Moving to Orlando to retire? O-Town and the suburbs of Orlando are some of the best places to live in Florida! The Sunshine State has been named one of the best places to retire because of the lack of taxes on retirement benefits and advantages like amazing year-round weather. Boasting great opportunities for indoor and outdoor recreation, as well as some of the best healthcare options in Florida, here are the best suburbs in Orlando for retirees!
Belle Isle
Photo via @remaxdowntown
- Home Price: $252,000 median purchase price; $1,502 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 66% of Florida cities
One of the best places to retire in the Orlando area, Belle Isle is nestled in middle of Lake Conway, which is part of the Chain of Lakes in Orange County. The Belle Isle area offers a quiet, rural feel near the big city, with many waterfront living options in ranch and Mediterranean-style homes. On a normal day, residents can be seen walking a pet or enjoying the nice weather on the banks of Lake Conway. Here, retirees have easy access to nearby Select Specialty Hospital, as well as the Orlando International Airport.
Things to Do in Belle Isle
Get active on the tennis and pickleball courts or eat in the shady picnic areas in Warren Park. Attend Mayor’s Jazz in the Park on the grounds of the renovated 1925 estate house in nearby Cypress Grove Park. Go for a swim or set off from Perkins Boat Ramp for a day cruising on Lake Conway. Take the grandkids and hone your wakeboarding and water skiing skills, rent a boat for the day, or eat at the Dockside Grill, when visiting the Orlando Watersports Complex. Start your day munching on a Western Scrambler, The Dixie Slam, or Farmer John’s Plate at family-owned and operated Dixie Belle’s Cafe. Try Orlando pizza and relax on the patio with a Bruchetta Pizza, Grecian Goddess, or Philly Flat at Stone Fired Pizza. Order freshly-made favorites like the Chicken & Waffle Hot Mess, Kicken’ Chicken Sandwich, or an Urban Bowl at Streetwise Urban Food.
Doctor Phillips
Photo via @denileyvaldesrealtor
- Home Price: $294,700 median purchase price; $1,561 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 83% of Florida cities
One of the best suburbs in Florida, Doctor Phillips—named after Orlando “citrus baron” Phillip Phillips—is a safe, affordable, and densely-populated area located in Southwest Orlando. Most homes here are moderate-sized Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes, and there are also townhomes available to rent or own. Retirees in Orlando can also opt to live in Doctor Phillips senior living facilities like Brookdale Dr. Phillips or HarborChase of Dr. Phillips. Grandparents love living in Doctor Phillips because of its close proximity to multiple Universal Orlando resorts with great activities and amenities, including two pools and a lazy river at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, private beach area at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and lagoon lounges at Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
Things to Do in Doctor Phillips
Ride The Wheel, tour Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, or be baffled at the Museum of Illusions at ICON Park. Enjoy The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show and the Wonder Art Gallery at Wonderworks Orlando. Got a sweet tooth? Tour the Chocolate Kingdom factory and Learn about the chocolate-making process, or even create a customized chocolate bar! Step back in time to 1912 with 100-year-old artifacts, actors, and room recreations at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Order Asian fusion cuisine like Hamachi Kama, Mango Tango Roll, or Omakase Nigiri at Dragonfly Robata Grill & Sushi. Sample prime Italian food in Orlando at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano like Spaghettini al Pomodoro and Ravioli Aurora. Or have a romantic night out with elegant, chef-selected meals like Chicken Christopher, Twin Lobster Tails, and Ora King Salmon at Morton’s The Steakhouse.
Lake Mary
Photo via @teamreyes_cb_florida
- Home Price: $268,800 median purchase price; $1,530 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 71% of Florida cities
One of the best places to live in Seminole County, Lake Mary is a northern Orlando suburb full of quaint ranch-style homes and townhomes. The Lake Mary suburb is home to a strong community of friendly neighbors who hold fun events like the year-round Lake Mary Farmers Market or monthly WineART Wednesdays in Central Park at City Hall, as well as fitness programs at the Lake Mary Community Center. Retirees in Lake Mary can find quality medical care at Orlando Health Medical Pavilion, as well as senior living options in Orlando like Brookdale Lake Mary, Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary, and Spring Hills Lake Mary.
Things to Do in Lake Mary
Explore the history of Lake Mary and surrounding areas through artifacts, photos, and documents at the Lake Mary Museum. Shop local at stores like The Olive Pantry, Sophie & Trey, and Gems of the Jungle Jewelers on a day out in Downtown Lake Mary. Schedule a tasting, shop Florida wines, and join the Wine of the Month Club at Pierre’s Wine Cellar. Head to Liberty Park for a quiet afternoon hiking nature trails, playing disc golf, or fishing on the banks of East Crystal Lake. Become a member and book a tee time for 18 holes at Timacuan Golf Club. Attend out-of-this-world presentations and live, interactive shows at the Emil Buehler Planetarium. Sample Japanese cuisine like Tonkatsu Ramen, the Crazy Bento Box, and Nabeyaki Udon at Mikado. Try the Siciliana, Rigatoni Amatriciana, or Gnocchi Sorrentina at Terramia Brick Oven Pizza & Trattoria. Or go Greek with dishes like Dolmades, Moussaka, or Pastitsio at Greek Village Restaurant.
Maitland
Photo via @realtorberni
- Home Price: $303,900 median purchase price; $1,276 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 63% of Florida cities
The Orlando suburb of Maitland is a close-knit and lively community located just north of Orlando. In Maitland, you’ll find many Mediterranean and ranch-style homes along with some townhome-style condos. Retirees in Orlando can also find a home at senior living communities like Sweet Water of Orlando and Vivant Senior Living. Thanks to public transit options like the SunRail train and LYNX buses, retirees can enjoy Maitland parks year-round. Living in Maitland, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and meet your neighbors at events like the year-round Maitland Farmers Market.
Things to Do in Maitland
Walk the boardwalk or visit the Waterhouse Museum, a 19th Century home preserved and tucked away in Lake Lily Park. Tour the Maitland Art Center—the only National Historic Landmark in Central Florida—along with the other five museums that make up Maitland’s Art & History Museums. Check out the work of local artists while enjoying food and entertainment at the annual Maitland Rotary Art Festival. Watch and learn about predatory birds and support conservation and rehabilitation efforts at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. Chow down on the McTeak Burger Flat, Imperial Trooper, or Smoking Gun at Teak Neighborhood Grill. Try locally-sourced cuisine made in-house like Blackened Fish Collar, Acorn Squash, and Pork Porterhouse at Luke’s Kitchen and Bar. Or have a nice dinner blending traditional Italian favorites with modern creativity with dishes like the Cappellini D’Angelo, Zuppa Di Pesce, or Chicken Rosemarino at Antonio’s Ristorante.
Winter Park
Photo via @thecorcorangroup
- Home Price: $340,400 median purchase price; $1,068 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 46% of Florida cities
Winter Park is a bustling, urban Orlando suburb full of great restaurants and parks. As one of the best suburbs in the Orlando area, Winter Park is an excellent representation of why Orlando is called The City Beautiful. Local nature attractions like the Kraft Azalea Garden and Mead Botanical Garden show off the acres of beauty the warm Florida climate has to offer. Winter Park also offers retirees access to amenities, like nearby Orlando Executive Airport and healthcare, including the best hospital in Orlando, AdventHealth. And in addition to senior centers and 55+ living communities, retirees living in Winter Park can find American Foursquare, Neocolonial, and ranch-style homes.
Things to Do in Winter Park
Walk through the sculpture gardens on Lake Osceola or tour the Capen House at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. Check out paintings, prints, sculptures, and artifacts dated between the Renaissance and contemporary era at the Rollins Museum of Art. For outdoor recreation, swim, set off at the public boat ramp, or try your hand at fishing from the dock in Dinky Dock Park. Taste Orlando farm-to-table fare with the Sweet Potato Gnocchi, OMG Burger, or Sambuca P.E.I. Mussels from Boca Winter Park. Try Turkish dishes like Chicken Adana Kebap, Lamb Shanks, or Okra Saute at Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine. Or get in some good Southern-style dishes, like Chicken & Andouille File Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, or Jambalaya at Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen.
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Suburb statistics from AreaVibes
