Moving to Orlando
The city of Orlando is so much more than just the home of Walt Disney World. Located in central Florida, Orlando is often nicknamed The Theme Park Capital of the World, as well as The City Beautiful, with Lake Eola as the city symbol.
Its current population of 2.4 million is expected to increase by 3.2% at the end of 2018 and reach 2.52 million. Orlando was ranked the fourth-most popular city to live in the US, according to the Pew Research Center study in 2009.
The climate of Florida’s third-largest metropolitan area is very different from that of Boston. While Boston has a hot humid continental climate with warm and humid summers and cold, stormy winters, Orlando will feel like living in a super-hot tropical city. According to the Köppen climate classification, the city has a humid subtropical climate with two well-defined “seasons”. The first one is the period between May and late September which is characterized by high temperatures and rainy days. The second “season’ is more dry and warm and lasts from October until April.
Economy and Employment
With so many attractions to offer, Orlando is among the most visited cities in the world. Consequently, tourism is the key industry for the city’s economy. The Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort are the top two attractions for tourists coming from all over the world. Besides the entertainment and tourism industry, the metro area of Orlando’s economy is also fueled by its $13.4 billion technology industry that employs thousands of people in digital media, aviation, aerospace, agricultural technology, software design, and many other tech fields.
Home to two Fortune 500 companies: Tupperware Brands and Darden Restaurants, Orlando has plenty of job opportunities to offer. In fact, one of the reasons why its population keeps growing is precisely because of the labor market abundance. Orange County Public Schools, Siemens, and Duke Energy are among the top employers in Metro Orlando. There are also over 150 international companies (from 20+ countries) that have their offices in the Orlando Metropolitan area.
Housing and Living Costs
As someone relocating from Boston to Orlando, you will be able to save a lot of money on housing and living costs. Overall, the living cost in Orlando is 43% cheaper than in Boston, while the median home cost is 61% less expensive. The cost of living is just 1.2% above the national average, mainly due to its housing and transportation costs. On the bright side, its property taxes are less than the national average and the state of Florida is known for not having a state income tax.
Among the best neighborhoods you can pick from are Thornton Park, Lake Eola Heights, and College Park while Hunter’s Creek, Oviedo, and Heathrow are among the best suburbs.
Fun things to do in Orlando
Living in the Theme Park Capital of the World has its perks. You will be able to enjoy all tourist attractions and amusement parks such as Universal Studios Florida, Legoland Florida, SeaWorld Orlando, and the six parks of Walt Disney World at your own speed. Orlando is not only beautiful but has a great number of sunny days year-round, so get ready to put up with a lot of tourists or just avoid touristy spots.
The city will be at your service with its breathtaking nature, numerous cultural events, and great outdoor activities such as golfing, ice skating, kayaking, biking, and more.
Moving to Orlando with a car
As Orlando is a car-dependent city, it is a good thing you are moving there with a car. Once you become a resident, make sure you register and title your vehicle with your local DHSMV within the first 30 days after you move there. In order to legally drive in Orlando, you must register and title your car at the same time. Refer to the official Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Administration website for information registering your car and getting your Florida driver’s license.