The quiet suburb of Forest City, about 15 miles north of Orlando, has roots in the citrus industry but the city of 15,000 is better known these days for its tree-lined streets, convenient location and sought-after school district. The leading industries in Forest City are healthcare, finance and insurance. Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital is a major local employer less than 10 miles away.
A beautiful aerial view of I4 leading to downtown Orlando near Bear Lake.
Families take strolls together with their dog in the neighborhoods of Bear Lake.
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Forest City has ranch-style, Cape Cod and Spanish eclectic houses
The median price of homes in Forest City is around $380,000, lower than the national average. More than half of the current housing stock is single-family homes, ranging from midcentury ranch-style houses and Cape Cods to Spanish eclectic houses built in the 1980s and ‘90s. Townhouses and condos were also built in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Forest City is home to several lakes, providing many properties with waterfront backyards. Flood insurance is highly recommended. Hurricane season ranges from early June to the end of November.
A beautiful stone faced ranch-style waterfront home on Bear Lake.
Local kids love to skate board down the streets of Bear Lake.
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Parks are nearby in Altamonte Springs
Forest City is surrounded by beautiful parks. Lake Lotus Park in Altamonte Springs is a popular 150-acre nature preserve. The city is also home to the Seminole Wekiva Trail, a paved pathway that follows a scenic route lined by mature live oaks. It runs along the east side of Forest City and connects to Westmonte Park, which has traditional park offerings like a shaded playground and facilities for tennis, pickleball, basketball and swimming. Jay Patterson, a Realtor with Keller Williams Advantage Realty, says Wekiva Island and Wekiva Springs State Park are recreational draws, too. “It’s only a 17- to 20-minute drive away, so many people like to go there," he says. "That, and Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.” The north shore of Lake Apopka, roughly 10 miles west, sprawls across 20,000 acres, and its looping trail is a popular destination for birding and viewing wildlife. “You see all some great biodiversity,” Patterson says.
Lake Lotus Park has several boardwalks leading to Lake Lotus.
Wekiva Springs natives can take a stroll or bike the beautiful Seminole Wekiva Trail.
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Forest City is served by the best school district in Florida
According to Niche, Forest City is served by Florida’s best school district, Seminole County Public Schools, which the website grades an A. Local standout Lake Brantley High earns an A-minus. The high school offers two programs of emphasis: the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Creative Design and Entertainment. Forest Lake Academy, graded A, is a popular private choice in the city.
Lake Brantley High School in Spring Valley boasts a 96% graduation rate.
Teague Middle School is located in the Bear Lake community of Altamonte Springs, Fl.
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Everything from Lowe's to Starbucks within “8 to10 minutes”
One of Patterson’s favorite parts of living in Forest City is its overall convenience. “Everything you need is within 8 to 10 minutes,” he says. “A neighborhood Walmart, a superstore Walmart, a gas station, the dentist, Starbucks, Home Depot, Lowe’s — you name it, it’s within 8 or 10 minutes.” Big box stores and chain eateries cluster around the intersection of Florida State Road 436 and State Road 434. More restaurants and shopping options are along Orange Blossom Trail.
Forest City is central to Orlando and Orlando International Airport
Car-dependent Forest City is less than 15 miles north of Orlando, and Interstate 4 — about 4 miles outside the community — provides a direct route. U.S. Route 441 is another way to get to the central city. LYNX buses provide public transportation with stops on Semoran Boulevard. Orlando International Airport is about 24 miles away.
Seminole County's low crime rate dropped more in 2024
Forest City is served by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and in 2024, the county’s crime rate dropped by 19%.
Concerts and festivals draw crowds across Forest City area
Just 12 miles away, the Kia Center hosts Orlando Magic basketball games and major concerts. Nearby Altamonte Springs draws crowds year-round with popular events like the Red Hot & Boom Independence Day celebration, Uptown Vibes, and the Taste of Altamonte Food & Wine Festival. Forest Lake Academy’s Schmidt Auditorium regularly opens its doors to the public for free concerts and community events, enriching the local arts scene.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
Photography Contributed By
Stephen Flint
Video By
Rebecca Askin
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gregory Buckley,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Based around a scenic recreational lake, Forest City might not actually be a city, but nonetheless has much to offer for folks looking for a home in Central Florida.
Forest City is close to the suburban municipalities of Altamonte Springs and Apopka. Once a center of Florida’s signature citrus industry, the Forest City area has since become a residential haven serving commuters near more populous commercial city centers, including downtown Orlando, less than 10 miles away. “It’s an established community that really started coming together around the 1970s,” says Todd Schroth, a real estate agent with eXp Realty based in Altamonte Springs. “It’s kind of like a city within a city with Altamonte Springs there. It’s got top-of-the-line schools, lots of shopping and a community feel. Once we move in we don’t move out.” With Bear Lake at the center and spanning more than 300 acres, the natural feature makes Forest City an even more appealing place to live, offering opportunities for swimming, boating, jet skiing and other fun, exciting and relaxing activities.
As an almost exclusively residential area, Forest City has a plethora of condos, family homes in subdivisions, gated communities, retirement homes and ranch-style houses, with prices reflecting the architectural diversity. Home prices start at around $150,000 for condos in gated communities near one of Altamonte Springs larger shopping centers. Closer to Bear Lake and the smaller ponds and lagoons scattered throughout the community, older bungalows and ranch-style homes range from around $250,000 to $350,000. Still with ample space for development and growth, the community also features some spacious, contemporary builds with homes around 2,500 to 3,500 square feet. Prospective buyers can expect to pay between $400,000 to $800,000 for those properties.
Forrest City includes the public Bear Lake Elementary School and Teague Middle School. Niche gives both schools in the Seminole County Public Schools district a B-plus. From there, students can advance to Lake Brantley High School, which earns an A-minus rating from Niche. At the high school, students can choose from 35 different Advance Placement courses and participate in in various clubs and activities, including dual enrollment in the Academy of Construction Technology, the Academy of Finance and the Aerospace Science JROTC program. Additionally, the Altamonte Springs campus of Seminole State College is adjacent to the neighborhood.
Bear Lake is partly accessible through the Bear Lake Clubhouse, a family-friendly recreation area with covered picnic areas, docks for boats, lawn chairs on the beaches, playground areas for small children and even pool tables. Hanging out in the water swimming or jet skiing is also exciting but Schroth advises caution. “I’ve been on that lake since 1990, and I haven’t been bit by a gator yet,” he says. “You just need to be careful.” For fun out of the sun, the community also has a large number of indoor athletic venues, from The Athlete Factory training facility and the Altamonte American Karate Academy to the batting cages at the All Stars Sportsplex and the indoor trampolines at Rebounderz Orlando. These entertainment options give casual exercisers and athletes-in-training access to workout space and equipment, each with a different flavor of activity.
Local shopping options include strip malls at Hunt Club Corners and West Town Corners, featuring major retailers such as Costco and Publix. For a wider selection of organic groceries, the Sprouts Farmers Market store is open 7 days per week at the Wekiva Riverwalk. In addition to a few national retailers and sit-down restaurants, the shopping center includes a Regal movie theater. While there are plenty of fast-food and casual franchise restaurants all around Forest City, folks can also patronize local family-owned eateries and shops serving international cuisines and goods, such as Sherry’s Trini Flavors and La Granja.
State Route 436, in the north of Forest City, links the area to both Apopka and Altamonte Springs. Interstate 4 in the east provides drivers with quick access to Orlando, so Bear Lake is well-situated for commuters looking for a quiet, sunny home in a bedroom community.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Forest City Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
14,115
Median Age
41
Population under 18
22.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$70,550
Below the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$104,426
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.7%
On par with the national average
89%
College Graduates
39.1%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
11.4%
% Population in Labor Force
68.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
51''
Average Winter Low Temperature
52°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat friendly
Bike Score®®
30/ 100
Fairly friendly
Walk Score®®
40/ 100
Not friendly
Transit Score®®
0/ 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
