Orange City

Bordered on one side by the natural beauty of Blue Spring State Park and the growing streets of Orange City on the other, Orange City Terrace has carved out a peaceful spot for itself. Completely residential and just 2 miles from the very center of the city, it’s a suburb that’s garnering new attention from potential residents. “Everyone says ‘location, location, location,’ but seriously, we’re 30 minutes from the beach and 45 minutes from Orlando. Plus, Orange City is far enough inland where floods and hurricanes aren’t as much of a concern,” so buying into neighborhoods here is an environmental move,” says Chuck Shaver, Realtor with The Shaver Group of Keller Williams Heritage Realty. He’s been a resident of Central Florida since 1985. Orange City Terrace is entirely residential, and dense pockets of foliage provide shade from the sun over wide streets and neatly trimmed lawns. Most of the homes found here were built between 1980 and 2005, with the oldest amongst them getting renovations to keep up with the times. The architectural styles and aesthetic of the houses are Florida-classic, with ranch homes and stucco bungalows painted in earth tones and bright pops of color. Most properties sell between $200,000 and $300,000, but new builds or larger ranch styles can sell between $300,000 and $380,000. Selling prices trend about $100,000 lower than in the Daytona Metro Area overall, and the community has a score of 2 on the CAP Index Crime Score, with the national average being 4. Public schools fall under the Volusia County School District, and kids can start at Manatee Cove Elementary, which receives a B grade from Niche and ranks in the top percentile for best elementary schools in Volusia County. Students move on to River Springs Middle, which has a B-minus, before heading to B-graded University High. Home of the Titans, University High offers several opportunities to earn college credit through a partnership with Daytona State College and the University of Florida. Orange City has several green spaces for the community to use, and Orange City Terrace is directly bordered to the west by Blue Spring State Park. Blue Spring draws in thousands of people every year, extremely popular for kayaking, scuba diving, and manatee sightings in the St. Johns River and The Lagoon. There are also miles upon miles of hiking trails to be explored and over 50 campsites. Within the city, Valentine Park is a go-to for taking the kids to the playground, rallying on the tennis courts and playing games at the baseball fields. Those living in Orange City Terrace have immediate access to both errand stops and great eats. “It’s become a hub for shopping and dining. You’ve got people coming from Deltona and DeLand to do big errand runs, find cool places to eat, and even get medical care,” Shaver says. West Volusia Towne Center and Crown Centre Plaza, located at the southern end of Orange City just a couple miles away, offer national retail stores and big-name options such as Publix, Target and Walmart. In the evening, friends can head to Riverwalk Pizzeria, where Blue Springs Brewing runs its operation and offers great craft beer. “We’ve only been in Orange City for a few years, but it’s growing like crazy, and we love it,” says Eric Holmes, owner of the local barbeque spot of Colt’s Pig Stand. There’s constantly a packed schedule found around Orange City for residents to get to, everything from small community gatherings to large annual events. Once a month at Veterans Memorial Park, locals gather to watch a movie on a large projector, and the Orange City Public Library always has reading and crafting programs. Big annual celebrations include the Orange City Halloween Block Party and Fireworks & Fun, a June festival with live music, food trucks and plenty of vibrant firework shows. Major thoroughfares in the area include Highway 17 and Interstate 4. While it’s a car-dependent community, bike lanes and sidewalks make it safe to travel on foot or two wheels. The Orlando Sanford International Airport is just 21 miles away.