How is Ocoee and Longwood? (Pine Hills, Altamonte Springs: rental, crime, houses)

[wandab509]

Wondering if anyone can tell me about both of the cities? Ocoee and Longwood, are there affordable housing for the middle class or just upper middle class and above?

What is the feel for the area?

Do they have very many rental properties?

Is it more like Celebration/Windemere or Altamonte Springs?

[Granny Sue]

Both Ocoee and Longwood have old and new sections...well and everything in between.
I would have to say they are closer to Altamonte Springs in comparison.

[Wilshire81182]

I think that Longwood in general is nicer than Altamonte, but has the same older feel. Longwood has much more of a older feel with mom and pop shops and less bix bog retail. Ocoee is straight up suburbs with a major mall and big box stores along West Colonial Drive similar to Altamonte. The nicer areas of Ocoee are west of Clarke Road and some newer areas closer to Winter Garden or northward toward Apopka/Clarcona.
I would definitely pick Longwood over Ocoee, because Ocoee is nice by itself but east of there it is adjacent to Pine Hills and other rough areas. There seems to be some overlap for that reason and I think it makes the West Oaks Mall seem less nice than it should be and has an impact on the area. I do not see the area staying as nice in the long run as Longwood, but that is my speculation not fact.
There are nicer places on the westside in the Winter Garden area or even in Clermont if you do not mind being further out. Longwood seems to have an older demographic than Ocoee as well. A lot of the houses here seem to have been built and bought in the 70s to Ocoee's 80's vibe in the older parts. Unlike what somewhat else had said, I do not think that Longwood has very many new areas itself, it is pretty established. The newer areas in the Longwood area are in adjacent towns like Lake Mary or Winter Springs, I have noticed.

BTW, I would also not put Celebration and Windermere in a similar category like you did. Windermere is much nicer and pricier than Celebration is.

[Alphaman]

I agree with Windermere vs celebration, no comparison, my opinion celebration is a joke. Shoddy constructed and over priced houses with a Truman show type of feel.

[pianogal]

Longwood has some very nice areas and some older shappy areas. Longwood is basically built out but I prefer it to Ocoee. There is a section of Ocoee near the mall that I would not want to live in.

It really depends on what part of town your job is located in. Ocoee is newer and closer to Disney, etc. Windermere is far superior to Celebration. I really like the atmosphere of Celebration but have heard many mixed reviews. If money and access to my job were no object I would choose Windermere as my top location to live in Central Florida. My next choice would be where I live now - Laka Nona/Vista Lakes.

[beckycat]

I live and Longwood and have been here the past 4 years. I think it is safe and has great schools. It is conveniently located to I4, stores, restaurants, and entertainment. I can't tell you about Ocoee though.

[ag8rfan]

3 years ago, my wife and I moved from Pine Hills to Longwood. When I was young, Signal Hill (part of Pine Hills) was a nice/ safe middle class neighborhood. Over the years, the drugs and crime overtook the area. Unfortunately, the drugs and crime continue to head west into the Ocoee area. No where you live is perfect; but some places are better than others. Living in Central Florida for over 30 years and watching the demographics change; I can say parts of Ocoee are on a downward turn. If your gonna move for the long-term, stick with Longwood.