Park Lake Highland: If getting away from the hustle and bustle is more your speed, Park Lake Highland offers lakefront homes in a quiet and safe area. Plus, you’ll have beautiful views of the city skyline.  

Theme Park Visitors Can Jam Orlando Traffic

With heavy traffic going in and out of the amusement parks, it’s not unusual for people in Orlando to experience congestion on the roadways. Which is why utilizing the area’s public transportation system isn’t a bad plan. The LYNX bus system has routes all over the city, or you can use the SunRail, a diesel and electric commuter train. 

Surprisingly, regular commuters don’t have as big of a problem getting around the city. A survey conducted by INRIX shows that the average commuter in Orlando only loses 11 hours each year to traffic. 

Education in Orlando Comes Highly Praised

If you have school-aged children, you’ll love the public school system in Orlando as it has some of the best education in the country. In fact, Orlando is home to the Seminole County Public School System, which is one of the finest public school districts with over 60 percent of students proficient in reading and math. 

Orlando also has top-notch higher education opportunities as well. The University of Central Florida is the second-largest university in the United States. There are 40 public colleges and universities in Florida so you can save money with in-state tuition. 

Sweltering Heat Makes You Love/Hate Mother Nature

There’s a reason south Florida has a professional basketball team aptly named “the Heat.” You may love the idea of endless sun but be prepared for sweltering heat to come along with it. Orlando is ranked as the 10th hottest city for summer weather, so expect average daily temperature in the summer to exceed 90 degrees. Since Orlando is considered a humid subtropical climate, you won’t really see much variation between the seasons. Winters are mild, with temperatures not dropping much lower than 50 degrees. And there’s a little bit of a rainy season from June through September. Which is a nice reprieve when you live in a location that typically sees over 100 days out of the year exceeding 90-degree temps.

Summer average (June – Aug): 90°F high, 75°F low

Winter average (Dec – Feb): 72°F high, 54°F low

10 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Orlando

There’s more than just amusement parks in City Beautiful. TimeOut says, “the best things to do in Orlando will have foodies salivating, nature lovers in raptures, and culture vultures circling. In less flowery language, that means brilliant restaurants, gorgeous gardens, and fascinating museums.” Here’s your starting point on the top 10 things to do in Orlando:

  1. Spend the day at Walt Disney World. You had to see this one coming! With four theme parks, two water parks, plus a dining and shopping district, there’s always something new to see!
  2. Stroll around Lake Eola Park, which offers picturesque views of the Orlando skyline. 
  3. Take in an Orlando Magic game at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. 
  4. Hop on board the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour for a relaxing experience seeing some of Orlando’s finest history and architecture.
  5. Get up close and personal with dolphins, sharks, rays, and tropical fish at Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive water park. 
  6. If you’re keen to brave the Everglades, take an airboat ride with the Boggy Creek Airboat Adventure, which has daily tours that last 30 minutes to an hour. 
  7. LEGOLAND, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort are all great theme park attractions to make a day out of. When in Orlando…
  8. Love golfing? Experience a one-of-a-kind 18 holes at Walt Disney World Golf and play alongside Goofy, Donald Duck and the gang. 
  9. For an entirely unique Orlando experience, stop by the Plant Street Market, which is part brewery, part food hall, and part entertainment space. 
  10. Foodie fans can rejoice: there are tons of food festivals to browse in Orlando, including Magical Dining Month, Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort, and the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic. 

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