Looking for a great place for your family to call home? Living in Orlando offers everything adults and kids could want! The City Beautiful has great schools, low crime rates, a vibrant downtown area with tons of attractions, and close proximity to Disney World. Plus, there are plenty of Orlando parks, playgrounds, and family-friendly activities. Explore the five best neighborhoods and suburbs for families in Orlando!
Baldwin Park
Photo via @rhondahunterrealestate
- Home Price: $280,950 median purchase price; $1,258 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 70% of Florida cities
A few minutes from Downtown Orlando, Baldwin Park is a great Orlando neighborhood for young families who want a good mix of urban and suburban life. The area has everything from Colonial townhomes to large single-family Bungalows, as well as highly-rated Orlando schools, community centers, and plenty of fun holiday activities! Not only does Baldwin Park have one of the best neighborhoods in Orlando for trick-or-treating, but it also has Kidtoberfest, a free, kid-friendly celebration of all things spooky in October (plus Octoberfest for the adults). Baldwin Park is attractive for young parents and their kids, due to the number of community events it hosts, including flea markets, First Fridays, concerts, food festivals, and more!
Things to Do in Baldwin Park
Move right into Christmas with Winter Spark, an event featuring live music, Orlando food trucks, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus! Spend a day at great parks like Lake Baldwin Park and Blue Jacket Park for baseball, soccer, a fun dog park, and the occasional 5k run. Attend a ballet, a concert from a touring artist, or a local Orlando show at The Plaza Live, which is just a seven-minute drive away. Walk with the little ones down the nature paths and spend an afternoon fishing at Lake Susannah. Satisfy your craving for Mediterranean cuisine at Meza Orlando with the Chicken Kabobs, Farouj Mishwe, or the Falafel Platter. Sample some modern coastal cuisine like Cioppino, Florida Local Catch, or Octopus Bolognese at The Osprey Seafood & Spirits. Get competitive for game day or trivia night while you snack on a Boneless Wing Platter, Fish and Chips, or Cajun Alfredo Pasta at Gator’s Dockside. Or enjoy signature rolls like the Ragin Cajun, Beauty and the Beast, or The Distinguished Gentleman at Seito Sushi.
Celebration
Photo via @aroundmyflorida
- Home Price: $401,400 median purchase price; $1,725 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 87% of Florida cities
Celebration is one of the safest neighborhoods in Orlando, making it a great fit for families. Located in southwest Orlando near Walt Disney World Resort, this planned community was designed with the perfect small town in mind—pedestrian-friendly streets, lots of green space, beautiful architecture, and all of the shops and restaurants anyone could want. This Orlando suburb regularly hosts family-friendly events as well, from Easter egg hunts and father-daughter dances to 4th of July parades and car shows.
Things to Do in Celebration
Spend time outdoors at various neighborhood parks, where you can golf, bike, swim, or enjoy a picnic. Stop by Celebration Farmer’s Market every Sunday to grab fresh produce. Take a carriage ride, visit Santa, or go ice skating at Now Snowing, a free month-long holiday celebration starting in late November. Meet up with friends at the open-air art gallery featuring more than 40 artists at the Celebration Art & Wine Stroll. Have a date night away from the kids at Lakeside Bar & Grill in Celebration’s Bohemian Hotel, offering a romantic lakeside view with Crab Crusted Branzino, Joyce Farms Chicken Breast, or Grilled Swordfish Steak. Order Italian classics like Pizza con Formaggio, Salmon Sorrento, and Chicken Limone from a family-style Italian restaurant in Orlando, Buca di Beppo. Dig in to a Bangin Chicken Burrito, Chimichanga, or Flautas at Tijuana Flats. Or get your fix of Boston favorites like Maine Lobster Roll, Fish Tacos, or Franks and Beans down south at the Celebration Town Tavern.
College Park
Photo via @julieauclairrealtor
- Home Price: $312,278 median purchase price; $1,065 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 53% of Florida cities
A few minutes north of Downtown Orlando, College Park is an affordable, safe neighborhood that blends small town and big city, so it’s a good home for young families and parents who have to commute to work. Though it’s called College Park, the area doesn’t actually have a college or university within its borders. In fact, the name comes from streets within the neighborhood that are named after Ivy League schools. College Park’s biggest draw is its business district along Edgewater Drive (the neighborhood’s “Main Street”), which is home to a variety of mom-and-pop shops, restaurants, and community events like JazzFest, Spring Fest, and Holiday on the Drive.
Things to Do in College Park
Book a tee time, refine your swing at the DubsDread Golf Learning Center, or sign the kids up for the Junior Academy at DubsDread Golf Course. Visit family-favorite College Park Community Center and have a blast in the swimming pool, fitness center, game room, and several after-school and summer activities. Explore exhibit halls like Bionic Me, KidsTown, and Life at the Orlando Science Center. Buy tickets to a musical, Shakespearean play, or send the kids to Saturday Classes or Summer Camps at Orlando Shakes. Start the day right with one of the best breakfasts in Orlando at Shaker’s American Cafe with the Western Omelet, Eggs with Bacon, or Brioche French Toast. Enjoy meals made with fresh ingredients like the Chicken Tapenade Toasted Sandwich, Latin Citrus Bowl, or Boston Clam Chowder at Nature’s Table. Taste Puerto Rican entrees like Pollo Guisado with Mofongo, Carne Frita and Tostones, and Sauteed Shrimp at Lucy’s Puerto Rican Kitchen. Or dig into a variety of New York style pizzas, from Cheese to Chicken BBQ to Margherita at Ragazzi’s Pizza.
Oviedo
Photo via @ryansellsorlando
- Home Price: $241,100 median purchase price; $1,392 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 88% of Florida cities
Oviedo is known by locals as one of the best neighborhoods for raising a family in Orlando. This northeast Orlando suburb is about 20 minutes away from Downtown Orlando with affordable, tropical-style homes, modern townhomes, and a friendly community. It’s also home to the top-rated Seminole County Public Schools district. But that’s not all it offers! Oviedo is close to Little Big Econ State Forest, Black Hammock Wilderness Area, and Lake Jesup as well, making it perfect for families who like outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and camping.
Things to Do in Oviedo
Pick out plants for your home or explore the butterfly and bird conservatory at Lukas Nursery. Swim an Olympic-size pool or tackle the climbing wall at Oviedo Gym & Aquatic Facility. Catch a movie, shop for new school outfits, or check out the Kid Crew scavenger hunt at the Oviedo Mall. Enjoy a day outside at picnic spots, playgrounds, dog parks, splash pads, and more at local parks like Sweetwater Park, Friendship Park, and Center Lake Park. Head down to The Townhouse Restaurant for a breakfast of Gyros & Eggs or a dinner of The Townhouse Burger, and The Woody Platter. Order the Habaneros Grande, Sincronizada, or Chuletas Ahumadas at Habaneros Mexican Grill. Bring your pup to sit on the patio at Italian eatery Cafe Panuzzo and order from the Pup-uzzo’s Menu or satisfy your own hunger with Cheese Stromboli, Tortellini Alfredo, or Baked Manicotti. Or go all out with Korean classics like Beef Katsu, Chicken Deopbap, or Omelet-Rice from Kimchi Korean Restaurant.
Winter Garden
Photo via @sashinaluxuryrealty
- Home Price: $236,700 median purchase price; $1,001 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 48% of Florida cities
One of the more affordable neighborhoods in Orlando, Winter Garden is a quiet suburb on the shores of Lake Apopka in West Orlando. With a variety of Neocolonial and Contemporary single-family homes across all price points, new families can find sharp homes that fit their style. Families looking to settle down in a charming area with an historic downtown district, tree-lined brick streets, local museums and art centers, family-oriented community events, and a 20-minute drive to Disney World can find a perfect home in Winter Garden!
Things to Do in Winter Garden
Hike or bike the parks and trails available throughout Winter Garden, including the West Orange Trail, a paved 22-mile asphalt, concrete, and dirt trail system. Catch a local stage production, concert, or classic movie at the Garden Theatre. For families living in Orlando with kids, take them to the Central Florida Railroad Museum to learn the history of railroading in Florida and play with model trains! Schedule a birthday party or take the family out for a night of fun cosmic bowling at Winter Garden Bowl. Order house favorites like the Pork Osso Buco, Zingers Mac & Cheese, or Barbecue Baby Back Ribs at Miller’s Ale House. Sample vegetarian delights like Dal Tadka, Chana Masala, or Aloo Gobi at Curry Kitchen. Try some New Orleans home cooking in Orlando at The Big Easy with Louisiana Low Country Shrimp & Grits, Redfish Orleans, and Grandma’s Jambalaya. Or grab some Orlando Mexican food like Burritos con Huevo y Chorizo, Enchiladas con Pollo, or Tostada de Ceviche at Servando’s.
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Neighborhood and suburb statistics from AreaVibes
