What it's like to live in Wildwood
Wildwood is a small city in Florida with commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Wildwood deals with home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Wildwood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Wildwood
Based on Wildwood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,038
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $60,760 a year
- 69% of Wildwood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$90,320
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,160
- Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,519/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,519 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $451,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $451,600 · 69% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
6.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Sumter County is 6.8%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Sumter County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 112% above US
846 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2141/100k · Wildwood Police Department · 2020 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 51°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 11% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (76 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Wildwood's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and county unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,519/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
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