Relocating to Orlando, Florida from Las Vegas, NV? People who know answer please? (Ocala: home)

[walterdarb]

Hi, I just made an account for this website because I am in desperate need of help.

I have lived in Las Vegas all of my life, and got a really good job offer down in Orlando, Florida plus my sister lives there so that will be very convenient.

I am wondering a few things -

Do they have a lot of greenery down there? Compare to Las Vegas?
How is the traffic? Compare to Las Vegas?
Explain to me all about the weather and compare it to Las Vegas?
Cost of living compared to Las Vegas?
Ghetto areas compared to Las Vegas?
Animals compared to Las Vegas? -I really like wildlife
Urban Sprawl compared to Las Vegas?

And I can keep going on and on and on, but this is good for now, thanks

[jwolfer]

Very green compared to Las Vegas, a lot more trees.

And HUMID compared to Las Vegas, temperatures dont typically get above 100

Northern suburbs of Orlando border state parks and other conservation land so there is a problem with black bears going through trash in neighborhoods. There is the Ocala NF within an hour of downtown Orlando. Check out the springs for sure.

Orlando is close to beaches as well

I haven't really spent time in Las Vegas so not sure on traffic and sprawl comparison, but Orlando traffic is pretty bad especially on i-4, not horrific like LA or Washington DC.

Orlando is very spread out.

[EliteFLliving]

Depends on area in Orlando. What area is the job?

[Crane's Rooster]

Originally Posted by walterdarb

I am wondering a few things -

Do they have a lot of greenery down there? Compare to Las Vegas?
How is the traffic? Compare to Las Vegas?
Explain to me all about the weather and compare it to Las Vegas?
Cost of living compared to Las Vegas?
Ghetto areas compared to Las Vegas?
Animals compared to Las Vegas? -I really like wildlife
Urban Sprawl compared to Las Vegas?

Yes,but it's not tropical beach type greenery. Think more Atlanta, typical south type greenery. It's actually a very heavily treed area but also a very short driver to beaches and tropical coast.

Traffic is comparable to Vegas, but the Vegas strip is probably more active and congested than say I-Drive or the theme parks.

It's not as hot or cold as Vegas. It's temperate, except in the summer when's it's absurdly hot and humid, which is different than Vegas dry heat. June - August it reaches into the 90's/100s. Sept - Nov, 80-60s. Dec-Mar 70-50's with cold snaps (40s/30s) and some hot snaps (80s). April-May 80's/60s maybe hotter depending on the year.

Cost of living is probably higher than Vegas with home prices slightly lower.

Not my area of expertise but plenty of areas to find trouble. However they are mostly confined.

Lots and lots of wildlife, birds, gators, snakes, bears, deer, turkey, sharks, fish, etc, but you have to go find them. Most of them still fear humans.

Urban Sprawl but not quite like Vegas. Many sprawl neighborhoods are self contained small towns as opposed to massive planned communities.

[poodlestix]

[quote=walterdarb;43774316]Hi, I just made an account for this website because I am in desperate need of help.

I have lived in Las Vegas all of my life, and got a really good job offer down in Orlando, Florida plus my sister lives there so that will be very convenient.

I am wondering a few things -

I grew up in SoCal and spent a considerable amount of time in Vegas growing up due to my Dad keeping investment properties there, so I do feel that I have some knowledge.

Do they have a lot of greenery down there? Compare to Las Vegas? We have tons of greenery AND water. We are not a desert climate at all unlike Vegas.
How is the traffic? Compare to Las Vegas? Depends on the area. I-4 is super congested always. The turnpike is usually freeflowing. Highway 50 gets congested the closer you get to Downtown Orlando and has tons of stoplights.
Explain to me all about the weather and compare it to Las Vegas? Hot in the summer for sure, but that's what a/c is for. Coming from a dry climate, the humidity will feel oppressive for a short time, and then you will adjust like I did. Personally, I prefer humid heat, because extreme dry heat makes me feel like I'm in an oven getting every ounce of moisture sucked from my body!
Cost of living compared to Las Vegas? It depends on what part of Orlando you want to be in. Just like Nevada, Florida has no state income tax, and there are still many suburbs where you can find a nice home for under $200k.
Ghetto areas compared to Las Vegas? Pockets here and there, just like Vegas.
Animals compared to Las Vegas? -I really like wildlife TONS of wildlife, which is one of the biggest things I love about FL! My husband and I have seen a fox, a bobcat, and even flamingoes in residential areas. There are tons of bird varieties; far more than I've seen in any other states I've been in or lived in.
Urban Sprawl compared to Las Vegas? I think Orlando has more sprawl than Vegas did.

Hope this has helped!

[Arcenal813]

Panther sightings have been reported in my area recently
Hopefully it's a sign the species is recovering

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Panther sightings have been reported in my area recently
Hopefully it's a sign the species is recovering

On the coast we are seeing coyotes now. We saw a small panther in our neighborhood last year, too.

Daytrips to the beach will give them all the ocean wildlife, too. It is so much fun discovering them in their habitat and not in an aquarium etc.