Is DeLand, Florida a GOOD place to live?

Is Deland Florida a GOOD place to live? I grew up in Michigan and l went to high school near Orlando, but I’ve been here in the Deland area for over 25 years now and there are a few reasons that I’d NEVER move back. Today, I’ll be starting with why Deland IS a good place to live and then, towards the end, I’ll address a couple reasons why someone might NOT think Deland is a good place to live.

The first and perhaps most obvious reason that Deland IS a good place to live is the weather. Snow isn’t even a thing here in Deland. In fact, our cool season, from mid-November through February boasts average highs around 73 degrees with lows around 50 degrees. Once or twice a year it’ll freeze here, getting down to like 30 degrees, but when that happens the locals are breaking out their parkas and prepping like it’s the end of the world.

Yes, it gets hot here, really hot. The summer heat stretches pretty much from mid-May through mid-September, with an average high temperature of around 87 degrees. In July and August, we’ll get to the mid-90’s most days and afternoon showers are the norm. We like to complain about the heat, I guess it’s human nature, but it seems like we all forget about that heat when we’re eating Christmas dinner outside on the picnic tables when it’s sunny and 75 degrees.

Location

Deland is located about 45 minutes north of Orlando and just 35 minutes from the beaches. So, if you want all that Orlando has to offer, including nightlife and the attractions or you like the beaches, Deland really IS a good place to live. We’re far enough inland that hurricanes aren’t too much of a thing, and the St. Johns River and the Ocala National Forest, which is right up the road, offers all sorts of recreational options. Plus, the 72 degree waters Blue Springs and De Leon Springs are both right nearby if you want to get relief from the summer heat I spoke of earlier.

Plus, here in Deland, traffic isn’t ANYTHING like it is down in Orlando or other major cities across the US. It’s crazy down there, even getting to Orlando on I-4 can be enough to make you want to pull your hair out. We just don’t deal too much with traffic here in Deland. The pace here in Deland is just a bit slower than other, bigger cities.

Although Deland is big enough to support several grocery stores, all sorts of shopping, its own airport, Stetson University, and around 40,000 people, there’s still a small-town feel to it. Downtown Deland was once voted the best Mainstreet in America and I believe Deland has one of the best downtowns in all of Central Florida. They’ve got the Deland Museum of Art, the Athens Theatre, and all sorts of festivals that even inject a little culture into this small town.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Deland is about 5% BELOW the national average, whereas Orlando’s cost of living is about 5% ABOVE the national average. The median sale price of a home in Volusia County is also slightly below the national average, which I certainly consider to be a GOOD thing. Florida has no state income tax and is generally regarded as a tax-friendly state, so there are plenty of reasons that Deland IS a good place to live.

So, I noted that the cost of living in Deland is below the national average, and I also noted that Florida was a tax-friendly state. However, that could all change. Volusia County’s property taxes are on the rise. In fact, they’re currently the 6^th highest in the state of Florida. Sure, they aren’t likely as high as some other states, but for us here in blue-collar Deland, it’s becoming a REAL issue!

Nightlife

Next, if you want nightlife, you’ll need to head down to Orlando, or maybe over to Daytona Beach for that. Yes, we’ve got a few great little bars in downtown Deland, but that’s about it. Not that I’m into clubbing, but I don’t think there’s ANY of that here in Deland. Deland does have plenty of restaurants, but I don’t know if that’s really nightlife.

Housing options

Deland has a wide array of housing options. There are some million-dollar homes, we’ve got Victoria Park, which is a huge cookie-cutter community, we’ve got a historic district, and we’ve even got a huge area with manufactured homes on the Lake County side of Deland. So, determining if Deland is a good place to live might just depend on you, and what you’re looking for.

Crime

Some are worried about crime here in Deland, but my wife and I have no problem being out and about in Deland day OR night. However, do your research to determine if crime in Deland is an issue FOR YOU.

If you’re thinking about moving to Deland and would like more info, please check out some of my other blogs or our YouTube channel. Or please feel free to get in touch.