Orange County is home to over 1.3 million people (and rising – Orange County saw a growth of 25% over the last ten years) and attracts around 72 million tourists from around the world. As a result, there is a strong tourism sector here. There are also excellent film and digital media training opportunities here, and a booming Modeling, Simulation, and Training (MS&T) industry. It’s a $6 billion industry and injects thousands of skilled, high-paying jobs into the region. There are about 12,000 jobs in Orlando, with over 60,000 employed indirectly through the state because of the Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force presence in Orange County.

Salaries in the county average $22,000 in the food and beverage industry, but in the MS&T sector, can go up to $70,000 a year. Oh, and there’s no state income tax. There’s no inheritance tax either.

Many young families and young professionals live in Orange County, and to cater to these families there are 202 public schools that serve around 200,000 students. In the area, 130 schools have recently been renovated or replaced, and in the next five years, 14 new schools will be constructed. There is a high graduation rate, with a 97.9% rate at traditional public high schools. There are some notable options in terms of private schools as well, such as The First Academy, Lake Highland Preparatory School, and Windermere Preparatory School.

As far as Universities go, Orange County is home to the University of Central Florida (UCF). UCF has been ranked as one of the top 20 Most Innovative Universities in the Nation. Located just northeast of Orlando is the main campus, but there are around a dozen other locations in and around Orlando. One of the notable campuses is the Academic Health and Science Campus, which is set to be a one-stop research and treatment center for cancer patients, cancer researchers, and clinical trials. It will also educate future doctors, nurses, healthcare providers, and scientists.

In terms of weather, you won’t find four seasons but rather only two – wet and dry. As it’s subtropical, the averages range from lows of 52°F and highs of 71°F in January, with average daily highs of 91°F in July. Summers are long, humid, and wet (averages the most rainfall), while winters are cooler and partly cloudy.

But if you’re worried about the summer being a complete washout, you shouldn’t be. The rain and sun often operate in intervals throughout the rainy season. This means the rain often falls in a torrential downpour (sometimes only lasting 10-15 minutes), and then the sun will come back out immediately after.