Comparison
The Villages vs Solivita
Facts, sourced, with the unreliable numbers labeled as unreliable. I am not going to tell you which one to pick, and anyone who does without knowing your situation is guessing.
The short answer
Solivita is a roughly 4,187-acre community in Polk County near Kissimmee, reported at about 5,900 homes, governed by two Community Development Districts plus an HOA plus a separate Club amenity fee. Taylor Morrison lists it as sold out. The Villages is far larger, still building, and closer to Ocala than Orlando.
| The Villages | Solivita | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Sumter, Marion and Lake counties | Poinciana, Polk County, despite Kissimmee mailing addresses. About 4,187 acres. |
| Size | Developer states 150,000+ residents and 70,000+ households. The 2020 Census counted 79,077 in the narrower Villages CDP. | Reported at approximately 5,900 homes by a single third-party source. not independently verified |
| Developer | The Holding Company of The Villages | Originally Avatar Holdings, then AV Homes, now Taylor Morrison, whose community page lists it as sold out. |
| Age restriction | At least one household member 55 or over, and no one younger than 19. Visitors under 18 limited to 30 days per calendar year. | Marketed as 55+. Exact governing-document wording was not located publicly. |
| Governance and fees | Monthly amenity fee, posted at $189, plus per-parcel bond and district assessments on the tax bill | A three-layer structure. Two CDDs (Poinciana CDD and Poinciana West CDD) plus an HOA plus a separate Club amenity fee. One realtor source describes HOA at $165 to $205 monthly plus a $195 Club fee, about $385 combined; a portal reports $155 to $420. not independently verified Current CDD assessments were not located. |
| Golf | 15 championship courses plus 40+ executive courses. Executive golf included in the amenity fee. | Two courses at Stonegate Golf Club: the Oaks Course, a Ron Garl design over 7,000 yards, and the Cypress Course. Open to residents and visitors. Rates not published. |
| Getting around | Extensive multi-modal path network with more than 50 golf car tunnels | Not documented as a community-wide cart transportation network. |
Sources: The Villages figures from thevillages.com FAQ and districtgov.org, plus Stellar MLS closed sales January 1 to September 21, 2026, compiled by Cristian Gonzalez, eXp Realty. Census figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Competitor figures are cited on each row and come from the communities' own sites where available and from third-party real estate portals otherwise. Fee figures marked not independently verified conflict between sources and should not be relied on. Confirm current fees, age requirements, and governing documents directly with each community before making a decision. All retrieved September 2026. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Updated September 2026.
The three-layer fee structure
This is the most important practical difference and the one most likely to surprise someone comparing monthly numbers.
Solivita sits inside two Community Development Districts, and residents also pay HOA dues and a separate Club fee for amenity access. That is three distinct charges plus whatever CDD assessment applies to the parcel.
The Villages structure is a monthly amenity fee, posted at $189, plus the per-parcel bond and district assessments on the tax bill. Fewer layers, but the bond is larger and less visible than people expect.
Why I have not put a single monthly number on either
For Solivita, the published fee figures conflict between sources and I could not find an official schedule. For The Villages, the amenity fee is set at the rate in effect when the home is purchased and adjusts annually by CPI, so two neighbors can pay different amounts. Any clean side-by-side number you see on this topic is either out of date or made up. Send me two specific addresses and I will build the real comparison.
Orlando metro versus north central Florida
Solivita is in the Orlando metro area. The Villages sits north of it in the Wildwood and The Villages metro, which the Census Bureau named the fastest-growing metro area in the United States for 2022 to 2023.
Practically, Solivita is closer to Orlando's airports and attractions. The Villages is closer to Ocala, Gainesville, and the healthcare concentration described on the healthcare page, with Orlando International still about 66 miles away.
Sold out matters for resale
Taylor Morrison lists Solivita as sold out, meaning there is no active new-construction pipeline from the developer. The Villages is still expanding southward, which is why newer sections carry higher bond balances and why new versus resale is a live decision here and not at Solivita.
Questions people ask
Is Solivita in Osceola County?
No. Solivita is in Polk County, in the northeast corner, despite Kissimmee and Poinciana mailing addresses that lead many people to assume Osceola. The Poinciana Community Development District documents place it in Polk County.
Does Solivita have higher fees than The Villages?
The structures are different enough that a direct comparison is unreliable. Solivita layers two CDDs, an HOA, and a separate Club fee. The Villages charges a monthly amenity fee plus a per-parcel bond and district assessments. Published figures for Solivita conflict between sources and none are official.
Free, no obligation
Comparing two specific homes?
Send me an address in each and I will build the real total-cost comparison: bond balance, amenity or HOA fee, assessments, and what comparable homes actually closed for this year in both.
I am a Marion County native and I work both counties. I have no reason to steer you toward one, and I have not closed in The Villages yet, so I am not defending a track record either.