Located south of The Villages, Wildwood FL is known to many people as a retirement haven. The town features several different planned communities of retirement homes with a host of features that are designed to appeal to retirees. If you’re considering moving to South Florida to retire, then you definitely want to think about moving to Wildwood.
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Wildwood FL used to be a small, sleepy time located in South West Florida. A burgeoning real estate market encouraged rapid development, and today the town is known for being a retirees paradise. In fact, the town population has increased by 68% since 2000.
With a population of just over 6,000 residents, of which 46.9% are male and 53.1% are female, no one is mistaking Wildwood for the big city. The town has experienced rapid growth, however, most notably by building homes for retirees. In fact, the median age of the residents of the town is 59.6 years.
The median household income in the area is $46,334. That’s in line with the average Florida income of $46,036, but it's well above the town’s average of $23,357 in 2000, which shows how much the town has grown.
The population of Wildwood is slightly more educated than the typical American town, with nearly 94% of the population over the age of 25 holding a high school degree and 30.4% holding a Bachelor’a degree or higher. Less than 4% of the residents are foreign-born.
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Much of the new development in Wildwood, FL is a result of new development in the town that was meant to emulate the neighboring community of The Villages. This has meant that one the past decade, the culture of the town has changed from a rural farming community to a retirement village. Instead of spread out farms, Wildwood now has rows of patio homes that are occupied by retirees.
Although the majority of the houses are owned, there is a large group of residents that only occupy their homes during the winter months. The arrival of the “snowbirds” in October and November usually kicks off several months of activities. Visitors will find an array of clubs dedicated to gardening, golf, water aerobics, and much more. While some of these groups meet throughout the year, membership swells during the fall and winter.
Much of the culture in Wildwood is now focused around these clubs and their meetings. It’s common for groups to hold meetings in local restaurants or at the clubhouses of some of the larger residential communities. http://www.wildwood-fl.gov
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Living in a community such as Wildwood, FL is great for people who are looking for a quiet setting where social interactions are a large part of daily life. The recent building boom in the area has caused home prices to rise dramatically. In 2013, a typical home cost $218,575. This is a very steep jump form the $30,600 a typical home cost in 2000.
The new construction was focused on patio homes and condos built in the style of townhouses. These developments were designed around the idea of creating a community which provides most of the activities for its residents. Therefore, the quality of life for most residents of Wildwood depends on how happy they are with the level of activities offered by their community. There are a number of clubs and groups that meet apart from these neighborhoods, but finding them is often dependent on knowing another member.
There are a number big box stores and smaller retail chains in the area, but residents who are looking for the entertainment provided by a big city will need to make the commute to Orlando, Miami, or Tampa. These destinations can take several hours to get to, leaving most residents choosing to rely on lock activities for their entertainment.
Wildwood’s close proximity to the Villages and other retirement communities does meant that there is a high concentration of healthcare providers within driving distance. There are at least 8 medium or large hospitals within a 50 miles radius of the town.
For years, Wildwood was known as a rural farming community. Today, however, it is seen by most people as an extension of The Villages. For retirees, Wildwood, Florida, is a community of like-minded people that is focused on their needs. The town is geared towards meeting the needs of this demographic. Streets in most communities are designed to be used by golf carts, allowing seniors to have some ability to drive even after they can no longer operate a car. Small businesses and restaurants take steps to make themselves handicapped accessible. In addition, developments work to create a sense of community, providing many nearby activities for residents who cannot or would prefer not to travel far outside of their homes.
