5 Reasons to Call Greater Daytona, FL, Home

Journal Communications

From cost of living to quality of life, Greater Daytona has excellent amenities that make the region a great place to visit and live. There are too many perks to count, but we’ve picked out a handful of reasons why it’s time to consider making the move to Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

1. You Can Afford to Live Here

It’s cheaper to live in Volusia County than in nearby Brevard and Orange counties. According to Zillow, Volusia County’s average home value in April 2024 was $341,000; in Brevard County, it was $359,000, and in Orange County, it was a whopping $411,000. Among the most affordable communities in the region are Daytona Beach ($266,000), South Daytona ($277,000) and Deltona ($310,000). 

2. Land a High-Paying Job

Thanks to the Sunshine State’s favorable tax environment and tropical climate, top talent flocks to Volusia County. As a result, the region is packed with career opportunities. Leading industries include aviation and aerospace (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has a campus in Daytona and Florida’s Space Coast is just 60 miles away) and advanced manufacturing (the Daytona Beach area is home to over 450 companies making everything from undersea fiber optics to biological safety equipment to skin care products). 

3. Score an Excellent Education

As the 14th-largest school district in Florida, Volusia County Schools (VCS) provides K-12 education to the 16 cities in Volusia County, serving over 60,000 students at its 45 elementary, 14 middle and 10 high schools. VCS also offers an online educational program and several charter and alternative schools. Private schools, such as Ormond Beach’s Calvary Christian Academy, also dot the area. Local higher education options include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona State College, Stetson University, Bethune-Cookman University, University of Central Florida Daytona Beach, Florida Technical College, Keiser University and Palmer College of Chiropractic. 

4. Have a Ton of Fun with the Family

Perhaps most famous as the home of the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach has a long history of racing, going back to the early 20th century when automobiles would engage in high-speed performance testing along the sandy shoreline. Now, the speedway welcomes up to 150,000 guests for the annual Daytona 500. Visitors can also check out the Daytona Beach boardwalk and pier; aquariums in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet; and plenty of beaches, many of which offer paddleboard and kayak rentals. Other offerings include the African American Museum of the Arts (DeLand), the Museum of Arts and & Sciences (Daytona Beach) and the Shoestring Theatre (Lake Helen). 

5. Savor the Flavors of Greater Daytona

Here, restaurants serve up everything from Thai to Turkish, Mexican to Mandarin, Japanese to Jamaican and Puerto Rican to Parisian. The diverse dining scene is augmented by cultural celebrations, including Daytona Beach’s Greek Festival, the Black Heritage Festival in New Smyrna Beach, Deltona’s Latin Festival of Central Florida and Ormond Beach’s Celtic Festival.