The Town FilesWildwood, Florida
City in Sumter County · population 15,730 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $451,600
- Household income
- $76,552
- Jan low / Jul high
- 49° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 64.2
Wildwood is a city of 15,730 people in Sumter County, Florida. The median home is worth $451,600, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks quieter than 86% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 83% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 77% of Florida towns.
How Wildwood ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wildwood is worth $451,600, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $76,552, which is more affordable than 18% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,519 a month. 77.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wildwood | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $451,600 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,519 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $76,552 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.3% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2017 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.9% | — |
Who lives in Wildwood
| People | Wildwood | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 47.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 10.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 92.4% |
Weather in Wildwood
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 48.9°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wildwood since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 2, 2007 about 5.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on January 19, 2009.
Severe weather in Sumter County since 1996
Sumter County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Sumter County
Sumter County had 40,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,856 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Wildwood itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Wildwood
3 public schools with 1,781 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILDWOOD MIDDLE/ HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 737 | 17.1 |
| WILDWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 658 | 16.0 |
| WILDWOOD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-6 | 386 | 16.1 |
Towns near Wildwood
- Fruitland Park, FL5.2 mi · 8,325 people · home $382,400
- The Villages, FL6.5 mi · 79,077 people · home $400,100
- Lake Panasoffkee, FL7.2 mi · 4,072 people · home $153,000
- Leesburg, FL8.8 mi · 27,000 people · home $228,600
- Lady Lake, FL9.1 mi · 15,970 people · home $227,300
- Bushnell, FL10.4 mi · 3,047 people · home $67,600
- Mascotte, FL15.2 mi · 6,609 people · home $304,300
- Tavares, FL15.4 mi · 19,003 people · home $254,500
Wildwood questions
Is Wildwood, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wildwood scores better for retirees than 83% of Florida towns and quieter than 86%. 47.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.2).
How much does a house cost in Wildwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Wildwood is valued at $451,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,552, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $1,519 a month.
What is the weather like in Wildwood?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 48.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Wildwood get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wildwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 2, 2007. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)