by Scott Kauffman
With more than 70,000 acres of thoroughbred breeding and training farms, the Ocala area has long been known as the horse capital of the world. Indeed, whether you love the thrill of competition or just enjoy a leisurely ride via horseback, this central Florida region is a true equestrian escape and a place world champions have called home for decades.
This revitalized region is no longer horsing around, however, when it comes to attracting all walks of life. In the last three years, thousands of retirees and new families have moved into this metropolitan area, driven by a number of factors, including affordability, convenience and the unique combination of peaceful country-like living packaged with a sophisticated and vibrant medium-sized city just minutes away.
This combination of affordability and quality of life is why a growing number of national outlets such as ideal-LIVING, Money magazine, Where to Retire magazine and NerdWallet.com
have highlighted Ocala as one of the top places to live and retire.
Ocala is sandwiched between two thriving cities, Gainesville and Orlando, giving residents a country-like setting with metropolitan proximity. Meanwhile, the median sales price for a single-family home remains less than $120,000 per home.
This winning combination is why U.S. Census Bureau data shows Marion County was one of the fastest-growing areas in the country from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013, increasing
1.8 percent to 337,362 residents.
