The Town FilesZellwood, Florida
Community in Orange County · population 2,758 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,000
- Household income
- $70,278
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 62.9
Zellwood is a community of 2,758 people in Orange County, Florida. The median home is worth $184,000, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Florida towns, quieter than 96% of Florida towns, easier by car than 84% of Florida towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Florida
- #6 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Florida
- #10 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
- #19 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Florida
- #47 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Zellwood ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Zellwood is worth $184,000, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $70,278, which is more affordable than 95% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,076 a month. 91.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zellwood | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,000 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,076 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $70,278 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 91.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.7% | — |
Who lives in Zellwood
| People | Zellwood | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 15.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Zellwood
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 44.4°F. About 54.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 120 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zellwood since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 22, 1998 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 77 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 9, 1999.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 949,918 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,805 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Zellwood itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Zellwood
1 public school with 529 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZELLWOOD ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 529 | 16.0 |
Towns near Zellwood
- Apopka, FL2.9 mi · 54,873 people · home $394,900
- Tangerine, FL4.7 mi · 3,237 people · home $435,200
- South Apopka, FL6.1 mi · 6,803 people · home $280,500
- Mount Plymouth, FL6.1 mi · 4,417 people · home $323,700
- Mount Dora, FL7.3 mi · 16,341 people · home $381,900
- Clarcona, FL7.6 mi · 3,283 people · home $317,800
- Forest City, FL8.8 mi · 14,623 people · home $369,900
- Wekiwa Springs, FL9.1 mi · 23,428 people · home $453,600
Zellwood questions
Is Zellwood, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zellwood scores better for retirees than 73% of Florida towns and quieter than 96%. 44.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.9).
How much does a house cost in Zellwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Zellwood is valued at $184,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,278, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,076 a month.
What is the weather like in Zellwood?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 44.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Zellwood get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zellwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 22, 1998. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)