Deland, Florida and Sanford, Florida have many similarities AND differences. I’m often asked, “which is a better city to move to?” As we seek to determine if Deland or Sanford is better to move to, there are several factors to consider. I’m a local Realtor® that’s lived and worked here in Central Florida for many years. Today, I’ll review just a few factors including the cost of living, incomes, overall location and lifestyle to help you determine if Deland or Sanford is better for YOU. Then, I’ll share why I prefer one of these over the other.

Deland, in Volusia County and Sanford, in Seminole County are both county seats on the north side of Orlando. Sanford is the closest to Orlando, being about 30 minutes up I-4. Deland is about 45 minutes up. Although Sanford’s population is about 50% more than Deland, I think of them both as similar sizes and potential destinations for someone considering moving to the Orlando area.

Cost of Housing

If you’re thinking of moving to Deland or Sanford, one major consideration may be the cost of housing.  As of today, the median sales price of a single-family residential home in Deland over the last 90 days was nearly $347,000 and the median price of the same home down in Sanford was over $409,000. Deland is a bit more rural,  with some of it being in Lake County where there are many manufactured homes. I suspect this decreases the median sale price. Does this mean that Deland is full of manufactured housing or slums? Absolutely not. Deland has numerous very nice communities.

Cost of Living

Even if you’re living in your mom’s basement, you still have other expenses to consider. Although Florida has no state sales tax and is considered a low-tax state, we don’t live here for free. The sales tax in Volusia County is 6.5%, which is lower than the 7% down in Seminole County. Volusia County has the 6^th highest millage rate in the state, whereas Seminole County’s is significantly lower, being the 50th highest of the 67 counties in Florida. I don’t know why taxes are higher in Volusia County, but that seems to be a reality these days.

The overall cost of living in Deland is 94.9, which means that Deland’s cost of living is 5.1% lower than the national average while Sanford’s was 105.7, or 5.7% higher than the national average. The data that I found makes my head spin because there are SOOO many factors that can alter the cost of living and, being someone that’s been here in Central Florida since the 80’s, I don’t see a practical difference between the two regarding cost of living.

Although Sanford is closer to Orlando than Deland, they’re both what I consider to be suburbs. Sanford also sits adjacent to Lake Mary, which has all sorts of tech and administrative jobs, so you’d think that the income would be higher in Sanford, but according to Census.gov, Deland’s median income of over $71,000 is a good bit higher than Sanford’s $59,000. I can’t really say WHY it’s higher in Deland. Maybe there are more retirees.

Location

Next, let’s compare and contrast Deland and Sanford’s location. Both are good for commuting to Orlando, although Deland’s ride may be another 15-20 minutes depending on exactly where you live. Both are on I-4, the major highway here in Central Florida, although it runs along the outskirts of Deland and right through Sanford. Both feature access to the St. Johns River, which is the largest water body in the area. If you like the beaches or the forest, then Deland may be better. If it’s nightlife, Orlando, and the attractions that excite you, then Sanford may be the better option. Sanford also has Riverwalk, which is a great place to walk or ride a bike.

Deland tends to have more of a small-town, even a rural vibe to it. I noted before that some of Deland is in Lake County, which is VERY rural. Although it’s increased quite a bit in recent years, traffic isn’t much of a thing up in Deland. Sanford, on the other hand, does have traffic, especially at rush hour and, except for maybe on the west side of I-4, has very little rural land.

Lifestyle

Determining whether it’s better to move to Sanford or Deland also depends on your lifestyle. Neither Deland nor Sanford is very bougie (my kids are gonna DIE when they hear I used THAT word). Sanford and Deland are pretty much middle-class America. Yes, there are low-income households in both cities, but neither has an abundance of million-dollar homes. You’ll need to go over to the beaches or Lake Mary, Maitland, Winter Park, or Orlando for that fancy lifestyle.

Deland and Sanford BOTH have wonderful downtown areas, perhaps the best two downtown areas close in the area. If my wife and I want to go out for a meal with friends, or maybe for a drink, downtown Deland or Sanford are both equal choices in our minds.

Deland was voted the top Main Street in America in 2017, while Sanford’s downtown area has just been revitalized in the last 20 years or so and is every bit as nice as Deland’s in my mind.  Winter Park, Mount Dora, Winter Garden, Clermont and a few others here in Central Florida also have great downtowns, but they’re also a bit further away.

Chuck’s Preference

Personally, I like Deland better. I prefer the small-town and rural feel of Deland and I absolutely HATE the traffic. It seems like the sound of sirens always seems to be more prevalent in Sanford. Maybe that’s because when I’m in Sanford I’m out at busy times, or maybe it’s completely in my mind.

Whether Deland or Sanford is better depends completely on YOU and YOUR needs. I don’t tell anyone if it’s better to move to Deland or Sanford without asking several questions about who they are and what excites them. If you’re interested in moving to DeLand or Sanford, we’d be happy to show you around. Just give me a call!

Published on April 22. 2024 / Tags: #Deland, #delandfl, #Downtowndeland, downtown Sanford, Moving to Sanford, Sanford, SanfordFl / no comments.