Best Places to Live in Florida: Why You’ll Love Windermere

With lots of beaches to choose from and sunny weather all year round, it comes as no surprise why people are moving to Florida. Coupled with affordable homes and a lower cost of living compared to most states, people are packing up and moving to Florida for good. The lower cost of living can be attributed to no personal income tax rates, which is attractive and can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Moving to Florida

According to a recent poll, 900 people are moving to Florida from other expensive states daily. With the cost of living prices, home prices, and rent rising all over the United States, people are looking for other places to live where rent and homes are more affordable. 

Moving to Florida is easy enough and you will have lots of options to choose from in terms of neighborhoods and cities. The Sunshine State boasts of beach towns and highly populated metropolitan areas, which is home to neighborhoods that have an eclectic mix of culture, education, and lots of recreational things to do. 

Choices Throughout the Sunshine State

Deciding where to live in Florida can depend on a lot of personal factors. Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are considered the biggest cities in Florida. If you are looking to live in a fast-paced city packed with people and with lots of world-class amenities, these cities are the ones that you might want to look into first. Living in these big cities will give you everything that you are looking for, but you will have more densely populated neighborhoods to deal with and traffic congestion. 

Orlando is known as the home of theme parks and is considered one of the best cities in Florida. This city is known all over the world for being home to numerous theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal’s Island of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Epcot Center to name a few. 

If you are moving to Florida but are not sold on the hustle and bustle of a big city, there are plenty of smaller towns that are close to Orlando that you might want to look into. One of these up-and-coming places is a town called Windermere which is located just outside Orlando.

Read along as we talk about why Windermere is considered one of the best places to live in Florida and why people are moving to Windermere.

Where is Windermere, Florida?

Located in Orange County in the state of Florida, Windermere is a small town with a population of just over 3,000 people. Considered as one of the nicest, smaller towns in Florida, Windermere is the center of one of the largest citrus regions in the world which makes it rich in history and a great contributor to the state’s agriculture. 

Windermere is home to numerous celebrities and personalities. It is known as the town of stars and lakes and most homes in the area are built with stunning, lake views that you will not find anywhere else. 

Real Estate in Windermere, Florida

Considered as one of the best places to live in the Orlando area, Windermere is one of the hottest real estate markets in Florida. More than 90% of homes are owner-occupied and it is considered a sparse suburban area. If you are thinking of moving to Florida, Windermere will be a great fit for your needs because of its small-town appeal but still close enough to the bigger city of Orlando.

Windermere might be considered a small town which makes it easy to underestimate but in reality, it is one of the most prestigious towns outside of Orlando. Moving to Windermere will give you an opportunity to feel the mix of living in the suburbs but having an elevated and rich lifestyle. This is why a lot of celebrities and well-known personalities own property and call Windermere their home. 

The Town of Windermere is only 1.50 square miles and is surrounded by the Butler Chain of Lakes. Because of this, most homes built in Windermere boast great lake views that will surely captivate you. Being surrounded by the natural beauty of Florida will surely bring you peace and tranquility. Windermere is also regarded as one of the safest areas in the Orlando Metropolitan Area, with a low crime rate compared to other neighboring cities.

There are residential developments in Windermere that are gated, which will keep you and your family safe. These gated communities are often guarded and will not allow uninvited visitors and guests inside.  Since most of the people who live in Windermere have school-age children, the school district is truly top-notch and unrivaled. Whether you are looking for daycare options to high school, Windermere has a lot of options when it comes to providing quality education for all ages. 

Things to do in Windermere, Florida

Consider yourself lucky if you are living in Windermere because the residents here are quite prestigious in their own right. After all, Windermere is considered one of the best cities outside Orlando, and because of its proximity to Orlando, the list of things to do in this town is endless. 

Windermere is considered a family-friendly place and has tons of activities for people of all ages. The people who live in Windermere will have a plethora of options when it comes to outdoor recreation and access to the different lakes that surround the area. Even if the actual square footage of the town is small, it is covered by a lot of parks and places that offer recreational activities for people of all ages. 

You will not run out of things to do when you live in Windermere and if you want to venture further out, Orlando is only 14 miles away or a 20-minute drive.

Here are some of the things that you can do in Windermere:

• Beck Brothers Blueberries U-Pick
• Windermere Recreation Center
• Windermere Library
• Florida Ski School
• Florida Lake Tours
• Orlando Lake Tours
• Golden Bear Club
• Butler Chain Guided Tours
• Indigo Spa and Wellness Center
• The Salt Scene
• Art Room

Outdoor Recreation in Windermere, Florida

One of the best things about living in Windermere is the fact that numerous outdoor parks are within a 2-mile radius. Whether you want to explore the natural views of Windermere, picnic with your friends or family, or just have a place to walk around and hike, there are plenty of parks to choose from. There are even a few parks that you can launch your boat from and enjoy a day boating. Here are some of the parks that you can check out in Windermere:

• Central Park
• Fernwood Park
• Johnson Park
• Lake Bessie Lakefront
• Lake Down Park
• Lake Street Park
• Park Among the Lakes

Education in Windermere, Florida

Since Windermere is considered a great place for families, the options when it comes to schooling are top-notch too. Whether you are looking for private or public school options, you will have plenty of choices. Here are some of the schools that are located in Windermere:

• Windermere Elementary School
• New Academy Inc
• First Baptist Church Child Development Center
• Windermere Preparatory School
• Chain of Lakes Middle School
• Olympia High School

Restaurants in Windermere, Florida

When it comes to restaurants and dining options, there are a lot to choose from in this small town. Whether you are looking for a quick bite to eat or a different cuisine to try, the Windermere restaurant scene has you covered. Here are some of the restaurants that are worth checking out:

• Dixie Cream Cafe
• Tomatoes Home Style Cooking
• Pizza 14
• Feather and Quill
• Hawkers Asian Street Food
• BurgerFi
• Shanghai
• Black Rock Bar and Grill
• Island Fin Poke, Windermere

With great weather all year round and located just outside Orlando, Windermere is considered one of the best places to live in the state of Florida. When it comes to outdoor recreation, educational options, and restaurants, Windermere has it all. Moving to Windermere is an easy choice to make because it is safe, affordable and will give you luxury living all at once. 

Living in Windermere will give you the best of both worlds, you will have a chance to live close to Orlando with all the world-class amenities that it can offer and still come home to a small town that is away from the bright lights and sights of Orlando. This small town is a great place to bring up kids and a good landing spot for individuals who are looking for a long-term place to live in. Even though Windermere is considered a small town, you will have all the amenities that you need and so much more!

If you are considering moving to Windermere and not knowing where to start, contact our team today! Our group of real estate professionals is knowledgeable and industry experts who are familiar with the incredible town of Windermere. We will guide you from start to finish to find you your forever home. Let us help you find the home of your dreams in Windermere, Florida!