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Living in
On Top of the World.
On Top of the World is an unincorporated community in Marion County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in On Top of the World
This is a place built almost entirely around retirement, and that shapes everything about daily life here. The median age is 72.5 years, and roughly 81 percent of residents are 65 or older, so you're essentially choosing to live in a community designed by and for retirees — which means excellent healthcare access, active social clubs, and a genuinely quiet, stable neighborhood feel, but also limited nightlife, few young families, and schools that barely exist (only 0.5 percent of residents are under 18). If you're moving here to stay active in retirement or you're someone who thrives in a slower-paced, age-integrated community, that's genuinely appealing; if you're younger and looking for career growth or a vibrant social scene, you'll want to seriously consider nearby Ocala instead.
On Top of the World at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
71.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Foreign-Born
7.3%
Broadband Internet
87.0%
of households
Median household income
Demographics7.3% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in On Top of the World: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In On Top of the World, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (11.9%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
0.3%
of residents
65 and Older
79.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
0.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.2%
of households
Married Couples
59.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.74
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 27% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in On Top of the World
In On Top of the World, rent runs 27% below the FL average, and home values are 15% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
8.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,593
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
92.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2006
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above FL average
Unemployment in On Top of the World
Unemployment in Marion County, which includes On Top of the World, is 1 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
On Top of the World: Marion County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Marion County (county-wide) · Annual averages
On Top of the World is about 4% of Marion County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What On Top of the World Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.4 min avg
How On Top of the World residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In On Top of the World, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 mi
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV)
Regional airport · few flights289k passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 mi
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Major hub28.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 32% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, which covers On Top of the World, runs 32% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
224
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
631.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Marion County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marion County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marion County, which includes On Top of the World, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Heavy Rain | $39,200 |
| 2024 | 19 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,100 |
| 2022 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $62,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Heavy Rain | $2,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,500 |
| 2019 | 26 | Heavy Rain | $11,510 |
| 2018 | 22 | Heavy Rain | $9,700 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Marion County, county-wide
On Top of the World is about 4% of Marion County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marion County, which includes On Top of the World, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
118
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Marion County, county-wide
On Top of the World is about 4% of Marion County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
On Top of the World has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
84°/58°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
72°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
110
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
8
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 46°F | 3.38" |
| Feb | 74°F | 48°F | 2.94" |
| Mar | 79°F | 52°F | 3.68" |
| Apr | 84°F | 57°F | 2.22" |
| May | 89°F | 64°F | 3.53" |
| Jun | 91°F | 70°F | 7.41" |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 6.94" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 7.07" |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 6.49" |
| Oct | 84°F | 63°F | 3.21" |
| Nov | 77°F | 54°F | 2.09" |
| Dec | 72°F | 48°F | 2.68" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in On Top of the World
Uninsured
1.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside On Top of the World's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Vines Hospital
Psychiatric · 8.9 mi away · Ocala
Adventhealth Ocala
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.1 mi away · Ocala
Marion Communtiy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Ocala
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education38.8% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in On Top of the World
Public Schools
0
none inside city limits; students attend nearby district schools
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near On Top of the World (within 15 miles)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 3,121 students · in-state tuition $15,138 · 46% graduate · median earnings $47,524 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 308 students · in-state tuition $13,924 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,494 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Matanzas National Monument, 76 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for On Top of the World
On Top of the World has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Matanzas National Monument (76 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
76 mi awayCastillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayCanaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
95 mi awayCities Near On Top of the World
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to On Top of the World?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
On Top of the World FAQ
Is On Top of the World, Florida affordable?⌄
On Top of the World's median rent is $1,212/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,670/year. Median home value is $303,900.
Is On Top of the World, Florida safe?⌄
On Top of the World is policed by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 224 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 632 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in On Top of the World, Florida?⌄
Marion County, which includes On Top of the World, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in On Top of the World, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in On Top of the World is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,212/month and median household income is $60,670/year. The median home value is $303,900. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in On Top of the World, Florida?⌄
The average commute in On Top of the World is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from