With a nickname like “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown,” it might seem odd to learn that The Villages in Central Florida is technically not a town. But it is a community; the world’s largest 55-plus community. This master-planned development, located about 60 miles from Orlando, is the fastest-growing metro area in the U.S. Home to almost 80,000 people, it spans three counties, four cities, four zip codes and takes up more square mileage than the island of Manhattan.
Neighborhoods here feature a manicured landscape sculpted around pristine golf courses, glittering lakes and town squares that serve as the center of shopping, dining and nightlife. The community offers over 100 recreation centers with amenities ranging from swimming pools and hot tubs to tennis and pickleball courts.
“The old saying is ‘If you live in The Villages and you’re bored, it is your own fault,’” says Debbie Martin, a villager since 2006 and a senior real estate specialist with RE/MAX Premier Realty. “There are just so many things to do, and what you can see just looking around is only the tip of the iceberg.”
The Villages is the world's largest 55-plus community.
There is ample shopping for people at Spanish Springs Town Center in The Villages.
1/2
There’s no shortage of ways to get active in The Villages
Across The Villages’s many recreational hubs, community members can play basketball, tennis, bocce, volleyball, pickleball, shuffleboard, polo and even more sports. “Pickleball is huge here,” Martin says. “And I mean huge.” Each rec center is themed, from beachy Jimmy Buffet decor to emulated historic charm.
The Villages's more than 50 golf courses offer more holes than any other retirement community in the world. They’re divided into championship and executive courses; residents do not have to pay a greens fee for the latter. Access to executive golf courses, country clubs and all recreation centers is included in the monthly amenity fee of $195.
There are over 30 other parks, dog parks and natural areas in The Villages, including the 624-acre Sharon Wiechens preserve, where hikers, birdwatchers and photographers can take the boardwalk through the scenic marshes to catch the sunset and spot native wildlife, including great blue herons and gopher tortoises. There are also many fishable lakes and ponds within The Villages. Several of the larger bodies of water are popular among boaters with kayaks, canoes, and larger vessels like sailboats and pontoons. Residents can keep their boats at their choice of several local docks and marinas.
Residents enjoy playing pickleball at SeaBreeze Recreation Center in The Villages.
Residents of the Village of De La Vista love to play the De La Vista Executive Golf Course.
1/2
From quaint Patio Villas to grand Premier Homes
There are six main home styles in The Villages: Patio Villas, Courtyard Villas, Cottage Homes, Verandas, Designer Homes and Premier Homes. According to Martin, there are also some manufactured homes in the community’s oldest sections, north of County Road 466A. As of late 2024, the median listing price in The Villages is around $380,000, and overall prices range from $150,000 to just over $1 million. The low end of this range is made up of villas and Cottage Homes, which offer smaller floorplans between 1,225 and 2,695 square feet. Roomier Designer Homes are the most stylistically diverse and popular home type in The Villages, often featuring Minimal Traditional or Spanish eclectic architecture and tropical front gardens. They range from the low $300,000s to just over $1 million; on the high end are homes with sought-after waterfront and golf course views. The most expensive properties are luxurious Premier Homes, stucco-sided concrete block properties often custom-built on scenic lots. Prices for these exclusive residences range from $600,000 to over $1 million.
In January 2024, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors named The Villages the highest-selling planned community in the nation, securing the top spot for the 11th year in a row. As The Villages continues to grow and expand, the community has recently purchased an additional 3,200 acres for development in neighboring Leesburg — in addition to the 500 acres of newly acquired land near County Road 48 that is currently being developed. While specific plans for the newest land purchase haven’t officially been announced, the 500 acres currently under development will add additional housing and retail options.
A beautiful row of Premier Homes in the Village of Liberty Park.
Residents favor the simplicity of Cottage Homes in the Village of Duval.
1/2
Golf carts rule The Villages
Golf carts are the main source of transportation here. The community features specialized paths, bridges and tunnels, all designed for easy access by cart. And locals take full advantage of it. Carts of all shapes, sizes and styles can be seen puttering along these pathways, vanishing underneath main roads only to appear on the other side. Sumter County Transit also provides a shuttle service to residents in The Villages, with various scheduled weekday loops throughout the community.
The community itself is tucked just between U.S. 441 to the east and U.S. 301 to the west, providing residents with access to surrounding hubs, including the Orlando International Airport, roughly 70 miles away. Villagers are also just east of Interstate 75, which they can follow as far north as the upper peninsula of Michigan if they choose, or south to destinations like Tampa and Fort Myers.
Residents don’t need to leave the community for medical attention, though, thanks to facilities like the University of Florida Health The Villages Hospital, which has an emergency room, a cancer treatment center, a research institute and more.
Lively town squares and The Villages’s arts scene
In many ways, the center of life here can be found in one of the community's three town squares: Spanish Springs Town Square, Brownwood Paddock Square and Lake Sumter Landing Market Square. These areas are home to retail shops, restaurants and live music venues. “For the community, for everybody, they’re a draw,” Martin says. “They have celebrations galore…. For just about every holiday, plus a few unique ones, they’ll block the streets off and turn the town squares into street fairs.” Big-box grocery stores and retailers, as well as additional chain and local restaurants, can also be found in and around shopping plazas spread throughout the community.
The community is also home to more than 3,000 clubs, including many dedicated to creating and appreciating the visual and performing arts. The Fine Art Society also hosts exhibitions of oil, acrylic and water-based paintings from talented fellow Villagers, while The Eisenhower Art Gallery showcases a regular rotation of residents’ art and photography, as well as art shows and festivals throughout the year.
The Villages also offers three performing arts theatres, including the state-of-the-art, multi-level Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, which regularly hosts touring Broadway shows and concerts by artists like Johnny Mathis, Frankie Avalon, Michael Bolton and more. The Sharon also hosts The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra’s full performing season. Residents can enroll in theatre education and master classes offered by the community’s Performing Arts Academy. Villagers can also catch concerts, comedy acts, and community theatre shows at the Savannah Center or see a show at the intimate, black-box Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol, which features a transformable stage.
Residents of The Villages head to enjoy live music at Spanish Springs Town Square.
Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center regularly hosts Broadway shows in The Villages.
Residents of the Village of Saint James do their grocery shopping at the Publix Super Market.
Residents of the Village of Saint James do their grocery shopping at the Winn-Dixie.
1/4
A markedly low crime rate
Regarded as one of the safest places to live in Florida, The Villages has a lower crime rate than any other single-site development in the country. According to an investigative report by Orlando’s WFTV News, most crimes that occur in the community are committed by those living elsewhere. Based on federal crime statistics, property and violent crime in The Villages are very low compared to the rest of Florida; property crime is one-third lower than the state average, and the violent crime rate is half the state average. The Villages Public Safety Department’s community watch program serves as a deterrent, with regularly patrolling vehicles and gate attendants posted at sites throughout the community.
Central Florida’s high humidity and potential flooding
While Villagers enjoy a mild subtropical climate throughout the year, late-summer humidity levels can be as high as 70%, posing a potential health risk to those with high blood pressure or heart problems. Additionally, though the community is set inland, it can still experience hurricanes with strong winds and rainfall. The area’s low elevation and flat terrain leave it vulnerable to flooding, so homeowners may want to consider flood insurance.
Sharon Wiechens preserve is where hikers and birdwatchers enjoy the out doors in The Villages.
Boating and fishing are great pastimes for the residents in The Villages.
1/2
Schooling for a small amount of young Villagers
The Villages doesn’t allow full-time residents under the age of 19, but parents who work for The Villages, one of its direct subcontractors, or a business in the community, can send their kids to The Villages Charter School from kindergarten through Grade 12. Niche ranks this as the best public school in Sumter County, giving it an A.
The Villages Charter School Primary Center teach students from K-1st grade.
The Villages Charter School Middle School is one of the most successful public charter schools in Florida.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
