Laid-back living on the St. John’s River
Astor is a rural community between St. John’s River and Ocala National Forest in central Florida. “It’s a quaint fishing town. We don’t even have a traffic light – the closest one is 8 miles from us,” says Realtor Ann-Mari Daley of River Realty Group, a resident since 2022. A small-town vibe runs through this area, thanks to regular events like bingo nights and scholarship dinners held by several local organizations, including the Astor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Astor Community Association and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. “Astor is very special. It’s very community-oriented. Everybody knows everybody, and people take care of each other here,” Daley says.
Competitive prices for waterfront homes
Minimal Traditional, New Traditional and manufactured styles account for most housing stock. Prices start at around $45,000 and quickly rise to almost $800,000. Properties with access to St. John’s River top the list, typically selling for $300,000 or more. Astor is in a flood zone, so many riverfront homes sit atop stilts. But according to Daley, the entire area is rarely underwater at once. “Not all of us are swimming after hurricanes. There are usually a couple of roads underwater, and some homes take on water in their crawlspaces, but we’re not all floating off down the river,” she says. Ahead of storms, Lake County provides sand, and Astorians typically cooperate to fill and distribute sandbags.
Outdoor recreation in nearby state parks
Astor Lions Club Park has a playground, a tennis court and a baseball diamond, but is best known as the location for community events like the annual “Breakfast with Santa” as well as the holiday market in December. VFW Post 9986 anchors Astor’s west side. “We have a couple local bands that play the VFW on the weekends. Nothing like the nightlife in West Palm, but it suits us here,” Daley says.
Lake George State Forest and Ocala National Forest, within a few miles of Astor, are full of hiking trails. Seasonal hunting is permitted in the forest. “Everybody’s got a boat behind their cars. And hunting dogs. Wild deer and hogs are big around here,” Daley says. Silver Glen Springs, on the west side of the lake, is swimmable, and visitors occasionally see manatees. “It’s like being on the blue waters of Mexico,” Daley says. “It’s nice that it’s so close because you can’t go swimming in the river – it’s brackish.”
Lake County Schools offers elementary-level magnet programs
Astor kids are zoned for Lake County Schools. Spring Creek Charter, which serves kindergarten through eighth grade, gets a C-plus from Niche. Clubs available there include band, chorus, the National Junior Honor Society and Future Farmers of America. Other elementary options include B-minus-rated Astatula and A-minus-rated Cypress Ridge, which offer performing arts and technology programs, respectively. The magnet schools are application-based, but all students in the district may apply, regardless of their home address. Older students continue to Umatilla Middle and Umatilla High, which both earned a B-minus.
Shopping and dining on State Road 40 and in DeLand
State Road 40, or Butler Street, has a few gas stations, convenience stores and mom-and-pop restaurants. Triple Z Family Market is a small, locally owned grocery store across the street from Sweet Dreams Ice Cream & Treat Shop. Down the road, there’s a Dollar General and Laura’s Flea Market, a permanent vendor market full of antique furniture, vintage décor, plants and more. Sparky’s Place is a classic diner near the local Ace Hardware. Drifters Riverfront Bar & Grill serves fresh Southern-style seafood. For more shopping and dining options, residents head to DeLand, a little over 20 miles away.
Commuting around rural central Florida
State Road 40, or Butler Street, is the main road through the area. The two-lane highway runs east across the river to U.S. Route 17 and beyond, toward Daytona Beach. The coast is about 40 miles, an hour-long drive, away. Orlando International, the closest airport, is about 75 miles south. That’s also about an hour’s drive, depending on traffic. AdventHealth medical facilities in Tavares and DeLand are within 30 miles of Astor. The community’s CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
