Orlando, FLBest Places To Live in the U.S. in 2023
Orlando ignites imagination and offers a world of wonder, from its world-class theme parks to its vibrant downtown. With year-round sunshine and a welcoming community, Orlando invites residents to explore every opportunity afforded to them here.
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Orlando, FL, Is One of the Best Cities To Live in America
Disney is known as the happiest place on the Earth, and all of those good vibes spill over into Orlando, FL, which is one of the best places to live in the U.S. Residents here can enjoy year-round sunshine, diverse neighborhoods, access to excellent health care and, of course, mingling with Mickey at Disney World.
Orlando has more than 35 colleges, universities and technical schools, which provide a strong talent pipeline for the region’s diverse industries. With a mixture of quality public and private schools, the city is a perfect place to relocate for families with young children. And the tight-knit community will make you feel right at home. Those who relocate here have their pick of communities, like Lake Nona, designed with health and wellness in mind. Here, neighbors come together to sweat it out at Saturday morning fitness classes in Boxi Park.
Arts and culture are big here, too, as Orlando is home to premier museums, galleries and theaters, including the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Orlando Museum of Art. Plus, Orlando is pretty diverse, making it a cultural hub for those looking to celebrate a community with people from all walks of life.
Orlando, FL Quality of Life LivScore
Orlando, FL Top Categories
Transportation
Economy
Amenities
Orlando ranks highest for transportation, economy and amenities.
Weather and Outdoor Activities in Orlando, FL
Located in The Sunshine State, Orlando residents have year-round access to vitamin D. Temperatures fluctuate from hot in the summer to warm in the winter. The average highs and lows are 91°F and 74°F (summer) and 74°F and 53°F (winter).
The average annual snowfall in Orlando is 0 inches, thanks to its subtropical climate.
The average annual rainfall in Orlando is 50 inches, with the wettest months being June through September and the driest months being November through April.
Orlando averages 233 sunny days a year.
Play tennis or pickleball on the United States Tennis Association National Campus courts. The sports complex also offers youth and adult classes. Afterward, cool off by visiting the Orlando Watersports Complex for endless fun. The complex features a lake equipped with two full-size cable systems designed for teaching wakeboarding, wake surfing, kneeboarding and water skiing.
Things To Do in Orlando, FL
So many movies have been filmed here, including “Jaws 3,” “My Girl,” “Parenthood,” “The Waterboy,” and the opening scene of “Lethal Weapon 3,” which showed the demolition of Orlando’s old city hall.
Kids can learn about dinosaurs, test out their skills as a meteorologist and get a close-up look at the cosmos all at the Orlando Science Center. For those ages 13 and up, the Flight Lab has flight simulator stations outfitted with Oculus Rift VR headsets.
East End Market is a two-story market and food hall home to a dozen merchants. Grab Japanese mochi donuts from Dochi, a houseplant from Porch Therapy and a cup of joe from Lineage Coffee Roasting.
For a meal to remember, head to Michelin-starred, 10-seat restaurant Soseki for an omakase (chef’s choice) experience — the restaurant partners with Florida fishermen, farmers and purveyors.
The Local and State Economy in Orlando, FL
Orlando is known for its tourism industry, particularly theme parks, but there are other major industries in the city, too, including aerospace and aviation, defense and homeland security, and technology and innovation. Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, Lockheed Martin and Publix Super Markets are among the largest employers.
In 2023, the sales tax rate in Orlando is 6.5%.
No, Florida does not have a state income tax.
Orlando residents can access various top health care providers, including AdventHealth, Orlando Health and the University of Central Florida Health. In addition, some of the top hospitals in the area include Orlando Health-Orlando Regional Medical Center (nationally ranked in five children’s specialties), AdventHealth Orlando (nationally ranked in six adult specialties and one children’s specialty) and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children (nationally ranked in five children’s specialties).
There are several colleges and universities in Orlando, including the University of Central Florida (UCF), Valencia College and various private universities.
Quick Facts About Orlando, FL
- Median Household Income
- $61,652
- Median Home Value
- $333,042
- Average State Property Tax
- $2,143
- Total Population
- 308,495
- Median Rent/Mo.
- $1,261
- Average Commute
- 23.11 minutes
Orlando shines in the economy, amenities and transportation categories, making it one of the best places to live in the U.S. Learn more about why you should move to Orlando and about the cost of living there. Another great way to learn about a city is to visit before you move there.
