Ormond Beach, FL
What Ormond Beach is actually like
Ormond Beach began as New Britain, a settlement founded in 1875 by families from New Britain, Connecticut, along the Halifax River. The town was renamed for James Ormond, an Anglo-Irish sea captain commissioned in the early 1800s by the Spanish crown to bring settlers to the area, and it incorporated as the Town of Ormond on April 22, 1880. It became a city on April 25, 1950.
Starting in 1902, automobile manufacturers and drivers began testing cars for speed on Ormond Beach's hard-packed, tide-flattened sand; Ransom Olds (in his 'Pirate Racer') and Alexander Winton were among the earliest to compete there, and in 1903 the American Automobile Association brought official timing equipment to the beach, cementing Ormond Beach's claim as the 'Birthplace of Speed.' Fred Marriott drove a Stanley Steamer 'Rocket' to 127.659 mph on the beach on January 26, 1906, before organized racing eventually shifted south to Daytona Beach; the city dedicated a Birthplace of Speed Park in 2013 to mark the site. A second defining chapter began in 1918, when John D. Rockefeller, who had wintered at Ormond Beach's Ormond Hotel since 1914, purchased the riverfront estate called The Casements (built in 1913); he spent winters there until his death on May 23, 1937, at age 97. The City of Ormond Beach bought The Casements in 1973 and operates it today as a public cultural center.
The U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population estimate put Ormond Beach's population at 44,692, up from 43,080 recorded in the 2020 Census.
Home values in Ormond Beach
Zillow tracks home values city-by-city, not for every neighborhood within a city — Ormond Beach is one of the pockets that doesn't get its own figure. Rather than publish a citywide number that might not reflect this specific part of town, we're leaving pricing out of this particular guide for now.
Ormond Beach FAQ
Is Ormond Beach at real risk for hurricanes and flooding, or is that overstated?
The risk is real and documented: Hurricane Ian's tidal/river flooding in late September/early October 2022 and Hurricane Nicole's storm-surge erosion in November 2022 both caused verified damage to Ormond Beach and Volusia County beachfront properties, with countywide damage assessments topping $481 million after the two storms. Exposure varies sharply by elevation and distance from the Halifax River or the ocean, so check FEMA flood zone maps for a specific address.
How far is Ormond Beach from Orlando for commuting purposes?
It's roughly 55 to 62 miles depending on route, generally a 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minute drive via I-95 south to I-4 west, which makes a daily Orlando commute long but doable for people prioritizing coastal living over commute time.
Do I need a car to live in Ormond Beach?
Yes, in practice. The city has one I-95 interchange (Exit 268 at State Road 40) and Votran county bus service, but there is no rail transit and most errands, school runs, and commutes are made by personal vehicle.
Which schools will my kids actually attend if we buy in Ormond Beach?
It depends on the specific address: Ormond Beach falls under Volusia County Schools, with several elementary and middle schools inside city limits, but high school zoning splits between schools including Seabreeze High School and Mainland High School in neighboring Daytona Beach, so confirm the assigned zone directly with the district.
Who do I call for electric and water service in Ormond Beach?
Florida Power & Light (FPL) provides electric service, while water and sewer are billed and operated directly by the City of Ormond Beach's own Utilities Department.