The Villages Retirement Community in Florida – 2026 Guide

Last Updated April 13, 2026

If you have been to The Villages, you know why thousands of people made the right choice to retire or move to the friendliest community in America.

The impeccably manicured streets lead to the individual clusters of homes creating individual neighborhoods (ergo, The Villages) sprawled out over three counties.

Each village has homes of the same relative price, design and features. Every level of affordability is accommodated with homes ranging from under $200,000 to well over a million dollars.

 A Guide to The Villages Florida Retirement

This guide to everything you should know about the fastest-growing retirement community in Florida (and perhaps the country!). No one should retire to a community without every detail they can muster.

We highly recommend you read our article about visiting The Villages and take advantage of everything this friendly community has to offer. Only an in-person visit can give you the impression of this wonderful village.

What Are The Villages in Florida Known For

The Villages are known for providing tremendous value for people who have reached the age of retirement.

Specifically, The Villages –

• Known for dozens of daily activities and things to do to keep residents active
• Known for over 60 golf courses
• Known for daily dancing and entertainment at four different locations
• Known for a friendly atmosphere that is infectious
• Known for the numerous recreation centers throughout the community
• Known for golf cart trails that stretch for miles in all directions
• Known for reasonable prices at restaurants, shops and country clubs
• Known for community pride and amazing manicured roadways
• Known for its location near many major highways to get to other attractions in the state
• Known for top entertainment at the Savannah Center, The Tracy and The Sharon – groups like the Beach Boys, George Thorogood, The Platters & Coaster – all at reasonable prices

Now you know why The Villages is the fastest-growing community in Florida (and perhaps the country!).

What is it Like Living in The Villages Retirement Community

Homes feature popular golf frontage on some 40 of the golf courses. Most subdivisions are near shopping or healthcare facilities.

Recreation centers are scattered throughout most of the villages. These activity centers include everything from bocci ball to softball – many start as early as 7 AM several days a week!

There is a daily published list of activities in each location. Regional recreation centers host many of the activities but there are places inside the individual Villages that have facilities for activities.

Most of the regional recreation centers include pools. Villagers can join swimming activity groups, learn to swim or just enjoy lounging poolside with their neighbors.

Newspaper and Radio Stations Better than Many Large Cities

The Villages have their own newspaper and radio station. Arguably, the Villages Daily Sun may be the largest remaining newspaper in the country, publishing every single day. They publish all the news, but positive news seems to take precedence over the negative news of the world.

Much of The Villages’ newspaper is about daily activities and sports. Upcoming events and entertainment that keep residents informed and active.

Each day the Village Sun reports the band schedule for each square. Most bands start at 5 PM and play until 9 PM when villagers can move on to entertainment in the bars and restaurants. 

The Villages’ radio station plays music and news 24 hours a day. Most of the music and talk is positive information about local events. The music is primarily 60s and 70s, most of the Villagers remember well.

Getting Around The Villages

It is well known that The Villages is one of the largest golf cart communities in the country. Streets and roads are built for automobile and golf cart traffic.

Many streets have died by side roadways for auto traffic and golf cart traffic a few away.

Once Villagers learn the main north-south routes and the main arteries for east-west traffic, they can master getting almost anywhere in a golf cart.

Even the small shopping strips on the fringes of The Villages have golf cart roadways leading to them. You can go to the grocery store by golf cart, the doctor by golf cart, movies by golf cart or just take a ride through the scenic roads of The Villages.

Part of the fun in The Villages is comparing each other’s modes of transportation. Thousands of golf carts roam the several miles of streets designed to accommodate the carts.

The fun is the custom carts that feature unique designs and the names of the owners. Most have some football or baseball team logos proudly displayed on the customized carts.

How Big is The Villages Retirement Community in Florida

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, about 1000 people move to Florida every day. Fortunately, Florida is a big state and can handle this influx of both retirees and working families.

While we don’t know where all these new arrivals are going, we do know that in 2012, The Villages had about 100,000 residents.

As of December 2025, it is estimated the population of The Villages is 156,000 people!  In 11 years, 51,000 people made the Villages their new home after moving from almost every state in the union. That’s why The Villages are the fastest-growing community in Florida.

If you review the numbers, you will see that about 5000 new residents move into The Villages each year. That means every month 400 new people start their retirement in this spectacular location in Florida.

If you visit one of the Sales Centers in each of the main squares, there is a list of the people moving in each day and where they are from.

Stunning Size of The Villages

As of 2026, The Villages now has 57 square miles of property that spans 3 different counties and over 35,000 acres. 37 square miles of The Villages is north of Route 44, and 20 square miles are south of Route 44.

In each of the last 15 years, The Villages has sold over 2000 NEW homes each year. 

If you travel the southern extremities of The Villages, you will see hundreds of acres of newly acquired land that is destined to expand The Villages even more. 

Villages’ Squares Are The Center of Activity

The Villages have three main squares that are the center of activity and entertainment. The oldest square is Spanish Springs, followed by Lake Sumter Landing and then Brownwood. A fourth square is just being completed, called Eastport.

All town squares come alive at 5 PM daily. Each square features a bandstand where above-average bands play daily. Upwards of 500 people may show up in their golf carts ready to dance, have fun, and mingle with their neighbors.

The bands go from contemporary to country to old rock & roll. Each band is hired for a particular Square on a specific night. If they perform according to The Villages guidelines, they are allowed to play at other Squares.

Restaurants in the Squares

If you visit the oldest square Spanish Springs, the northerlymost square, there are multiple shops and restaurants. We would recommend the Amerikanos or McCall’s for lunch or dinner.

At Lake Sumter Landing, located in the center of The Villages, Red Sauce is our Italian favorite, and the local happy hour place is The Lighthouse Point Bar & Grill. The Lighthouse is on Lake Sumter.

Brownwood, the southerly most Square, has a new seafood restaurant called Bluefin Grill, which is a little more upscale. We have eaten at Bluefin several times now and highly recommend it. Across the Brownwood Square is Primo Italian Steakhouse, another excellent dinner choice.

Don’t forget Scooples at Brownwood for ice cream.

Shops in the Squares at The Villages

Each Square has a unique group of shops that are generally not repeated in other Squares.

Spanish Springs, the oldest Square, has the fewest shops but many brand names. They include women’s fashions, jewelry, footwear and an art shop next to Kilwin’s delectable ice cream and candies.

Sumter Landing features a number of women’s boutiques, a furniture store, a golf shop, a movie theater, a flooring store, a Hallmark Shop, and a large pet store.

Lake Sumter seems to have more options than the other Squares including a huge Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

Brownwood Square features shops like a Tommy Bahama Outlet Store, a bicycle shop, golf shop, a spice & tea shop and several women’s boutiques.

Rustic Rose home goods is our favorite place for unique decorations in The Villages.

Each Square has a different decorative theme with buildings matching the architecture. Many buildings housing businesses around each square which are on a site of historical significance that dates back to the 19th century. Most are documented with plaques along the sidewalks.

We consider The Villages an attraction and a fun day trip in Florida because of the community spirit, an atmosphere of unity, activities abounding, and impeccably manicured streets. We have never seen a community so universally friendly.

Beyond the Squares and Attractions Near The Villages

One reason the community continues its astronomical growth is the location. In the heart of Florida with so many nearby attractions, convenient airports and things to do, The Villages stands out heads above any other retirement community.

Consider these location advantages:

• One hour to Orlando International Airport
• One hour to the beaches on the east coast of Florida
• Within 30 minutes of some of Florida’s many springs
• Within 30 minutes to the lakes and Seaplane City, Tavares
• Within 30-45 minutes of things to do like airboat rides, kayaking spring-fed rivers, museums, art galleries, hiking trails and Ocala National Forest

These are just a few of the dozens of things to do in The Villages that we have chronicled before.

Location is one of the major reasons people move into The Villages retirement community.

Florida Retirement in The Villages

Why do people choose The Villages retirement community in Florida? The key answer is that The Villages was built for retirees.

Specifically, the reasons people love The Villages Retirement Community:

• People retire to The Villages in Florida for its vibrant and active lifestyle, designed specifically with retirees in mind.
• This master-planned community offers a wide array of amenities and recreational activities, including golf courses, swimming pools, fitness centers, and various sports facilities.
• The Villages fosters a strong sense of community with its numerous clubs, social groups, and events, allowing residents to easily make friends and engage in shared interests.
• The Villages provides convenient access to healthcare services, shopping, dining, and entertainment options, ensuring a comfortable and fulfilling retirement.
• The warm Florida climate and well-maintained, picturesque environment further enhance its appeal as an ideal retirement destination.

The History of The Villages

The Villages has an interesting history that dates back to the early 1960s. It began with Harold Schwartz, a Michigan businessman, who initially sold tracts of land via mail order.

In 1983, recognizing the potential for creating a community specifically for retirees, Schwartz and his business partner, Al Tarrson, decided to develop a retirement community. They named it Orange Blossom Gardens, located in the small town of Lady Lake.

In 1986, Schwartz’s son, H. Gary Morse, joined the business and played a pivotal role in transforming the development.

Morse shifted the focus from merely selling land to building a fully planned community, providing a wide range of amenities and services. The development was rebranded as The Villages in the early 1990s and began to grow rapidly.

Morse implemented innovative community planning techniques, including the creation of numerous recreation centers, golf courses, and town squares designed to foster social interaction and active lifestyles.

The Villages expanded aggressively, buying up surrounding land and continuously developing new neighborhoods, amenities, and facilities to meet the needs of its growing population.

Today, The Villages is one of the largest and most well-known retirement communities in the United States, renowned for its extensive amenities, vibrant social scene, and high quality of life for its residents.

The community continues to expand, attracting retirees from across the country with its promise of an active, engaging, and fulfilling retirement experience.