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Ocala vs The Villages

Ocala, Florida versus The Villages, Florida: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Ocala

Solid · objective livability55/100

The Villages

Solid · objective livability60/100

The Villages edges out Ocala on overall objective livability (60 vs 55 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorOcalaThe Villages
Affordability
Median Household Income$51k$73k
Cost of Living$47k$46k
Home Value$190k$347k
Monthly Rent$1k$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$1k$2k
Property Tax Rate0.74%0.92%
Income Tax0.00%0.00%
Sales Tax7.00%7.00%
Estimated total tax burden5.11%6.64%
Unemployment8.3%2.7%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)57°F59°F
Summer Temp (Jul)82°F83°F
Annual Precipitation52.2 in52.3 in
Annual Snowfall0.0 in0.0 in
Sunny Days298 days298 days
Summer Humidity72°F72°F
Comfortable Days131 days139 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk78.389.6
Air Quality41 AQI42 AQI
School Quality33.934.9
Violent Crime2403/100k369/100k
Property Crime3003/100k329/100k
Community
Population63,50479,108
Median Age37.373.4
Racial Diversity0.530.05
Male/Female Ratio0.930.85
Political LeaningR+26R+36
White (%)57.7%96.7%
Black (%)19.6%0.3%
Hispanic (%)16.2%1.4%
Asian (%)3.0%0.9%
Other / Multiracial (%)3.5%0.6%
Getting Around
Commute Time19 min22 min
Walkability14.1/207.4/20
Airport Distance73 mi53 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.2%91.9%
Amenities Nearby20.795.69
Park & Nature AccessExcellentExcellent

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ocala or The Villages more affordable?
The Villages has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Ocala's $47k and The Villages's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Ocala versus $2k in The Villages.
Is Ocala or The Villages safer?
The Villages has the lower violent crime rate. Ocala reports 2403/100k and The Villages reports 369/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Ocala or The Villages?
The median home value is $190k in Ocala and $347k in The Villages, so homes are more affordable in Ocala.
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