The Villages, FL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in The Villages, FL: What You Need to Know

It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes The Villages in central Florida to redefine the meaning of retirement. The master-planned community is one of the state’s fastest-growing retirement enclaves.

Local Population

The Villages is home to 51,442 people, out of which 16,483 are military veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s no surprise that there are more than 20 veterans’ organizations in and around The Villages. A vast majority (81.6%) of residents are over 65 years old.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Back in the 1960s, developers envisioned the planned community to be a retiree’s haven. Today, The Villages sprawls along three counties: Sumter, Lake, and Marion. It’s a census-designated place, meaning it doesn’t have a local government unlike a city or town. You have to be over 55 years old to live in The Villages, which boasts of tree-lined homes, three town squares, and countless of national retail stores and restaurants. It’s hard to be sedentary when you are surrounded by 50 golf courses, 100 tennis courts, 200 pickleball courts, and 11 softball diamonds. Most residents live in Sumter County where new housing development continues.

Cost of Living

Florida is a magnet for retirees because it doesn’t collect state income tax. However, the Sunshine State levies a sales tax rate of 6% to 8.50%, and most counties charge sales taxes of their own. Still, your dollar will go a long way in The Villages. Its cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 1.4%, 14.6% and 0.1% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent is $1,683.

Transportation

The golf cart is the most popular vehicle in The Villages, which has more than 100 miles of golf-cart paths. About 60,000 golf carts are in use in the community, including the solar-powered variety and some that can be legally used on streets. There are tunnels in The Villages to help residents cross highways. The Villages is serviced by the Orlando Sanford International Airport, 83 miles away.

Weather and Climate

Summers in The Villages are long and hot, and it’s quite wet for the rest of the year. The community gets 51 inches of rain per year, more than the U.S. average of 38 inches. The good news is, it doesn’t snow in The Villages, and it enjoys 234 sunny days annually versus the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.