Center Hill offers rural living near employers, Webster and Bushnell
The City of Center Hill earned its name from its central location atop a hill in Sumter County. In the early 1900s, the city was a boom town, producing mass quantities of string beans. Agriculture remains a leading industry; cattle farms surround an industrial corridor with a beef production facility and a sand and gravel mine. Center Hill does not have a shopping and dining district or much commercialization, establishing a rural atmosphere. Despite its remoteness, it is a short drive to Bushnell and Webster, areas that have various restaurants and shops.
Single-story homes on gridded streets and multiple acres
Ranch-style and manufactured homes are common, from gridded streets in the community’s center to multi-acre properties on the outskirts. Sprawling brick and panel-sided ranch-style homes price from about $330,000 to $700,000. Some properties may be zoned for horses. Manufactured home prices range from around $280,000 to $800,000.
Center Hill’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score. The national average is 4.
Sumter County schools and taking courses for college credit
Center Hill is in the eastern region of the Sumter County School District. Assigned schools include Webster Elementary, South Sumter Middle and South Sumter High, all of which earn B grades from Niche. The high school allows students to earn college credit with its Advanced Placement and career and technical education courses.
Markets, restaurants and an Aldi close to Center Hill
Despite not having a designated shopping and dining area, Center Hill has access to communities with various restaurants and markets within a 10-mile drive. Bushnell’s Main Street has a Coney Island Drive-In hot dog stand and an Aldi. Market Boulevard in Webster features the Florida Cracker Feed Lot, a regional soul food chain. “It’s in the middle of the Sumter County Farmers Market lot and is really good. They even have fresh-baked goods at the front that always get me,” says Isabelle Zapata, an administrative assistant at the City of Webster. The farmers market hosts sales for produce on Saturdays and cattle on Tuesdays. It is also home to the state’s largest flea market, the Webster Westside Flea Market, which opens on Mondays.
Farmers market hosts Friday Night at the Market
In 2025, Sumter County Farmers Market began hosting Friday Night at the Market, a first Friday series. “They’ll put out local vendors, and it’s a thing where many nearby counties can get together. It’s full of food trucks, booths and that’s been a fan favorite for everyone,” Zapata says. Admission is free, and each month’s market features new entertainment.
Forested trails, catch-and-release fishing and riding horseback
Richloam Tract spans 58,000 acres of the Withlacoochee State Forest, where hunters find deer and small game. Campsites are scattered throughout the forest, and loop trails wind through the trees, ranging from roughly 9 miles to 13 miles. Areas near the tract's thick forests and natural space have an elevated wildfire risk. Private properties, such as Promise Ranch, offer additional recreational opportunities. The ranch's 1,300 acres include Scorpion Lake, a spring-fed rock pit lake filled with largemouth bass. Catch-and-release is the lake’s fishing policy. Promise Ranch features charters and guided tours. True Connection Horse Farm and Training, a private 12-acre farm, offers boarding and riding lessons.
County Roads connect the community to small cities and Orlando
County Road 48 connects the community to Webster in about 7 miles and Bushnell in around 8 miles. County Road 469 intersects State Route 50 southeast of Center Hill, tying the area to Orlando in about 45 miles. Florida’s Turnpike is also nearby and leads to Orlando, including Orlando International Airport, nearly 55 miles away. Orlando Health South Lake Hospital Emergency Room is just over 10 miles away.
