Jobs, pay and daily life in The Villages, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 09/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
The Villages is a city in Florida with 83,498 residents. The median household earns $77,622 a year and the median rent is $1,397 a month, which is 21.6% of the median household income. It is part of the Wildwood-The Villages, FL metropolitan area, where BLS counts 41,300 jobs.
How The Villages compares. Among the 120 largest places in Florida, The Villages is #38 by population, #1 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #6 for remote work (#1 = most), #13 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Sumter County, is #22 of 67 counties for average pay ($57,856).
The Villages has 83,498 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.4% of the population of Florida. It covers 33 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,557 people per square mile. The median age is 74.1, 74% older than the state median (74.1 against 42.6). It is a census-designated place: a community the Census Bureau counts as a unit, without a city government of its own, so services such as police, roads and zoning usually come from the county.
The median gross rent is $1,397 a month (rent plus utilities), 16% below the state median ($1,397 against $1,669). Over a year that is 21.6% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $400,100, which is 5.2 times the median household income ($77,622); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 93.3% of households own their home, 38% above the state average (93.3% against 67.6%).
The Wildwood-The Villages, FL metropolitan area has 41,300 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $45,830 a year, 10% below the national median ($45,830 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are food preparation and serving related (4,930 jobs, median $34,380); office and administrative support (4,470 jobs, median $43,790); sales and related (4,160 jobs, median $35,620). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Sumter County was 7.6%. 12.4% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Sumter County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 55.6% drive alone, 0.4% use public transit, 2.8% walk, 28.2% work from home. 10.4% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 42% below the state average (10.4% against 18.1%). Remote work is more common than in the state as a whole, which widens the set of employers a resident can work for without moving.
42.8% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 25% above the state share (42.8% against 34.1%). 5.6% of residents were born outside the United States, 74% below the state share (5.6% against 21.9%). The poverty rate is 4.7%, 63% below the state rate (4.7% against 12.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 81°F (27.4°C), and the coolest is Jan at 56°F (13.6°C). About 1,258 mm (50 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (196 mm) and Nov the driest (48 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Ocala (21 miles, similar rent); Clermont (31 miles, rent 31% higher); Apopka (31 miles, rent 41% higher); Winter Garden (34 miles, rent 41% higher). Rent differences are against The Villages; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Florida (1,218) →State guide: FloridaCountry guideSumter CountyFlorida rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 1,218 federal postings open in Florida (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Florida →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 1,400 | 1.36 | $34,290 | $27,620 | $43,390 | -3% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,170 | 1.94 | $36,340 | $27,450 | $66,970 | +3% |
| Cashiers | 1,160 | 1.41 | $30,450 | $27,620 | $35,980 | -7% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 980 | 9.71 | $67,770 | $47,130 | $79,390 | +15% |
| Registered Nurses | 960 | 1.07 | $77,110 | $62,550 | $97,410 | -21% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 930 | 0.91 | $28,810 | $27,410 | $35,150 | -8% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 840 | 1.54 | $47,180 | $34,900 | $63,350 | -20% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 810 | 1.08 | $34,460 | $29,980 | $45,350 | -8% |
| General and Operations Managers | 810 | 0.87 | $97,360 | $48,130 | $198,250 | -8% |
| Office Clerks, General | 740 | 1.13 | $43,430 | $30,370 | $63,250 | -4% |
| Construction Laborers | 710 | 2.43 | $41,170 | $36,030 | $64,500 | -13% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 660 | 0.95 | $40,340 | $31,510 | $62,250 | -10% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 660 | 2.60 | $36,140 | $30,470 | $45,220 | -8% |
| Nursing Assistants | 600 | 1.56 | $36,110 | $31,990 | $42,800 | -15% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 560 | 1.51 | $35,920 | $29,780 | $45,110 | -4% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 560 | 1.38 | $45,310 | $33,650 | $66,550 | -9% |
| Medical Assistants | 520 | 2.40 | $40,910 | $35,730 | $48,150 | -10% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 520 | 2.03 | $37,910 | $34,510 | $47,530 | -17% |
| Food Preparation Workers | 500 | 2.11 | $35,410 | $27,780 | $39,660 | +0% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 470 | 0.41 | $33,900 | $29,100 | $38,450 | -5% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 810 | 0.87 | $97,360 | $48,130 | $198,250 | -8% |
| Registered Nurses | 960 | 1.07 | $77,110 | $62,550 | $97,410 | -21% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 980 | 9.71 | $67,770 | $47,130 | $79,390 | +15% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 840 | 1.54 | $47,180 | $34,900 | $63,350 | -20% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 560 | 1.38 | $45,310 | $33,650 | $66,550 | -9% |
| Office Clerks, General | 740 | 1.13 | $43,430 | $30,370 | $63,250 | -4% |
| Construction Laborers | 710 | 2.43 | $41,170 | $36,030 | $64,500 | -13% |
| Medical Assistants | 520 | 2.40 | $40,910 | $35,730 | $48,150 | -10% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 660 | 0.95 | $40,340 | $31,510 | $62,250 | -10% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 520 | 2.03 | $37,910 | $34,510 | $47,530 | -17% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,170 | 1.94 | $36,340 | $27,450 | $66,970 | +3% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 660 | 2.60 | $36,140 | $30,470 | $45,220 | -8% |
| Nursing Assistants | 600 | 1.56 | $36,110 | $31,990 | $42,800 | -15% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 560 | 1.51 | $35,920 | $29,780 | $45,110 | -4% |
| Food Preparation Workers | 500 | 2.11 | $35,410 | $27,780 | $39,660 | +0% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 810 | 1.08 | $34,460 | $29,980 | $45,350 | -8% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,400 | 1.36 | $34,290 | $27,620 | $43,390 | -3% |
| Cashiers | 1,160 | 1.41 | $30,450 | $27,620 | $35,980 | -7% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 930 | 0.91 | $28,810 | $27,410 | $35,150 | -8% |
These figures are for the whole Wildwood-The Villages, FL metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $45,830 (US $50,980); unemployment 7.6% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% |
| Retail trade | 17.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 16.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 8.3% |
| Manufacturing | 5.7% |
| Construction | 4.9% |
| Other services | 4.3% |
| Public administration | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.7% |
| Information | 1.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county (the first of several) where The Villages lies and cover the whole county, not only the city. The city also extends into Marion County.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | 143,408 | $7,559 million | $52,706 | 40,436 | 2,697 | $57,856 | +3.0% | 7.6% | 35,336 |
| Marion County | 400,078 | $17,641 million | $44,093 | 119,528 | 10,226 | $52,526 | +1.8% | 5.4% | 162,946 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,372 | 21.8% | $64,947 | 1.27 |
| Retail trade | 5,801 | 17.2% | $34,727 | 1.44 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,626 | 13.7% | $30,166 | 1.26 |
| Construction | 4,188 | 12.4% | $71,094 | 1.97 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,934 | 5.7% | $72,649 | 0.81 |
| Manufacturing | 1,374 | 4.1% | $68,230 | 0.41 |
| Professional and technical services | 1,307 | 3.9% | $81,790 | 0.46 |
| Real estate and rental | 1,291 | 3.8% | $59,045 | 2.06 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,156 | 3.4% | $112,270 | 0.70 |
| Educational services | 801 | 2.4% | $40,204 | 0.96 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 739 | 2.2% | $35,687 | 1.09 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 718 | 2.1% | $46,689 | 0.59 |
| Utilities | 562 | 1.7% | $123,955 | 3.66 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 532 | 1.6% | $46,193 | 1.63 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 505 | 1.5% | $55,760 | 0.29 |
| Wholesale trade | 363 | 1.1% | $73,191 | 0.23 |
| Information | 309 | 0.9% | $63,075 | 0.41 |
| Management of companies | 145 | 0.4% | $121,958 | 0.21 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 42 | 0.1% | $108,768 | 0.27 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 55.6% |
| Public transit | 0.4% |
| Walk | 2.8% |
| Work from home | 28.2% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 10.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,622 |
| Income per person | $56,642 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,397 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.6% |
| Median home value | $400,100 |
| Homeowners | 93.3% |
| Poverty rate | 4.7% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 85.4 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $45,830 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: No state tax on wages.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 74.1 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 96.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 42.8% |
| Born abroad | 5.6% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 12.4% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13.6 | 56 | 64 |
| Feb | 15.8 | 60 | 65 |
| Mar | 18.6 | 65 | 75 |
| Apr | 22.1 | 72 | 58 |
| May | 25.5 | 78 | 93 |
| Jun | 27.1 | 81 | 196 |
| Jul | 27.4 | 81 | 184 |
| Aug | 27.3 | 81 | 190 |
| Sep | 25.9 | 79 | 154 |
| Oct | 22.7 | 73 | 70 |
| Nov | 18.4 | 65 | 48 |
| Dec | 15.8 | 60 | 61 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala | FL | 21 mi | 66,584 | $56,376 | $1,359 |
| Clermont | FL | 31 mi | 46,853 | $82,306 | $1,828 |
| Apopka | FL | 31 mi | 58,232 | $96,884 | $1,969 |
| Winter Garden | FL | 34 mi | 47,872 | $106,495 | $1,963 |
| Ocoee | FL | 36 mi | 49,033 | $98,911 | $1,946 |
| Pine Hills | FL | 39 mi | 80,105 | $58,673 | $1,542 |
| Horizon West | FL | 39 mi | 67,416 | $127,335 | $2,464 |
| Altamonte Springs | FL | 40 mi | 46,116 | $64,070 | $1,740 |
| Spring Hill | FL | 44 mi | 119,983 | $68,432 | $1,440 |
| DeLand | FL | 44 mi | 41,611 | $71,863 | $1,355 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
83,498 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,397 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.6% of the median household income.
$77,622 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
7.6% (BLS county, Sumter County (latest month 2026M09)).
Florida. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.