Are you thinking of buying a house in Florida, but you’re afraid of hurricanes? Florida’s coasts are most vulnerable to hurricane damage. However, there are many inland cities and towns where residents can enjoy the Florida lifestyle with reduced hurricane concerns. Whether you’re looking for a retirement community or a family-friendly town, here are the best places to buy a house in Florida with lower hurricane risk.
The Villages
The Villages is a very popular retirement community in central Florida. In fact, it is one of the fastest-growing retirement communities in the country, with a median home price of $368,804. Its inland location makes it ideal for anyone looking to move to a Florida retirement community with lower hurricane risk. The Villages is a great place to retire, with plenty of golf courses and amenities for retirees. Its close proximity to Orlando, just one hour and fifteen minutes away, further adds to its attractiveness.
- Median Home Price: $368,804
Gainesville
Gainesville is a vibrant college town home to the University of Florida. It has a wide range of housing options, from affordable homes to upscale neighborhoods. The median home price is $260,623, making it affordable to move to. Its inland location also means it’s less susceptible to hurricane damage than coastal areas.
- Median Home Price: $260,623
Orlando
Orlando is a great choice if you are looking for a big city in Florida that hardly ever gets hit by hurricanes. It’s one of Florida’s largest cities known for its theme parks. Orlando has many housing options to meet different budgets, with a median home price of $395,517. It has a strong job market and plenty of restaurants and shops- it’s a great city to live in without worrying about hurricanes.
- Median Home Price: $395,517
Winter Haven
Winter Haven is another place in Florida that is typically sheltered from hurricane impacts. Despite being inland, it offers a waterfront lifestyle due to its numerous lakes. This makes it perfect for people who want to live in Florida and enjoy outdoor activities like boating, fishing, biking, and hiking year-round. The median home price is $300,684. Its location is also convenient, just an hour’s drive from Orlando and Tampa, providing easy access to city amenities.
- Median Home Price: $300,684
Sanford
Sanford, located near Orlando, is a charming historic town along Lake Monroe. Being further inland, it’s shielded from hurricane risks, giving residents the pleasure of waterfront living without worrying about hurricane damage. It’s an ideal place to settle down with a median home price of $340,229. Also, it’s just a quick 30-minute drive from Orlando, making it easily accessible.
- Median Home Price: $340,229
Brooksville
Brooksville is a historic small town in West Central Florida that is perfect for anyone looking to move to a place with low hurricane risk. It’s great to live in if you want to stay active. From manatee spotting in the rivers and springs to hiking and biking in its rail trails and off-road bike trails, there is a lot to do in Brooksville. With a median home price of $327,711, it’s a great place to settle down. Plus, it’s just a 50-minute drive to Tampa.
- Median Home Price: $327,711
Mount Dora
Mount Dora is a quaint, artsy town 40 minutes north of Orlando, often called the “New England of the South.” Its historic downtown area has charming boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Located inland, the town is shielded from significant hurricane damage and risks.
Despite its distance from the coast, residents can still enjoy lakefront living on Lake Dora. The median home price is $407,105. Mount Dora is renowned for its various festivals, such as the Mount Dora Arts Festival. Additionally, it’s a safe place to live, with a remarkably low violent crime rate.
- Median Home Price: $407,105
Frostproof
Frostproof is a charming small town in Polk County, located inland, south of Orlando. With a median home price of $233,933, it is an affordable place to move to near beautiful lakes. Residents can still enjoy the water by fishing and boating on Reedy Lake and Lake Clinch. Aside from its lower risk of hurricanes, Frostproof is also a safe place to live with a low crime rate. Its crime rate is lower than 64% of Florida communities.
- Median Home Price: $233,933
Deland
Deland is a historic town in East Central Florida with Old-Florida charm—historic homes and a quaint downtown. Its median home price is $371,841.
Its inland location minimizes the impacts of hurricanes. Yet residents can go to the beach since it’s just a 30-minute drive to Daytona Beach. It’s also conveniently located near Orlando, just a 45-minute drive.
- Median Home Price: $371,841
Fort Meade
Fort Meade, a quaint town in central Florida, is shielded from the worst hurricane damage due to its inland location. Despite being inland, residents can still enjoy water activities like fishing and kayaking at Patterson Park’s lakes.
Fort Meade is known for its affordability. With a median rent of $1050 and a median home price of $231,581, it is one of the most affordable places to live in Florida. Plus, the town has a low crime rate that ranks lower than 61% of Florida communities.
- Median Home Price: $231,581
Haines City
Haines City is a central Florida city safely tucked inland, lowering the risk of hurricane damage. It is located just 50 minutes south of Orlando and is more affordable than many surrounding towns, with a median home price of $336,269.
- Median Home Price: $336,269
Avon Park
Avon Park is a small town in central Florida with a charming main street with shops and restaurants, including a Little Italy and a small lakeside park on Lake Verona near the main street. Located an hour south of Orlando, it’s a great place to move to for those who want to be close to the city without living in it, along with the inland advantage of lower hurricane risk. With a median home price of $186,622, it’s the most affordable town on this list. Plus, it’s home to several golf courses, making it a great place to move to for avid golfers.
- Median Home Price: $186,622
Leesburg
Leesburg is a great place to move to if you want to enjoy waterfront living without the threat of hurricanes. Despite being inland, residents can still enjoy waterfront living since the town is located between both Lake Harris and Lake Griffin. Located just 50 minutes northwest of Orlando, it is part of the greater Orlando metro area with a median home price of $310,055.
- Median Home Price: $310,055
Lakeland
Lakeland, located in Central Florida, is a great place to move to because it’s affordable and away from coastal hurricane risks. The median home price in Lakeland is $300,006.
Located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is also home to Florida Southern College, which features the largest on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Art and history enthusiasts can explore the Polk Museum of Art, while golf enthusiasts can take advantage of the numerous golf courses in Lakeland.
- Median Home Price: $300,006
Lady Lake
Lady Lake, a small town near The Villages, is shielded from high hurricane risk due to its inland location. This makes it an appealing choice for retirees who want to enjoy living in Florida without worrying about hurricanes. Its close proximity to golf courses, shops, and restaurants makes it an attractive place to move to. Plus, it is more affordable than The Villages, with a median home price of $259,563.
- Median Home Price: $259,563
Eustis
Eustis is a small town in central Florida with a historic downtown. Its inland location makes it an appealing place for retirees to move to who want a lower risk of hurricane damage. Despite its inland location, residents can still enjoy lakefront living on Lake Eustis. Located just 50 minutes north of Orlando, it’s an easy drive to the conveniences of a big city. It has a median home price of $315,885.
- Median Home Price: $315,885
Inverness
Inverness is an inland city and one of the most affordable places to retire in Florida, with a median monthly rent of just $1600 and a median home price of $220,235. Located on the western shore of Lake Tsala Apopka, it is ideal for retirees who enjoy fishing and boating. Just over an hour from Tampa, it is also a safe place to live with a low violent crime rate and low property crime rate.
- Median Home Price: $220,235
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