— Community Guide
Lake Nona
Orlando, FL
“Southeast Orlando's 17-square-mile master-planned community built around a 650-acre Medical City campus — UCF Health Sciences, Nemours Children's, and the VA Lake Nona Medical Center all within walking distance of Laureate Park's colorful craftsman homes.”
Master-planned · Medical City employment base · A-rated schools · new construction
What locals love
- Lake Nona Medical City — UCF College of Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, VA Lake Nona Medical Center, and Orlando Health UCF Cancer Center on a single 650-acre campus
- USTA National Campus — the largest tennis facility in the world with 100+ courts, open to the public for memberships and events
- All 8 district schools carry Florida A-ratings; Moss Park Elementary and Lake Nona High School are the most commonly cited draws
- Laureate Park village: walkable, ungated grid streets, modern craftsman homes, Canvas Restaurant, and the Laureate Park Aquatic Center
- KPMG Lakehouse, Innovation Way tech corridor, and AdventHealth's new hospital (2026) — the infrastructure that draws corporate and healthcare employers
A brief history
Tavistock Group acquired the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in 1996 and began master-planning the broader community in the early 2000s on former agricultural land in southeast Orange County. Medical City planning originated as part of Orlando's Southeast Sector Plan in 1995, with UCF College of Medicine breaking ground in 2007 and Nemours Children's Hospital opening in 2012. The community crossed the 15,000-resident mark around 2020 and has grown steadily since, with the USTA National Campus opening in 2017 and the KPMG Lakehouse completing in 2020. AdventHealth's "hospital of the future" campus is scheduled for 2026.
The housing mix
Lake Nona has no single housing vernacular — each village has its own character. Laureate Park is modern craftsman and board-and-batten construction on small urban lots, ungated, from around $400K to $700K. Eagle Creek is gated and guarded, with traditional and craftsman-style homes and a golf course, ranging $450K to $800K. VillageWalk is Mediterranean-influenced with resort amenities, built mostly in the 2000s, in the $400K-$600K range. Lake Nona Estates is private-club custom construction starting above $1M and reaching $5M+. Newer builder communities from Toll Brothers, Lennar, and K. Hovnanian fill in the spaces, with most new construction priced $380K-$600K.
Who lives here
The Medical City employment base draws a strong contingent of physicians, nurses, researchers, and healthcare administrators — UCF, Nemours, and the VA collectively employ thousands within the community. Corporate professionals staff the KPMG Lakehouse and the Innovation Way corridor. Young families target Lake Nona specifically for the A-rated school district; Moss Park Elementary and Lake Nona High consistently rank among Orange County's top performers. International buyers, particularly from Brazil and other Latin American countries, are active in the community given its proximity to OIA. The overall demographic skews younger and more professionally credentialed than the Orlando metro average.
Landmarks & things to do
- Boxi Park — 30,000-square-foot outdoor entertainment venue built from repurposed shipping containers; food, music, and volleyball
- Canvas Restaurant & Market — Laureate Park's main dining anchor; Florida-sourced menu, wine shop, coffee bar
- USTA National Campus — world's largest tennis facility; public memberships, clinics, and tournaments
- Lake Nona Town Center — retail, dining, and weekly farmers market anchored by Whole Foods
- Laureate Park Aquatic Center — community pool and fitness hub in the center of Laureate Park
- Eagle Creek Golf Club — 18-hole public-access golf course within the gated Eagle Creek village
- Lake Nona Golf & Country Club — private club; original Tavistock acquisition; invitation-only membership
- Nona Adventure Park — wakeboarding, cable skiing, and paddleboarding on Fells Cove
Schools in the area
- 6/10
Castleview Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 8/10
Dr. Phillips High School
Orange County Public Schools
- 6/10
Freedom High School
Orange County Public Schools
- 7/10
Glenridge Middle School
Orange County Public Schools
- 7/10
Lake Como School
Orange County Public Schools
- 7/10
Lake Eola Charter School
Orange County Public Schools
- 5/10
Olympia High School
Orange County Public Schools
- 9/10
Palm Lake Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 9/10
Princeton Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 7/10
Sand Lake Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 4/10
Ventura Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 8/10
Village Park Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 8/10
Vista Lakes Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 6/10
Waterbridge Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
Waterford Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 9/10
West Creek Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 4/10
West Oaks Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 6/10
Westpointe Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 8/10
Wetherbee Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 3/10
Washington Shores Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 5/10
Vista Pointe Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 5/10
Vista Pointe Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
- 10/10
Audubon Park School
Orange County Public Schools
- 7/10
Wyndham Lakes Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
Frequently asked about Lake Nona
What is Lake Nona Medical City?
Lake Nona Medical City is a 650-acre health and life sciences campus within the Lake Nona master-planned community. It includes UCF College of Medicine, UCF Health Sciences, Nemours Children's Hospital, VA Lake Nona Medical Center, Orlando Health UCF Cancer Center, and numerous research institutes and private healthcare employers. Approximately 5,000 people work on the campus today. It is the reason many physicians, researchers, and healthcare workers choose to live in Lake Nona specifically — the commute is measured in minutes rather than highway miles.
What are the best villages or sub-communities within Lake Nona?
The answer depends on lifestyle priorities. Laureate Park is the most walkable and urban-feeling — ungated, colorful modern homes, and the Canvas Restaurant nearby; it appeals to young professionals and families who want a neighborhood feel. Eagle Creek is gated, quiet, and guarded 24/7, with a golf course inside the community; it draws buyers who prioritize privacy and a traditional suburban atmosphere. VillageWalk is older (early 2000s) with Mediterranean architecture and resort amenities. Lake Nona Estates is the private ultra-luxury tier. Newer Toll Brothers and Lennar communities are filling in around Storey Park in the northeast end.
What schools serve Lake Nona?
All district schools carry Florida A-ratings — a consistent draw for families. The main feeder pattern for most of Lake Nona runs through Moss Park Elementary or Laureate Park Elementary, then Innovation Middle or Lake Nona Middle, and finally Lake Nona High School. Moss Park Elementary carries a 4-star SchoolDigger rating with 79% ELA proficiency vs. 59% county average. The feeder school assignment depends on which village you live in — verify the exact attendance zone for your specific address at ocps.net before purchasing.
Are Lake Nona homes in a flood zone?
Most Lake Nona residential areas are mapped as FEMA Zone X — minimal flood hazard, no mandatory flood insurance required — because the community was built on former agricultural land at relatively elevated ground for Central Florida. Properties adjacent to natural lakes within the community (the eponymous Lake Nona, Eagle Creek's lakes, others) should be verified individually at msc.fema.gov. Orange County participates in FEMA's Community Rating System, which can reduce flood insurance premiums for those who do carry coverage. Always confirm the flood zone for the specific parcel before making an offer.
How does Lake Nona compare to Dr. Phillips or Winter Park?
Lake Nona is newer construction, master-planned, and anchored by an employer base rather than an established commercial district. Dr. Phillips, also southeast of downtown Orlando, is older (1980s-1990s), has the Restaurant Row corridor on Sand Lake Road, and feeds into top-rated schools including Dr. Phillips High. Winter Park is a different market entirely — historic, small-city character, Park Avenue retail, Rollins College, and a price premium reflecting decades of built equity. Lake Nona competes most directly with Dr. Phillips: similar school quality, newer housing, and a stronger employment magnet in the Medical City. Lake Nona's prices are generally comparable to Dr. Phillips but inventory turns faster in the newer communities.
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Schools nearby
Dr. Phillips High School
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Nearby
NearbyFreedom High School
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Glenridge Middle School
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