An accredited Main Street community with small-town flair
DeLand's award-winning downtown was one of the first few communities in Florida to earn Main Street designation. It won the Great American Main Street Award in 1997 and the America's Main Street contest in 2017. Downtown is pedestaled by its diverse culinary scene and active arts community, and its historic Neoclassical Volusia County Courthouse serves as a striking centerpiece. "Downtown has a very artsy feel with a lot of music and arts festivals and other events," says local Realtor David Vermillion of Charles Rutenberg Realty. He has sold homes across the region for eight years and lives south of the DeLand. "It also has a historic feel with lots of good restaurants and bars that are pretty busy every weekend." DeLand is near the St. Johns River and freshwater springs; locals often spend their time outdoors.
The city serves as Volusia County's seat, with a population of just over 43,000. Leading employers include Florida Hospital Volusia Flagler and Halifax Health. Sykes Communication and Frontier Communication are based in DeLand and collectively employ over 1,000.
In the center of DeLand are eatery and boutique-lined streets.
New York Avenue is the hub of Downtown DeLand.
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Downtown's vibrant dining scene and arts community
In Historic Downtown DeLand, brick-laden streets are flanked by independent restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries. Awnings shade the sidewalks, where folks stream by potted plants, chalkboard menus and outdoor seating. Cuisine options range from Cuban to Vietnamese, and Buttercup Bakery is a city staple for dessert. Downtown is also the city's hub for nightlife; bars dot Woodland Boulevard and New York Avenue, and a couple of breweries are on Georgia Avenue. The city's big-box retailers and grocery stores are on Woodland Boulevard, concentrated in its north and south ends. Locally sourced produce and goods are available year-round at the Artisan Alley Farmers Market.
Athens Theater is the beating heart of performance arts in Historic Downtown – home to local theater productions and tribute bands. The theater retains its original 1921 architecture, and its lights gleam over Florida Avenue at night. Downtown murals and galleries are a few tokens of the city's visual arts scene, and the Museum of Art features rotating exhibits and educational programs for local creatives. The ArtWorks co-op offers art classes to underserved communities and provides a space for local artists to sell their work. Several events celebrate the city's love for the arts, including the Deland Outdoor Art Festival and the Fall Festival of the Arts.
Downtown DeLand is always full of exciting nightlife and events for locals.
Head to the Downtown DeLand area for vintage shops and antiques.
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Vintage homes downtown and suburban development in city outskirts
The median housing price in DeLand in 2024 was $357,000, lower than the national median. The city's oldest homes, concentrated downtown, include Craftsman bungalows and cottages built before the 1950s. Condominiums and townhomes are located downtown, typically within a mile of Stetson University. As Deland's population increased in the 1970s through the '90s, subdivisions with ranch-style and mid-century modern homes started to pop up outside downtown. Suburban development continued into the 21st century, and subdivisions like Heritage Place and Mallory Square began to fill the city's outskirts.
These quaint contemporary homes in DeLand have beautiful manicured lawns.
On the outer edge of DeLand you'll find more affordable smaller homes.
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Stetson University is cemented at the city's heart
Volusia County Schools scores an overall B on Niche and serves just over 63,000 students. Most homes in DeLand are zoned for DeLand High School, ranked the county's fifth-best high school on Niche. St. Peter Catholic School is a local private school option with an A on Niche. Higher education opportunities include the local Stetson University, offering 55 majors. The private university has served the community since 1883, initially known as DeLand Academy.
Blue Lake Elementary School serves the students of DeLand.
Deland High School prepares its students for greatness.
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Day trips to paddle board at Blue Spring State Park
According to the Trust for Public Land, 42% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Nearly a dozen parks and playgrounds across town offer paved walking trails, picnic pavilions and playscapes. Many city parks feature stages or amphitheaters, hosting local musicians and city-wide festivals. Earl Brown Park and Playground hosts the Firecracker Festival and Shamrocks Shenanigans. Blue Spring State Park offers nearby access to the freshwater springs of the Floridan Aquifer, located 8 miles from DeLand's city center. "Right now, there's hundreds of manatees in the springs," Vermillion says. "But people also go for paddle boarding and kayaking. Or they go boating on the St. Johns River." New Smyrna Beach is 24 miles east of DeLand.
Blue Lake is a DeLand hidden gem and offers fishing and hiking.
Deland teens enjoy a game of basketball at Earl Brown Park.
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Votran buses and SunRail trains
Volusia County's transit system, Votran, operates buses that pass through DeLand. Bus Route 31 shuttles south toward Orange City, and Route 60 travels northeast toward Daytona Beach, 24 miles away. DeLand also has a SunRail/Amtrak station, which connects with 16 other stations in nearby counties. The DeLand SunRail Circulator is a free shuttle that takes locals from the SunRail station to downtown. State Routes 17 and 44 bisect DeLand, and Interstate 4 runs along the city's eastern edge. DeLand Municipal Airport doesn't offer commercial flights, so travelers typically head to Daytona Beach International Airport, 20 miles away.
Volusia County's high risk index and warm summer temperatures
According to FEMA, Volusia County's risk index is relatively high compared to the rest of the United States. Although the county has a higher risk index, DeLand has a minor risk from flooding due to its location over 20 miles from the coast. The city also has an extreme heat factor; in 2024, the temperature was over 100 degrees for over 40 days.
A decreasing crime rate
According to the Deland Police Department, violent crimes decreased 19% from 2021 to 2022, and property crime rates were down 17%.
I moved to Central Florida in 1983 from Buffalo New York; I was a junior in high school. I attended Lake Howell High School in Seminole County and loved receiving a top notch education while I enjoyed playing football and wrestling. I continued my education and wrestling at Clemson University. After graduating from Clemson I returned to Lake Howell and Coached the wrestling program for 2 years-placing my team in the top 10 in the State and having 2 state Champs and a High School All American (my younger brother.)
I have been in the real estate industry for over 20 years and I have been the Broker Owner Of Buckley Realty, Inc. for 12 years. I offer full Real Estate services with both Buyers and Sellers. I pride myself on old fashioned customer service. You will work directly with me-I will not have you work with an assistant. My commission rates for selling are very competitive and my web presence is something I pride myself upon. You home will be advertised on over 50 web related websites!
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