City comparison
The Villages, FL is about 60 miles (100 km) from University CDP (Hillsborough County), FL in a straight line. By road, the drive is roughly 80 miles, or about 1 h 15 min behind the wheel at highway speeds.
Driving distance is a rough estimate (great-circle × 1.25); driving time assumes a 60 mph blended average. Real trips run 10–20% longer with stops.
A direct flight from The Villages, FL to University CDP (Hillsborough County), FL takes about 8 min, covering roughly 60 miles in a straight line. Connecting itineraries with a layover typically add 1–3 hours.
Block-to-block estimate at ~500 mph cruise, including taxi, climb, and descent — what an airline would publish, not pure airborne time.
The Villages has a population of 79,108, vs 49,148 in University CDP (Hillsborough County) — about 1.6× larger by population. By land area, The Villages covers about 33 sq mi vs 6.3 sq mi for University CDP (Hillsborough County).
Population from US Census ACS. Land area from the Census Gazetteer (city proper, excluding inland water).
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | The Villages | University CDP (Hillsborough County) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,711/mo | $1,105/mo | 54.8% higher in The Villages |
| Median home value | $346,900 | $141,400 | 145.3% higher in The Villages |
| Median household income | $73,415 | $34,833 | 110.8% higher in The Villages |
| Groceries index | 96.5 | 95.8 | 0.7% higher in The Villages |
| Utilities index | 89.5 | 89.1 | ≈ equal (The Villages slightly higher) |
| Transportation index | 99.0 | 97.8 | 1.2% higher in The Villages |
| Healthcare index | 98.5 | 97.3 | 1.2% higher in The Villages |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in The Villages, you'd need $132,381 in University CDP (Hillsborough County) to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
The Villages, FL is about 24.5% cheaper overall than University CDP (Hillsborough County), FL, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 107% higher in University CDP (Hillsborough County) than in The Villages. If you earn $80,000 in The Villages, you'd need about $105,905 in University CDP (Hillsborough County) to keep the same standard of living.