The Villages Neighborhoods: Where to Live in Florida’s Popular Retirement Community

The Villages is a popular 55+ community that is recognized as one of the best places to retire in Florida — and in the entire country. This community is home to plenty of activities and entertainment to keep retirees active at all times, and it's also very convenient to get around. The residents enjoy playing golf, for example — it’s easy with courses designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer and Nancy Lopez. And the entire community is navigable with more than 90 miles of golf cart paths, which means most residents can simply get around The Villages neighborhoods with a golf cart!

Social clubs are also common in The Villages. Whether you're a fan of fiction novels, playing pickleball, or quilting, for example, there's a group for you. And in addition to these clubs, The Villages also has several town pubs where residents gather with their friends and participate in competitive leagues and regular live entertainment. There is truly always something happening in The Villages community, so it's certainly unlikely you’ll be bored!

Living in an environment where you feel safe is obviously an advantage, and luckily you can feel secure living in one of The Villages neighborhoods, as the violent crime rates are 63 percent lower than the national average. And overall, the community is safer than 64 percent of cities in the United States. Here’s a closer look at the statistics: The violent crime rate nationally is 364 per 100,000 people, compared to 290 per 100,000 in Florida and 133 per 100,000 in The Villages.

The Villages at a Glance

• The Villages, FL, has a population of approximately 86,000.
• Since The Villages is a 55+ community (and no full-time residents under 19 are allowed), it’s a great place for those retiring in Florida.
• The Villages has an average home value of $398,200, compared to $363,500 nationally and $378,000 in the state.
• The Villages has an average rent of $1,700 for a one-bedroom apartment, compared to $1,750 nationally and $1,975 in Florida.
• The Villages is great for golfing, outdoor recreation, local events, community engagement, clubs, shopping, and dining.

The Villages Neighborhoods — Best of the Best

There are quite a few neighborhoods in The Villages community, and it might seem overwhelming when you take a look at The Villages neighborhoods map. From affordable condo communities to upscale country club communities, you have plenty of options when going about finding the right community for your needs and your budget. 

And there are so many things to do near The Villages, FL, from golf courses galore and other sporting options to local clubs and swimming pools. So to help narrow down some of your options, take a look at our picks for the best neighborhoods in one of the country’s best retirement communities. 

Though secluded, the Village of Bonnybrook has plenty to offer, from golf courses to pickleball courts.
(Source: The Villages, Florida’s Friendliest Hometown via Facebook)

1. Village of Bonnybrook 

• Home types: Patio villas, courtyard villas, ranch-style homes, designer homes
• Median home listing price: $475,000
• Great for: Seclusion, recreation, golfing, shopping, waterfront views

The Village of Bonnybrook is a top neighborhood in the community that offers convenient and quiet living. Its residents enjoy the relative privacy of a secluded community, yet it is still only a short drive from the area's many modern conveniences.

The community's Pimlico Recreation Center, which is located near the neighborhood, features a pool, a variety of activities, and a pickleball court. Two of the community's golf courses are connected by the executive golf trail, and one of them, the Pimlico Executive, is known for its difficulty due to the presence of water on many of its holes.

The community's residents have access to various grocery and retail establishments that are located near the commercial corridor of County Road 466. Some of these include Marshalls, Bealls, and Walmart. There are also various shopping and dining options at Lake Sumter Landing, which is a popular waterfront destination just about four miles away.

2. Village of Santiago 

• Home types: Patio villas, courtyard villas
• Median home listing price: $390,000
• Great for: Challenging golf courses, activities for the whole family, shopping close by

Located in the northern part of The Villages is the Village of Santiago, a top golf course community. This area is full of recreational and social activities, and it’s especially easy to get around with a golf cart. One of the best courses in the area to play is the El Santiago Executive Course, but its sister course, the El Diablo Executive, features much more challenging greens.

The El Santiago Recreation Center has some of the top things to do in The Villages, with a theme that evokes memories of Jimmy Buffett’s coastal sound. This facility features various areas for people of all ages, like the family pool, tennis courts, and fishing spots — perfect for the entire family to come visit.

And the local Spanish Springs Town Square, The Villages' first town square, has been around for 30 years. It features stores and restaurants as well as the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, which seats over 1,000 people.

3. Village of Virginia Trace

• Home types: Patio villas, courtyard villas
• Median home listing price: $435,000
• Great for: Outdoor recreation, golfing, community engagement

The Village of Virginia Trace is a residential community located in The Villages, just minutes away from the commercial district of Lake Sumter. The Virginia Trace Pool and Canal Street Recreation Center are two of the community's top facilities, where you can enjoy a pool, a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a variety of other social gathering spaces.

The Pelican golf course is also nearby, and residents pay a monthly amenity fee to use the community's various nine-hole courses. The Village of Virginia Trace is conveniently located near Morse Boulevard and Buena Vista Boulevard, which makes it easy to get around.

5. Village of Amelia 

• Home types: Single-story Mediterranean- and Craftsman-style homes
• Median home listing price: $354,500
• Great for: Outdoor recreation, eating out, local country clubs

Residents of the Village of Amelia can enjoy a variety of activities and facilities in just minutes after stepping outside their front doors. This includes a community pool, a tennis court, and a variety of games and activities such as bocce ball and shuffleboard. Central locations like the Village of Amelia are a major draw for retirees looking for a place to live.

The neighborhood features modern homes that are designed with a variety of amenities and styles, including Mediterranean and Craftsman styles, and many of these houses are situated on lots that are around one-tenth to one-fifth of an acre.

Residents living in the Village of Amelia are close to some of the best golf courses in the community, such as the Havana Country Club and Mallory Hill. The community's own pool is also situated near where bocce ball and shuffleboard are played.

Both the Havana Country Club and the Mallory Hill Country Club have their own restaurants, but the Havana Country Club is most popular due to its wide variety of delectable food items such as prime rib and lobster dishes.

6. Village of Santo Domingo  

• Home types: Patio villas, courtyard villas, golf course designer homes
• Median home listing price: $349,500
• Great for: Beautiful views, country clubs, recreation

The beautiful Village of Santo Domingo, located in the northern part of The Villages, features plentiful golf courses and is close to entertainment, dining, and shopping options. Like other nearby villages, residents are always on the move, as they can easily access various facilities, such as recreation centers, golf courses, and the town square.

Front lawns in the Village of Santo Domingo are covered in mature vegetation, such as poincianas, palm trees, and oak trees. And many of the homes in this area have panoramic views of the golf course and come from The Villages' Designer Home series.

Two of the country clubs located in this area are the Tierra Del Sol Country Club and the Hacienda Hills Country Club. Both have restaurants, a pool, tennis courts, and a pro shop. And the El Santiago Recreation Center, which is a beach-themed facility, features all kinds of activities such as bocce ball, fencing, and tennis, which are some of the most fun things to do in The Villages. Its gathering rooms can also be used for club meetings and classes.

What is the best village to live in The Villages, Florida? If you’re looking for the most upscale (and expensive) homes, it may be the Village of Bridgeport. 
(Source: The Villages, Florida’s Friendliest Hometown via Facebook)

7. Village of Bridgeport 

• Home types: Large, upscale homes with big backyards and multiple bedrooms
• Median home listing price: $499,000
• Great for: Waterfront homes, golfing, social activities, boat racing

The Village of Bridgeport at Lake Sumter is popular for its large waterfront homes, which are all near the Lake Sumter Landing Market Square that includes restaurants and entertainment options.

One of the many championship courses in The Villages is Palmer Legends, which is regarded as one of the most exclusive establishments in the community. Its restaurant is also quite a popular choice for local residents.

The Villages' nearby Lake Sumter Landing market square is a hotspot filled with activity that's designed to resemble a fishing village. It even features social activities and clubs, such as dragon boat racing. Officials are currently working on an expansion that will add a floating dock for launching boats and a covered gazebo.

8. Village of Buttonwood 

• Home types: Villas, cottages, Mediterranean-style homes
• Median home listing price: $414,500
• Great for: Golfing, shopping, dining, local attractions

Retirees who love to stay active will thoroughly enjoy the Village of Buttonwood, which features a variety of activities and includes access to three of the community's executive golf courses — the Redfish Run, Bonita Pass, and Tarpon Boil. Those who live in the community pay a small fee to use a cart and walk the course free of charge.

Besides the golfing, the Fish Hawk Recreation Center is also within walking distance. And less than five miles away from this neighborhood is the area of Brownwood Paddock Square, which is full of stores and restaurants organized similarly to a downtown. Those who want to explore this area can visit one of the many local attractions, such as The Spice & Tea Exchange or The Rustic Rose. The Village of Buttonwood is also home to many delectable restaurants, including Prima Italian.

9. Village of Caroline

• Home types: Craftsman- and Mediterranean-style homes
• Median home listing value: $427,400
• Great for: Sports, proximity to Lake Sumter, commuting to other cities

The houses in the Village of Caroline were built in the mid-2000s and share a mix of both Mediterranean and Craftsman styles. There are various floor plans that range from around 1,000 to 2,400 square feet, and there are also garage options. 

The golf courses in the area are all within easy reach of the Village of Caroline, and one of the most popular is the Mallory Hill Championship Course, which has 27 holes across three different circuits — “Caroline,” “Virginia,” and “Amelia.” The Bogart and Bacall courses are a bit farther, but both have their own nine-hole layouts.

Residents can also unwind in the community pool or play tennis or bocce ball at the nearby recreation center. And residents of the Village of Caroline can easily reach Lake Sumter Landing by taking the Stillwater Trail. This is a short trip and can be done by car, foot, or golf cart. This neighborhood is also close to Interstate 75, which links to other major parts of the state, such as Tampa.

Many residents in the Village of Gilchrist use golf carts to get around, coasting between the pool, the bocce courts, and home. 
(Source: The Villages, Florida’s Friendliest Hometown via Facebook)

10. Village of Gilchrist 

• Home types: New traditional style
• Average home value: $484,900
• Great for: Recreation, pools, two-car garages, large and manicured yards

The Village of Gilchrist is a community with a convenient location near Sumter Landing and Brownwood Paddock, so residents have lots of options when it comes to dining and shopping nearby.

The community's recreation center, the Gilchrist Neighborhood Recreation Center, features  games and activities for residents to keep active. This space is also home to The Villages' adult-only pools, as well as bocce and shuffleboard. And less than a mile away, the Bradenton Pool & Recreation Center has a variety of outdoor and indoor pools and tables.

The custom homes in Gilchrist feature three or four bedrooms, and they're situated on 2-acre lots. These homes have large front windows and are equipped with convenient features, such as a two-car garage. Residents use golf carts to get around the neighborhood, similar to other areas of the community, and the front yards are always well-manicured with gorgeous blooming flowers and palm trees.

11. Village of Tamarind Grove

• Home types: Courtyard villas, cottage style
• Median home listing value: $427,500
• Great for: Peaceful atmosphere, golfing, recreation, local events

Best known for its community engagement and variety of exciting amenities, you can't go wrong when you choose to settle down in the neighborhood of Tamarind Grove. Many of the homes in Tamarind Grove are in the cottage or courtyard style, and they come with different floor plans. There are also standard garage spaces, where residents are able to park their cars or golf carts. 

One of the closest public golf courses in the area is the Southern Star Executive, but the Sterling Heights Recreation Center is another highlight in the area that features a pool and tennis courts. The recreation center also offers a variety of indoor games and activities, such as ballroom dancing, mahjong, and Bunco. The SeaBreeze Recreation Center, on the other hand, features volleyball, tennis, and pickleball.

The Lakeside Grovers, a neighborhood social club, hosts regular events that are ideal for residents to interact with others in the community. These include monthly dinners and other activities such as scavenger hunts. 

12. Village of Alhambra

• Home types: Patio villas, ranch-style homes
• Average home value: $309,900
• Great for: Golfing, nightlife, concerts

The Village of Alhambra is older than some of the other communities in The Villages, so the local homes that were constructed in the late 1990s have their very own special charm. Even though the homes may be older, they still have well-kept lawns that can stretch from under a quarter of an acre to almost a full acre, and they’re much more affordable than other neighborhoods in The Villages community. Many of these houses feature the Patio Villa floor plan, which measures less than 1,000 square feet and is situated on a modest lot.

One of the Village of Alhambra's main advantages is its proximity to various community golf courses, such as El Santiago and Glenview. Both of these courses feature 27 challenging holes. Glenview has three nine-hole circuits, including "Talley Ho," "Fox Run," and "Stirrup Cup." But on the other hand, El Santiago features a less demanding layout.

Although golfing is pretty common in the neighborhoods throughout The Villages, there are fun things to do near The Villages, FL, beyond golf, too. Case in point: Residents of the Village of Alhambra can check out other attractions such as the Savannah Center, a large venue that hosts various concerts each month. Some of the acts that perform there include tributes to legendary artists such as Tina Turner.

And not only is it convenient for golf, but the proximity of the Glenview Country Club to the Village of Alhambra also allows residents to enjoy popular dining options at its very own buffet.

Once you find the best area to live in The Villages, Florida, for you, make your move flexible with a PODS portable container delivered right to your driveway.

Move to One of The Villages Neighborhoods With PODS

After finding the neighborhood in The Villages that suits you and all your needs, turn to PODS to help with your move to Florida. Make your move flexible with PODS portable moving containers — they’ll deliver a portable moving and storage container to your current address so you can pack it up on your schedule. And if you’d like some help with the heavy lifting, PODS can refer you to local packing and loading services. Plus, one month’s storage is included in the cost of every move, so you can unload your items without feeling rushed and start enjoying life in The Villages neighborhoods right away!

Visit PODS online to get a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Editor’s note: Median home listing values were obtained from Realtor.com, and average home values were obtained from Zillow. For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.