WINTER PARK · ORLANDO · CENTRAL FLORIDA
Relocating to Central Florida
A guide to the financial, practical, and lifestyle considerations for families
making the move, from the people who do this every day.
Prepared by Audra Wilks, Luxury Real Estate Advisor · Premier Sotheby's International Realty
One of the country's most rewarding places to land
Families relocate to Winter Park, Orlando, and the surrounding Central Florida communities for a rare combination: no state income tax, top-rated schools, year-round outdoor living, and a cost of ownership that, even with insurance factored in, often comes in well below the high-tax Northeast and California markets people are leaving.
This guide walks through what actually changes when you move here, the numbers that matter most, a tax measure on the November 2026 ballot that affects your timing, and an honest look at insurance and schools. It is a starting point. When you are ready to look at specific homes and neighborhoods, that is where I come in.
WHY CENTRAL FLORIDA
What you stand to save
Property tax is usually the line that changes most dramatically. A high‑tax Northeast suburb can carry an effective rate near 2.9 percent, which on a $1.5 million home runs roughly $35,000 to $45,000 a year. Central Florida's combined millage generally lands closer to 1.0 to 1.1 percent of assessed value, and once the homestead exemption applies the effective rate drops further.
Why the rate varies by area: your total millage is the sum of levies from several taxing authorities, including county government, the school board, fire and water management districts, and, if you live inside a city, the city itself. That city layer drives the biggest differences. A home inside the City of Winter Park pays a city millage on top of county levies, while a home in unincorporated Orange County pays none. Seminole County areas such as Oviedo and Lake Mary benefit from a historically lower overall base.
PROPERTY TAXES
$35k–$45k —
High‑tax Northeast suburb
$1.5M home
$12k–$16k — Central Florida
$1.5M home
$23k–$33k — Potential annual savings
| Area | County | Est. tax on $1.5M* | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Park (32789) | Orange | ~$21,500–$23,000 | City levy adds roughly $6k/yr vs. unincorporated. |
| Eastern Winter Park (32792) | Seminole | ~$18,000–$19,000 | No city millage. Verify zone by address. |
| Oviedo (uninc.) | Seminole | ~$18,000–$19,000 | Low base plus no city layer is the best tax value. |
| Lake Mary | Seminole | ~$19,500–$20,500 | Modest city levy. Cost-efficient among cities. |
| Lake Nona (uninc.) | Orange | ~$20,500–$22,000 | No city layer. CDD assessments often separate. |
| Windermere / Winter Garden | Orange | ~$20,000–$21,000 | Among the lowest combined rates in Orange County. |
*Illustrative estimates assuming the homestead exemption on a $1.5M assessed value, based on recent certified millage. New buyers are assessed near purchase price in year one. Verify any specific property at ocpafl.org or scpafl.org.