The Town FilesBushnell, Florida
City in Sumter County · population 3,047 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $67,600
- Household income
- $52,717
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.0
Bushnell is a city of 3,047 people in Sumter County, Florida. The median home is worth $67,600, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 83% of Florida towns, quieter than 80% of Florida towns.
- #3 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Florida
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Florida With the Cheapest Homes
- #5 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- #10 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #10 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in Florida With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
How Bushnell 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 Bushnell is worth $67,600, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $52,717, which is more affordable than 99% of Florida towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bushnell | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $67,600 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $745 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $52,717 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.2% | — |
Who lives in Bushnell
| People | Bushnell | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Bushnell
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 52.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 112 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 16 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bushnell since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 15, 1987 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 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 Bushnell itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Bushnell
4 public schools with 1,867 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH SUMTER HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 1,058 | 18.2 |
| BUSHNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 719 | 15.6 |
| SUMTER PREP ACADEMY | 1-12 | 90 | 15.0 |
| CONTRACTED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Bushnell
- Lake Panasoffkee, FL6.5 mi · 4,072 people · home $153,000
- Wildwood, FL10.4 mi · 15,730 people · home $451,600
- Floral City, FL11.5 mi · 5,261 people · home $232,000
- Leesburg, FL13.1 mi · 27,000 people · home $228,600
- Mascotte, FL14.1 mi · 6,609 people · home $304,300
- Ridge Manor, FL14.3 mi · 4,743 people · home $229,800
- North Brooksville, FL15.1 mi · 3,506 people · home $209,500
- Inverness Highlands South, FL15.3 mi · 6,698 people · home $216,800
Bushnell questions
Is Bushnell, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bushnell scores better for retirees than 72% of Florida towns and quieter than 80%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Bushnell?
The median owner-occupied home in Bushnell is valued at $67,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,717, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Bushnell?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Bushnell get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bushnell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 15, 1987. 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)