Lake Nona, FL
Master-planned medical-city community south of Orlando International — newer construction, top-rated schools.
Data as of 2026-04-01. Refreshed quarterly.
Lake Nona is a 17-square-mile master-planned development southeast of Orlando International Airport. The Tavistock Development Company has been building it out since 2007 around the Medical City — a cluster anchored by Nemours Children's Hospital, the VA Medical Center, the UCF College of Medicine, and the Sanford Burnham research institute.
Home buyers here skew younger and more credentialed than the central-Florida average — researchers and physicians employed inside Medical City, executives at the GuideWell/Florida Blue corporate campus, and remote workers attracted to the school zoning. Inventory is heavily new-construction (post-2015), so condition issues are rare and the listing template is more uniform than older Orlando neighborhoods.
The Lake Nona school cluster (Lake Nona High, Lake Nona Middle, Northlake Park Community) rates near the top of Orange County's open-enrollment options. That single fact moves the needle on resale value more than any single amenity in the master plan.
What makes it distinctive
Things that move the needle.
Medical City employment moat
Steady high-wage employment within a 10-minute commute keeps demand structural even when broader Orlando inventory cools. Buyers tied to MCO airport and the Cape Canaveral corridor also concentrate here.
Top-tier school zoning
Walk-or-bike eligibility to multiple A-rated schools is the closing argument for most families. Lake Nona High has consistently strong AP performance + a STEM-heavy curriculum.
Master-planned amenities baked in
Trails, parks, the Cypress Tennis Center, USTA National Campus, Drive Shack — recreational density is high. HOA fees reflect that.
Newer-build risk profile
Stucco-and-stone construction circa 2015+. Roof and HVAC concerns far rarer than central Orlando inventory. Watch for builder warranty gaps if the home is just past 10-year structural.
Want to buy in Lake Nona?
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Frequently asked
Common questions about Lake Nona.
How does Lake Nona compare to Winter Garden or Windermere?
Lake Nona has newer housing stock + closer airport proximity. Winter Garden has the established Plant Street downtown + an older, charm-driven feel. Windermere is more golf-and-country-club oriented with more sprawling parcels. Median prices are within $50K of each other.
Is Lake Nona a good investment for a rental property?
Long-term rentals fill quickly because of Medical City + airport demand. HOA rules in most Lake Nona neighborhoods permit standard 12-month leases. Short-term rentals (Airbnb-style) are restricted in most sub-communities; verify per-HOA before buying.
What's the commute to downtown Orlando?
20-30 minutes off-peak via SR-417 or SR-528. Peak commute can stretch to 45 minutes — but the Medical City self-contained employment base means many residents don't make the trip daily.
Data is hand-curated by REHL editors from a mix of public records, MLS feed inputs, and listing aggregator analytics. Refreshed at least quarterly; the "as of" date above is current. Numbers shift constantly in active markets — for the most current view of any specific property, ask the REHL agent we match you with. We aim for honest, not flattering.
School ratings draw from a blend of state assessments and public school-rating databases; verify zoning for your specific address before relying on these scores. Property tax estimates assume primary-residence homestead and standard millage rates as of the publish date.