At a glance
| Location | Southwest Orange County, Winter Garden addresses |
|---|---|
| Main road | New Independence Parkway |
| Public school on site | Independence Elementary, 6255 New Independence Pkwy (OCPS) |
| ZIP | 34787 |
| ZIP typical value | $570,875 (Zillow, August 2026) |
Independence at a glance
Independence is a residential area with Winter Garden 34787 addresses built along New Independence Parkway in southwest Orange County. Its anchor is Independence Elementary, a K-5 Orange County public school at 6255 New Independence Pkwy whose principal's message refers to eleven years on the site. We found no official HOA, CDD or developer source for the community itself, so this page sets out what we could confirm and what you need to request.
Is Independence a good area?
That depends on numbers we could not see: the HOA dues, whether a CDD applies and how the home you like prices against recent sales on the same streets. What is known is its location among the newer southwest Orange County neighborhoods and a public elementary school on the parkway.
The school factor
An elementary school on the main road draws buyers who want one nearby, but it also brings drop-off and pickup traffic twice a day, from 8:45 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays). Drive New Independence Parkway at those times before choosing a lot close to the school.
Nearby new construction
An April 2026 roundup listed Taylor Morrison's Harvest at Ovation, M/I Homes' Lake Star at Ovation and Toll Brothers' Westhaven at Ovation as Independence Elementary communities, from $449,990 to $503,999. Treat that school listing as a starting point only.
What Independence is known for
Mostly for the parkway and the school that shares its name. Independence Elementary, whose mascot is the Eagle, serves kindergarten to fifth grade. Because the parkway, the school and the community share a name, confirm the subdivision name on the plat and the parcel record rather than the marketing description.
Homes and prices
Resale single-family homes
Most sales are resales. Zillow does not publish an Independence figure in our data, so build your own comparison from closed sales inside the subdivision over the last six months.
New homes in the Ovation communities
For comparison, the April 2026 roundup listed Lake Star at Ovation from $449,990 with homes of 2,407 to 3,800 square feet on 50 to 60 ft lots, and Harvest at Ovation from $503,999. See our new construction guide for builder-confirmed prices.
The ZIP-wide benchmark is Zillow's $570,875 typical value for 34787 in August 2026, down 0.9% on the year.
Living in Independence
Shopping
The nearest large town center in Horizon West is Hamlin on Lake Hancock, with a Publix, Walmart and a cinema among its tenants. Map the drive from the exact address.
Schools
Zoning follows the address, not the community name. Enter the street address in OCPS's Find My School tool, then confirm with the district.
Parks
Phase 1A of the Horizon West Regional Park opened in 2026 with an inclusive playground and an event pavilion. Check how far it is from the home you are considering.
Costs: HOA, CDD and tax
Ask the seller for the latest Orange County tax bill: any CDD appears there as a non-ad valorem line. Ask the HOA or its manager for the budget, the dues and an estoppel certificate. Whether City of Winter Garden millage applies depends on the parcel, and our Horizon West guide explains why many nearby homes are unincorporated. The Orange County tax guide covers the rest of the bill.
Pros and cons
Pro
A public elementary school on the parkway and newer housing around it.
Con
Unverified fees, and school-hour traffic on the main road.
Questions to ask before you offer
- Which recorded subdivision is this home in, and which HOA manages it?
- What are the dues this year, and has the board discussed an increase or special assessment?
- Does a CDD line appear on the tax bill, and for how many more years?
- Which schools does OCPS zone the address to today?
- What is the FEMA flood zone for the lot?
Common questions
Is there a school in Independence, Winter Garden?+
Yes. Orange County Public Schools operates Independence Elementary at 6255 New Independence Parkway, Winter Garden. Not every home in the area is necessarily zoned to it, and zoning can change, so check the exact address with the OCPS school locator before relying on it.
Does Independence have CDD fees?+
We could not confirm the CDD status of Independence from an official source. Look at the Orange County property tax bill for the home you are considering, where CDD charges appear as separate non-ad valorem lines, and ask the seller or HOA for the current figures in writing.
What is the typical home value in Independence?+
Zillow does not publish a separate figure for Independence in our data. Zillow's typical home value for Winter Garden ZIP 34787 was $570,875 in August 2026, down 0.9% on the year. Price a specific home from recent closed sales inside the community.
What time does Independence Elementary start?+
Independence Elementary's posted bell times are 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. If you are looking at a home near New Independence Parkway, drive the street at those times to judge school traffic.
Is Independence in Horizon West?+
We could not confirm this from an official source. Independence has Winter Garden 34787 addresses in southwest Orange County, where much of the newer housing sits in the unincorporated Horizon West planning area. Look up the parcel with the Orange County Property Appraiser to see its taxing district and whether city millage applies.
Sources
- OCPS: Independence Elementary
- Orange County Government: Horizon West Special Planning Area
- Wikipedia: Horizon West, Florida
- Citizen Portal: Winter Garden adopts 2026-27 millage at 4.8565 mills
- Florida Statutes: Section 190.048, sale of real estate within a district
- Zillow Research: Home value and market data (ZHVI), August 2026
- OCPS: Independence Elementary (bell times, grades)
- Pozek: New construction Winter Garden FL 2026, prices by builder (April 2026)
- Hamlin: official town center website
- Orange County Public Schools: Student enrollment
Florida home prices, once a month.
What changed in Florida home values and mortgage rates, from our housing tracker, plus new guides. Free, one email a month, unsubscribe any time.
Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
More about Antonio and how the service works →