The town got its start in the 1870s when two northerners came to homestead the land. The railroad soon followed, and after WWII, military families moved to Longwood and commuted to nearby military installations in Orlando and Brevard County. Today, the town is manicured and family-oriented, even though the median age of residents is slightly above the national median. Longwood has good schools, plenty of parks and lots of activities for kids. The downtown has some cute shops and beautifully restored historic homes. Dining options, including both locally owned and chain restaurants, range from Lebanese to sushi. The community center has classes and houses the senior center.

Neighborhoods are well kept, and most homes are ranch ramblers.

Population:  15,000 (city proper)

Age 45 or Better:   37% 

Cost of Living:   12% above the national average

Median Home Price: $312,000

Climate:  This area has a humid subtropical climate, meaning two seasons a year.  Summers and early fall are hot and humid, and late fall and winter are less humid and cooler.  On average, Longwood receives 55 inches of rain per year.

At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? Yes

At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission?    Yes

Public Transit:   SunRail (train) travels north to DeBary and south to Poinciana.

Crime Rate:   Meets the national average

Public Library:   Yes

Political Leanings:  Conservative

College Educated:  26%

Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement?   Yes

Cons:   The tornado risk is 115% greater than the national average. Traffic is often congested.

Notes:   Some residents say Longwood has a strong sense of community, while others comment that it has no identity and is just an extension of Orlando.   Longwood has grown by 2% within the last decade.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot?    Yes

Florida:

Named Pascua Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, the Sunshine State did not enter the Union until March 3, 1845. Balmy mild winters began attracting snowbirds to the state in the late 19th century. Retirees continue to flock to the state. It's not hard to see why tourism has become the leading industry.

International trade and citrus are also major contributors to the state's economy. Eighty percent of the nation's oranges and grapefruits are grown here, and 40 percent of all U.S. exports to Latin America flow through Florida.

Florida's landscape includes uplands and coastal plains. It contains more than 11,000 miles of waterways and about 4,500 islands spread across 10 acres.

The state has 1,250 golf courses, more than any other state in the Union. The 47 mile Pinellas Trail is the longest urban trail on the east coast. Orlando theme parks attract more visitors than any other theme parks in the U.S. The only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist is in National Everglades Park.

Florida, particularly the Keys and the Gulf Coast, were struck by Category 4 Hurricane Irma in early September, 2017. Towns will rebuild, perhaps this time with climate change in mind, making them safer and better equipped to handle major hurricanes going forward.

Stats:

Population - 20,612,439 

Persons 65 years old and over - 20%

High school graduates, persons age 25+ - 87% 

Bachelor's degree or higher, persons age 25+ - 27% 

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin - 24% 

White persons, not Hispanic - 58% 

Median household income - $47,525 

Median home value - $159,900 

Social Security taxed? No

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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