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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
Ocala is great for Seniors - 12/10/2023
My wife and I have lived in Ocala as retirees since 2014 and we love it here. It is definitely a place for retired folks. There is lots to do here for us. As for young people, the place is not geared towards them because it is mainly a retirement town. When our grandkids visit, they are bored. But for us, there is the art walk downtown on Fridays which is very nice, and music in the park. Also there are good coffee shops, restaurants and bakeries downtown. It is a small downtown but it has a historical look to it which is quite pleasant. The town is divided by Silver Springs Blvd (N/S). We found more seniors living on the SW and SE side of town compared to NW or NE. So if you are looking for a lot of things for seniors to do, keep this in mind because many events you can even walk to depending on where you live. The largest community for seniors in Ocala is On Top Of the World in the SW part of town and this is a huge, expansive senior citizen development with many golf
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Beautiful community ruined by crime - 12/14/2022
I lived here for 12 years during my 20's to early 30's. Raised my children and started careers. This place offered plenty of work, good neighbors and lots of memories. Downtown is pretty but small. One thing mentioned is violent crimes. Unfortunately, there was some horrible crimes that happened because of the people living in the Marion County area that would travel in the city of Ocala.
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Nice small town - 6/21/2022
I like this city, a small town and a lot to offer for adults between 30 to seniors. Now if you planing to move with teens is not for you, unless you coming from another small town. We got a house in central Ocala our area is nice. Not many options on the internet, we pay a lot for ours since my husband work from home. I’m getting used to this City but is not for young
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Ocala is a hidden GEM here in central florida - 3/6/2020
I have lived in Ocala Florida for 10 yrs. Moving from New England. It does indeed get hot here....IT'S FLORIDA. I am not a fan of the blistering cold of the northern states although I lived there for almost 50 yrs. although New England used to be charming to say the least you will be hard pressed to find that same charm today. Now for Ocala it is slower than New England thank goodness and as far as cleanliness goes it surpasses what the politicians are willing to do in N.E. this is one of the cleanest towns I have been in. Blight doesn't last long here they tear it down and rebuild faster than any town I've seen. The civic pride is outstanding and people here are constantly trying to improve what they offer the citizens. I had to learn to change the way I did things as far as the heat goes, like not doing yard work at high noon. Seems like Ocala has a handle on this by offering a lot of activities at night. I love it here and knew the minute I drove into town that this would be my
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Why I Choose to Make Ocala Home - 12/18/2019
I have lived in different parts of FL from Miami to Live Oak. I have also lived in NH, VA, & SC. I have also made many extended visits to GA & TN many times in different seasons. I have resided in Ocala for the past 30 years. Ocala beats the snot out of ALL the large cities in FL (Ocala is meduim size) because our cost of housing is far cheaper, much less traffic with NO tolls, & less crime, central location to get to all the hot spot tourist traps, just far enough from the coast to buffer hurricanes and high insurance premiums. If someone states Ocala has crime they did not experience Maimi during the late 1970s & 80's or even lately! Ocala has access to more places and things to do within an hours drive than about anywhere else in the USA and you will not find better weather except for mid July - mid Oct but that's what all the water, shade trees & A/C is for. For the value, it is hard to beat
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Skip the city, go to the forest - 8/12/2019
The city isn't really anything special but the real nice stuff is in the Ocala national forest with the freshwater springs and big lakes. I really think more people should visit them more often. they're beautiful, inexpensive and lots of fun to go to.
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Don’t bother - 8/10/2019
Ocala is a good ol boy town with confederate flags and right wingers. If that’s your style you will love it here. Cost of living is low, paychecks are even lower. The traffic light system is not set up for traffic flow but for traffic congestion and there is a lot of that. Some say the slowest baddest drivers live here. Crime is very high.
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Ocala Good place to live - 4/20/2019
I have been a resident since 1987 of Ocala, FL . I have raised 2 children hear. Like ever place it has its up and downs. But I choose to change the bad areas and make it better. It has nice parks, It has Horse farms and local events. If you are looking for Disney World this is not your place. There is ample employment if especially if you have credentials. If you have little to no education then the job market will likely be an issue. I find those struggling with employment usually failure to pass background checks and with failure to search hard. We do have Lockheed Martin and other large employers I am a Realtor and can help you with relocation. Fort King Realty,
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Ocala Good place to live - 4/20/2019
I have been a resident since 1987 of Ocala, FL . I have raised 2 children hear. Like ever place it has its up and downs. But I choose to change the bad areas and make it better. It has nice parks, It has Horse farms and local events. If you are looking for Disney World this is not your place. There is ample employment if especially if you have credentials. If you have little to no education then the job market will likely be an issue. I find those struggling with employment usually failure to pass background checks and with failure to search hard. We do have Lockheed Martin and other large employers I am a Realtor and can help you with relocation. Fort King Realty,
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Do NOT move to Ocala Florida - 8/20/2018
This is a very terrible place to live - believe me. There in NOTHING to do here. There are NO jobs and the pay for these jobs are pitiful. I came from Lovely Brandon (Tampa) and I am looking to return. I am a city girl and not a country bunkin, if thats what you like. Ocala has NOTHING to offer anyone except senior
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