Greater Daytona: Enjoy Life on the Sunny Side

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Who says you can’t have it all? In Greater Daytona and Volusia County, residents have access to 47 miles of beaches, rivers and lagoons, in addition to a thriving arts and culture scene and exhilarating sports spectacles like the Daytona 500. But that’s not all.

This booming region is home to fantastic jobs and is a hot spot for growing industries, with schools like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University providing a strong talent pipeline. 

Those who move here quickly fall in love with the work-life balance that includes lots of sunny beach days and mild winters that allow for year-round fun. Here’s a quick look at the positives of living in Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

Beach-Bound Business 

Recognizing Florida as the leader in the global aerospace industry, Steve Craig recently expanded his high-tech inertia welding company to Edgewater. The advantages of doing business in Volusia County, he says, are plentiful. 

“The first thing that blew me away is how nice everyone is here,” says Craig, the president of Interface Welding. However, he’s also been impressed with how business-friendly the region is, along with the the strength and depth of Greater Daytona’s talent pool. 

Not only do trade schools and higher education institutions train the next generation of machinists, mechanics and engineers, but, at the K-12 level, students are introduced to potential aerospace careers. The livability of the area also makes it desirable for young professionals who want to put down roots. 

Craig and his wife have been living in Ormond Beach for the past few years, along the Halifax River, with the Atlantic Ocean six blocks away. As outdoor enthusiasts, they love to walk along the beach, pop into local businesses and go kayaking on nearby interconnected lakes. 

“I can go out in the morning, have a cup of coffee and watch the dolphins swim by,” he says. “Then, I can catch shrimp and crab off the dock.” 

Entrepreneurial Expert 

Originally from Puerto Rico, Jennis Rivera and her family moved to West Volusia County seven years ago, drawn to the area because of its central location, affordability and tight-knit community vibe. 

Rivera is the owner of Blue Anchor Creative Solutions, which helps women entrepreneurs with their marketing goals. “The local business community is welcoming, and there’s this fantastic drive among entrepreneurs to connect and support each other,” she says. “The region is growing and offering great opportunities for new businesses to jump into the mix.” 

Coming out of the pandemic, Rivera said that she wanted to reconnect with people and fellow businesses, so she began volunteering at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, eventually becoming the marketing director. She currently works in the iLatina Circle program, which provides resources and training for local Latina entrepreneurs. 

“For new entrepreneurs, my biggest recommendation is to get involved with one of the local chambers of commerce, as they provide fantastic opportunities to network, connect and get to know the business community,” she says. 

As she settled into the area, she realized that living in Daytona Beach and Volusia County means being close to tranquil beaches and the big-city amenities in Orlando. 

Leader in Innovation 

Stephanie Miller, executive director of technology transfer and research park initiatives at Embry-Riddle, moved to Daytona Beach from Charlottesville, Virginia, a decade ago. 

She was drawn to the warm weather and the small-town feel of living in Daytona Beach. When she first arrived, she enjoyed spending weekends getting acquainted with the area and taking day trips. “There’s so much within an hour’s drive that I didn’t know about until I moved here,” Miller says. 

She’s ventured off to places like St. Augustine, a historic city with Spanish architecture to the north, and Cape Canaveral, home to the Kennedy Space Center, to the south. She also got a chance to check out the magnificent manatees while visiting Crystal River. 

For adventures close to home, Miller bought a Polaris Slingshot, a low-to-the-ground, three-wheel vehicle, to cruise around in. “I love driving the A1A and pulling over to put my toes in the sand,” she says. 

The spirit of innovation is also a perk of living in Volusia County, says Miller, who is tasked with running Embry-Riddle’s Research Park, which is fostering a technology-focused ecosystem that allows university researchers and students to collaborate with startups, businesses and local entrepreneurs in the soaring fields of aerospace and aviation. 

Five international companies have launched their U.S. operations at the research park, joining a number of local companies and startups. The research park benefits are mutually beneficial as companies can leverage Embry-Riddle’s talent, collaborate with researchers to co-write grants and gain access to state-of-the-art labs and equipment. 

“Companies can come and be part of the ecosystem that we have here, and we help them as much as we can,” Miller says. 

Housing Options Galore

Thinking about living in Daytona Beach and Volusia County? You’ve got plenty of great options and for an affordable price The average home price was $341,000 in April 2024 (Zillow).

With a reasonable price tag, and an average time on the market of four months, there are lots of options to explore, says Ashley Flatley, broker/owner at Coastal Ventures Real Estate, who breaks down the diverse opportunities for home buyers here: 

If someone wants the bright lights and activity, where might they want to look? 
There’s always downtown Daytona Beach, downtown Ormond Beach and Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach. There you’ve got restaurants, retail, entertainment, the water … all the things for a bright, lively atmosphere. A good example is the Marina Grande near downtown Daytona. It’s a condo development on the Intracoastal Waterway, and many of the units have ocean views as well. There also are lots of condos, bungalows and waterfront houses to be found beachside, as well as along the barrier islands right along the coast. 

Where might someone explore if they are drawn to an older property? 
Ormond Beach dates to 1880 and Daytona Beach to 1876, so we have a ton of history just in those two areas alone. John D. Rockefeller had his winter home here in what is now The Casements, and right next door, Henry Flagler had the Hotel Ormond, which is now a condominium complex. Another beautiful area is John Anderson Drive, a series of absolutely gorgeous riverfront homes. 

What about those who are eager to get into a newer property, be it a house or condo? 
Both Port Orange and Ormond Beach have a lot of infill construction going on, so there are houses and condos to be found within the cities. That’s pretty much true around the whole area. And there are entirely new communities now being developed as well. Avalon Park, between Daytona and Ormond beaches, will be adding 10,000 homes over the next 10 to 15 years, along with 1 million square feet of commercial space. 

What’s your final word to would-be homeowners who are excited about moving to the area? 
We are growing dramatically. There is activity all over, from townhomes and single-family homes to luxury condo developments. There are plenty of options in each city; it really depends on their lifestyle and exactly what they are looking for. We really do have it all here. 

– Joe Morris contributed to this article.