(Mar 27, 2023)
Port Charlotte FHA homes for sale are a wise investment for many reasons. One, the area is one of the top destinations for tourists in Florida, which speaks volumes about the range of fun and exciting things to do here. The town boasts 165 miles of waterways, including bays, lakes, rivers, and canals.
Other attractions include a beach, miles of natural shoreline, golf courses, and parks. The weather is also ideal for enjoying this town's many outdoor activities.
Besides having fun, Port Charlotte is ideal for living, working, and raising a family. The cost of living is relatively affordable compared to the rest of the state and most of the country. The employment opportunities are also relatively good. The town also features quality infrastructure and amenities to meet your needs.
Overall, Port Charlotte is a welcoming town that offers many reasons for moving and living here. Here is a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about this Port Charlotte.
Overview - Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte was initially occupied by Paleo-Indians as early as 10,000 BC. The town wasn't a coastal town back then, as the peninsula of Florida was drier and broader.
It became a U.S. territory in 1819, and Florida became a U.S. state in 1845. However, the town was undeveloped before World War II and mostly comprised small cattle and farming ranches.
Port Charlotte is properly developed today and features quality infrastructure and amenities. The town has everything you would expect in an active community, including good roads, schools, hospitals, shops, restaurants, and airports.
Transportation
Port Charlotte has a good and robust transportation network comprising roads, waterways, and airports. The roads are smooth and well interconnected, giving you easy access to every part of the town.
Most people use their cars to get around town, but the town also offers public transport options such as buses. Interstate 75, a major North-South interstate into Florida, lies east of the town.
Port Charlotte also has a robust network of waterways that are accessible using certified boats and other water vehicles. The waterways cover 185 miles and include canals, rivers, bays, and lakes.
Port Charlotte is also located close to several airports for those looking to travel long distances quickly. The nearby airports include:
- Punta Gorda (PGD) – 7.1 miles away
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) – 37.5 miles away
- Sarasota International Airport (SRQ) – 55 miles away
- Tampa International Airport (TPA) – 104 miles away
Punta Gorda airport offers more than 45 destinations. However, only Tampa International Airport offers international flights.
Hospitals
Quality healthcare facilities are among the most essential amenities in any community. Fortunately, there are dozens of hospitals and other healthcare facilities in Port Charlotte and the surrounding areas. The closest and most reliable hospitals include the following:
- HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital
- Shorepoint Health Port Charlotte
- Peace River Regional Medical Center
Other hospitals in nearby cities and towns include the following:
- Shorepoint Health Punta Gorda (Punta Gorda)
- HCA Florida Englewood Hospital (Englewood)
- Cape Coral Hospital (Cape Coral)
- Lee Memorial Hospital (Fort Myers)
It is worth noting that the most prominent hospitals are located in nearby cities, including Sarasota and Fort Myers. Besides ordinary hospitals, Port Charlotte also has other healthcare facilities, such as assisted living facilities for the elderly. The town also has dozens of clinics, pharmacies, and drug stores.
Restaurants
Port Charlotte boasts dozens of restaurants serving a bewildering range of foods and beverages. The menus include America's favorite dishes and exotic cuisines from faraway places such as Asia and Africa.
Seafood is especially popular with the locals, and delicacies include the following:
- Mackerel
- Grouper
- Snapper
- Flounder
- Mahi-Mahi
The most popular restaurants serving a diverse array of cuisines include the following:
- Visani Restaurant & Theater
- Wally's Southern-Style BBQ
- Donato's Pasta Plus Italian
- Pioneers Pizza
- Bella Napoli Pizzeria & Restaurant
For example, the surrounding cities also offer exciting nightlife thanks to Florida's booming tourism and hospitality industries. The town enjoys diverse cuisines from all over the world, including all of America's favorite dishes.
Most of these restaurants offer sit-in dining and delivery services. The town also has dozens of bars and small pubs serving a bewildering range of refreshing (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) beverages.
Shopping Centers
There are dozens of shopping centers in Port Charlotte, including the following:
- Port Charlotte Mall
- Sun Flea Market
- Five Below
- Pet Supermarket
- Beall's Outlet
- Promenade's Mall
You can find virtually everything you need in these and other shopping centers in Port Charlotte. You can also shop for virtually anything you need online.
Weather & Climate
Port Charlotte has a sub-tropical climate that is primarily humid throughout the year. Summers are long and hot, usually lasting about 262 days.
In contrast, winters are short and cold, with January being the coldest month. The town also receives about 51 inches of rain per year. Overall, the weather here is ideal for working, playing, and relaxing.
Attractions & Family-Friendly Activities in Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is one of the top tourist destinations in Florida. There are dozens of fun, creative, and productive things to do in the town and the surrounding areas.
Here is an overview of the available recreational resources and family-friendly activities. Overall, there is something to suit different personalities' tastes and preferences.
Parks & Reserves
Charlotte boasts several pristine parks and reserves with convenient amenities and quality infrastructure. The most popular parks and reserves include:
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Cape Haze Pioneer Trail Park – is ideal for walking, jogging, cycling, and picnicking.
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Bayshore Live Oak Park – ideal for picnicking, playing, fishing, launching kayaks, and hosting private ceremonies, such as weddings.
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RV Griffing Reserve – ideal for picnicking, hiking, and horse riding.
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Centennial Park Recreation Center – ideal for exercising and playing sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, and golf.
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Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park – ideal for strolling and enjoying picturesque sceneries.
- North Charlotte Regional Park – ideal for playing sports such as swimming, basketball, baseball, and football.
These parks are spacious, clean, and safe and feature varying amenities. They are also easily accessible from different parts of the town, and the sunny weather means you can go to the park virtually whenever you want throughout most of the year.
Beaches
Port Charlotte Beach Park is the only beach in the town. It offers a range of amenities, including the following:
- Shelters
- Horseshoe pits
- Recreation center
- Fishing pier
- Playground area
- Heated pool
You can enjoy all the usual activities at this beach, including swimming, surfing, and basking in the sun. Interestingly, the beach is a popular destination for various fish species and dolphins because of its mixture of fresh and saltwater – you can bring a camera to photograph the dolphins.
The town is also home to the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve, which separates it from the open Gulf of Mexico.
Recreational & Family-Friendly Activities
Port Charlotte also offers dozens of recreational activities you can enjoy as an individual or family member. The most popular recreational and family-friendly activities include:
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Bird watching at Ollie's Pond Park
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Strolling through Audubon-Pennington Nature Park
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Strolling through the Garden of the Five Senses
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Scuba diving with Fantasea Scuba
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Relaxing and rejuvenating at Warm Mineral Springs
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Reading at taking classes at the Mid County Regional Library
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Winetasting and designing at the Gilded Grape Winery & Wine Bar
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Golfing at any of the 21 golf courses
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Bowling
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Watching movies
- Boating, kayaking, fishing, and scuba diving
The people here are friendly and resourceful, and socializing will be easy. Overall, there is something to do for people of different ages and tastes in Port Charlotte.
Homes for Sale in Port Charlotte, Florida
Considering the numerous listings, finding a home for sale or rent in Port Charlotte should be easy. Homes here come in varying shapes, sizes, and styles, including the following:
- Single-family homes
- Multi-family homes
- Townhomes
- Apartments
- Condos
- Bungalows
Home and rent prices vary depending on the home's location, size, and type. The median home price is about $181,000, which is about $50,000 cheaper than the rest of Florida and the U.S.
Best Places to Live in Port Charlotte, Florida
You can choose from different neighborhoods to live in at Port Charlotte. The neighborhoods share many similarities, but each has unique traits that appeal to different personalities. For example, some neighborhoods are more expensive than others.
Here is an overview of three of the best neighborhoods in Port Charlotte, Florida:
Section 60
Section 60 is one of the best high-end neighborhoods in Port Charlotte. Some of the most expensive houses here sell for more than $700,000, and the median home price is more than $400,000. The homes come in different designs and sizes, including two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and four-bedroom houses.
Section 60 is a comfortable and picturesque suburb. The homes are in excellent condition, the compounds are lush and landscaped, and the roads and pavements are smooth. The local and nearby schools include:
- Myakka River Elementary School
- L.A. Ainger Middle School
- Lemon Bay High School
The neighborhood is also close to other amenities such as shops, restaurants, and gas stations. It is one of the best places to live in Port Charlotte.
Section 8
Section 8 is one of the most affordable neighborhoods to live in Port Charlotte. The median home listing price here is about $341,000, but the median price of most sold homes is about $263,000, which is cheaper than most other neighborhoods and locations in Florida and the U.S.
The homes come in varying sizes and designs, including two, three, and four-bedroom homes. Local and nearby schools include the following:
- Meadow Park Elementary School
- Murdock Middle School
- Port Charlotte High School
- Genesis Christian School (private school)
Section 8 is ideal if you are looking for affordable housing options in Port Charlotte. The neighborhood is clean and has good amenities such as shops, restaurants, and recreational resources.
Section 58
Section 58 is one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Port Charlotte. The median home listing price here is about $493,000, but most of the listed homes sell for an average of $450,000 – you can also find cheaper or more expensive homes based on factors such as size and design.
Section 58 is a picturesque suburb featuring big, beautiful houses, landscaped compounds, good roads, and paved streets. It is also close to amenities such as shops, restaurants, and parks. The neighborhood also hosts the following three public schools with relatively good ratings:
- Myakka River Elementary School
- L.A. Ainger Middle School
- Lemon Bay High School
The neighborhood also features a good road network that offers easy access to the surrounding neighborhoods and other towns and cities. The nearby recreational amenities include Saint Paul Linear Park.
Schools & Quality of Education in Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte has more than a dozen local and nearby schools. The town is under the jurisdiction of the Charlotte School District, which spends about $10.245 per student. The schools are rated fairly well based on factors such as student-to-teacher ratio, math proficiency, and reading/writing proficiency.
The elementary schools in and near Port Charlotte include:
- Liberty Elementary School
- Neil Armstrong Elementary School
- Meadow Park Elementary School
- Kingsway Elementary School
- Peace River Elementary School
The middle schools in and near the town include:
- Port Charlotte Middle School
- Murdock Middle School
- The Academy
- Charlotte Virtual Franchise
The town also has four local and nearby high schools, including:
- Charlotte High School
- Port Charlotte High School
- The Academy
- Charlotte Virtual Franchise
- Charlotte Technical Center
The town also has eight private and charter schools, including:
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School
- Charlotte Preparatory
- Port Charlotte Christian School
- Academy of Biblical Character Development Schools
- Community Christian School
- Genesis Christian School
- Pinnacle School
The Charlotte Virtual Instruction Program is available for students seeking to study online or over long distances. It serves students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Population & Demographics - Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is a small town in every way, including its population and size. The town has a population of about 62,300 people and covers an area of about 28 square miles – it has a density of about 2,200 people per square mile. Besides the major urban areas, most of the town features small crowds of people and low road traffic. The population comprises a mixture of retirees and adults with young families.
The town's major employer is the healthcare industry, thanks partly to the presence of an elderly population and nearby assisted living facilities. The fishing industry is also a significant employer, thanks to the hundreds of miles of waterways and its proximity to the ocean. Other significant employers include the tourism and hospitality industries.
About 36% of the people here have at least a high school diploma, while about 25% have at least a college degree. About 76% of the people here also own their homes, while the others lease and rent. The town also has relatively low poverty and crime rates of only 13.8% and 1.5%, respectively.
Employment & Cost of Living in Port Charlotte, Florida
The average cost of living in Florida is above the U.S. average. However, Port Charlotte is one of the most affordable places to live in the Sunshine State. The town is cheaper than the surrounding cities for various reasons, including its small-town setting and reliance on the tourism and hospitality industries.
The overall cost of living in Port Charlotte is about 14.4% and 11.6% cheaper than the rest of Florida and the U.S., respectively. The overall median home cost in Port Charlotte is about $181,000, albeit prices vary considerably based on various factors. In contrast, the median home prices in the rest of Florida and the U.S. are $237,000 and $231,000, respectively.
Other affordable products and services in Port Charlotte include utilities, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous products such as clothes. However, groceries here are more expensive than in the rest of Florida and the U.S.
Welcome to Port Charlotte, Florida!
Port Charlotte FHA homes for sale are ideal for any family looking for an inviting place. The area is one of the most affordable places to live in Florida and the United States.
It is also a comfortable town with good-quality infrastructure and amenities, including good schools, hospitals, shops, restaurants, parks, and many recreational resources. Overall, it is an excellent place to live, work, and raise a family.
(Mar 27, 2023)
