What it's like to live in Orlando
Orlando is a large city in Florida with unemployment below the national average, a highly educated workforce, a growing population, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Orlando deals with rent well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Several well-rated hospitals
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Orlando compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Orlando
Based on Orlando's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,494
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,880 a year
- 56% of Orlando renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,410
- Homes cost 5.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 24% above US
$1,747/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,747 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $394,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $394,100 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 110% above US
836 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 4036/100k · Orlando Police Department · 2022 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 52°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
7 hospitals
There are 7 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.8 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 18% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
74 public schools inside the boundary
There are 74 public schools inside the boundary and 27 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (40 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Orlando's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,747/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals.