Mount Dora, Florida

Discover a Bit of New England in Romantic Mount Dora, Florida

Cost-of-Living:  Lower than U.S. National Average

If you enjoy balmy weather and a friendly small-town ambiance mixed with New England charm, then Mount Dora, Florida may be the retirement spot for you.  This Victorian town of 10,000 people is nestled on the eastern edge of six-mile long Lake Dora and is surrounded by rolling hills, lakes and forests in central Florida (roughly 45 minutes northwest of Orlando).  While not specifically a retirement town, nearly half of the town's residents are 45 years or better.

The name Mount Dora stems from the fact that the town sits 266 feet above sea level.  Also known as "Little New England," the community is one of three quaint, historic lake-front towns that make up what is known as the "Golden Triangle."  Antique markets, century-old buildings, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries dot the downtown lakefront setting and provide residents with plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.  In fact, it is surprising how many restaurants there are in a town of this size.  Mount Dora has been named by Florida Living Magazine as Florida’s "Friendliest Small Town" and is noted as having the best antique shopping area in the state of Florida.   Money Magazine ranked it in the "Top 10 Best Retirement Towns" in 1997.

Mount Dora, when it comes to the overall cost-of-living, rates a 74, with 100 being the national average, ranking it below the cost-of-living in many other areas of the United States.  This cost-of-living index takes into account housing, food and groceries, transportation, utilities, health care, and miscellaneous expenses such as clothing, services, and entertainment.  Taxes are not included, but Florida has no state income tax.  

Upon arriving here, you might think you are in Vermont or New Hampshire, except for the palm trees.  The train depot, now the Chamber of Commerce, dates from 1915.   Tree lined streets wind around nine lakes, and the occasional gingerbread house pops up on a corner.  There is quite a variety of housing choices.  The average single family 2-3 bedroom home in a nice, leafy neighborhood is priced at about $150,000, and real estate prices range from $80,000 to $400,000.  Housing types include condominiums, town homes, single family homes, luxury homes and residential lots and land in family oriented neighborhoods.  There are also waterfront housing tracts and gated golf course communities.  Victorian painted ladies (houses, that is)  intermingle with traditional flat-roof, single-level Florida homes to create an eclectic housing mix.   

The median rent is $550 per month.

Lakeview Terrace is a continuing care retirement community, as is Waterman Village.

There are two fully accredited general hospitals nearby.  One is Florida Hospital Waterman in Eustis, about 5 miles away (it has 182 beds and 125 physicians), and the other is Leesburg Regional Medical Center, about 25 miles away.  Air ambulance service is provided to and from both.  Standard ambulance service is available county-wide.  A new hospital is being built in Tavares, just down the road.  Orlando, with all of its medical infrastructure, is 45 minutes away.

Events showcasing senior services are presented throughout the year at the public library and at the Lake County Fairgrounds.  

For a town of 10,000 people, Mount Dora has an abundance of recreational opportunities.  Palm Island Park has one of the longest and prettiest lake-side nature walks in Florida.  A stroll along the boardwalk offers views of blue herons and ospreys and the occasional eagle.   Lake Dora itself offers all the usual lake activities, from swimming to boating and fishing.   Free concerts are offered in Donnelly Park.  There are a couple of local theaters, including the Ice House and the Bay Street Players Community Theater.  

Each year, the town hosts the Mount Dora Arts Festival, which attracts 150,000 visitors.  Mount Dora Center for the Arts presents concerts and recitals by international artists, gallery openings and ongoing exhibitions.  The local library hosts quilting shows, classic film festivals, living history presentations and more.  The annual Village Antique Fair brings out 150 antique vendors, all in one place! 

The town presents a Christmas lighting celebration, a bicycle festival and a crafts fair each year. Residents can also indulge in sunset cruises around Lake Dora, take in a sailing regatta or visit an antique boat show.    Golf facilities are found at the Mount Dora Country Club, a semi-private 18 hole course, as well as at public courses less than an hour away.   In short, it is nearly impossible to become bored here.

Winters here are mild, with January temperatures averaging in the 60s and 70s.  Summers are hot and humid (it is Florida, afterall), with July average temperatures reaching into the 90s with 55% humidity and higher.  

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