Mount Dora, FL 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview

A suburb of Orlando in Central Florida, Mount Dora is popular for its charming small-town community and warm weather. While residents can enjoy the local amenities of the city, Orlando is easily accessible for larger, brand-name shopping and restaurants. With its many trails and parks, monthly festivals, and boutique shopping, Mount Dora is an in-demand destination for active adults.

Climate & Geography

Mount Dora is situated in a mixture of flat, open land and wooded areas surrounded by lakes. Weather is typical of other inland Florida cities: humid, hot, and long summers are followed by shorter, pleasant winters. There is more rain than average, and while hurricanes do often cause excess rainfall, they generally pose no other threat. Residents enjoy 230 days of sun each year with no snow. 

Despite the name, Mount Dora is located on a plateau, and there are no mountains nearby. It borders Lake Dora, one of the bigger lakes in Lake County. Expansion from Orlando has caused recent growth in the northern suburbs, extending to Mount Dora.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment

Known as “festival city,” residents of Mount Dora have many festivals to choose from each month, including the hugely popular annual craft fair with over 400 exhibitors. Antique shops and farmers markets are the most favored type of shopping in Mount Dora, typically open on the weekends. More boutiques, vintage shops, and local eateries are located in the downtown area, several of them on the waterfront. There are no chains, and buildings downtown are small, creating a quaint, tight-knight community feeling.

Golfers can practice at the Mount Dora Golf Club, Country Club of Mount Dora, and the Deer Island Country Club. Other popular outdoor destinations include Palm Island Park, Trimble Park, and the piers of Lake Dora, where residents can hike, fish, and boat.

Cost of Living & Taxes

Mount Dora’s overall cost of living is barely above the national average and slightly below Florida’s average. Specific factors like groceries and health care are below average, while housing matches the rest of the U.S. Utilities and transportation are above the national average, which is typical for Florida.

Florida is a popular destination for retirees because there is no income tax. In addition, property taxes and Mount Dora’s 7 percent sales tax are similar to the national average.

Health Care

The Orlando-Kissimmee metropolitan area ranks within the top 75 communities on Gallup’s Well-Being Index, and Florida ranks in the top 20 states.

There are no hospitals in Mount Dora. Five miles away is AdventHealth Waterman, rated as high performing by U.S. News. Leesburg Regional Medical Center, 14 miles away, is also high performing and the No. 3 hospital in Orlando. The closest nationally ranked hospital is AdventHealth Orlando, about 23 miles away, and the No. 1 hospital in the state. It is also ranked as the No. 12 hospital in the country for diabetes and endocrinology.