If you’re thinking about relocating to the Orlando, Florida area, you may be surprised to learn that the best place to live isn’t Orlando at all—it’s North Orlando. Yes, people love Orlando for its theme parks, beaches, sunshine, and job opportunities. And sure, I moved to Orlando myself once… but I also left.

Today, I’m breaking down six major reasons why you should consider moving to North Orlando instead of settling in Orlando proper. These reasons aren’t in any particular order, but I’ll tell you right now: #5 surprises just about everyone who calls us about moving to the Orlando area.

When I say North Orlando, I’m talking about cities like:

• DeLand
  
• DeBary
  
  
• Deltona
  
• Orange City
  
• Eustis and Mount Dora (Lake County)

These areas offer everything people love about Central Florida—without the headaches that come with Orlando proper.

1. Orlando Traffic Is Brutal — North Orlando Is Not

Orlando is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, and unfortunately, the roads just haven’t kept up. Even compared to heavy-traffic cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, D.C., or New York, Orlando can hold its own—in the worst way.

A study showed Orlando residents spend 27 hours a year just sitting in traffic. Not driving. Sitting.

And it doesn’t matter what time it is—rush hour, Sunday morning, middle of the day—you can hit a standstill on:

• I-4
  
• 436 (Semoran)
  
• Colonial (50)
  
• International Drive
  
• The 528 / Turnpike interchange

Why?

• Poor public transit
  
• Constant construction
  
• Tourists who don’t know where they’re going
  
• Infrastructure that can’t keep up with growth

North Orlando? Completely different story.
Yes, there’s some traffic near Lake Mary or close to I-4 access points, but nothing like Orlando. Once you cross Lake Monroe into Sanford, DeBary, DeLand, and Deltona, the congestion drops dramatically.

Mount Dora and Eustis? Practically no traffic.

2. North Orlando Homes Are More Affordable—And Often Newer

Orlando’s median home price sits around $400,000+, but many neighborhoods inside the city run far higher—often $600K–$800K for a newer, updated property.

Compare that to North Orlando:

• DeLand: ~$350K
  
• Deltona: ~$300K
  
• Orange City: ~$310K
  
• Eustis: ~$340K

North Orlando gives you:

• Newer construction
  
• Larger lots
  
• More land
  
• More options
  
• Less congestion

Plus, there’s more new construction happening in North Orlando than Orlando proper. Builders offer incentives, closing cost help, and even interest rate buy-downs (we’ve seen rates as low as 3.99%).

If you want more house for the money, North Orlando wins by a mile.

3. The Location Is Perfect — Close to Everything Without the Chaos

North Orlando puts you close to everything you want—but far from everything you don’t.

Approximate drive times to Orlando proper:

• DeLand → 45 minutes
  
• Mount Dora → 45 minutes
  
• DeBary → 30 minutes

Add about 15 minutes to reach the major attractions.

Easy Transportation Options

• SunRail runs from DeLand all the way to Orlando with an annual pass around $1,100 (seniors and kids half-off).
  
• 429 Beltway gives fast access to Disney and theme parks.
  
• Express lanes on I-4 cut travel time—at a price.

Beaches, springs, and outdoor recreation

North Orlando gets you closer to:

• New Smyrna Beach (30–40 min)
  
• St. Johns River (boating, fishing, kayaking)
  
• Blue Spring State Park
  
• DeLeon Springs
  
• Ocala National Forest (ATVs, hiking, camping)

If you love the Florida outdoor lifestyle, North Orlando is unbeatable.

4. Better Quality of Life, Small-Town Charm & a Slower Pace

If you want a more relaxed lifestyle, North Orlando is where it’s at.

Cities like:

• Sanford
  
• Lake Mary
  
• DeLand
  
• Mount Dora

…Offer historic downtowns, charm, walkability, festivals, farmer’s markets, and a strong community feel you rarely find in Orlando proper.

Other quality-of-life advantages:

• Fewer sirens
  
• Less congestion
  
• Friendlier people
  
• Slower pace
  
• Easier airport access (Sanford > MCO any day)

Many families choose North Orlando because of the schools and lower crime ratings reported on sites like Niche.com.

5. The Job Market in North Orlando Is Shockingly Good

This is the one that surprises most people:

North Orlando has thousands of high-paying jobs.

Lake Mary alone is packed with corporate headquarters and major employers including:

• AAA National Headquarters
  
• Deloitte
  
• Chase
  
• Verzion
  
• Mitsubishi
  
• Orlando Health

Across North Orlando you’ll find work in:

• Finance
  
• Tech / IT
  
• Healthcare
  
• Sales & marketing
  
• Customer support
  
• Education
  
• Remote work

DeLand employs 17,000+ people and is home to:

• Stetson University
  
• AdventHealth
  
• Volusia County Schools
  
• Medtronic
  
• Kingspan
  
• DaVita Labs
  
• Skydive DeLand

If you thought all the good jobs were in Orlando proper—think again.

6. Fewer Tourists = Better Everyday Living

This one might be obvious, but it's big.

We love tourists—they keep our economy booming and many end up buying homes here. But in Orlando proper? They can make daily life stressful:

• They don’t know the roads
  
• They drive unpredictably
  
• They pack the restaurants
  
• They treat every day like a vacation
  
• They under-tip
  
• They panic over alligators and wildlife

North Orlando doesn’t deal with this nearly as much.

Instead, we get snowbirds—friendly retirees who come for the winter, buy homes, spend money, and support local businesses.

Final Thoughts: North Orlando Simply Offers a Better Way of Life

Is Orlando a bad place to live? Not at all. But if you want:

• Affordability
  
• Less traffic
  
• More charm
  
• Strong job markets
  
• Outdoor recreation
  
• Better quality of life

…then North Orlando beats Orlando proper every single time.

If you're thinking about moving to the Orlando area, whether Orlando, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, or DeLand—reach out to us. We help people relocate here every day, and we’d love to help you too.
Give us a call at 352-250-9617