What BestPlaces Users Say about Ocala
Ocala, Florida is a small city located in the northern part of the state, known for its scenic landscapes and equestrian culture. With a population of just over 60,000, Ocala offers a slower pace of life compared to larger cities in Florida. However, living in Ocala does not come without its own set of pros and cons, as evident from the numerous user reviews on bestplaces.net. Many users have shared their experiences of living in Ocala, highlighting various aspects such as the cost of living, job opportunities, and community atmosphere.
According to JohnD, who has been living in Ocala for 5 years, the city has a "friendly and welcoming community" that makes it a great place to raise a family. He also mentions the affordable cost of living and the abundance of outdoor activities in the area. Another user, AmyW, echoes the sentiment, stating that Ocala has a "small town feel with big city amenities." She also praises the education system in Ocala, citing her children's positive experience in the local schools.
On the other hand, not all reviewers share a positive outlook on living in Ocala. SarahL, who has lived in the city for 10 years, expresses her disappointment with the lack of job opportunities and the slow pace of development. She writes, "There are not many job opportunities here, and the ones that are available pay very low wages. The city seems to be stuck in time, with no significant growth or development." Similarly, RonB has mixed feelings about Ocala, stating that while the cost of living is low, it comes at the expense of limited job opportunities and a lack of diversity in the community.
In conclusion, user reviews on living in Ocala, Florida provide a diverse range of opinions and experiences. While some appreciate the city's friendly community and affordable cost of living, others highlight the challenges of finding employment and the slow pace of development. Ultimately, living in Ocala may be a good fit for those seeking a quieter and more affordable lifestyle, but it may not be the ideal location for those looking for a fast-paced and diverse community.
based on 56 ReviewsGet to know Ocala with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Ocala
over all - 5/12/2009
i have lived in ocala Fl almost all my life.it is a pretty good place to live.crime is on the rise though.and you shouldnt go out after dark if your female and alone.also people seem to be complaining more to the city about other people noe than they use to.but the job market is gone.that is why me and my family are moveing to texas,so if any of you now a good place to live there plz tell me.
thank
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need some printed ino - 4/18/2009
two srs in sc
looking to relocate in fl warmer climate year round
need someone to mail a map of the ocala area and mark the following for us
clean safe neighborhoods for srs
synogogues
als delly
hospitals
grocery stores
mails to
sheila cohen
1016 augustus dr
conway sc 29527
email
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education - 2/19/2009
because of city deficit they have already announced cutbacks which will decimate the school system next year.the recreational facilities for children are already
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Ocala... - 10/9/2008
I think I chose the quality of life category because it involved so many facets of a city's personality.
Our area is considered a "small metro" area. We were declared an All American City a couple of years ago...but, like every other area of the country, we are feeling the economic pinch. Jobs are scarce, pay is low, traffic is horrendous and gas prices are on the middle-high end of the scale.
Educationally, we are a bit limited...we have only one higher education option in the immediate area (CFCC) though some higher degrees can be obtained through distance education at the community college.
We have our share of community events and I during my twenty plus years here in Ocala, I have seen the whole community pull together to help someone in need.
I know the younger set feel there isn't much to do here...some of the older generation (including yours truly) feel that we have grown so quickly over the last 10-15 years that it is difficult to make sure that
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A Nice Place to Live - 7/8/2008
For the most part, Ocala's streets are not congensted and make traveling across town fairly easy. I actually live in the SW section of Marion county about 20 miles fro the center of town. There are still many horse farms in Marion county which put a lot of distance between different parts of the county. Travel time can be
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Slooooocala - 5/19/2008
they don't call it slooocala for nothing.. First, it is extremely expensive to live here in Ocala which is why after five year's I am moving.. Thou must be rich to live here is really the motto here.. Second, the amount of undocumented people living here creates a job crunch for those of us that are citizen's and cause wages to be low.. The horse farm owner's appear to have a lock in on wage's.. Ocala used to be a nice place to live but not any more too many big name people living here has created a "money" atmosphere.. and talk about slowwwwwwwww
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Ocala Life. - 4/2/2008
Ocala is a great place to enjoy life with your family.
I enjoy working in this friendly city as well as I enjoy doing family activities with my wife and children.
The weather is perfect.
The public schools that my children attend, thus far has been an excellent
experience.
Izzy
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slowcala - 3/23/2008
They don't call it slowcala for nothing. Thing's move at a slow pace here. Moved to Ocala from Oviedo in 2003 when I bought a small home here which I sold in 2006. Being retired I thought it would be an inexpensive place to live, boy was I wrong. And the rent's are high for a single person on social security and a small pension. Ocala is for the rich and famous and that must be why so many of them live here and why the town is so star struck. I had lived in Naples Fla for four year's and Ocala is now catching up with them in cost of living and they also have star's in their eyes. Because the horse farm owner's here have a strong say in thing's it's hard to get a job in other fields that pay well the horse farm owner's don't want to lose their help to higher paying jobs. If your going to live here I hope you have deep pocket's and speak more than one
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Great place to live - 2/22/2008
OCala is a great place to live with a friendly small town feel, lowest housing cost in FL, easy access to larger
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Living in Ocala - 2/7/2008
After living in Ft. Lauderdale for over 50 years and being a Realtor in that city for over 20 years, I moved to Ocala to get away from the fast pace, unfriendly people and high cost of living. Ocala is a dream come true. Talk about affordable housing, Ocala has it. You can have a new home built for less than $125,000 and nice existing homes sell for as low as $80,000. The people are VERY friendly and although the city is growing rapidly, traffic is very light compared to South Florida. My wife and I Love
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