East Orlando vs West Orlando

By Jessica LaVigne

We’ve covered a lot of different areas around Central Florida, but some have been asking - what’s the difference between East and West Orlando? Let’s dive in!

What’s Considered East and West?

The heart of Orlando is located downtown, with the West and East on each side of this. East Orlando is located from 417 all the way up to where it meets 408. This includes Oviedo, Winter Springs, Alafaya, and Waterford Lakes, with some also considering Winter Park to be part of this area. West Orlando includes areas such as Dr Phillips, Bay Hill, Windermere, Winter Garden, Horizon West, and (what we would also consider on the West side) Clermont.


Things To Do

East Orlando

If you live over on the East side of Orlando, you can enjoy outdoor activities such as golfing on the numerous golf courses located throughout, as well as watersports on Lake Jesup and Lake Toho. If you’re into college sports, the UCF Knights play football, basketball, and more at the FBC Mortgage Stadium and CFE Arena on the University of Central Florida campus. This side of town seems just a little slower paced than the West side, but still with a lot of entertainment including outdoor events in Oviedo, and mini golfing at the new PopeStroke facility in Waterford Lakes.

West Orlando

Traveling over to the West side you’ll find the most popular stops in Central Florida - Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. This part of Central Florida is definitely more touristy and is filled with some of the most popular theme parks, as well as water parks that open in the Spring/Summer including Volcano Bay, Island H20, Aquatica, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach! In addition to the theme parks, the West side also offers outdoor sports such as golfing and watersports.

Depending on what type of lifestyle you’re looking for, both sides of Orlando offer a lot to its residents. If you want to be closer to the airport, and in a more relaxed environment then the East side is probably for you. But if you love the theme parks and want to feel like you’re on vacation every day, check out West Orlando.


Traveling and Commute

Now I know that we all love traveling up and down I-4 every day to commute to work, travel downtown, and visit throughout the area. However, East Orlando makes traveling just a little bit easier with the 408 and 417, which is much easier than traveling on slow roads. West Orlando hasn’t seen as much infrastructure build out yet. This side does have 429 and 27, but if you want to get anywhere it typically takes a bit longer than it would on the East side.


Real Estate

East Orlando

We’ve done some community spotlights/articles on areas such as Oviedo, Maitland, and Home Offerings in a College Town in East Orlando. But what does it look like in East Orlando as a whole when it comes to real estate? Looking at Orlando in general, the East side is typically more affordable since it is the furthest from Central Florida’s major attractions. The average home currently on the market and sold within the past year in East Orlando was a three bedroom, two bathroom home in the mid $400’s. Although you may have to replace fixtures, paint, and upgrade along the way, homes on the East side are definitely more for those who don’t care about being on the tourist side of town and want a more cost-effective home with some character.

West Orlando

Over in West Orlando there is a lot more new construction, with many homes currently being built in Horizon West and Winter Garden within the Winding Bay and Encore at Ovation communities, and many more right behind Disney property. This area definitely includes newer and larger homes, with some in Golden Oak and Isleworth valued between $10 to $35 Million. The average home currently on the market and sold within the past year in West Orlando was a four bedroom and four bathroom home in the high $900’s. For the average family, this is definitely on the higher side, but there are also many resorts offering condos for those who just want a second vacation home, typically in the mid $300’s.


Jobs

On the East side of Orlando you’ll find Research Park, attached to the University of Central Florida. This thousand acre campus includes numerous research and technology companies, offering high paying jobs due to the nature of these industries. This area is also only about 45 minutes from Cape Canaveral, which is home to NASA and SpaceX, and about 20-30 minutes from Medical City just down 417 in Lake Nona.

The West side of Orlando, there’s a lot more jobs in the hospitality industry with the amount of hotels and resorts. Not only this, but one of the most popular industries in Orlando as a whole is theme parks, with tens of thousands of individuals employed at Walt Disney World, Universal, and more. 


Overall

So, which side of Orlando is the best side - East or West? That’s really up to what kind of lifestyle you desire, what job you currently have or want to get, and what you want to pay. No matter where you live, Orlando as a whole is one of the best places to be, with so many different opportunities.

 

The Orlando Real is sponsored by The Pozek Group. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Orlando, reach out and we would love to help!

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