Orlando Awards & Accolades

The Orlando area commonly receives awards and accolades for its high-quality of life for millennials and retirees alike. See recent awards listed below.

• 2024

  Orlando Named the #2 “Most Fun City” in America – WalletHub
  Orlando Ranks as the #6 “Best Place to Retire” in Florida – U.S. News & World Report

• 2023

  Orlando Recognized as the #1 “Best Large City to Start a Business” in the U.S. – WalletHub
  Orlando Ranks as a TOP 10 “Best Place to Live” in Florida – Forbes
  Orlando is Named the 4th “Best Place to Retire” in the Country – WalletHub

   

Top 10 Reasons to Relocate to Orlando

1. Orlando is Top-Rated City to Retire In

   Orlando was recently rated as the “#6 Best Place to Retire” in Florida in 2024 by WalletHub. This study evaluated many metrics including the affordability of home and retirement services, access to quality healthcare and the overall happiness and quality of life for local residents.

2. Florida Has No State Income Tax

   One large benefit of becoming a Florida resident is the lack of a state income tax. This allows you to save more of each dollar you earn. Rather than charge Floridians a state income tax, the state earns revenues from the millions of tourists that visit the sunshine state each year through a 7% sales tax (state level) and a 5% tourist tax (county level) from revenues on rental properties and hotel stays that are for six months or less. Once you declare Florida as your residence, you’ll be thankful for the tourists who pay your share of the state taxes.

3. Orlando is Home to Over a Dozen Theme Parks

   With over a dozen world-class theme parks to explore in your backyard, you’re sure to find fun for all ages.

   • Walt Disney World Resort
   • Universal Islands of Adventure
   • Universal Studios
   • Disney’s Hollywood Studio
   • SeaWorld Orlando
   • Discovery Cove

   • Aquatica Park
   • Disney’s Magic Kingdom
   • Epcot
   • Legoland
   • Animal Kingdom

   • Gatorland Orlando
   • Volcano Bay
   • Typhoon Lagoon
   • Blizzard Beach Water Park
   • Holy Land Experience
4. Orlando Has Top-Rated Healthcare & Hospitals

   The greater Orlando area has several top-rated hospitals including AdventHealth Orlando and the Orlando Regional Medical Center. For a complete guide of the best Orlando area hospitals, view US News & World Reports’ annual Orlando hospital rankings list. You can refine the list of hospitals by specialty and healthcare type.

5. Orlando Real Estate Offers Good Value

   The Orlando real estate market has been growing rapidly in recent years due to an influx of persons relocating to the area, but Orlando and central florida still offers real estate at a lower price per square foot than living in Tampa Bay or the larger cities of South Florida. At the start of April 2024, the median Orlando home price is $384,415 and the median Orlando monthly rent is $2,030 per month. Living on a lakefront, golf course of near downtown will obviously cost more. To find out exact housing costs, the most preferred and popular neighborhoods people are moving into, contact Laura Reynolds, our Orlando relocation expert listed on this page.

6. Orlando Offers a Year-Round Playground

   With an average year-round temperature of 73’ degrees and 233 sunny days per year, Orlando is a top Florida city for outdoor enthusiasts. If you enjoy watersport activities, try kayaking or paddle boarding through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. If you prefer landside recreation, Orlando offers miles of biking, jogging and pet-friendly trails. If you like to observer the native wildlife and birds, enjoy an airboat ride through the Florida everglades.

7. Orlando Has a Strong Job & Employment Market

   Boasting an unemployment rate of only 3.2% in early 2024, which is well below the national average, Orlando’s job and employment market continues to be very robust. Top sectors in the Orlando economy include hospitality & tourism, healthcare, professional services, education, and retail. Largest employers in the greater Orlando area include Walt Disney World, Orange County Public Schools, State of Florida Government and Adventist Health System.

8. Orlando is a Great City to Start a Business

   With an expanding population, Orlando is the top-rated large city in America to start a business. In late 2023, WalletHub ranked Orlando as the #1 Best Large City in America to start a new business based upon 20 key factors including average growth rate per industry, current competition in the area, investor access to funding as well as local labor costs. View the Best Cities to Start a Business rankings.

9. Orlando Has Great Dining & Cuisine Options

   The greater Orlando area offers a wide variety of eateries and dining establishments from casual pet-friendly sidewalk cafes to elegant, five-star restaurants. There’s also a growing scene of popular craft breweries and beer gardens to check out such as Redlight, Redlight, The Thirsty Topher and the Half Barrel Beer Project. Many of these places offer a pet-friendly vibe, live entertainment and some places even offer corn hole, darts and foosball while you enjoy a fresh, local-craft brew.

10. Orlando Offers Endless Events to Explore
    Orlando offers an active scene of year-round events including outdoor food and craft beer festivals, musical performances, car shows and film festivals. Popular Orlando events include the Orlando Film Festival, Orlando Chili Cook-Off, Tacos & Tequila, Whiskey Business, Beer ‘Merica, Orlando Greek Fest, MegaCon and the Florida Strawberry Festival.