clarification on north & south orlando (Kissimmee, Sanford: apartment complexes, crime, motels)

[xtinax01]

I have read on this forum that northern orlando areas are better than southern orlando areas regarding crime, schools, etc.

My question is this. If the northern areas are better than the southern areas, why am finding that the southern areas are more expensive regarding apartment complexes? Am I looking in all the wrong areas?

Here is what I mean. Sanford, Lake Mary, Winter Park and Clermont all have apartment housing cheaper than Hunters Creek, Conway, and Windermere.

I feel as though I am missing something.

[ucfgirl88]

All the Northern areas you listed are kinda off by themselves. Hunters Creek, Conway, and Windemere are all very close to major attractions/downtown so there are a lot of people living there to work and/or have the convenience of being 15 minutes to the parks/downtown.

Just an FYI I would most certainly say Hunters Creek/Windemere are not crime ridden areas. I live in Hunters Creek and have for 2 years. It is very safe. I would not list Sanford as being safer then the areas you listed, and Winter Park has some rough areas toward the east. Oviedo has cheap housing because of UCF as well. There are tons of apartments everywhere in that area due to students.

I do not know anything about the schools, so I can't help you on that front. Sorry!

Best of luck!

[idr591]

I don't agree at all that Northern areas are nicer than Southern areas. There are nice areas north of Orlando, south of Orlando and within Orlando. There are bad areas north of Orlando, south of Orlando and within Orlando.

[FloridaNative35]

Hmmmm... I think a lot of factors make people say such things.

GENERALLY speaking, Seminole County has better schools (overall) than Orange County... this would include the northern suburbs of Orlando. Also, some of these areas are newer and cleaner and less dense. Again, generally speaking. Many people consider those things positives.

Winter Park (and Maitland, mostly) are more urban and are in Orange County, but the schools are very good (generally speaking). But, you have traffic issues there and the area is considerably more dense than in Lake Mary, for example.

South Orlando is an odd mix. There are several very nice areas, including Dr. Phillips and Windermere, but there's also a lot of very undesirable areas. Additionally, you have serious traffic congestion and a lot of tourists to deal with.

Conway is sort of in between, IMO. It is closer to downtown, zoned for a good high school, and does not have the tourist issues of south Orlando or the long commute of the northern suburbs.

Clermont is in Lake County. I have no idea what the schools are like there, but Lake County schools in general are not very good. Also, I'd think the commute would be long. However, if you want a bit more rural environment, it might be a good choice.

Like all cities, large areas develop reputations, but inside each of those areas are pockets that stand out (for good or bad).

If you have certain criteria for an area (schools, commute time to a specific location, price range, walkability, whatever), you could likely focus your search down much more than north versus south. I would not go only by apartment price.

[xtinax01]

Geographically, I would rather be more south than north because we have family in west palm beach and that would make our commute shorter. The issue that I am having is that I can't seem to find any areas that come recommended in the southern part. I am just now going to do more research on Kissimmee. I had originally stayed away from this area because that is what everyone seemed to say. I do realize though that everyone is different and I need to check it out for myself. So my research begins today on Kissimmee. If you have any info regarding good areas or areas to stay away from, that would be great. Also any additional southern areas you think that I should look into.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by FloridaNative35

Hmmmm... I think a lot of factors make people say such things.

GENERALLY speaking, Seminole County has better schools (overall) than Orange County... this would include the northern suburbs of Orlando. Also, some of these areas are newer and cleaner and less dense. Again, generally speaking. Many people consider those things positives.

Winter Park (and Maitland, mostly) are more urban and are in Orange County, but the schools are very good (generally speaking). But, you have traffic issues there and the area is considerably more dense than in Lake Mary, for example.

South Orlando is an odd mix. There are several very nice areas, including Dr. Phillips and Windermere, but there's also a lot of very undesirable areas. Additionally, you have serious traffic congestion and a lot of tourists to deal with.

Conway is sort of in between, IMO. It is closer to downtown, zoned for a good high school, and does not have the tourist issues of south Orlando or the long commute of the northern suburbs.

Clermont is in Lake County. I have no idea what the schools are like there, but Lake County schools in general are not very good. Also, I'd think the commute would be long. However, if you want a bit more rural environment, it might be a good choice.

Like all cities, large areas develop reputations, but inside each of those areas are pockets that stand out (for good or bad).

If you have certain criteria for an area (schools, commute time to a specific location, price range, walkability, whatever), you could likely focus your search down much more than north versus south. I would not go only by apartment price.

[brinkofsunshine]

Windermere and Dr. Phillips are by far the best areas in South Orlando. You could look info Williamsburg and Hunter's Creek as well.

Personally, I would not live in Kissimmee. Bad schools, crime, strange mix of tacky and redneck. I know there are some diehard fans of Kissimmee on here and I don't mean to offend them or get in a fight as I'm sure some people are happy there; however passing by the endless run-down tourist gift shops and abandoned motels on 192 to get anywhere would get depressing really quick. That strip makes I-Drive look like Madison Avenue.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by xtinax01

Geographically, I would rather be more south than north because we have family in west palm beach and that would make our commute shorter. The issue that I am having is that I can't seem to find any areas that come recommended in the southern part. I

Originally Posted by brinkofsunshine

Windermere and Dr. Phillips are by far the best areas in South Orlando. You could look info Williamsburg and Hunter's Creek as well.

Personally, I would not live in Kissimmee. Bad schools, crime, strange mix of tacky and redneck. I know there are some diehard fans of Kissimmee on here and I don't mean to offend them or get in a fight as I'm sure some people are happy there; however passing by the endless run-down tourist gift shops and abandoned motels on 192 to get anywhere would get depressing really quick. That strip makes I-Drive look like Madison Avenue.

Completely agree with all of this. Look at Windermere or Dr Phillips if it is in your budget. Both areas have proximity to Florida's turnpike for when you need to get down to South FL.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by xtinax01

I have read on this forum that northern orlando areas are better than southern orlando areas regarding crime, schools, etc.

My question is this. If the northern areas are better than the southern areas, why am finding that the southern areas are more expensive regarding apartment complexes? Am I looking in all the wrong areas?

Here is what I mean. Sanford, Lake Mary, Winter Park and Clermont all have apartment housing cheaper than Hunters Creek, Conway, and Windermere.

I feel as though I am missing something.

Clermont is west, not north or south. The "cheap" apartments in Clermont are generally income restricted and overall far from desirable. The nicer apartments in Clermont generally start near $1000 and go up from there.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative35

Clermont is in Lake County. I have no idea what the schools are like there, but Lake County schools in general are not very good. Also, I'd think the commute would be long. However, if you want a bit more rural environment, it might be a good choice.

Lake County schools have come a long way with several "A" rated high schools and many "A" rated elementary and middle schools. You just have to choose carefully to make sure you end up zoned for one of the good schools.

[sean1the1]

It is Hard to determine the two all of the areas that you mentioned are what I would consider West Orlando. I know that Dr. Phillips and Windemere are considered SW Orlando, But I would consider South Orlando would be Hunters creek, Meadow woods, Williamsburg, and all of Osceola county. Conway is more East Orlando, and Clermont is Far West Orlando. Yes, Seminole county has overall the best best school district in Central Florida, But area such as Maitland, Winter Park, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden, and Windemere all have just as good schools. Clermont schools are not that bad just not Seminole county good.

The Southern Portions are closer to all of what Orlando has to offer, But the Northern Suburbs have just about everything you would need without the theme parks, and high end Fashion. Lake Mary and Sanford complexes are just as good as anything in the south.