Best Places to Live 2007: No. 4 town

We recently moved to Lake Mary From MN and we love it here. I agree with the comments that there are a lot of snobby people in Heathrow, but you’ve just got to ignore them. It’s a Great place to live and play!

WOAH! What’s up with all the Heathrow bashing and “snob” talk. I personally live in Heathrow and I don’t feel that I’m any better than any one else. 90% of my neighbors are the same way. Sure there are snobs everywhere, no matter how much money they have, but don’t just assume that everyone who lives in Heathrow is a snob. Lake Mary is a great place to live!!

WE HAVE LIVED IN LAKE MARY FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND WOULDNT LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
SMALL TOWN FEEL BIG TOWM AMENITIES.CRIME RATE IS SUPER LOW.WE LIVE ON 9+ACRES IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWN TOWN LAKE MARY ON E CRYSTAL LAKE AND WATCHED THE GROWTH OVER THE YEARS

Very high-priced, snobby attitude and unfriendly were the things I noticed most. This is so unfortunate because it’s a beautiful part of Florida with palms, lakes, central location and if only people weren’t so condescending it would be a great place to live, it should not have made #4. Unless you have a million dollar trust fund waiting on you then I’d steer clear of here - try St. Augustine, Ocala, or even Gainesville.

Could someone explain to me why sharp high quality cars with a price tag are bad? And why would anyone want to be anything by high society. I mean really, isn’t that the real American Dream, to be well off? What is all this BS these days about how great “urban” is? Doesn’t urban mean crime and crowding?

All of Florida is crime infested. Its too hot and humid. The schools are poor,taxes, hurricane Insurance,health care and other state scam costs make it a bloodsucking -pocket draining state.Crime is like a spreading virus there and its a matter of time when the whole state is infected.

I know people who live there in our family who I wouldn’t call “family” for anything. They’ve sold their souls to money and riches from a trust fund they didn’t even work hard for - someone gave it to them. Forget people who are mooching off other people’s wealth! Work hard for your own - fake people with fake money and fake homes, fake smiles, fake everything else - forget it! #4 place to live yes maybe by the world’s standards…

Lake Mary is very nice with a lot of green areas. Schools are good and shopping is very convenient. House prices are more reasonable compared to Winter Park and Windemere. Property taxes in Florida are out of control and unfair some people are saving their homes at the expense of others.
I lived in Florida since 1987, but moved away for five years coming back in 2005.

Your average property taxes may be correct BUT anyone buying into Florida housing pays property taxes based upon “market” We sold our 4500 square foot house with $2400 taxes and got a 3000 square foot house with $8000 taxes.

Have lived in Lake Mary for 14 yrs would not change it for the world, it is a great place to live, friendly people, although some snobs, of course because of Heathrow and their million dollar homes next door, but that is their hangups, not much concern with that. We have lots of gorgeous and great restaurants, lots of shopping centers and malls around the area, Sanford Airport growing, lots of great companies headquarters in the area, like AAA, BC/BS, Missubishi, Converyus, great upscale hotels, and lots more, everything is centrally located, close to the beach, close to airports, close to shopping, close to central interstate highways, extremelly low crime area, super schools, great looking homes and communities, bike and walk trails, free activities like the family movie nights in the lawns of city hall, just a lovely lovely place to live, for all age groups.

Lake Mary is Clean and a nice place to raise children, lots of good shopping, good resturants,open spaces and my favorite golf Course, TIMACUAN.
Lived here six years and love it.

What a wonderful place to live. A small-town atmosphere only 20 minutes from the city and 35 minutes from the beach. Great place to raise a family or retire. Lots of clean, high-tech industry moving in (AAA, Convergys, Electronic Arts, etc.)Housing prices are getting a bit high but still cheap compared to many other cities on the list. I just bought a lovely 3BR, 2BA home in a wondrful neighborhood for $275,000.

i have to agree with emily, It is the high society snob area, it runs a close second to winter park, but if you fit that snob profile then that area is for you,

I have lived in Lake Mary for 8 years now. Though it is really nice it is becoming like any congested city - overcrowded, impatient people and overdevelopment.

We have lived in Lake Mary for 18 years, and have been happy every single day that we chose to build a home here. Emily (who finds the area “people-snubbing”) has probably encountered too many people who live in Heathrow. They live in Lake Mary (zip 32746) like the rest of us, but insist that they live in “Heathrow, FL”. I wonder why “Heathrow, FL” didn’t make the list…..

I hope this isn’t splitting hairs, but that land with the green house has always been known as a ranch. I don’t know of any farms in Lake Mary, but I could be wrong. My idea of a farm is fields full of crops. Land with cattle is a ranch.

It’s getting overcrowded like the rest of Central Florida.Since the Sanford Airport went big time the planes are constantly flying low,for landing,over Lake Mary.They go overboard with trees on new buildings to the point where you can no longer see the building.AAA has a beautiful fountain in front of their beautiful glass building that was visible from I-4.They covered it with Oak trees,don’t even know that it’s there anymore.

Congrats Lake Mary! I think Oviedo should be in the top 100, with the other two Seminole County cites, Winter Springs being the other. We have everything anyone would want in a bedroom community. But that’s ok. Your well desevered recogition can maybe give us a break from a lot of our growth. Lake Mary is definately a great place to live. About everything good stated here I’ve found to be true for Lake Mary and most of Seminole County, FL.

I live in Lk Mary. Great place. Just not for you.

That would be “lots of trees”

Yes, I must agree also, after moving from Port Orange, which I loved, I would never want to move anywhere else unless I’m right on the beach (which is a downfall of living in Lake Mary/Heathrow). Living on Markham Woods Rd. is nice, away from the city (lost of trees etc) but still close to everything. Not to mention it has to be considered the Silicon Valley of FL (at least Central FL anyway)

Not sure which Lake Mary, Patricia M lives in…but just past the post office, is STILL a farm..complete with tractors and cows. Right on Lake Mary Blvd…Everyone wants to buy that piece and develop it, but the owner in the seafoam green house isn’t selling. All the other comments are right on. Except I don’t recommend trying to open retail within city limits. Way arcane. Mis-read ‘rules’ to their own interpretation, and inconsistently. I closed my business and will never open there again. Live there, yes.Shop elsewhere.

I think one of the previous posters was talking about the wrong town. I have lived in Lake Mary, Fl for 55 years, and I never saw one farm. Also, there is no Perkins here.

Lake Mary is a great area, but beware of Florida Property Taxes. My house is valued at 370k and taxes are about 4500 annually. Also, be aware of homeowners and auto insurance, hurricanes are costly and Florida is a melting pot of drivers and driving styles. It is nice, but the heat can be brutal. Comutes from/to Lake Mary can be a bear. A nice big hose is a plus, but all that rain makes everything grow. All in all a nice place if you can afford it

Lake Mary is one of the best places to live in Central Florida. I have lived here for 12 years. We are 15 minutes from 3 malls and every major artery that leads to all points in Florida. The weather is spectacular especially in the winter and we have every type of amusement park you can imagine and the beach within 45 minutes. We have great biking and walking trails but the main reason we moved here was because of the school system–one of the best in the state.

Lake Mary is a true melting pot. Very few natives. People transfer in from all over the country to work at some of our big corporations. On your first day, you are not an outsider. Our growth has been carefully planned. Most of our powerlines are underground. Just about every neighborhood is surrounded by a brick wall with a watchful homeowners association to keep us in line. Our excellent schools keep our home values high.

We’ve lived in Lake Mary for 2 1/2 years now and we love it. After living in NY all our lives it was a welcome change to not have all the hustle and bustle around us - we could truly enjoy our home and community. We have great people, trails, excellent neighborhoods and even my 15-20 minute commute on I-4 is a whiz compared to an 1hr 1/2 getting to downtown NYC. Everything is open, clean and you can really appreciate the beautiful sky. This is the place to be in Central Florida!

Lake Mary is the best! We’ve lived here for 5 years and love it. It has a small-town feel with a lot of the big-city conveniences. It’s a great place to raise a family and allows easy access to all that Orlando and the coast have to offer.

Lake Mary definitely is a major engine of Central Florida’s economic growth. The city - and Seminole County - have taken great care to cultivate a thriving business community that emphasizes a high quality of life. I am very pleased to see Lake Mary recognized with this honor.

I am a 6 year resident and I would say that our local Government plays a big part of why this is such a great place to live. They are approachable by all residents with an open door policy, permitting is taken seriously and personal touches like Movie Night in the park are awesome. Major restarunts like Ruth Chris, Jinja’s, Bonefish, and many more… no crime to speak of and little traffic will keep me here!

Lake Mary is a high-priced, fancy car, people snubbing, you’re not good enough to talk to town. But…it does have everything centrally located and easily accessible. I’m on my way out!

I have lived in Lake mary for about 4 years now. Its the best place to live in the central fl area. Good schools, excellent shopping, Low crime rate, great restaurants, close to everything.

Lake Mary…You got to be kidding! It was a farm area that got popular due to land being cheaper. Big developers built in area, driving the costs sky high and Florida Taxes followed closely. At least they have the finer restaurants, such as Wendy’s, Burger King and McDonalds. For a big night out you go to Perkins!! Next time look at a great steal, such as Palatka, Florida!!

If you want to live in Central Florida, Lake Mary is definitely one of the nicer neighborhoods. The schools are good, and there’s plenty of houses on a lake or golf course. Still, there are downsides. To get downtown, you have to take I-4, which is the most congested, dangerous road around. If you are lucky enough to get a job in Lake Mary, that isn’t a problem. However, I wouldn’t recommend living there if you intent to commute. Better to try Lake Nona or Baldwin Park. Winter Park High School is also a great school.

What do you think of the No. 4 town on this year’s Best Places to Live list?

What makes it a great American town?

What activities and events does it offer? Tell us what you think.