Live in Orlando or Apopka? (Altamonte Springs, Winter Park: best neighborhoods, low crime, houses)

[Gvndual]

We are moving to Fl from Ohio, and we're looking at houses in both the greater Orlando area (Cypress Springs, etc) and Apopka. We want a "hometown" feel, obviously low crime, good schools, activities for toddlers, and a relatively easy commute to the Orlando Intl Airport where I'll be working. A 45-55 minute drive doesn't scare me. Where should we be focusing?

[keithwand]

How do you feel about mice; lots of mice?

[Crane's Rooster]

Both areas you mentioned are "Greater Orlando." You really need to be more specific on your needs so we can give you a better answer. Very general, as someone who's lived in both Orlando and Apopka here's my take. Obviously you're not going to get a small time feel in Orlando as it is a major city. However it is a city of neighborhoods so depending on what neighborhood you live in you may find the hometown feel you are looking for. The best neighborhoods in Orlando, this is my opinion only, are College Park, Thornton Park, Delaney Park, Colonialtowne, Baldwin Park and Audubon Park. These are neighborhoods with their own distinct personalities and some even have their own town centers. You may also want to look into Winter Park.

As for Apopka, not too long ago it was a rural town on the outskirts of "Greater Orlando." Today I think it's more accurately described as a suburb of Orlando. It has very nice affluent areas like Errol Estates and some notoriously rough areas like South Apopka. It still has it's own personality but not nearly as independent from Orlando as it once was. If you're willing to commute as far as Apopka I would consider looking into areas such as Winter Garden, Wekiwa/Sweetwater, Altamonte Springs and possilby Mt. Dora. These are also suburbs that have a distinct identity of their own. You might find the "hometown" feel you are looking in these areas also.