Orlando, FL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Orlando, FL: What You Need to Know

Orlando is home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld, but this central Florida city is more than just its theme parks.

Schools and Education in Orlando

Thousands of young people flock to Orlando not for fun, but for higher education. The area boasts of 52 colleges within 100 miles of Orlando. Among them: University of Central Florida with 68,475 students, Valencia College with 46,521 students, and Seminole State College with 18,104 students.

In terms of primary and secondary schools, the city has 204 public schools with an enrolment of 156,592 students. Top-ranked public schools include Stone Lakes Elementary School, Orlando Science Elementary Charter, and Orlando Science Middle High Charter.

The Cost of Living in Orlando

It’s slightly expensive to live in Orlando, a midsize city with a population of 287,442. Its cost of living is 3% higher than the national average. The good news is, food and transportation costs are 14.6% and 8.2% lower than the national average, respectively. To top it all, Florida doesn’t impose a state income tax. The sales tax rate ranges from 6% to 8.50%. The median gross rent is $1,139 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,148.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Living in downtown neighborhoods such as Eola Heights and South Eola District will make you appreciate Orlando’s nickname, City Beautiful. Eola Heights is a historic residential area while South Eola District is home to high-rise apartment buildings. Both are close to Lake Eola Park and the rest of downtown. 

Families with school-age children pick suburbs such as Oviedo and Heathrow. Residents love Oviedo’s slower pace and smooth traffic while Heathrow is often praised for its amenities. Both communities are popular for their great schools and family-friendly events.

Things to Do in Orlando

About 75 million people from around the world visit Orlando every year, making it the number one tourist destination in the United States. All thanks to its nine theme parks: four within Disney World, two in Universal, plus SeaWorld, Legoland, and Discovery Cove. For a change of pace, visit the Orlando Museum of Art, which presents up to 12 on-site exhibitions a year, and the Mennello Museum of American Art, which houses a permanent collection of Earl Cunningham’s paintings and works by other American artists.

Orlando’s Sports

The Orlando Magic is known for producing some of the best players in the NBA such as Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, and Grant Hill. The team has played in the NBA Finals twice, but it hasn’t won a championship yet. Local sports fans also root for the Orlando City Soccer Club (MLS) and the Florida Fire Frogs, a minor league baseball team. In college football, the city hosts top Big Ten and Southeastern conference teams in the Citrus Bowl held at Camping World Stadium on New Year’s Day.