Stellar Retirement Spots
Florida is not just the best place to vacation - it’s also the best place to live! The warm sunshine and even warmer communities, in addition to the exciting attractions, scenic beaches, and road trip worthy highways make it the perfect spot to settle down for your sunset years. Here are some stellar retirement spots!
Note: statistics listed are from the United States Census Bureau
On the Gulf Coast
Known for its white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, and its warm and friendly communities, this coast of Florida offers you a delightful variety of places to spend your sunset years.
Safety Harbor
Median home price: $517.5K
Senior population: 20%
Safety Harbor offers visitors a unique small town setting that is home to a wide variety of things to see and do, thanks to being nestled in the heart of Tampa Bay. This is a particularly lovely spot to settle if you love boating. The parks here offer a healing encounter with nature, and a particular favorite is Philippe Park by the water. Safety Harbor Marina and Fishing Pier is a popular gathering spot for fisherfolk and boaters alike, and is also a great place to watch pleasure boats and fishing charters sailing to and fro. If you’re looking for a little excitement on the weekend, it’s a simple drive to downtown Tampa for a busy, big city experience. You can then return to the safety of your home by the harbor.
In the safety of Safety Harbor, create your dream home in your ideal community. A local home community creator, Deeb Family Homes has been creating the perfect homes in Safety Harbor for over 70 years - so these are the people to trust when you are looking for your dream home. If you are looking for a company with financial strength, stability and longevity, Deeb Family Homes should be your builder. Review our past so you can plan your future with confidence.
deebfamilyhomes.com
Punta Gorda
Median home price: $449.9K
Senior population: 50%
On the southwestern side of Florida is Punta Gorda, a waterfront retreat of a town to which many retirees are drawn. In fact, over half of the population in Punta Gorda are seniors, so you’re sure to have lots of company. This is yet another great destination for water lovers, too - you could spend your days relaxing on the beach or out on the boat. This is a great place to keep a boat, thanks to Charlotte Harbor, which is one of the U.S.’s largest natural harbors. The town’s Fisherman Village is a great place to find shopping, dining, live entertainment, and even sunset cruises. A perk of being located in Punta Gorda is that when family comes to visit, they can fly directly into Punta Gorda Airport! The bustling city of Sarasota is located just north, and the iconic beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel and Captiva Islands are located to your south.
One of Punta Gorda’s top retirement communities is Buttonwood Village, which is southwestern Florida living at its best: pristine landscaping, brightly-colored homes and villas with tropical decor, private lanais for watching the sunset, and stocked fishing lakes for the avid fisherman.
buttonwoodvillage.com
Verandah, Fort Myers
Median home price: $629K
Senior population: 60%
Verandah is a gated community alongside the Orange River in Fort Myers, Florida. Developed by Bonita Bay Group, this green living community opened in 2003. With an emphasis on environmental preservation, Verandah's master-planned community sits on 1,456 acres of natural Florida landscape and encompasses nine miles of scenic walking trails. Homebuyers looking to call Fort Myers home have a wide variety of single-family floor plans and neighborhoods from which to handpick. Verandah is located 10 minutes from downtown Fort Myers.
With two stunningly maintained 18 hole championship golf courses, Verandah is an ideal community for golf enthusiasts. The Golf House is home to a pro shop and two golf courses, the Old Orange and Whispering Oaks. The Old Orange is Verandah s first 18-hole championship golf course.
verandah.com
Sarasota
Median home price: $570K
Senior population: 27%
Sarasota is known for its cultural offerings, this a fantastic place to live if you love to indulge in the arts. Once home to the circus magnate John Ringling, it boasts The Ringling estate museum and gardens. Thanks to the Ringlings’ support of the local arts community, it is thriving to this day, and offers a variety of theaters, the Van Wezel Performance Center, the Sarasota Opera House, and a plethora of art galleries. For retirees, there are many beautiful retirement communities dotted throughout the Sarasota area (as well as its sister city, Bradenton). Many 55+ neighborhoods feature smaller homes that are easier to care for, with the benefit of swimming pools and other recreational activities for both you and visiting family to enjoy.
Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay is retirement living at its most luxurious, providing a new perspective on your life of retirement. Residences are designed to space and light, with views of downtown Sarasota, Sarasota Bay, or the Gulf of Mexico.
plymouthharbor.org
In the Panhandle
Spattered with picturesque small towns that really embody the style of Old Florida, you have your choice of quaint beach villages, soothing state parks, and fantastic fishing spots.
Inlet Beach, Walton County
Median home price: $800K
Median age: 52 years
Inlet Beach is one of Walton County’s beautiful waterfront neighborhoods, and a picturesque place to live in retirement. About as authentic an Old Florida experience as there is, Inlet Beach is located on the historic, scenic 30A highway. On the beach, take a stroll toward the old pier at Camp Helen State Park and dip your toes in the warm waters of Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in all of Florida.
A brand new retirement community has just opened up in spring of this year: Watersound Fountains, part of the prestigious national brand of Watersound Communities. Live it up in this enviable, sun kissed destination, with all the perks of a concierge lifestyle; that’s right, no more maintenance, landscaping, or plumbing hassles. Here, integrative wellness options, a wealth of engaging activities, and everything the Emerald Coast has to offer come together to give you a luxurious, fulfilling lifestyle.
watermarkcommunities.com
Apalachicola
Median home price: $350K
Senior population: 27%
Perhaps one of the most iconic small towns of the Florida Panhandle is Apalachicola. As part of Florida’s “Forgotten Coast,” you can experience the breathtaking beauty of a bygone era captured in the well preserved historic architecture and amazing homes that line its tree shaded streets. Beautiful, peaceful, and archaically romantic, the area of Apalachicola Bay is amazing for all kinds of unique shopping discoveries.
Apalachicola Realty, Inc. specializes in commercial and investment properties, with a focus on downtown Apalachicola. An active real estate broker since 1973, Leon Bloodworth brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business.
apalachicolarealtyinc.com
On the Atlantic Coast
Sporting oceanfront cities, the home of NASA, and some of the most historic sites in the nation, the Atlantic Coast is a classic choice for those looking to retire - while still having plenty of excitement.
Jacksonville
Median home price: $299.9K
Senior population: 15%
Sporting a colorful landscape that includes a bustling downtown, colorful beach area, and fun river district, the highly populated city of Jacksonville is an exciting place to spend your sunset years. It’s also an excellent spot for spending your time on your hobbies, like golfing, fishing, and boating. Seniors love that Jacksonville has several high performing hospitals, according to the U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, including Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville.
Cypress Village is a Life Plan Community, offering active senior living with resort inspired services, amenities, social activities, chef prepared cuisine, and onsite care that includes assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care and rehabilitation services. This vibrant community is set on 120 wooded acres, offering waterfront views and walking trails. Located just minutes from both the downtown and beaches, there’s plenty for you and your visitors to explore.
cypressvillageretirement.com
Stuart
Median home price: $439K
Senior population: 27%
Any New Yorkers looking to retire on Florida’s Atlantic Coast may want to check out Stuart, located less than hour north of West Palm Beach and famous as the spring training home of the New York Mets! As a part of Martin County, which is known for its natural beauty and scenic roadways, it’s also a popular spot for auto lovers to motor around. You can also hop onto the iconic A1A and road trip up to St. Augustine or down to Miami (if you’re feeling quite adventurous, you could keep going to the Florida Keys).
The Pointe at Ocean Boulevard is a top choice for senior living communities in Stuart, providing “casually elegant” living in spacious apartments with a focus on ease of access and peace of mind. Onsite are chefs to prepare your meals, a fitness center, transportation, and 24 hour onsite staff.
thepointeatoceanboulevard.com
Vero Beach
Median home price: $399K
Senior population: 28%
North of Stuart is Vero Beach, which is a favorite of many retirees thanks to its plethora of recreation centers and, of course, its pristine beaches for which it is named. 27 percent of the population here is seniors, so you’ll make lots of friends, and there are many retirement communities here from which to choose. Vero Beach has the sensational knack of combining world-class luxury and an arts and culture scene featuring theater, art museums, ballet, and opera, with small-town charm, which is why residents and visitors alike find it so attractive.
Fairlane Harbor Homes is a retirement community for active adults, located on 40 acres beside the Indian River Lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean just minutes away. This desirable community offers manufactured homes with relaxing porches and stellar views, as well as a community clubhouse that hosts lots of social events. Take a swim in the pool, hit the shuffleboard court, or fish off the community dock.
fairlaneharborhomes.com
In Central Florida
The heart of Florida is one of the warmest places to be, both in weather and in community. Here, you’ll have the comfort of a small town combined with the sunshine of a tropical destination.
The Villages
Median home price: $420K
Senior population: 85%
The Villages is a huge retirement community in Sumter County, located in Central Florida. Sometimes referred to as “Disney World for Adults,” The Villages is a rapidly growing, lifestyle-based community that offers more than 2,000 activities for residents. You can choose between seasonal or year round living here, with homes and villas that are unique in their styling to set each apart from each other, so that rather than feeling like you’re in a cut and paste subdivision, you feel like you’re living in a beautiful neighborhood. This is the ideal spot for golfers, as The Villages has their own Executive courses, and residents receive free lifetime membership to all of our Championship Country Clubs, including Palmer Legends and Nancy Lopez Legacy - you could play golf every day, if you wanted! For social gatherings, there are the previously mentioned activities, as well as three old fashioned town squares, shopping and dining, entertainment including live performances, and social clubs.
thevillages.com
Winter Haven
Median home price: $305.1K
Senior population: 23%
Also in Central Florida is Winter Haven, known for its Chain of Lakes and interconnected canals that provide endless activities for water lovers like boaters and fishermen. The surrounding area also features many attractions like the Lake Wales Historic District and Bok Tower Gardens. The gardens provide acres of tall oaks, fragrant flowers, and historic architecture, and is a great place to bring the family or perhaps just spend some time by yourself with a good book. Winter Haven’s economy is built on small businesses and entrepreneurs, and there is a strong music, theater, and arts culture - just a couple of the reasons that the community here is a strong and happy one, which makes Winter Haven truly feel like home. While the median age range is younger here than other choices on our list, some retirees prefer to live in a town with a variety of ages.
Many retirees choose to buy a home here thanks to great prices, although some find that Winter Haven’s retirement communities are the best places to live. Spring Haven Retirement, part of Meridian Senior Living, is located on five acres of lakeside land, with scenic views and a convenient location close to town. They offer both independent and assisted living, depending on your needs, and encourage social living with lots of community activities.
meridiansenior.com
