University (Orange County) today
What this means
Twelve month change in University (Orange County): +0.8%, essentially flat.
House gross yield today: 9.1% (above Florida houses at 8.1%). A rental has a better shot at covering its costs.
No Zillow figure covers this place, so the value is the Census 2020 to 2024 median updated with the FHFA price index. Rough guide only; see how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| University (Orange County) | vs Orange County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,902 (Census survey) | ||
| Median home value | $298,900 | 23% lower | 17% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,445 | 19% lower | 13% lower |
| Median household income | $59,852 | 25% lower | 20% lower |
| Gross rent yield | 5.8% | +0.3 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Owner occupied homes | 37.4% | −19.4 pts | −30.2 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 6.6% | −6.4 pts | −14.7 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 24 | 15% lower | 15% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 20.6% | +1.3 pts | +6.4 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $1,881 | 37% lower | 31% lower |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in University (Orange County)
Unincorporated community about 15 miles east of downtown Orlando, centered on the University of Central Florida.
As an unincorporated area, University (Orange County) follows Orange County rules for zoning, permits and short term rentals.
Known for: University of Central Florida; Central Florida Research Park
Development and roads: Reached by State Roads 408, 434 and 50.
Against the Orange County averages, fewer homes are owner occupied (37.4% vs 56.8%); household incomes are lower ($59,852 vs $79,719); homes are cheaper than the county median ($298,900 vs $390,100) and typical rent is $1,445, below the county's $1,775.
Ranked against 150 Florida cities: number 122 by home value, 56 by gross rent yield, 133 by income.
Cities with similar prices and rents: Jacksonville ($293,700, $1,465), Spring Hill ($288,500, $1,440), Plant City ($291,800, $1,409).
Growth and housing
The Census does not publish yearly estimates for unincorporated places, so growth here is read from housing age and the county trend. Orange County grew 6.9% from 2020 to 2025.
Newer housing (20.6% built since 2010) often comes with HOA and CDD fees that lenders count. CDD fees
The typical home here was built around 1994. Apartments and condos make up a large share: 36.2% of homes are in buildings of five or more units. Households average 2.34 people.
More newcomers from out of state than the county average (4.9% vs 2.6%).
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $3,610 a year |
Large buildings hold 21.6% of homes here; read the reserve study before buying a condo. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
Flood insurance here follows Orange County, which holds CRS class 5 (25% discount). Countywide, 2.3% of homes sit in a FEMA high risk zone; the Orange County guide has the full flood, storm and jobs picture.
Buying a home in University (Orange County)
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $541,287 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $298,900 |
Homes cost 5.0 times median household income here (Orange County 4.9, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: the default for buyers with solid credit and 5% or more down.
- FHA: the University (Orange County) median of $298,900 fits under the $541,287 limit.
Sample FHA payment at $298,900
| Item | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Principal and interest (7.32%, 3.5% down) | $2,016 |
| Property tax (0.63%) | $157 |
| Insurance (county average) | $301 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $135 |
| Total before HOA or CDD | $2,608 |
| Income needed at a 45% debt ratio | $69,555 a year |
Example, not a quote. Assumptions. Down payment help: Florida Housing.
Investing in University (Orange County)
| Rental math at the median | Value |
|---|---|
| Price / rent | $298,900 / $1,445 |
| Estimated net cap rate | 2.6% to 3.4% |
| DSCR at 25% down | 0.72 |
| Down payment for DSCR 1.0 | 52% down |
| Down payment for DSCR 1.25 | 66% down |
Long term rentals
| University (Orange County) | vs Orange County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 62.6% | +19.4 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 14.2% | +4.9 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 35% | +0.2 pts |
Short term rentals
Vacation home share is below the county (0.7% vs 2.4%), so nightly demand here is thinner.
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 6% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Check the address against local zoning and the HOA documents first. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 35.9% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 36.2% |
| Manufactured homes | 7.1% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), all homes and apartments, smoothed. September 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.