Florida Retirement Community "The Villages" Not an Old Folks' Home!

You have probably seen one of the many advertisements on television for "The Villages," a retirement community in Florida, touted as "Florida's Friendliest Hometown." In this commercial, retired folks are seen doing everything from tap dancing to playing soccer. This is not your grandmother's retirement village, folks.

As the baby boomers rapidly approach the age of retirement, developers in Florida, probably the Mecca of America's retirees, are rapidly building retirement communities in central Florida, where land is much more affordable than on the coast. "The Villages" is one such community.

There are several of "The Villages" communities in central Florida, the largest being in Sumter County. In 2000, this community had a population of 8,333. Although there are more heavily populated sections of this unique community in Lady Lake Florida (which is the central location), the total population of all of "The Villages" as a whole in 2006 was about 50,000. It is expected to more than double by 2010.

"The Villages" is billed as an "active retirement community." It is designed for people aged 55 and older. Each of these communities offer a wide range of housing, from as low as $60,000 to as high as $300,000. Buyers can choose from villas or single family homes. They can purchase a pre-existing home or have one custom built; the choice is theirs. The median income per household is about $42,000.

Each of "The Villages" communities has it's own unique "downtown section." Dubbed as "Florida's Friendliest Hometown," the concept of these communities is to give residents an "hometown charm" as they walk or drive their golf carts down the street. Each of the communities features a "town square," and offers every range of service; from physicians, to entertainment theaters, to recreation to shopping. It's all within the confines of the community.