RANK #631 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 41 FL · POP 481,470
1YR FORECAST: -1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Longwood, one of Seminole County's oldest cities, is known for its historic charm, mature oak trees, and a quieter, established atmosphere. Located just north of Orlando, Seminole County offers a suburban feel with convenient access to the larger city, typically a 20-30 minute drive to downtown Orlando, with options for Interstate 4, SR-417, and SunRail commuter train. The county is recognized for its natural amenities, including the Wekiva River system, one of Florida's federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, and numerous parks and trails like the Seminole Wekiva Trail, popular for cycling, jogging, and nature walks. Lake Monroe and Lake Jesup also provide opportunities for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.
Seminole County is often chosen by families due to its highly-rated public school system. The county is transitioning its public transportation from traditional bus routes to an on-demand rideshare service, SCOUT, which aims to provide more flexible, door-to-door options and connect riders to SunRail stations. Economically, Seminole County has seen investment in sectors like data centers, energy, and infrastructure, with companies establishing or expanding operations in the area. The county's economic development efforts focus on attracting businesses and fostering job growth.
Seminole County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -2.8% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +3.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Seminole Electric Cooperative Solar and Storage Projects
Seminole Electric Cooperative, Sumter Electric Cooperative Energy, Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative
|
$7,300M | Planned |
|
Sanford Power Plant (Natural Gas Combined-Cycle Project)
Florida Power & Light Co
|
$1,100M | Planned |
|
Five Points Development Projects & Courthouse Annex/Renovation
Seminole County
|
$165M | Under Construction |
|
HostDime Orlando Data Center
HostDime
|
$150M | Under Construction |
|
Seminole County Tourism Improvement District (SCTID) Capital Improvements
Seminole County Board of County Commissioners
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Residential New Construction (Multiple Developments)
Various (e.g., M/I Homes, D.R. Horton, K. Hovnanian® Homes, Beazer Homes, Pulte Homes, Mattamy Homes, David Weekley Homes)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 36/100, Seminole County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $85,761 combined with job growth of +0.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Seminole County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $386,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,783/month on average.
Seminole County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.5%). Home values shifted -2.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.36% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Seminole County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.