If you are thinking about moving to The Villages Florida, it is important to know the different neighborhoods and their pros and cons. In this blog post, we will explore some of the Best Neighborhoods in The Villages Florida.
The Villages Florida
The town of The Villages is designated with a census, a place in Sumter County, Florida, United States. The name comes from a master-planned as well as age-restricted community that spreads into parts of Lake and Marion counties. The core area of growth is located 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Ocala and about 45 miles northwest of Orlando in central Florida.
The population of The Villages, Florida has surpassed one hundred thousand people in numerous communities and regions. We’ve compiled a list of the greatest areas in The Villages Florida so you can get an idea of what the community has to offer. Then, based on your preferences, you can select the ideal neighborhood for you.
The Villages Florida Brief History
In the 1960s, Harold Schwartz, a Michigan entrepreneur, began selling land lots through mail order in The Villages region.Following the passage of a 1968 federal legislation prohibiting the sale of real estate by mail order, Bill and Al Tarrson were forced to close this aspect of their business.
Schwartz began work on extending Florida’s paved roads throughout The Villages in the early 1970s. Schwartz built over 100 miles of road and sold the completed sections to the state before his death in 1988. The 1980s saw rapid growth, with development spreading westward towards Sumterville.
By the early 1990s, The Villages had more than 8,000 people, three golf courses, the first Winn Dixie supermarket opened, only four restaurants, and nightly parties were held in a tent.
The Best Neighborhoods in The Villages Florida
There are 17 community development districts in The Villages, and over 80 distinct neighborhoods, so we looked at them all and picked the finest area to live in The Villages based on a variety of criteria.
Town Squares Best Neighborhoods
The Villages is home to three town squares. Within a short stroll or ride on a golf cart, visitors will find numerous shops, restaurants, and entertainment options such as laser tag. Residents may visit these community centers to enjoy many forms of shopping and dining as well as various types of entertainment activities including laser tag.
The 3 town squares are: Brownwood Paddock Square, Spanish Springs Town Square and Lake Sumter.
Town Squares is known to be a very popular neighborhood within The Villages Florida. Town Squares is the largest of the three town squares and it has over 200 restaurants, shopping outlets and entertainment venues such as laser tag.
Located in The Villages Florida, Lake Sumter Landing is also known for having one of the best locations within all communities. Lake Sumter Landing is one of the most popular neighborhoods in The Villages Florida.
Located in The Villages Florida, Brownwood Paddock Square is also known for having one of the best locations within all communities. It has over 200 restaurants, shopping outlets and entertainment venues such as laser tag.
Spanish Springs Town Square is known to be a very popular neighborhood within The Villages Florida and is located in the Community Development District of Spanish Springs. Spanish Springs has some of the most luxury homes found anywhere in The Villages Florida.
Brownwood Paddock Square Best Neighborhoods
The southwest corner of The Villages’ newest development features a recently completed plaza on Brownwood Paddock Square. This bustling area has fabulous amenities, including a new pool center with an olympic-sized pool and children’s splash area. The community also offers tennis courts, shuffleboard court, fitness center, basketball court and playground areas for kids of all ages to enjoy.
- While there are no restaurants onsite at Brownwood Paddock Square, the beautiful community offers shopping and dining just a short walk away. Residents can enjoy the shops and eateries at Paddock Mall, including the finest in jewelry, gifts , apparel and more.
- Happy Joe’s is also right across the street from Brownwood Paddock Square with delicious pizza and frozen yogurt!
- Looking for Groceries? Want to try something new? Brownwood Paddock Square is adjacent to the Publix Plaza, featuring a Walgreen’s Pharmacy, Coastal Farm Fresh and Crazy Chicken.
- Plus there are plenty of great places to shop nearby including The Villages’ newest open-air train station. This beautiful addition brings a new level of convenience for residents with amenities like benches, banners and ornamental lighting.
They also offer an on-site day spa, featuring massages and facials! A new church will soon open just across the street from Brownwood Paddock Square for family gatherings and daily prayer services.
Lake Sumter Landing Best Neighborhoods
Sumter Landing is a lively market located on the shores of Lake Sumter in The Villages, giving the appearance of a picturesque seaside hamlet. It’s home to more than 40 shops and restaurants.
With all that shopping, you’ll probably be hungry by the end of your stay. Lucky for you, Sumter Landing is also packed with some of The Villages’ best-reviewed restaurants. Located just off The Villages Parkway, the plaza has numerous options within walking distance. There’s also several fantastic dining spots just a short drive from Sumter Landing.
Oak Tree Restaurant and Deli may be the closest place to grab a bite, at a few miles away. The casual restaurant has received an impressive 4 out of 5 stars on Yelp, with reviewers calling it “super affordable” and “delicious.” Patrons also compliment its breakfast menu, which includes all-day omelettes and coconut crepes among other things.
Best Neighborhoods for Golfing
The Villages, Florida has a staggering 12 golf courses with almost 700 holes, making it the world’s largest golfing community. It’s no wonder, then, that this growing retirement haven is near the top of our list for golfing havens. But with so many golf courses per capita it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Here are some other communities you might want to look into if you’re looking for great golfing opportunities:
Windermere, Florida
The Villages isn’t the only Florida community where golfers will never have to play by themselves. The small town of Windermere is also home to over 10 golf courses including the prestigious Bay Hill Club, where Tiger Woods won his first PGA tour event in 1996.
Clermont, Florida
Located in Central Florida between Orlando and The Villages is Clermont, home to several 18-hole golf courses. While they may not be the most well-known or prestigious courses in the world, the Morgan’s Ferry Golf Course and Lake Ridge Country Club are decent enough for this small-town neighborhood. If you’re looking to move out of Orlando without moving too far away, Clermont might be exactly what you need.
Lakeland, Florida
Falling right outside The Villages is Lakeland, another retirement haven with great golfing opportunities. Don’t worry about being bored though, as the town’s 16 courses will keep you busy for years to come! The most famous of them is undoubtedly Highland Park Golf Course, which is generally considered one of the best in Florida.
Best Neighborhoods with Most Affordable Necessities
The average price for a home in The Villages is $300,000 and they only remain on the market for an average of one month. The Villages, however, still has a lot of low-cost housing. Which makes it easy for young families, retirees on a fixed income and just about everyone in between to afford housing.
The Villages is an age-restricted community that was built with the idea of luxury retirement living in mind. The majority of people that live here are 55+ years old.
1. Scotland Run is a new development in the southern section of The Villages built for families with children. Scotland Run also features community pools, playgrounds, parks and trails.
The prices for housing in Scotland Run are still affordable even though it is in The Villages. Because of this, they have always been some of the most popular homes here.
2. Laurel Oaks is another affordable neighborhood that is close to everything you need including shopping, dining and major highways.
3. Golfview has some of the most affordable homes in The Villages because it is practically brand new with homes that were built within the last four years. Golfview also has a large community pool, tennis court and park with playgrounds.
Golfview maintains its affordability even though it is relatively close to the more expensive communities such as The Villages and Loch Lomond. This is another very popular neighborhood with families since it has several child-friendly features including parks, basketball courts and playgrounds.
4. Highlands Reserve is an affordable high-end subdivision within The Villages that includes some of the most sought after custom built homes. Highlands Reserve offers a variety of home styles and floor plans that can fit anyone’s needs.
5. Another affordable option for families is Villages Spruce Creek which is located in the northern section of The Villages. This subdivision was built with its own swimming pool, tennis courts, clubhouse and playgrounds designed exclusively for children. They are also conveniently located near the new Ragged Edge community which features over 200 acres of green space.
The Villages is one of the most popular retirement communities in Florida with designer homes and luxury amenities available to its residents. The Villages also has many affordable options for families that keep real estate prices low here.
Best Neighborhoods for Walkability
The Villages is a large, dispersed community with facilities distributed across the area. Golf carts are available to all citizens for transportation to their nearest city hall, recreational center, restaurants, and golf courses.
These are the most walkable neighborhoods in The Villages. Both of these areas contain family-friendly amenities, many pools, and excellent recreational centers including golf courses.
The Meadows & Cimarrone Golf Club
This area has the Cimarrone Golf Club and a small department store with a grocery. The Meadows is another small neighborhood which contains a salon, pizzeria, pool bar, and recreational center.
In this condo complex is a furniture shop and an amazing recreation center including two gyms, tennis courts, outdoor pool with slides for children, and a water slide for children and adults. This property has over 100 villas, each with their own pool.
Pine Meadow Condominiums & Country Club
This area is one of the most active parts of The Villages and offers many recreational amenities (one of which requires a membership) including an outdoor tennis court, fishing pond, mini golf, pool bars, and a driving range. This is located close to shopping centers with grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, etc.
The Quail Creek area has many bike paths which are great for walking or bicycling. The park contains biking trails, fitness stations, tennis courts for use of all ages (including children), sand volleyball court, barbecue grills, and a fishing lake. The Quail Creek golf course is also located in the community which offers both dining and professional lessons.
This neighborhood contains an excellent recreation center with over 100 villas of various sizes, each with its own pool. It’s close to shopping centers that have many amenities including pharmacies, grocery stores, restaurants, and specialty shops.
Virginia Trace & Sabal Trace
These areas are similar in that they both have excellent golfing facilities. The Virginia Trace has a clubhouse with pro shop, bar, and restaurant while the Sabal Trace contains two restaurants, an outdoor pool area with slides for children, several pools in individual villas, tennis court, and fitness center.
Fenney
This area has one of the best golf courses in The Villages with a clubhouse, pro shop, and restaurant. In this area is an Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts, playgrounds for children traveling between nearby neighborhoods on bikes or scooters while their parents shop at nearby stores. There are also boat docks so you can launch your jet ski or boat.
This area is relatively new and contains many amenities including pools, recreation center with an indoor gym, outdoor pool with slides for children, tennis courts, and preschool facilities. The nearby shopping malls have groceries stores as well as pharmacies and restaurants. It’s also located near a post office and library.
Linden & Monarch Grove
Located near a high school, this area contains a large recreational center with fitness equipment and a sports retail store. It’s also close to many pools, including the Monarch Grove pool which is surrounded by 20 villas.
This area has numerous amenities including pools and recreation centers with gyms and indoor playgrounds for children. There are shopping malls that have a supermarket as well as pharmacies and restaurants.
Lake Sumter Landing is a small area that has docks where you can launch your boat, a recreational center with a gym, an indoor sports facility for baseball and soccer, and an outdoor pool.
This gated community contains villas surrounding the golf course which is located in the center of the community. The clubhouse has dining facilities as well as a pro shop and bar.
Country Club Hills
This large complex has two recreation centers with indoor gym facilities, indoor children’s playground, outdoor pool area with slides for children, tennis courts, mini golf course, and a dock where you can launch your boat. This community is located close to shopping centers that have pharmacies as well as grocery stores.
The Villages is a large community but there are a few areas that stand out as some of the most walkable. Please contact us for more information about living in The Villages, Florida.
Why Check the Best Neighborhoods in The Village Before Settling?
Have you started looking for a home and realize that there are so many options out there, yet you’re still not seeing anything that’s just right?
If so, then you’ll be comforted to know that you’re not alone. Many people feel the same way and one of the biggest challenges they face is which neighborhood they should choose for their next home.
You see, each neighborhood has its own personality and culture and it could be a major decision because ultimately your quality of life depends on it.
As in the case of The Villages Florida, you’ll think of places where you can find amenities, like where it’s good for hiking or golfing. A good start for research too is the affordability of your necessities, and most especially the cost of housing.
