Living in The Villages, FL offers a unique and vibrant retirement lifestyle in one of the most popular active adult communities in the United States. Known as 'America's Friendliest Hometown,' The Villages is a sprawling, master-planned community designed for active adults aged 55 and over. The community is renowned for its extensive amenities, including over 50 golf courses, numerous recreation centers, swimming pools, and fitness facilities.
The Villages' dining scene is diverse, offering a range of options from casual eateries to fine dining. The community’s three town squares—Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, and Brownwood Paddock Square—are the social hubs of The Villages, featuring restaurants, shops, and nightly live entertainment. The Villages also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including arts and crafts fairs, car shows, and parades, ensuring that there is always something to do.
For outdoor enthusiasts, The Villages provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. In addition to its world-class golf courses, the community offers pickleball courts, tennis courts, and scenic trails for walking and biking. The nearby Lake Griffin State Park is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and wildlife watching, providing a natural escape just minutes from The Villages.
The Villages is also known for its strong sense of community and active lifestyle. The community hosts over 2,000 social clubs, ranging from sports and fitness groups to arts and crafts, dancing, and theater, offering residents endless opportunities to meet new friends and pursue their passions. The local health care facilities are top-notch, with several hospitals and medical centers located within the community, providing peace of mind for residents.
For those considering a move to Florida, The Villages offers a perfect blend of leisure, recreation, and community spirit. Whether you're drawn by its golf courses, social clubs, or year-round sunshine, living in The Villages, FL provides a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement lifestyle.
Crime
This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Schools
The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.
Ratings
According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Amenities
The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Health & Safety
Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.
The Villages is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Florida. The city has a population of 81,444 inhabitants. The majority of The Villages residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. Based on an average age of 72, The Villages appears to be well-suited for seniors or retirees as the average age is well above the national average. The Villages has a high percentage of people who are married with children when compared to the rest of the country. In total, more than 87% of the population is classified as married and 0% have kids. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in The Villages, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 23 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in The Villages could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Florida if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like health & safety, education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in The Villages and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare The Villages to Florida and the national average.
The livability score in The Villages is 68 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 71st percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. The Villages ranks well for crime (A-), education (A+), employment (A-) and housing (B+) Regrettably for The Villages, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F).
Unemployment rates can vary significantly among cities, impacting job prospects, wage levels and the overall economic health of an area. In The Villages, the unemployment rate stands at 0.03%, suggesting increased job opportunities and a heightened demand for workers. This scenario can lead to higher wages, as the demand for employees outpaces job availability. Importantly, a low unemployment rate often signifies a robust and flourishing local economy.
Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in The Villages have an average test score of 79%, which is well above the US average.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their The Villages apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Assuming that The Villages meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in The Villages. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in The Villages are simply unattainable. The median home price for The Villages homes is $283,300, which is 69.8% higher than the Florida average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in The Villages, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.4, which is 29.4% higher than the Florida average.
| Statistic | The Villages | Florida | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 56.7% | 79.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 4.5% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.2% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.9% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 22.7% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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