What is the world's largest retirement community and why is it so big?

Oct 27, 2025 2 min read •

Senior Living Retirement Planning Real Estate

With over 150,000 residents, The Villages in Central Florida is widely recognized as the world's largest retirement community. This sprawling 55+ development has grown to become larger than the island of Manhattan and offers a vibrant, active lifestyle that has attracted retirees from across the country.

Quick Summary

The Villages in Central Florida is the largest retirement community, known for its sheer size and extensive amenities. The 55+ community offers a unique, active lifestyle centered around golf, social clubs, and town squares with entertainment, all accessible by golf cart. It has grown rapidly, drawing retirees seeking a vibrant and amenity-rich environment.

Key Points

The World's Largest Retirement Community: The Villages in Central Florida, with over 150,000 residents, holds the title as the world's largest retirement community.
A Self-Contained City: Spanning three Florida counties, The Villages operates like a city, with multiple town squares, commercial spaces, and its own infrastructure, including a massive golf cart path network.
Endless Amenities: The community has numerous golf courses, a large recreation department, and over 3,000 social clubs catering to virtually every hobby.
Active and Social Lifestyle: The culture is geared towards active living, with nightly entertainment, numerous sports facilities, and countless opportunities for social engagement, attracting retirees seeking a dynamic lifestyle.
Rapid Growth: The Villages has consistently been one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S., expanding its population and land footprint significantly over recent years.
Appeals to a Specific Demographic: The community is particularly popular with retirees from the Midwest and Northeast who are drawn to the warmer climate, tax benefits, and vibrant social scene.

The Largest Retirement Community: An Overview of The Villages

The Villages in Central Florida is the world's largest retirement community, evolving from a mobile home park into a vast, master-planned community across three counties. Its population exceeding 150,000 makes it one of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S.

Life in the 'Friendliest Hometown'

Known as "Florida's Friendliest Hometown," The Villages offers residents an active adult lifestyle with extensive amenities and social opportunities. Key features of the lifestyle include:

Golf: It has numerous golf courses.
Recreation: The community offers numerous facilities and thousands of pickleball courts.
Social Clubs: Over 3,000 resident-led clubs cater to diverse interests, fostering strong community bonds.
Town Squares: Central hubs with nightly entertainment, dining, and shopping provide a lively atmosphere.
Golf Cart Access: An extensive path system allows easy golf cart travel throughout the community.

The Size of The Villages vs. Other Communities

Comparing The Villages to other large retirement communities highlights its unique scale.


Feature	The Villages (FL)	Sun City (AZ)	Laguna Woods Village (CA)
Resident Population	Over 150,000	Approx. 28,000	Approx. 12,700
Land Area	Approx. 57 square miles	Over 20 square miles	Approx. 3.8 square miles
Lifestyle	Vastly self-contained city with extensive golf, recreation, and town squares	Historic first 55+ community with a traditional active adult focus	Large West Coast community with 250+ clubs and organizations
Transportation	Primarily golf cart-based with an extensive trail system	Traditional car-dependent suburbs with some internal golf cart use	Standard suburban setup, car-dependent
Community Feel	City-like scale with endless options	Community focus with neighborhood feel	Strong club and organization focus

Factors Driving the Growth of The Villages

The Villages' growth is fueled by continuous expansion, its Central Florida location with favorable climate and tax laws, and proximity to attractions. Its targeted marketing of an active lifestyle and its self-contained nature appeal to retirees seeking convenience and a social environment.

Conclusion

The Villages is the world's largest retirement community due to its massive population and unique, comprehensive lifestyle designed for active adults. It serves as a model for large-scale retirement living, attracting those seeking an active and social retirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

The world's largest retirement community, The Villages, is located in Central Florida, spanning across Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties.

While census data and news reports vary, the population of The Villages has grown significantly, with some estimates placing the current resident count at over 150,000 people.

Yes, The Villages is an age-restricted community, with the majority of the population required to be 55 years or older. There are some allowances for younger residents, particularly for employees and their families.

The Villages is home to numerous golf courses, with residents having access to over 700 holes of golf.

Yes, golf carts are the primary mode of transportation within the community. An extensive network of golf cart paths allows residents to easily travel between homes, amenities, and town squares.

With over 3,000 social clubs, residents can engage in a huge variety of activities, including nightly entertainment at town squares, sports leagues, fitness classes, and clubs for nearly every conceivable interest.

The Villages is far larger in both population and land area than most other retirement communities in the U.S., operating on a scale that makes it feel more like a small city than a typical retirement community.

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.