There is no "p" in Sumter. I live up North and wouldn't live anywhere else. I can get anywhere I need to go by golf cart. I have no desire to go to the south. Sumter is as far as I go. Cons? There are some homes that are unkempt but there are more that are well maintained. We don't have "cookie cutter" homes and have more leeway about lawn ornaments.

We live between Lopez and Glenview. We love this area because it's close to just about everything you will ever need. Don't focus too much on homes close to the squares. After you've been here a while you won't be going to them as often as you think. We are close to many of the well known stores, Costco is going to open probably in about three months. If you play golf then getting a tee times up here is easier then in the southern area. We are also close to the driving ranges too. The hospital is very close as well as many of the emergency sites and various medical offices.
Traffic is lighter up here during the winter months. Your also close to the major entertainment venues, like Savannah Center, The Sharon, Polo Fields, Terra Del Sol blackbox theater, two bowling alleys etc. Most of the homes have new roofs, many updates in the homes as well as landscaping. Almost all of the homes have the bonds paid off or they are very small and will be retired very soon.
If I had to pick two Villages for you to focus on in the northern area they would be Tall Trees and Piedmont. Try if possible to get a Village that has quick access to Buena Vista or Morse. Having a roundabout is great at your exit or a stoplight. Those homes on Morse north of 466 are near impossible to make a left from your side street in the winter months.

This is EXACTLY the kind of feedback I was looking for. Thanks!

I have been experiencing The Villages from the north for the last 9 years when visiting my parents (north of El Camino). I moved to Middleton and drive the southern and often. night and day difference. If I were shopping in The Villages, I'd be shopping in the north end exclusively (north of 466).

Thanks for that.
My main concern is people saying it's hard to make connections in the north, as social groups are already formed, and we'd probably be some of the youngest people around (about 68).

In new construction areas, everyone's moving in at the same time, so it's easier to make new friends.
Also, it looks like they're taking a new direction on amenities, like Harry and the Natives, the lake house and kayaking at Lake Okahumpka, more outdoorsy stuff, more woods. It's going to be interesting!

Harry and the Natives is NOT an amenity...

It's a private restaurant

And where are these "more woods" you're talking about?...

The new construction is being built on former cattle ranches, with minimal woods...

A significant number of homes on Morse north of 466 have easy access to San Marino, which has traffic lights at its junction with Morse.

I should certainly recommend choosing a village that does.

Mrs Fox and I moved here when we were 51 and 53 respectively.

The vast majority of our neighbors had been here since the village was built (1997/8) and we were welcomed unreservedly. I suspect, after ten years of the same people, they were glad of some new blood :-)

Since then, there have been many changes of ownership - do remember that an established village is a living entity. At 68, you won't be the youngest for very long.

That's valid. That's been my experience in Middleton and I assume the Southern Villages as well. Everyone is a newbie and in a similar situation.

People don’t live forever. The northern area is turning over. I’ve been here ten years and of the 14 homes on our cul-de-sac street we are now #5 in seniority.

PRIME location, IMHO, is between the 6s: 466 and 466A, the Lake Sumter area.

Yet look at the amount of 4sale between the 6’s. Either there’s a bunch of people recently taking a dirt nap, or they’ve moved to go farther south to enjoy a different lifestyle.

Our new village had 30% never lived in TV. The rest like us mostly came from between the 6’s, with a small % from SS, Lopez, areas. My parents are diehard never move from LSL home. Why because they say we’re too Old to move. They would love to live with more woods, walking paths and wildlife, where we are. Instead they just say it’s convenient for us to just stay here.

This age thing needs to be retconned from the forums and stripped from youtube. Here's some just super basic logic for ya, in storytelling form:

Once upon a time in the 1970's, a bunch of 55-60-year-olds moved into a trailer park called Orange Blossom. By the time a new place called Spanish Springs was built, Orange Blossom had split into three sections called Orange Blossom, Silver Lake, and Country Club Hills. Those 55-60-year-olds were now 58-63 years old.

Then, new developments went up, heading west, and northwest into Marion County. Those 55-60-year olds were now 61-66 years old.

Over the next 20 years development continued down to 466. Those 55-60-year-olds were now well into their 80's, and some were moving to newer areas so they didn't have to pay so much to maintain 20 year old mobile homes. Some were moving into assisted living, a few into memory care and nursing facilities.

Those newly-vacant homes in the old trailer park were being filled by new homeowners, who were around 55-60. That was in the 90's. Then, in the 2000's, the original 55-60-year-olds who moved in during the 70's were now over 90 years old. MOST of them had moved out, or died. And their homes replaced by a NEW set of 55-60-year-olds.

Fast forward to 2025, and we now have a wide variety of homeowners in the original trailer park, which isn't really a trailer park at all, it's a luxury manufactured home community with acres of well-kept amenities and a country club pool with a jacuzzi and waterfall and full service restaurant and pool-side service as well.

The ages here span the extremes. There are folks well into their 90's, and there are some "children of former owners" in their 40s and 50s. Most people here are over 65, but the oldest of the bunch are in their final years of living independently, and will soon be replaced by another batch of 55-60-year-olds.

If you're 68, then you aren't in the category of "younger" people living here on our side. You're in the "usual and customary" category.

Great perspective. Like any neighborhood, over time the demographics average out.

I can see advantages to everyone moving in together, but it may not be as dramatic as it’s been portrayed.

I'm 58 and just moved into Winifred just below 466 last September. It feels like a hub to everything we like and/or need and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. People in the neighborhood are very nice and I believe we were quite the entertainment as we were doing reno on our house. I've found an after work (yep...still work) mens golf group with similar aged guys. My wife has gotten into several groups and has started doing regular water aerobics and has been making friends through that. All areas have something for somebody. For what we enjoy, we have definitely found the right area for us.