Are you on a budget and planning to move near Orlando? But you are worried you will end up in a place that is unsafe. We have compiled a list of the best places to live near Orlando that is both safe and affordable, based on data from Neighborhood Scout, Best Places, and Zillow, which factors in crime rate, cost of living, and median rent. Each town on our list has been carefully selected to meet our criteria of being both safe and affordable, with a maximum rent of $2000. Here are some of the cheapest and safest places to live near Orlando.
Best Places to Live Near Orlando
1. Fort Meade, FL
Fort Meade is a safe and affordable town in central Florida, an hour and a half away from Orlando. It offers a suburban lifestyle, with easy access to fishing and kayaking in Patterson Park’s lakes.
With a median rent of $1050 and a median home price of $243,492, it’s one of the cheapest places to live in Florida. Fort Meade has a low crime rate that is lower than 61% of Florida communities, with violent crime at 2.89 and property crime at 6.55.
The safest neighborhoods are Fort Meade South, Hoot Owl Hill, and Downtown Fort Meade.
- Distance to Orlando: 1.5 hours
- Median Rent: $1050
- Median Home Price: 243,492
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 2.89
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 6.55
- Safest Neighborhoods: Fort Meade South, Hoot Owl Hill, Downtown Fort Meade.
2. Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven is one of the safest and cheapest places to live near Orlando. Located just over an hour from Orlando, it is a great place to live for anyone who is looking to enjoy an active lifestyle with plenty of boating, fishing, biking, and hiking.
Median rent is $1890/month and median home price is $300,360. The violent crime rate is low at 3.16 per 1000 and the property crime rate is 16.41 per 1000. The safest neighborhoods are Lake Ashton, Renaissance, Terranova, Orchid Springs, Shadow Wood, Lake Shipp Heights, Gordonville, East Lake Mariam, Eloise Woods, or Century Dr/US Hwy 92.
- Distance to Orlando: 1 hour 11 minutes
- Median Rent: $1890
- Median Home Price: $300,360
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 3.16
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 16.41
- Safest Neighborhoods: Inverness South, Inverness Northeast, Highland Ave/E Holly St, Catawba/Landrum, Inverness North, Inverness East, Inverness Highlands North, City Center, Inverness Highlands South, Arlington
3. Lakeland, FL
Lakeland, located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, is an affordable place to live with a median home price of $301,242 and average rental prices of $1795 per month.
It’s home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and the Polk Museum of Art. Lake Mirror Park and Hollis Garden are must-visit destinations in the city.
Lakeland has a low rate of violent crime compared to the state average but the property crime is slightly higher than the state’s average.
The safest neighborhoods in Lakeland are Branchborough, Medulla West, Spring Ln/Carriage Ln, Highland City West, Country Woods, Lakeland Highlands East, Highland City South, Christina Woods, Willow Oak East, and Fox Town/Orangedale.
- Distance to Orlando: 1 hour and 19 minutes
- Median Rent: $1795
- Median Home Price: $301,242
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 2.59
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 21.03
- Safest Neighborhoods: Branchborough, Medulla West, Spring Ln/Carriage Ln, Highland City West, Country Woods, Lakeland Highlands East, Highland City South, Christina Woods, Willow Oak East, Fox Town/Orangedale
4. Avon Park, FL
Avon Park is an affordable and safe place to buy a house near Orlando with a low violent crime rate. The median home price is $172,858 and the cost of renting is $1500/month.
The town has a charming main street with shops, restaurants and a small lakeside park on Lake Verona. Golfers can enjoy several golf courses while museum enthusiasts can visit the Peter Powell Roberts Museum of Art & Cultural Center and the SFSC Museum of Florida Art & Culture.
However, the property crime rate is slightly higher than the state’s average at 17.32. Some of the safest places to live in the area are Avon Park West, Avon Park Lakes, Avon Park East, Highland Lakes, Lakemont, Alpine, and the City Center.
- Distance to Orlando: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Median Rent: $1500
- Median Home Price: $172,858
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 2.29
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 17.32
- Safest Neighborhoods:Avon Park west, Avon Park Lakes, Avon Park East, Highland Lakes, Lakemont, Alpine, City Center
5. Frostproof, FL
Frostproof is a safe and affordable place to live near Orlando. It’s a small and charming town in Polk County with a peaceful lifestyle, beautiful lakes, and great fishing and boating.
The median home price is $214,752, with a median rent of $1575 per month. Frostproof has a low crime rate, which is lower than 64% of Florida communities.
The safest neighborhoods in Frostproof include Lakeside Terrace/River Ranch, Oakridge Estates/Bear Bay Hills, Clinchwood/Lake Hills, Crooked Lake, and Bay View Park/Maxcy Quarters.
- Distance to Orlando: 1 hour and 42 minutes
- Median Rent: $1575
- Median Home Price: 214,752
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 1.31
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 7.52
- Safest Neighborhoods: Lakeside Terrace/River Ranch, Oakridge Estates/Bear Bay Hills, Clinchwood/Lake Hills, Crooked Lake and Bay View Park/Maxcy Quarters
6. Palm Bay
If you want an affordable and safe beach town near Orlando, try Palm Bay. The town has a low crime rate, with a violent crime rate of 1.76 per 1000 and property crime rate of 12.16 per thousand.
Palm Bay’s median rent is low at $1991 and the cost of living is 7.3% lower than the state’s average. Median home price is also low at $331,087, making it an attractive place to live.
Safe neighborhoods include The Compound, Palm Bay Southwest, Palm Bay West, Lynbrook Park, American Blvd NW/Ontario St NW, West Oaks Park, Waco Blvd SE/Seven Galbes Cir SE, Fred Lee Park, Bayside Lakes, and Americana Blvd NE/Holiday Park Blvd NE.
- Distance to Orlando: 1 hour
- Median Rent: $1991
- Median Home Price: $331,087
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 1.76
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 12.16
- Safest Neighborhoods: The Compound, Palm Bay Southwest, Palm Bay West, Lynbrook Park, American Blvd NW/Ontario St NW, West Oaks Park, Waco Blvd SE/Seven Galbes Cir SE, Fred Lee Park, Bayside Lakes, and Americana Blvd NE/Holiday Park Blvd NE
7. Indian Harbour Beach
Indian Harbour Beach is a safe and affordable beach town located an hour from Orlando. Enjoy stunning beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, boating, and fishing. The Kennedy Space Center is nearby.
The town has low crime rates, with Sun Land Harbour/Lyme Bay and City Center being the safest neighborhoods. The median rent is $2000 and the cost of living is 7.3% lower than the state average.
- Distance to Orlando: 1 hour
- Median Rent: $2000
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1000) 0.89
- Property Crime Rate (per 1000) 7.56
- Safest Neighborhoods: Sun Land Harbour/Lyme Bay and City Center
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