The Villages population is like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps growing, and growing, and growing.
The only downside for someone like me is that as soon as you publish one population figure, it has undoubtedly already changed.
Such is life in one of the fastest-growing communities in the country.
But for those trying to keep track of the population in The Villages, I've put together this page as a way to track how it has changed over the years.
2023: 151,000
It's been a while since I've seen an official statement from the developer about how many people are living in The Villages, or at least an estimate that moved off the previous 132k mark.
But just recently they announced that as of December 31, 2023 there are now more than 150,000 people who call The Villages home.
2019: 132,420
There was never any doubt, but The Villages officially rounded out the decade as America’s fastest-growing area.
Census Bureau data released in March 2020 shows that The Villages metropolitan statistical area added nearly 40,000 people between April 2010 and April 2019.
That's a growth rate of more than 40%. The second fastest growing area was Myrtle Beach, S.C. which grew by about by 31%.
We usually receive the Census Bureau data in March or April, so we'll be back around that time in 2021 to update this page and see if the coronavirus had any impact on our growth.
2018: 128,754
From July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018, The Villages Metropolitan Area grew by 3.1%, from 124,933 people to 128,754 people.
I'm not sure why last year they told us the population was 125,165 and now they're saying it was 124,933.
Maybe their motto is that math is not an exact science.
Anyway, this ranks 6th among all metropolitan areas in the country for year-over-year percentage growth.
The Census Bureau also looked at percentage growth since 2010, and for that time period, The Villages ranks 1st with a growth rate of 37.8%.
We also learned this year that an estimated 19,370 veterans live in The Villages metropolitan statistical area, which is more than any other area in the country that doesn’t have a military base.
2017: 125,165
The Villages population crosses the 125,000 mark!
After holding the top spot for fastest growing Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for the last few years, The Villages dropped to 10th this year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Despite the drop in ranking, the community still grew 2.5%, putting it officially over the 125,000 person mark.
The Census Bureau is saying that 125,165 people (as of July 1, 2017) now call The Villages home.
For further reading, see: The Villages is No. 10 in population growth
2016: 123,996
For the fourth year in a row, The Villages is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country.
The Census Bureau said The Villages grew by 4.3%, from 118,882 to 123,996 people, from July 2015 to July 2016.
It’s important to note that prior to 2013, The Villages was classified as a micropolitan area as opposed to a metropolitan area.
Villages growth tops in U.S. for 4th straight year – Ocala Star Banner
2015: 119,000
The Census Bureau said The Villages grew by 4.3% from July 2014 to July 2015.
According to their estimates the community now has 119,000 residents.
Here’s additional commentary from other sites around the web:
The Villages, Florida, is fastest growing metro area in U.S. – Chicago Tribune
Population growth in The Villages leads the nation for third straight year – Ocala Star Banner
2014: 114,350
Despite a 24% drop in new home sales between 2013 and 2014, The Villages population grew 5.4%, making it the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country for the second year in a row.
According to the data, Florida cities account for six of the nation’s 20 fastest-growing cities last year. Other cities that made the list include Cape Coral, Panama City, Naples, North Port and Orlando.
Here’s additional commentary from other sites around the web:
The Fastest-Growing U.S. City Is a Senior Community – Bloomberg Business
The Giant Retirement Community That Explains Where Americans Are Moving – The New York Times
Census Data Prove It: We Prefer Sunshine And Golf Carts – NPR
2013: 108,175 (Estimated)
Prior to this year, The Villages was classified as a micropolitan area as opposed to a metropolitan area.
2012: 101,600
Well, its official.
According to new US Census estimates, The Villages “officially” has more than 100,000 residents.
101,600 to be exact.
Having grown by almost 8 percent since 2010, The Villages is listed as the fourth fastest growing area in the nation, behind only two very small towns you’ve never heard of in North Dakota and another one in Texas that only beat out The Villages because of a rapid influx of energy workers.
