Picking a neighborhood is the biggest decision in any family move. The house matters, but so do the school your kids are zoned for, how long the drive to work takes, and whether there’s a park close enough to walk to after dinner. Our crews have been moving families around Orlando since 2015, so we’ve carried furniture into just about every part of town. This guide covers the areas families ask us about most and what each one is actually like day to day.
One rule before you start: school zones in Orange County follow the street address, not the neighborhood name. Always check a specific address with the Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) “Find My School” tool before you sign a lease or make an offer.
What Orlando Families Look For
Most families we move weigh the same four things:
- Schools. Florida grades public schools A through F every year. You can look up any school’s grade on the Florida Department of Education site, then confirm zoning with OCPS.
- Commute. Orlando is spread out, and I-4, SR 408, SR 417 and the Turnpike shape where people live. A home 10 miles from work can mean 20 minutes or 50, depending on the road.
- Parks and things to do. Lakes, trails, libraries and youth sports fields matter a lot when kids are home all summer.
- Price. Prices change month to month and street to street, so we don’t list numbers here. Use current listings and a local agent for up-to-date figures.
Lake Nona, Baldwin Park and College Park
Lake Nona
Lake Nona is a 17-square-mile master-planned community inside Orlando city limits, southeast of Orlando International Airport. It’s built around Lake Nona Medical City, home to the UCF College of Medicine, Nemours Children’s Hospital and the Orlando VA Medical Center. That makes it a natural fit for families with a parent in healthcare or research, or anyone who flies often.
Laureate Park Elementary, an OCPS school rated A by the state, is located in the walkable Laureate Park section. OCPS schools in the area also include Lake Nona Middle and Lake Nona High, but zoning goes by street address, so check yours with OCPS “Find My School.” The area has newer homes, wide sidewalks and lots of community events. Planning a move there? See our Lake Nona movers page for local tips.
Baldwin Park
Baldwin Park sits about three miles east of downtown Orlando, on land that was once the Naval Training Center Orlando. After the base closed, the land was redeveloped into a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood with a Village Center, trails, Blue Jacket Park and Lake Baldwin. The redevelopment won an EPA Phoenix Award in 2006. Families like it for the sidewalks and front porches, and because you can get downtown or to Winter Park quickly. Learn more on our Baldwin Park moving page.
College Park
College Park is one of Orlando’s older neighborhoods, just northwest of downtown. It’s known for tree-lined streets, older homes, the shops and restaurants along Edgewater Drive, and Dubsdread Golf Course, a City of Orlando public course that opened in 1924. Some lots are smaller and some homes are older, but you’re close to downtown jobs and I-4. Our College Park movers page has tips for narrow streets and older homes.
Dr. Phillips, Windermere and Hunter’s Creek
Dr. Phillips
Dr. Phillips is an unincorporated area of southwest Orange County, named for citrus grower Dr. Philip Phillips. It had 12,328 residents in the 2020 census and sits along the Sand Lake chain of lakes. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, a 183-acre City of Orlando park, is nearby. It has playgrounds for ages 2–12, a fishing pier, paved trails, disc golf and camping. The area is also close to the attractions and Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road, which helps if a parent works in hospitality. See our Dr. Phillips movers page.
Windermere
The Town of Windermere, west of Dr. Phillips, sits on the Butler Chain of Lakes, a group of connected lakes in southwest Orange County. It’s a small town, and many homes in and around it are on or near the water. Families who want room to spread out, and don’t mind a longer drive to downtown, often look here. Visit our Windermere moving page.
Hunter’s Creek
Hunter’s Creek is a planned community in south Orange County, about 6.5 square miles, according to Orange County. It had 24,433 residents in the 2020 census. It has more than 30 separate single-family neighborhoods plus apartments and condos, so it works for families at different budgets. The Florida Turnpike and John Young Parkway make it easy to reach both Orlando and Kissimmee. See our Hunter’s Creek movers page.
MetroWest
MetroWest is a planned community in southwest Orlando, near Kirkman Road and the Turnpike. It has a mix of apartments, townhomes and single-family homes, so many families rent here first while they learn the area. Our MetroWest moving page covers apartment-heavy moves in the area.
Winter Park and the Northern Suburbs
Winter Park
Winter Park is its own city of over 30,000 people just north of Orlando. It’s known for brick streets, a big tree canopy and shopping along Park Avenue. Central Park hosts the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival every spring, which draws over 250,000 visitors. Rollins College, founded in 1885, sits on Lake Virginia. For families, the city’s Ward Park and Cady Way Park complex has playgrounds, ball fields and an Olympic-size pool, and the Winter Park Library is on Morse Boulevard. Winter Park High School uses the nearby Showalter Field for games. See our Winter Park movers page.
Farther North
Past Winter Park, Maitland, Casselberry and Seminole County cities like Oviedo and Winter Springs draw families too. These are separate cities with their own school districts and services. Check each one’s school district site directly.
Planning Your Move Into a New Neighborhood
Once you pick an area, a few local details make move day easier:
- HOA and gate rules. Many planned communities like Lake Nona, Hunter’s Creek and MetroWest limit truck hours or require a gate pass. Ask your HOA or property manager before you book.
- Older streets. In College Park and parts of Winter Park, narrow streets and big oak trees can change where a truck parks. Tell your mover ahead of time.
- Summer storms. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from June through September. Morning start times help.
- School start dates. If you’re moving before the school year starts, book early. Summer weekends fill up first.
Legend Movers 4 You is family-owned, licensed and insured, and we only move within Florida. Our phones are answered 24/7, holidays included. Whether you’re going from an apartment in MetroWest to a house in Lake Nona or across town to Winter Park, our local movers in Orlando can give you a free written estimate so you know what to expect before move day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best neighborhood in Orlando for families?
It depends on your priorities. Lake Nona and Baldwin Park are popular for walkability and newer planning. Dr. Phillips and Windermere are known for their lakes. Winter Park and College Park are older, established areas close to downtown. Check school zoning by address with OCPS.
How do I check which school a home is zoned for?
Use the Orange County Public Schools “Find My School” tool with the exact street address. Then look up the school’s state grade on the Florida Department of Education website.
Is Winter Park part of Orlando?
No. Winter Park is a separate city in Orange County, just north of Orlando, with its own city government.
Do you move families between Orlando neighborhoods?
Yes. Local moves within Orlando and across Florida are all we do. Call any time, 24/7, for a free written estimate.
