Everyone has their criteria for choosing a new home, and Millennials have developed their own ‘personality’ as an age group. For a Millennial moving to Orlando, it’s important to choose a neighborhood that best suits your lifestyle and desires lest you plunk down your suitcases and realize you’re surrounded by suburbia, and what you really wanted was an urban landscape. Or vice versa. Here are the top 5 neighborhoods in Orlando for Millennials based on access to the things this age group has established as most important.
Maitland
Let’s start on the outskirts of the city, shall we? Many Millennials, despite their desire to have easy access to the activities and buzz of Downtown, are interested in buying their first home in a neighborhood just a little outside of town with abundant access to nature. Maitland is a great choice if you fall into that category with its parks, the Howell Branch Nature Preserve, and the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey all located within this suburb. Disney and the numerous parks are also close by, so living in this neighborhood may mean an easier commute for those employed by the theme parks — and as an always-growing industry, the parks are a source of employment for many newcomers to Orlando. Because Maitland is so close to Disney, residents live close by to a wide array of restaurants, bars, and live music. Bonus. The one downside? Of the neighborhoods on our list, this one can be a bit pricier, with rent around $1,250.
Altamonte Springs
If you’d like to head a little further out of downtown, Altamonte Springs is about 30 minutes from downtown Orlando with its own suburb feel. Nearly 20% of the current residents are between the ages of 24 and 35, and this suburb provides excellent access to nightlife like bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, and has fairly low crime rates to boot. The cost of living in Altamonte Springs is a bit lower than in Maitland with the average rent just under $1,000 and home prices around $135,000, so it’s a great place to look if you’re buying your first house in Orlando. If you’re a Millennial planning to start a family soon, this might also be a good destination: the schools in Altamonte Springs get great ratings.
Business District
For those looking for a more urban feel, check out the housing in the Business District. Living so centrally may be ideal if you’re diving into the professional world, putting in long hours at the office downtown or, perhaps, looking to network your way into one of those offices. You won’t get the abundant open space, but you will be able to walk or take public transit just about anywhere you need to go. The crime rates are a bit higher (though still lower than the Orlando average!), but the cost of living in Orlando in the Business District is surprisingly right on par with Orlando’s average. Downtown is expanding rapidly, so a move into the Business District ensures you’ll be right on the front lines – and always in the know as new bars and restaurants in Orlando as they open and close.
Lockhart
A suburb of Orlando, Lockhart offers high quality of life with a lower price tag than many of Orlando’s suburbs. It gets top rankings for access to nightlife like bars and restaurants — expect to find a wide assortment of Cuban, Venezuelan, Japanese, and other ethnic cuisines. Rent in Lockhart averages around $900 per month, and other cost-of-living factors, like groceries, are on par with the rest of Orlando. The neighborhoods in Lockhart are definitely quieter with most people working in Orlando, but the population in Lockhart is nearly 20% people between 25 and 34 so you’re bound to find new friends here. Most of the population has less than a 20-minute commute to work, so you’ll have plenty of time to live life rather than sit in traffic. Downtown is also a quick trip away to check out the culture and nightlife regularly.
Fairview Shores
In 2016, Fairview Shores was rated #12 on the Best Places in Florida for Millennials list. Not bad, not bad at all! Consider moving to Fairview Shores if life among the lakes calls to you. With Lake Fairview, Lake Killarney, and Little Lake Fairview right nearby, this neighborhood has ample access to outdoor recreation — which might be nice when things really heat up in Florida’s summertime. The area also has excellent access to restaurants and bars, with an easy trip into Downtown and an average rent of just over $900. For those who are interested in taking advantage of Florida’s sunshine and warm weather all year round, Fairview Shores is an excellent relocation destination.
Prefer to live in one of the neighborhoods mentioned above. Start packing and hire one of the best movers in Orlando to do the heavy lifting!
