The Community Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Living in Winter Park
The Community Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Living in Winter Park
Are you considering moving to Winter Park Florida?
Learn everything you need to know about living in Winter Park, Florida here.
Everything You Need to Know About Living in Winter Park
Florida is one of the most popular states in America because of it's nice weather, beautiful beaches, and relaxing vacation destinations.
But all these things make it a great place to settle down, too. If you're thinking about moving to Florida, don't just start looking for homes in Miami or St. Petersburg.
You should check out the lesser-known area of Winter Park, Florida first.
Here's everything you need to know about living in this beautiful community.
Living in Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a somewhat small city that's located in Orange County, Florida. It's home to just over 29,500 people, but with its top-rated schools, high-end restaurants, boutiques, museums, art galleries, and more, the neighborhood feels much larger.
A northern businessman first founded Winter Park as a beautiful winter resort in 1887, which is also how it got its name. The city served as an escape for wealthy families who wanted to get away from the harsh winters in the north and relax in the warm sunshine instead.
Now Winter Park is famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture, brick-lined streets, towering trees, green parks, sparkling lakes, and impressive homes. The city's center and the best-known neighborhood is Park Avenue, which has many of the high-quality museums, restaurants, and shops that make the city famous.
While Winter Park used to be a place for vacations and tourists, it has transformed into a beautiful area to settle down with the family.
If you've always wanted to move to Florida, Winter Park should be on the top of your list.
And here's why.
High Liveability Score
Winter Park has a liveability score of 78, meaning it ranks better than 88% of other areas in the United States.
For a city born from a winter resort, it's still an affordable place to live. The average home value is about $320,00, and the median family income is $59,405. In other words, Winter Park is only 17% more expensive than the US average.
You get a beautiful location without the high prices.
This city also has a high walkability score of 41. If you have the time, you can save money on gas and get in a good workout, too.
Good Weather Year Round
The weather in Winter Park stays between 52 degrees Fahrenheit and 91 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the entire year. Although the weather can sometimes get colder or warmer, it is much less common.
Here's a quick breakdown of what you can expect every month.
January
January is the coldest month of the year in Winter Park. The temperature can drop down to the mid-40s, but it usually stays between 50 degrees and 70 degrees.
So even though January can get cold, you still get to enjoy warm and sunny weather.
February
February is a little warmer than January. But again, the temperature usually rests between 52 degrees and 74 degrees.
March
The weather gets slightly warmer in March. You might even experience highs in the low 80s.
April
By the time April rolls around, the weather evens out to be consistently warm. The lows only go down to 60 degrees, and the average high is around 83 degrees.
May
The month of May sets the stage for summer, so the weather gets even warmer. The average low is 66 degrees and the high is nearly 90 degrees.
June
June is the first month of the warm season in Winter Park. It's also the month that experiences the most rain.
But don't worry. You can still leave your umbrella at home most days. Many years don't get more than 5 or so inches or rainfall.
Even with the rain, the temperature in June can reach average highs of 91 degrees. And it won't get much colder than 72 degrees.
July
July is the warmest month of the year in Winter Park. The temperatures can get as high as 100 degrees, but the average is a little cooler at 92 degrees. It doesn't usually get any colder than 74 degrees.
August
During the month of August, the weather starts to cool down again. The high lowers to 92 degrees, but it still doesn't get any colder than the low 70s.
September
Again, the average low for the month of September is the low 70s. The high goes down a bit more to 90 degrees.
October
October takes Winter Park officially out of the warm season. But that doesn't mean the temperatures have a major drop.
You can still expect the weather to be in the mid to high 80s and no colder than the mid-60s.
November
This is the month Winter Park starts getting "cold" again. The weather can go below 60 degrees to the high 50s. But on average, many days can still be a warm 79 degrees.
December
December is the second coldest month of the year. Be prepared for lows that can get down to the high 40s. Most of the time, it won't' get warmer than 73 degrees.
Top-Rated School Districts
Winter Park has two different school districts: Orange and Seminole.
While they both have schools for kids in PK through 12, Orange is the bigger of the two. It has over 15,600 students and a total of 255 schools, including private schools and charter schools.
So no matter what type of school you prefer, you can find one to suit you and your children's needs.
Both these school districts provide a high-quality education. In fact, Winter Park has a high school graduation rate that is 13% higher than the national average, and Winter Park students score 6% higher than average.
Things to Do in and around Winter Park, Florida
The nice weather and good schools aren't the only things that set Winter Park apart from other cities in Florida. It also has a lot of fun activities to enjoy.
Here's a quick list of just a few of these activities to give you an idea of what's around.
1. Go Shopping on Park Avenue
Park Avenue used to be the centerpiece of the winter resort back in 1887. Even though the resort is gone, it's still one of the main attractions of the city.
You can easily spend an entire afternoon walking through the fashion boutiques and various stores lining the street. But don't just stick to the well-known stores. Turn down some side streets and poke your head into some of the locally owned shops as well.
Park Avenue also sets up a farmer's market every Saturday morning.
2. Visit One of the Many Museums
You have a choice of at least 15 different museums
Winter Park is home to at least 15 museums. You can spend the morning at the Orlando Science Center with the kids then head over to Mennello Museum of American Art in the afternoon.
Many of these museums are even in walking distance of each other.
3. Take a Tour of the City
One of the best ways to experience this beautiful city is to take a tour of all the attractions. There are a few different ways you can do this, one of which is on a boat.
The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is an hour-long pontoon boat ride through the city's chain of lakes. You'll float through seven different lakes and two canals.
But if you want to see more of the city itself, you can choose to take a walking tour as well. The Cultural Walking Tour will take you by over a dozen attractions, including many important landmarks.
City tours are a good way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.
4. Try Your Hand at Golf
The Winter Park Country Club was opened back in 1914, making it the second oldest golf club in the Central Florida area. It provides a nice challenge for beginners and experienced players alike.
And it's affordable, which makes it a good activity for people on a tight budget. If you're visiting, prices start at $14 for 9 holes. But if you're a resident of the area, you only have to pay $12.
5. Experience Some of the City's Many Parks
Central Park is the biggest and best park out of any other in the city. It runs the length of Park Avenue, and it holds 11 acres of trees, flowers, open spaces, grassy fields, park benches, and beautiful fountains. And make sure you keep an eye out for one of the many festivals held here throughout the year.
Winter Park also has many other gardens and parks you can check out tucked away in the city. And don't worry. Your dog doesn't have to be left out.
They are part of the family too, so take them to the city's dog park. This park gives your dog the chance to run, play, and splash in the lake.
6. Catch a Play
If you want a chance to sit back, relax, and have a few laughs, stop in for a visit at the Winter Park Playhouse. It is the only professional musical theater in the area, and it often puts on inspirational and uplifting musical comedies.
The Playhouse also has live music you can enjoy before the show starts. And it's a family friendly establishment so you can take the kids along with you.
Everything You Need to Know About Living in Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida is a great place to settle down with the family. You can move into a beautiful home, enroll the kids in a top-rated school, and enjoy the nice weather year round.
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