20 Communities Similar to The Villages Across the U.S.

Even if you haven’t already looked into The Villages in Florida, you’ve probably heard about the popular active adult community. With a population rivaling that of many U.S. cities, The Villages’ massive size might not appeal to everyone looking for a quiet place to settle in retirement.

We’ve previously dispelled myths and rumors while keeping readers up to date on the community’s latest developments. However, since The Villages may not be right for every retiree, we also researched similar communities nationwide. From the East Coast to the West, here are some 55+ communities similar to The Villages.

1. On Top of the World Clearwater – Clearwater, FL

Mid $100ks – High $300ks

Best For: A Full Social Calendar

On Top of the World Clearwater is an ideal location for active adults who enjoy being social. Spread across two clubhouses, community members can find a range of amenities. Indoors, there’s a fitness center, an aerobics studio, billiards, a library, a computer room, a card room, and a poker room.

Also, residents enjoy the sunny Florida weather outdoors with a heated outdoor pool, four tennis courts, eight horseshoe pits, twelve shuffleboard courts, lawn bowling, a dog park, a fishing pier, and two golf courses. For craft-based hobbies, residents can use the community’s woodworking shop, ceramics studio, lapidary, and arts and crafts studio.

Located in Clearwater, Florida, the community features 96 condo buildings with a total of 4,959 units. Nearby parks, such as Moccasin Lake Nature Park, Northeast Coachman Park, and Cliff Stephens Park, offer residents easy access to nature outside the community.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Like The Villages, On Top of the World Clearwater offers a self-contained active lifestyle centered on an extensive amenity network. Both communities emphasize social connection through structured programming, with residents encouraged to join clubs and attend regular events. On Top of the World Clearwater also mirrors The Villages’ low-maintenance appeal, with a homeowners’ association (HOA) that handles exterior upkeep, allowing homeowners to focus on enjoying the lifestyle they moved there for.

2. Pelican Preserve – Fort Myers, FL

Low $300ks – Mid $700ks

Best For: A Variety of Home Styles

Pelican Preserve is located near local attractions and daily necessities in Fort Myers, Florida, with Fort Myers Beach close by. This golf course community is ideal for 55+ adults who enjoy staying active and social. With various home models, including condos, carriage houses, attached houses, and single-family homes, residents can find a space that fits their needs.

Residents also have access to a wide variety of world-class amenities. For example, the Pelican Preserve Golf Club features 27 holes of championship-level golf and a clubhouse with a pro shop, a fitness center, a dining room and bar, and a ballroom. 

Additional amenities include an aerobics and dance studio, a ceramics and art studio, a card room, a game room, and a movie theater. Outside, residents can enjoy the community’s resort-style pool, lawn bowling, outdoor amphitheater, sand beach area, and 38-acre nature preserve featuring a butterfly garden, garden plots, and a fishing pier.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Pelican Preserve shares The Villages’ commitment to resort-style living anchored by golf and a robust social calendar. Both communities offer championship golf as a centerpiece amenity, and both provide dedicated clubhouse facilities with fitness centers, dining, and gathering spaces. Like The Villages, Pelican Preserve is built around a central hub (the Town Center) that keeps residents connected through a full schedule of activities, classes, and events. An HOA that handles exterior maintenance and grounds upkeep also mirrors The Villages’ low-maintenance lifestyle.

3. Spruce Creek Country Club – Summerfield, FL

High $100ks – Mid $400ks

Best For: A Variety of Floor Plans

Residents of Spruce Creek Country Club can easily keep their social calendars full with over 100 clubs and interest groups, ranging from fitness-focused to travel-loving. Also, the community has three areas where residents can find a range of amenities: the 32,000-square-foot Horizon Center clubhouse, the 14,000-square-foot Lake Vista Recreation Area clubhouse, and the Peninsula Park Recreation Area. Amenities include three pools, two whirlpool spas, a fitness center, several courts for sports and recreation, ponds, and a nature preserve with walking and biking trails.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Spruce Creek Country Club echoes The Villages in the ways that matter most to active adult homebuyers: golf, a packed social calendar, and a low-maintenance lifestyle. With 36 holes of golf spread across four nine-hole courses (plus a pro shop, a driving range, and a putting green), the community rivals The Villages’ emphasis on accessible, on-site golf for residents of all skill levels. Also, full-time activities coordinator and HOA-managed common area maintenance round out the comparison, giving residents the freedom to focus on enjoying retirement.

4. Latitude Margaritaville – Daytona Beach, FL

Mid $300ks – High $800ks

Best For: Nightlife

This 55+ community in Daytona Beach is inspired by Jimmy Buffett’s lifestyle and music. Latitude Margaritaville offers a popular option for those seeking a beach-inspired lifestyle with a thriving nightlife. Four collections of homes are available, each with different models and floor plans.

World-class amenities within the community keep residents busy and active year-round. The Town Square is the community’s central hub, with live music, entertainment, and dancing regularly. The Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant is also within The Town Square, and residents who enjoy the arts can attend a show at Last Mango Theater.

Across the community, there are plenty of activities. Amenities include a resort-style pool with beach entry, a poolside bar, tiki huts and cabanas, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, pickleball courts, walking trails, and lawn games.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Latitude Margaritaville draws the clearest parallel to The Villages through its town square concept—a central gathering hub with live entertainment, dining, and retail. Like The Villages, the community is designed to be largely self-contained, with a golf-cart-accessible retail center, an on-site restaurant, a fitness center, and a theater all within reach. Both communities also prioritize nightly entertainment and an events-driven lifestyle that keeps residents active and connected year-round. For homebuyers who want The Villages’ social energy with a beach-inspired twist, Latitude Margaritaville delivers a comparable experience with its own distinct personality.

5. Solivita – Kissimmee, FL

High $100ks – Mid $700ks

Best For: An Expertly Planned Build

As you ponder where to retire in Central Florida, the gated community of Solivita with 5,900 attached and single-family homes should be on your list of places to consider. The wide variety of home models in different collections ranges from 891 to 2,545 square feet.

Within the gated community, residents have access to a wide range of resort-style amenities across eight complexes and centers. Featured amenities include outdoor and indoor pools, a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and weekly classes, a sun deck, a fireplace piazza, sports courts, a dance studio, an art studio, and much more. 

Residents will find plenty of dining and entertainment options outside the gated community in Kissimmee. Plus, the community is only an hour from Orlando, where you’ll find many famous attractions.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Solivita mirrors The Villages in its ambition to create a fully realized active adult world within its gates. Both are large-scale master-planned communities built around the idea that residents should rarely need to leave. Solivita’s eight distinct amenity complexes, two championship 18-hole golf courses, multiple restaurants, and 150-plus social clubs reflect the same comprehensive lifestyle infrastructure The Villages is known for.

6. On Top of the World – Ocala, FL

Low $100ks – High $600ks

Best For: Entertainment Options

Some active adults may desire the amenities and lifestyle options like those at The Villages, but within a relatively smaller community. With plans for 10,000 single-family and attached homes, On Top of the World in Ocala is a popular option for those seeking a Florida retirement.

The Circle Square Commons within the community offers daily conveniences, including a continuing education center, a cultural center, a coffee shop, a deli, an ice cream shop, and a town square. Also, the extensive amenities feature a central recreation center with a restaurant, a 1,500-seat ballroom, and an outdoor pool and whirlpool spa. Residents can also find a craft building and three additional clubhouses with multipurpose rooms, art studios, fitness centers, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

The affordable homes for sale include attached villas and detached single-family homes. The attached homes range from about 1,092 to 1,856 square feet, while the single-family homes range from 1,204 to 3,039 square feet.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

On Top of the World Ocala is arguably the closest comparison to The Villages in the state, sharing not just its Central Florida location but its fundamental philosophy: Build a community large enough and amenity-rich enough that residents never have to leave. With plans for 10,000 homes, three golf courses, over 175 clubs, and a Town Square anchored by regular live entertainment, OTOW replicates the self-contained town square lifestyle that defines The Villages experience.

7. Stone Creek – Ocala, FL

High $200ks – Mid $500ks

Best For: A Small-Town Feel

The sense of community created within the gates of Stone Creek provides a small-town feel. With the variety of amenities offered, residents will have a full social calendar to keep up their active lifestyles. Featured amenities include billiards, card and craft rooms, a library, a softball field, catch-and-release fishing, walking and biking trails, and tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball courts.

Stone Creek also has a fitness complex, an aerobics studio, a dance studio, an indoor lap pool, and an indoor whirlpool spa. Outside the fitness complex, there’s also an outdoor resort-style pool with beach entry.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Stone Creek delivers the core pillars of The Villages lifestyle—golf, a structured social calendar, and low-maintenance living—in a more intimate package. The community’s championship 18-hole golf course and Stone Creek Golf Club mirror The Villages’ emphasis on accessible, on-site golf, while the Reflection Bay complex provides a centralized social hub with a ballroom, craft room, and club meeting spaces much like The Villages’ network of recreation centers. Also, an on-site activities director and HOA-managed maintenance ensure residents can focus on enjoying retirement.

8. The Villages of Citrus Hills – Hernando, FL

High $200ks – Mid $1Ms

Best For: Luxurious Living

Experience luxury living at The Villages of Citrus Hills with its 10,005 attached and single-family homes. Models range from 1,666 to 3,061 square feet, so homebuyers can choose a home to meet their needs.

There are plenty of amenities available to keep you busy within the community. Golfers can challenge themselves at three 18-hole championship golf courses: Skyview, The Oaks, and The Meadows. For those focused on fitness, the community offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, two racquetball courts, yoga, aerobics, spin rooms, tennis courts, pickleball, basketball, bocce ball courts, and walking trails.

Other amenities include a full-service day spa, an outdoor pool, an indoor lap pool, a whirlpool spa, saunas, steam rooms, a community theatre, billiards, a card room, a media center, and a dog park. The community is located in Hernando, the center of Citrus County. Its surrounding areas offer beaches, state parks, shopping, dining, and cultural attractions.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

The Villages of Citrus Hills shares more than a name with The Villages. Both are large-scale Florida developments built around a country club lifestyle anchored by multiple championship golf courses, distributed amenity centers, and a self-contained community feel. With three 18-hole courses, multiple clubhouses, a 400-seat community theater, fitness facilities, and on-site daily conveniences including a grocery store and pharmacy, Citrus Hills functions as its own small town in the same spirit The Villages pioneered.

9. Oak Run – Ocala, FL

Mid $100ks – High $300ks

Best For: Swimming Options

Oak Run has five clubhouses, The Royal Oaks Golf Club, and plenty of indoor and outdoor amenities. Each of the five clubs offers different amenities, including pools, whirlpool spas, fitness centers, recreation rooms, athletic courts, and sundecks.

The single-family and ranch duplex homes come in more than 20 floor plans, ranging from 1,049 to 2,275 square feet. All homes offer single-level living and open-concept designs, with most featuring two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached garage. Some homes also include walk-in closets, dens, a covered lanai, and a private pool. Also, Oak Run is only an hour’s drive from Orlando and all of its popular attractions.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Oak Run reflects The Villages’ signature formula of distributed amenities, on-site golf, and a lifestyle-first community culture. Five distinct clubhouses spread across the community mirror The Villages’ model of placing amenities close to residents rather than centralizing everything in one location, ensuring homeowners always have something nearby. Also, over 100 clubs and activities (spanning tennis, fitness, crafts, dance, and more) and a dedicated lifestyle director ensure Oak Run residents enjoy the same socially rich, activity-driven retirement experience that defines The Villages.

10. Kings Point – Sun City Center, FL

Low $100ks – Mid $400ks

Best For: Golf Cart Access to Town

Active adults looking for a gated community with easy golf-cart access to town should consider Kings Point in Sun City Center. Residents can play at eight nearby golf courses. Plus, its central location puts it near Tampa, Orlando, and world-class beaches.

Also, residents have plenty of amenities to choose from. Whether lounging in the outdoor or indoor pool, exercising in one of the fitness centers, or taking in a show at the on-site theater, there’s something for everyone. Other amenities include a bingo hall, billiards, game rooms, arts and crafts rooms, a cyber cafe, a softball field, tennis, shuffleboard, horseshoe, volleyball, pickleball, bocce ball, and basketball courts.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Residents navigate the greater Sun City Center area by golf cart, connecting to retail, dining, and recreation much the way Villagers travel The Villages’ 100-plus miles of cart-friendly streets. With access to eight golf courses offering 162 holes, two private clubhouses, and over 100 clubs and interest groups, Kings Point delivers the same combination of golf, entertainment, and club-driven social life that has made The Villages a benchmark for active adult communities nationwide.

11. Del Webb Sunbridge – St. Cloud, FL

Low $400ks – Low $800ks

Best For: Proximity to Nearby Golf Courses

Another gated active adult community among retirement villages in Florida is Del Webb Sunbridge. With more than 1,300 single-family homes and attached villas planned for construction, homebuyers can choose from a variety of models to find the best fit.

Residents will have plenty of top-notch amenities for a variety of activities, as well as access to their own health and wellness center. Notable features include a zero-entry pool, a whirlpool spa, a fitness center, a movement studio, an arts and crafts studio, a multipurpose room, patios, fire pits, tennis and pickleball courts, and an amphitheater.

Outside the gated community, you can easily access golf courses, shopping, and restaurants in St. Cloud, Florida. Plus, Orlando and its popular attractions are only 30 minutes away.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Del Webb Sunbridge shares The Villages’ commitment to an amenity-rich, active adult lifestyle in a Central Florida setting. Both communities are built around a central clubhouse that serves as a social hub. Also, Del Webb Sunbridge’s health and wellness center reflects The Villages’ emphasis on keeping health care close to home. Like The Villages, Del Webb Sunbridge also benefits from proximity to Orlando and offers on-site dining at the Tavern & Grille, supporting a self-contained active lifestyle that residents can enjoy without leaving the community.

12. Sun City Hilton Head – Bluffton, SC

Mid $300ks – Mid $1Ms

Best For: Golfers

A Sun City community worth considering for those who like The Villages is Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, South Carolina. This gated 55+ community offers proximity to one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. The luxury amenities at Sun City Hilton Head center around the 45-acre Village Center, an amenity campus designed to feel like a town square. The southern-style square even features a clock tower surrounded by modern amenities.

Also, the 17,000-square-foot Pinckney Social Hall features a ballroom, and the 16,000-square-foot Magnolia Hall includes a 540-seat performing arts center. Both facilities host lectures, concerts, and events. Regular groups, clubs, and classes also meet in the multipurpose rooms.

Additional amenities include three 18-hole golf courses, two restaurants, two fitness centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a 20-acre fishing lake. Some of the more unique amenities include the two croquet fields, the outdoor fitness trail with exercise stations, and RV storage.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Sun City Hilton Head replicates the essential Villages blueprint in a lowcountry Southern setting. The 45-acre Village Center, anchored by a clock tower and flanked by a performing arts center, fitness facilities, and craft studios, mirrors The Villages’ network of recreation centers and town squares. With 54 holes of golf across three courses, over 200 chartered clubs, a fishing lake, and multiple on-site dining options, Sun City Hilton Head offers comparable lifestyle depth to The Villages.

13. Robson Ranch – Denton, TX

Mid $300ks – Low $1Ms

Best For: A Central Location

The affordable cost of living, world-class amenities, and 55+ age restriction all attract potential homebuyers to Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas. Located about 35 miles northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, this age-restricted community offers a resort-style lifestyle with easy access to everything the Metroplex has to offer.

With 7,200 single-family and attached homes, Robson Ranch may seem small compared to The Villages. However, this spacious community also offers a ballroom, a fitness center, a sports club with indoor and outdoor athletic courts, and a resort-style pool.

Within the community, residents can also find an 18-hole championship golf course, 16 pickleball courts, a tennis complex, a dog park, two restaurants, and a full-service salon. In addition to clubs and activities, the 17,500-square-foot clubhouse at the center of the community also hosts regular dances, performances, guest speakers, and events.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Robson Ranch – Texas brings the Villages formula to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Wildhorse Golf Club and its full-service restaurant and lounge mirror The Villages’ model of making golf a daily social experience, not just a recreational one. A dedicated creative arts center with a woodworking shop, ceramics studio, and library reflects the same variety of hobby programming that defines The Villages, while multiple fitness facilities and over 25 floor plan options round out the comparison.

14. Sun City – Sun City, AZ

Below $100k – Low $1Ms

Best For: Expansive Amenities

As you continue looking at places like The Villages in other states, 55+ communities in Arizona may become frequent recommendations. Considered the country’s first successful active adult community, Sun City is often compared to The Villages.

Sun City includes 28,257 single-family, attached, and condominium homes, and many of the resale homes on the market have been updated with modern features. Potential homebuyers can find affordable homes for sale and benefit from the retirement-friendly Arizona taxes.

The sprawling amenities throughout the development feature 11 golf courses, 7 recreation centers, 19 shopping areas, and even a hospital. Residents enjoy abundant access to athletic courts, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and art studios.

The full social calendar of clubs and classes includes offerings such as piano club, lawn bowling, sportsmen club, leathercraft, ukulele club, and best friends dog club. Residents can easily pursue new hobbies thanks to the many community events and classes.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Sun City, Arizona, and The Villages share a distinction no other active adult communities can claim: Both pioneered the concept of the large-scale, self-contained retirement community that functions like a town unto itself. Sun City’s seven recreation centers, eight golf courses, performing arts theater, two libraries, and on-site hospital reflect the same comprehensive, leave-nothing-out approach to active adult living that made The Villages famous decades later.

15. Four Seasons at The Manor – Sun City, AZ

Mid $400ks – High $500ks

Best For: A Welcoming Environment

Four Seasons at The Manor is attractive as a new community, offering 140 single-family, single-story models. This community is an extension of Sun City, meaning all residents will have access to the extensive amenities. Residents have easy access to Sun City, Downtown Phoenix, and Glendale, where they can indulge in plenty of shopping, dining, and sightseeing. Other major cities, including Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale, are only an hour’s drive away.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

By virtue of its location within Sun City, residents gain immediate access to seven recreation centers, eight golf courses, dozens of sports courts, walking trails, and hundreds of clubs and activities. For homebuyers who want The Villages’ variety of amenities and social programming without the Florida geography, Four Seasons at The Manor offers a compelling entry point into that world through Sun City’s well-established active adult ecosystem.

16. Sun City West – Sun City West, AZ

Mid $200ks – High $900ks

Best For: Golf Cart Access to Town

Continuing through retirement communities in the Phoenix area is the expansive Sun City West. The 16,900-unit community includes attached and single-family homes. Private pools are also available as an upgrade in some houses.

Residents can enjoy outdoor and indoor pools throughout the community. Other amenities include walking trails, state-of-the-art fitness centers, dance studios, tennis courts, mini golf, horseshoes, a softball field, craft rooms, a theater, a greenhouse, and a woodworking shop. Residents can also easily travel into town by golf cart and enjoy retail therapy or dine at multiple restaurants and bars throughout Sun City West.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Sun City West mirrors The Villages in its scale, self-sufficiency, and commitment to keeping residents active without ever having to leave. Golf-cart-legal streets connect residents to retail centers, restaurants, and recreation facilities—a hallmark feature that Sun City West shares directly with The Villages. Seven golf courses, a performing arts theater, over 100 chartered clubs, and HOA-managed landscaping and maintenance round out a lifestyle package that matches The Villages in depth, if not in sheer size.

17. Green Valley Recreation – Green Valley, AZ

Mid $100ks – Mid $1Ms

Best For: Extensive Amenities

As you search for retirement communities like The Villages, consider Green Valley, which offers a conglomerate of 55+ active adult neighborhoods. Green Valley Recreation has 13,200 homes in a wide variety of models, prices, and styles. Even better, there are member-restricted areas that only residents can access. 

With an expansive list of amenities available, residents have unlimited access to all activities throughout the valley. This includes eight championship golf courses and 13 recreation centers with fitness centers, hobby and craft areas, aerobics and dance studios, woodworking shops, and multipurpose rooms. Within Green Valley Recreation, outdoor amenities include 13 swimming pools, lakes, walking and biking trails, and tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and basketball courts.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Green Valley Recreation takes a uniquely Villages-like approach to active adult living by operating across an entire valley rather than within a single gated development. As in The Villages, the draw is access to a comprehensive, shared amenity network that any member can use, regardless of which neighborhood they call home. Theaters, ballrooms, an outdoor amphitheater, pools, and over 60 clubs spanning golf, tennis, cards, and the arts reflect the same variety of programming that defines The Villages experience, delivered across a similarly sprawling, multi-neighborhood footprint in the Arizona desert.

18. Sun City Anthem – Henderson, NV

High $300ks – High $1Ms

Best For: Easy Access to a Major City

Located about 20 miles south of Las Vegas, Sun City Anthem in Henderson allows retirees to live an active lifestyle within easy reach of some of the world’s best nightlife, entertainment, and dining. Its elevation at 800 feet above the valley floor means that residents also benefit from cooler temperatures, cleaner air, and less traffic than Downtown Las Vegas.

This Del Webb 55+ community consists of 7,144 single-family, attached, and condominium homes with plenty of modern amenities. The three clubhouses boast over 130,000 square feet of amenities designed for an active lifestyle.

Sought-after community amenities include state-of-the-art fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, a 300-seat theater, and even a day spa. The 23,000-square-foot Revere Golf Club hosts two 18-hole golf courses with a restaurant, a pro shop, and practice facilities.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Sun City Anthem delivers The Villages’ signature combination of multi-clubhouse amenity access, championship golf, and an activities-director-driven social calendar in a Nevada desert setting. The Revere Golf Club’s two 18-hole courses, along with a full-service restaurant and pro shop, mirror The Villages’ golf-as-lifestyle approach. Also, the clubs, continuing education classes, and regular group excursions ensure residents enjoy a comparable depth of social engagement year-round.

19. Sun City Summerlin – Las Vegas, NV

Low $300ks – Mid $1Ms

Best For: Access to Nature and Urban Amenities

Located in Las Vegas, Sun City Summerlin is an age-restricted 55+ community with 7,779 homes. Within the Spring Mountain Range, the community has 18 home models, all with patios and extra storage space. Some also have outdoor private pools. 

Residents can indulge in resort-style amenities found within four clubhouses. They include three golf courses, mini golf, outdoor pools, an indoor pool, whirlpool spas, exercise spaces, sports courts, a softball field, an aerobics studio, a card room, a music room, and a theatre.

The community is just 20 minutes away from the lights and activity of the Las Vegas Strip. Or, if you’re looking to lose yourself in nature, the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is just minutes away.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Sun City Summerlin brings the multi-clubhouse, golf-centered lifestyle of The Villages to the Las Vegas Valley. Three resident-owned golf courses with on-site dining mirror The Villages’ approach to making golf a daily social ritual rather than just a sport. Also, over 80 clubs and interest groups, a 312-seat performing arts theater, a softball field, and an on-site activities director round out a lifestyle infrastructure that closely matches The Villages’ formula.

20. Laguna Woods Village – Laguna Woods, CA

Low $200ks – Low $2Ms

Best For: Community Clubs

As the largest active adult community on the West Coast, Laguna Woods Village in Southern California allows retirees in the Golden State to live a Villages lifestyle. This gated 55+ community consists of 12,736 single-family, attached, and condominium homes across 2,100 acres.

The world-class amenities include seven clubhouses with multipurpose rooms, art studios, outdoor pools, and exercise rooms. Desirable amenities also include 36 holes of golf, RV storage, equestrian facilities, and an 814-seat theater. With over 250 clubs, classes, and activities, Laguna Woods Village also compares to The Villages by offering an active lifestyle. Some groups include a film club, a community orchestra, and fellowship groups.

Residents can also appreciate a private bus system that easily transports them throughout the community and Laguna Woods. And when active adults want to enjoy the ocean, Laguna Beach is less than a 20-minute drive away.

What It Has in Common With The Villages

Laguna Woods Village is the closest thing The Villages has to a West Coast counterpart—a large-scale, gated active adult community built around seven clubhouses. The 814-seat performing arts center, woodworking shop, arts and crafts facilities, RV parking, and continuing education courses through a partnering college all reflect the same commitment to leaving nothing out that defines The Villages. Laguna Woods Village delivers genuine scale alongside the lifestyle depth that makes The Villages a national benchmark.

Learn More About The Villages

What began as a small neighborhood in Central Florida has grown into one of the most popular active adult communities in the world. With plans for 60,000 homes, The Villages also earns the distinction as the largest. An affordable cost of living and retirement-friendly taxes in Florida may draw many retirees to The Sunshine State, but world-class amenities and unmatched conveniences attract residents to The Villages.

With all of this in mind, the answer to the question “Is The Villages a good place to live?” is a resounding “Yes.” Do your research to learn everything about The Villages and determine if it or a similar property is right for you.

Find the Right Active Adult Community for You With 55places

With so many 55+ communities throughout the U.S., finding the right place for you as an active adult is important. If you enjoy The Villages lifestyle but feel it isn’t the right place for you, 55places.com can help you explore some of your options. We’ll connect you with a trusted real estate agent to find the right community similar to The Villages for your needs.

FAQ: Communities Similar to The Villages

What 55+ communities are similar to The Villages?

Communities that offer a Villages-style lifestyle include On Top of the World in Ocala, FL; Solivita in Kissimmee, FL; Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, SC; Robson Ranch in Denton, TX; Sun City in Sun City, AZ; Sun City Summerlin in Las Vegas, NV; and Laguna Woods Village in Laguna Woods, CA. Each offers large-scale amenities, golf, active social calendars, and a self-contained community feel.

What makes a community similar to The Villages?

Key features include a large scale (thousands of homes), multiple golf courses, distributed amenity centers, a town-square-style hub with dining and entertainment, a packed social calendar with hundreds of clubs, a dedicated lifestyle or activities director, golf-cart-friendly infrastructure, and HOA-managed maintenance for a low-maintenance lifestyle. Communities that replicate most of these elements deliver a comparable experience to The Villages.

Are there communities like The Villages outside of Florida?

Yes. Sun City in Arizona is the original large-scale 55+ community. Sun City Hilton Head in South Carolina offers three golf courses and a town-square-style Village Center. Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas, has 7,200 homes, championship golf, and a creative arts center. Sun City Summerlin and Sun City Anthem in Nevada each have over 7,000 homes. Laguna Woods Village in California has 12,736 homes and over 250 clubs.

What is the largest 55+ community in the U.S.?

The Villages in Central Florida is the largest, with plans for 60,000 homes. Sun City in Arizona is the second-largest with 28,257 homes. Other large communities include Sun City West in Arizona (16,900 homes), Laguna Woods Village in California (12,736 homes), Green Valley Recreation in Arizona (13,200 homes), The Villages of Citrus Hills in Florida (10,005 homes), and On Top of the World in Ocala (planning 10,000 homes).

What is the most affordable community similar to The Villages?

Sun City in Arizona offers homes starting below $100k, making it the most affordable alternative. Other affordable options include On Top of the World Clearwater (starting in the mid $100ks), On Top of the World Ocala (starting in the low $100ks), Kings Point in Sun City Center (starting in the low $100ks), Oak Run in Ocala (starting in the mid $100ks), and Green Valley Recreation in Arizona (starting in the mid $100ks). All offer resort-style amenities and active social calendars.

Which communities similar to The Villages have golf?

Nearly all do. Sun City has 11 courses. Sun City West has seven. Sun City Hilton Head has three. Solivita, The Villages of Citrus Hills, and Quail Creek each have two 18-hole courses. Pelican Preserve has 27 holes. Spruce Creek Country Club has 36 holes across four nine-hole courses. Robson Ranch, Stone Creek, Canoa Ranch, and Oak Run each have championship courses. Golf is a defining feature of the Villages-style lifestyle.

Are there communities like The Villages with golf cart access?

Yes. All of the communities on this list have golf-cart-friendly streets, allowing residents to get around the neighborhood and access amenities, dining, and recreation without a car. Communities like Kings Point in Sun City Center and Sun City West in Arizona take it a step further, with cart-legal roads that connect residents to shopping and restaurants in the surrounding town as well.

Are there communities like The Villages in Arizona?

Yes, Arizona has several. Sun City is the original large-scale 55+ community. Sun City West offers golf-cart access to shops and restaurants. Green Valley Recreation spans 13,200 homes across an entire valley with 13 recreation centers and eight golf courses. Four Seasons at The Manor gives residents access to Sun City’s full amenity network in a newer, smaller setting.

Are there communities like The Villages in Texas?

Yes, Robson Ranch in Denton, TX, is the most comparable. The community has 7,200 homes, an 18-hole championship course, 16 pickleball courts, two restaurants, a 17,500-square-foot clubhouse, a creative arts center with woodworking and ceramics, and a full-service salon. It’s about 35 miles northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Sun City Texas in Georgetown is another option with a large-scale active adult lifestyle.

Are there communities like The Villages in Nevada?

Yes. Sun City Anthem in Henderson has 7,144 homes, three clubhouses with 130,000 square feet of amenities, two 18-hole golf courses, a 300-seat theater, and a day spa. Sun City Summerlin in Las Vegas has 7,779 homes, three golf courses, four clubhouses, a 312-seat theater, and over 80 clubs. Both are Del Webb communities about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

Is The Villages a good place to live?

The Villages is one of the most popular active adult communities in the world. It offers world-class amenities, an affordable cost of living, retirement-friendly Florida taxes, dozens of golf courses, multiple town squares with nightly entertainment, and a self-contained lifestyle where residents rarely need to leave. With plans for 60,000 homes, it’s also the largest 55+ community in the country. However, its massive size isn’t for everyone. Retirees who prefer a smaller-scale community may find a better fit at one of the alternatives listed in this article.

How do I find a community like The Villages that fits my lifestyle?

Start by identifying what you love most about The Villages—golf, social programming, entertainment, self-contained living, or golf-cart access—and prioritize communities that match those features. Consider location, climate, budget, and community size. Similar communities exist in Florida, Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, Nevada, and California. Then, contact 55places.com to connect with a real estate expert who can match your priorities to the right community.