The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) spanning Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the central area of a larger master-planned, age-restricted community known as The Villages. Situated in central Florida, about south of Ocala and northwest of Orlando, the CDP had a population of 79,077 at the 2020 United States census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan statistical area.
History In the 1960s, Michigan businessman Harold Schwartz began selling land in the area now known as The Villages through mail-order sales. In 1968, a federal law prohibiting real estate sales by mail order forced Schwartz and his business partner, Al Tarrson, to halt this practice.
In the early 1970s, Schwartz and Tarrson developed Orange Blossom Gardens, a mobile home park in northwestern Lake County. By the early 1980s, the community had sold approximately 400 units. In 1983, Schwartz bought out Tarrson’s interest and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, into the business. Inspired by successful retirement communities like Del Webb's Sun City, Morse expanded amenities, including golf courses and recreation centers, and pursued nearby commercial development. In 1992, the community was officially renamed "the Villages".
By the early 1990s, the Villages had grown to over 8,000 residents, with three golf courses and a Winn-Dixie supermarket. Between 2010 and 2019, the Villages was the top-selling master-planned community in the United States, with 24,440 homes sold.
The Villages operates under community development districts (CDDs), which manage infrastructure and amenities. In 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that $426 million in bonds issued by a CDD were not tax-exempt, as the district did not qualify as a government entity, resulting in approximately $750,000 in legal fees for residents.
Expansion Since the 2010s, the Villages has expanded southward, acquiring land in Sumter and northward into Marion counties. In 2017, the Holding Company of the Villages purchased 8,000 acres south of Florida State Road 44 and 2,600 acres near County Road 470 for residential and commercial development, with plans for approximately 4,500 homes.
Community structure The Villages is governed by community development districts and neighborhood declarations of restrictions, regulating aspects like landscaping and exterior modifications. An architectural review committee, composed of residents, oversees property alterations. As an age-restricted community, at least 80% of homes must have a resident aged 55 or older, and persons under 19 may not reside permanently, except in designated family subdivisions.
Geography The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) spanning Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties in central Florida. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.83%, is water. It is located approximately northwest of Orlando and northeast of Tampa, with the city of Wildwood to the west and south, and the town of Lady Lake and city of Fruitland Park to the east.
The broader master-planned community extends beyond the CDP, covering approximately across Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties, including areas north of Florida State Road 44 and south to five miles south of County Road 470. The community maintains an extensive network of private roads, totaling about as of 2018.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +The Villages CDP, Florida – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White (NH)8,10049,84075,37497.20%96.89%95.32%Black or African American (NH)413035250.49%0.59%0.66%Native American or Alaska Native (NH)751500.08%0.10%0.06%Asian (NH)443406160.53%0.66%0.78%Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)1690.01%0.01%0.01%Some other race (NH)1121350.01%0.02%0.17%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)311229580.37%0.24%1.21%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1087681,4101.30%1.49%1.78%Total8,33351,44279,077100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, The Villages had a population of 79,077. The median age was 73.2 years. 0.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 84.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.6 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 45,640 households in The Villages, of which 1.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 62.6% were married-couple households, 10.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 53,054 housing units, of which 14.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 34.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 75,657 95.7% Black or African American 541 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 58 0.1% Asian 620 0.8% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 11 0.0% Some other race 286 0.4% Two or more races 1,904 2.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,410 1.8%
2019 estimates In 2019, persons under five years accounted for 0.1% of the population, and 53.6% of the population was female. Median household income in 2019 was $63,841.
2018 demographics In 2018, the median age for both sexes in the Villages metropolitan statistical area is 67.4, 29 years older than a typical American and five years older than the median age of residents in the next-oldest county in the United States, which is on the Hawaiian island of Molokai.
Veteran population According to Politico, as of 2018, the Villages was the home of the largest veteran population anywhere in the United States that does not have a military base, with 16.3 percent of the population former military.
2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 51,442 people, 22,511 households, and 16,721 families residing in the CDP.
Home ownership In the Villages, home ownership reflects the community's status as an age-restricted retirement destination. According to a 2020 analysis by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, women purchased 468 homes compared to 406 by men, a ratio of approximately 1.15:1, indicating a higher proportion of female buyers compared to other U.S. metropolitan areas.
A 2021 Realtor.com report noted that the average down payment for homes in the Villages was 27.1%, among the highest in the United States, with a median home list price of $366,950.
Crime According to an investigative report by WFTV News in Orlando, crime in the Villages is low and usually imported from other areas outside the community. The report stated that property crime and crimes of opportunity are approximately one-third lower than the average for the state of Florida. According to federal statistics, the statistics for violent crimes in the Villages area is half the state average. Rates of driving under the influence charges are approximately equivalent to those of other similarly sized places in Florida.
Economy
The Villages supports an economy centered on retail, healthcare, and services tailored to its age-restricted population. As of 2016, the community had developed approximately 5.7 million square feet of commercial space, hosting businesses such as restaurants, specialty retail, and medical facilities.
Commercial areas include five town centers—Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, Brownwood Paddock Square, Eastport, and Sawgrass Grove—each around 500,000 square feet, featuring a mix of shops, dining, entertainment, and services. The community hosts 18 grocery stores, including nine Publix supermarkets, three Winn-Dixie stores, the Fresh Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, two Walmart Supercenters, and a Walmart Neighborhood Market. Citizens First Bank, a local community bank, operates 12 branches within the Villages. Commercial spaces maintain high occupancy rates, averaging around 97% as of 2018.
From 2007 to 2017, the Villages Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw significant economic growth, with its gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 51.4% to $2.1 billion. Between 2010 and 2018, the MSA added approximately 13,900 jobs, primarily in retail, healthcare, and construction, driven by the community’s expansion.
Arts and culture Entertainment
In 2015, the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, a venue with over 1,000 seats, opened. The Studio Tierra Del Sol, a black box theatre with seating for 100, opened in 2016.
Fictitious historical markers and architectural details provide an atmosphere for the residents. One historian wrote, "The Villages' faux history gives a patina of stability and continuity to a highly volatile region and stage of life."Brian, p. 60. Many plaques represent the "downtown areas" as if events derived from notions of an idyllic small town in the 1800s had occurred there.Brian, p. 65. Such "American myths" feature in the designs for Brownwood, Lake Sumter Landing, and Spanish Springs.Brian, p. 66.
Other activities The Villages operates golf courses, recreation centers, softball fields, a polo stadium called the Villages Polo Stadium, a woodworking shop, and a lifelong learning college. There are also outdoor target archery ranges.
Recreation Clubs The Villages hosts over 3,500 resident-led clubs, offering activities such as sports, arts, crafts, music, and social gatherings, which foster community engagement among its age-restricted population. Examples include the Pickleball Club, the Villages Woodworkers Club, Line Dance Club, the Villages Single Seniors, the Villages Garden Club, and the Veterans Club, catering to diverse interests from athletics to social connections.
Annual events The Villages host the Senior Games each April, where approximately 2,000 residents compete in hundreds of athletic events. The top five athletes in each age division then compete in the Florida Senior Games. For 18 years, the Senior Games have taken place in the Villages.
Parks and recreation The Villages offers extensive recreational facilities and activities tailored to its age-restricted population, primarily funded through a monthly amenities fee of approximately $189. These include golf courses, recreation centers, resident-led clubs, parks, and trails, fostering an active lifestyle for residents.
Golf courses
The Villages operates 56 golf courses with 729 holes, including 42 nine-hole executive golf courses, 12 country club championship courses, and two specialty putting courses. A golf instruction academy provides lessons and clinics for residents.
Recreation centers The Villages operates over 100 recreation centers, offering facilities for sports, fitness, and social activities. These include courts for pickleball, tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, and horseshoes, as well as swimming pools, billiards, fitness centers, and spaces for theatrical and musical productions. Notable centers, such as the Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, feature unique amenities like military history exhibits. The Enrichment Academy, launched in 2017, offers over 140 fee-based courses in topics like scuba diving, culinary arts, and photography.
Clubs and activities Over 3,000 resident-led clubs provide opportunities for social and recreational engagement, including the Pickleball Club, the Villages Woodworkers Club, Line Dance Club, the Villages Single Seniors, the Villages Garden Club, and the Veterans Club. Additional activities include archery, air gun ranges, volleyball, croquet, and fishing, with specialized programs like S.T.A.R. for adults with special needs. Weekly events, such as live music and trivia, occur at town squares and recreation centers.
Parks and trails