FL
Wilton ManorsCity Guide
Two square miles, two river forks, one mile-long main street.
Wilton Manors is an island. The North and South Forks of the Middle River wrap its two square miles on every side, which is why the city calls itself the Island City and why so many of its streets end at a seawall. Georgia developer Ned Willingham named the place in 1925, it incorporated in 1947, and it has stayed small on purpose: 11,511 residents in the 2024 American Community Survey, packed at roughly 5,800 people per square mile between Fort Lauderdale to the south and Oakland Park to the north.
The city's reputation outruns its size. The 2010 census ranked Wilton Manors second in the nation for its share of same-sex couples, behind only Provincetown, and in 2018 it seated the country's second all-LGBTQ+ city commission after Palm Springs. Wilton Drive, the mile-long main street, is South Florida's LGBTQ+ capital: one walkable strip of bars, restaurants, a Pride department store, a candy shop open past midnight, and a June street festival that draws about 50,000 people. Residents skew older and more educated than the county, with a median age of 55 and 45% holding a bachelor's degree or higher, and households are small at 1.7 people.
Living in Wilton Manors: pros and cons
The case for: almost everything is walkable (Walk Score 75), the city runs its own police department out of City Hall on Wilton Drive, fifteen parks and boat ramps fit inside two square miles, Brightline's Fort Lauderdale station is about ten minutes by car, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport is fifteen to twenty, and Fort Lauderdale Beach is under three miles east. The case against: most of the housing is 1950s and 1960s ranch stock on modest lots, so renovated homes carry a real premium and unrenovated ones need a budget; Saturday nights on the Drive are loud and parked out by 9 p.m.; flood insurance is a line item on river and canal lots; and you will still drive to most jobs in Broward.
Why is Wilton Manors called the Island City, and how is it laid out?
The river forks are the boundary, so the city reads as one island with a spine. Wilton Drive cuts diagonally through the middle as the Arts and Entertainment District, with City Hall, Hagen Park and Richardson Historic Park along it. East of the Drive, toward NE 15th Avenue and Colohatchee Park, the streets are quieter and the lots along the river forks and finger canals carry docks. West of Andrews Avenue, toward Powerline Road and Mickel Park, the grid tightens into smaller ranch homes, which is where the city's lower price points tend to sit. Tucked inside all of it is Lazy Lake, a one-street village of its own that Wilton Manors completely surrounds. For a bigger city with more housing variety, look north to Oakland Park; for beach-town living on the same commute, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is fifteen minutes east.
Wilton Manors housing market in 2026
As of August 2026 our MLS data counted 319 active listings against five closed sales, a median sale price of $999,000, $562 per square foot, and a median 52 days on market. Sellers took about 97.7% of asking, and 175 of the active listings had already cut price. Five sales is a thin month, so read the median as a snapshot rather than a trend, but 319 listings is not thin: that is buyer leverage, and it rewards patience. Rentals tell a tighter story. 170 homes were listed for lease, the median asking rent was $3,300 a month, up 27% year over year, and the median lease took 42 days. Browse homes for sale in Wilton Manors to see what those numbers look like street by street.
Read the Shoppes of Wilton Manors file before you buy near the Drive. Stiles paid $27.6 million for the 5.4-acre plaza in December 2024 and filed in January 2026 to rezone it for 82 residences in two five-story buildings plus 52,000 square feet of commercial space. It is the first meaningful new supply the Drive has seen in years, and it will change parking, noise and eventually comps within a few blocks.
Two square miles, a river on every side, and a main street that knows exactly what it is.
Key Details
What makes Wilton Manors special
The Market
August 2026: five sales at a median $999,000 and $562 per square foot, a median 52 days on market, and sellers netting about 97.7% of asking. With 319 active listings that pace is roughly 64 months of supply, and 175 of those listings have already cut price. Price to the most recent comparable sale, not the highest neighbour.
Cost of Ownership
Most of the city is fee-simple single-family, so the carrying costs that matter are property tax, windstorm cover and flood insurance rather than HOA dues; our August 2026 sample had no HOA data to report. Gross rental yield ran 3.96%. FEMA's Broward flood maps changed on July 31, 2024, so pull the current zone for any address before writing an offer.
Who It's For
Couples and singles who want a walkable social life without Miami density, remote workers who value ten minutes to Brightline, and buyers who would rather renovate a 1950s ranch than pay a condo fee. Median age is 55 and households average 1.7 people (ACS 2024). Families are a minority here, and light sleepers should look a few blocks off the Drive.
Getting Around
Walk Score 75, Bike Score 63. Broward County Transit routes 50, 60 and 72 cross the city, Brightline's Fort Lauderdale station is about ten minutes by car, FLL airport fifteen to twenty, and Fort Lauderdale Beach is under three miles. Wilton Drive's Complete Streets rebuild swapped two car lanes for buffered bike lanes and wider sidewalks; bike and pedestrian crashes fell 66%.
Schools
Wilton Manors Elementary is an IB World School and Broward magnet ranked in Florida's top half for 2026, with 54% of students proficient in math and 60% in reading. Zoned middle and high schools are Sunrise Middle and Fort Lauderdale High, both across the river in Fort Lauderdale; the high school's Cambridge magnet draws applicants county-wide.
Parks & Water
About 66 acres across fifteen parks and boat ramps inside two square miles. Colohatchee's boardwalk crosses seven acres of mangroves to a dog park, Richardson Historic Park keeps its Manor House and pier on the river, Hagen Park has pickleball and tennis behind City Hall, and Snook Creek and Donn Eisele Park put kayaks and small boats on the Middle River.
Culture & Events
Stonewall Pride closes Wilton Drive every June; the June 20, 2026 edition expected about 50,000 people across seven stages with an 8 p.m. Glow Night Parade. Wicked Manors does the same on Halloween. Year-round, the Pride Center at Equality Park and Island City Stage on Dixie Highway anchor the community and theatre calendar.
Climate & Flood Risk
Subtropical, and surrounded by tidal river. First Street's model flags roughly half of the city's properties for flood risk today and nearly all within 30 years. NOAA's August 2026 update still calls for a below-normal hurricane season (7 to 13 named storms, 2 to 6 hurricanes) on the strength of El Niño, but a single storm is what matters on a seawall lot.
Recently Listed
For Sale in Wilton Manors
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For Rent in Wilton Manors
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21Lifestyle & Highlights
The best of Wilton Manors
Where to Eat
Most of the city's restaurants sit on or within a block of Wilton Drive, with a few worth the detour to Dixie Highway and NE 6th Avenue. Every venue below was operating as of summer 2026.
Rosie's Bar & Grill
The Drive's brunch institution: tropical comfort food, big patios, strong martinis and a line on Sunday.
2449 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manorsethos Greek Bistro
Modern Mediterranean at the south end of the Drive; grilled octopus and lamb chops have carried it past a thousand reviews.
2055 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsCandela Restaurant
Spanish tapas, paella and a serious wine list on the north side of town; closed Mondays.
2909 NE 6th Ave, Wilton ManorsLe Patio
A French courtyard bistro hidden on a residential street a block off the Drive; book ahead for the garden.
2401 NE 11th Ave, Wilton ManorsUnion Kitchen & Bar
Chef-driven New American with wine dinners and a cocktail program; reservations through Tock.
2309 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton ManorsTee Jay Thai Sushi
The Drive's Thai-and-sushi standby in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors block, mid-priced and reliable.
2254 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsProof
New in 2026: shared plates, craft cocktails and weekend brunch in a moody, speakeasy-leaning room at the south end of the Drive.
2045 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsCoffee and Sweets
Stork's Bakery & Coffee House
Coffee house, full bakery and bistro in one, open 6:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays; OutSFL's Best Coffee Shop and Best Bakery of 2025.
2505 NE 15th Ave, Wilton ManorsThe Alchemist Café
Garden café off the Drive known for its golden coffee and a tater-tot hash-brown waffle at breakfast; closes by mid-afternoon.
2430 NE 13th Ave, Wilton ManorsThe Bean Espresso Bar
Opened spring 2026: Neapolitan espresso, pistachio croissants and cannoli from a Toronto-born, Italian-rooted owner, open until 9 p.m. on weekdays.
2151 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsJazzberry Creamery
Opened February 2026 in the former Wilton Creamery space with 52 flavors, many of them vegan or dairy-free.
2301 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsWhere to Drink on the Drive
Wilton Drive is the densest run of LGBTQ+ bars in Florida, and almost all of them sit within a ten-minute walk of each other. Saturday is the big night; Sunday tea dance is the tradition.
Hunters
Thirty-five years on the Drive and recently renovated: video bar, big dance floor, production shows.
2232 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsGeorgie's Alibi Monkey Bar
Four rooms from restaurant to nightclub, with an air-conditioned interior and a decorated patio.
2266 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsThe Manor
The Drive's largest dance floor with full production lighting; the weekend crowd runs until 4 a.m.
2345 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsDrynk Bar & Lounge
Craft cocktails and a garden patio; the early-evening start before the clubs.
2255 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsNo Manors Bar & Lounge
One of the newer rooms on the strip, with a stage, a larger dance space and proper seating.
2246 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsEagle Wilton Manors
Berlin-inspired leather bar behind a small door, with a retail leather shop inside.
2209 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsScandals Saloon
Country-western bar off the Drive with line dancing and a busy Sunday tea dance.
3073 NE 6th Ave, Wilton ManorsApt 9F
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a reservation-only tasting-menu side.
2163 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsParks, River and Boat Ramps
The city's Leisure Services department runs nearly 66 acres across fifteen parks and boat ramps, most of them on or near the Middle River.
Colohatchee Park & Dog Park
An 8.5-acre park whose boardwalk crosses seven acres of mangroves and the Middle River to reach the dog park; walking trail and fitness zone.
1975 NE 15th Ave, Wilton ManorsRichardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve
Five and a half riverfront acres on the Drive with the historic Manor House, an observation pier, boat dock and nature trails; the city's main event lawn.
1937 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsHagen Park
The community center behind City Hall: tennis, pickleball and volleyball courts, a fitness center and a walking trail.
2020 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsMickel Park
The west side's family park: splash pad, playground, entertainment pavilion and fitness zone.
2675 NW 7th Ave, Wilton ManorsSnook Creek
Boat launch and elevated boardwalk on the western edge of the city.
2351 Powerline Rd, Wilton ManorsDonn Eisele Park
Small waterside park with a boat dock, pavilion and picnic tables.
701 NW 29th St, Wilton ManorsCulture and Events
The calendar is built around two street closures on Wilton Drive and two institutions on Dixie Highway.
Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival
Held each June on Wilton Drive; the June 20, 2026 edition expected about 50,000 people, seven stages and an 8 p.m. Glow Night Parade.
Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsWicked Manors
The Halloween street party that closes the Drive for costumes, performances and packed bars.
Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsThe Pride Center at Equality Park
One of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the Southeast, with year-round programming, health services and a tropical courtyard used for markets and events.
2040 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton ManorsIsland City Stage
Award-winning LGBTQ+ theatre company with a year-round season at its Dixie Highway home.
2304 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton ManorsWhere to Shop
Retail is small-format and concentrated on the Drive; big-box runs go to Oakland Park Boulevard and Federal Highway.
Pride Factory
The Drive's Pride department store: fashion, swimwear, jewelry and merch, open daily until 9 p.m.
2365 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsTo The Moon Marketplace
A candy and novelty store with more than 20,000 items, imported sweets and cards, open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
2205 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsOut of the Closet
AIDS Healthcare Foundation's thrift store, with proceeds funding HIV care.
2097 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsShoppes of Wilton Manors
The 1950s plaza in the middle of the Drive that holds Georgie's Alibi and Tee Jay Thai Sushi; slated for the Stiles mixed-use redevelopment filed in January 2026.
2200–2292 Wilton Dr, Wilton ManorsFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Wilton Manors
Talk to a Wilton Manors expert
Our team knows the Island City street by street, from river-fork lots to walk-to-the-Drive bungalows. Ask us about flood zones, renovation premiums and what 319 active listings mean for your offer.
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