When the University of Central Florida was established in 1963, it was an exciting time in the state -- the US space program was heating up, and a school focused on engineering and technology would deliver the talent needed to grow the program. "Florida Tech," as it was called in the beginning, started small -- but it has grown into the largest university in the country -- and one of its most affordable. UCF is a space-grant university located on the northeast side of Downtown Orlando, and the UCF Knights compete in NCAA Division I. With such a large, spread-out campus, you'll find plenty of off-campus housing near UCF. If you're moving to Orlando for the college sports, find an apartment along McCulloch Road for fast access to Bright House Networks Stadium, Jay Bergman Field, and the CFE Arena. Those wishing to be near the UCF Music-Performing Arts Center or the Nicholson School of Communication should look at rentals along Alafaya Trail. If you'll be working at Central Florida Research Park, try looking along Bonneyville Drive, Discovery Drive, and Ingenuity Drive. Orlando is a sprawling city known for its attractions -- especially Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios. It is nicknamed "the City Beautiful" for good reason, especially with its crowning feature, Lake Eola. Orlando is also famous for its shopping, its nightlife, and its thriving business district. Much more than a college town, Orlando is one of the largest metro areas in the South. It is home to the Orange County Convention Center, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, businesses like Darden Restaurants, and local hotspots like Church Street Station. UCF is roughly 13 miles from downtown, ideal for commuting. Small suburbs closer to UCF include Alafaya and Oviedo.
Blanchard Park covers 84 acres and includes hiking trails along the river
UCF's Reflecting Pond was completed in 1970
The Charging Knight statue stands 17 feet tall
Spectrum Stadium was built in 2007
As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Orlando, FL is $1,427 for a studio, $1,573 for one bedroom, $1,905 for two bedrooms, and $2,235 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Orlando has decreased by -2.0% in the past year.
Studio
528 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,427/month
Average Rent
1 BR
742 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,573/month
Average Rent
2 BR
1,082 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,905/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,323 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,235/month
Average Rent
Have roommates? Want to block out the noise? These tips will make your apartment a study zone.
Ready to ditch the dorm and find your own place? Here's what you need to know about your first apartment.
Somewhat Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Minimal Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Public
Grades PK-5
1,054 Students
Northlake Park Community Elementary
Public
Grades PK-5
663 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
618 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
454 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
1,173 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,715 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,311 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
1,173 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
911 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
818 Students
Public
Grades 8-12
3,573 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
4,362 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,780 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,623 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
3,467 Students
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
3,467
Communities
953,952
Units
894
Cities
725
Communities
200,750
Units
346
Cities
633
Communities
174,412
Units
247
Cities
630
Communities
125,693
Units
248
Cities
561
Communities
125,432
Units
220
Cities
467
Communities
110,723
Units
235
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
