Florida is an iconic retirement destination. Drawn by great weather, unbeatable golf, swaying palm trees and white sand beaches, retirees love the simultaneously exciting and active and relaxing lifestyle Florida has to offer residents.
Choosing a destination retirement in Florida means starting an adventure when you start the next chapter of your life. With the amazing amenities geared towards retirees, it’s no wonder that some of the best cities to retire in America are in Florida.
Top 10 Cities to Retire in Florida
1. Fort Pierce
Percentage of the Population over 65: 16.5%
Median Home Price: $100,100
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 303
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,298
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 4
If you spent your days at the office dreaming of a beach side retirement, Fort Pierce is the perfect community for you! This fantastic coastal town in the Port St. Lucie Area has an incredibly low median home price, so get ready to embrace your inner beach bum and enjoy fun in the sun during your golden years.
2. Lauderdale Lakes
Percentage of the Population over 65: 15.7%
Median Home Price: $109,600
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 314
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,222
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 18
Lauderdale Lakes is an affordable and safe community in the Fort Lauderdale Area. Retirees can take advantage of its low median home price and affordable cost of living, so you can make a fixed income last longer while still getting to enjoy the luxurious beach retirement without a downright scary price tag.
3. Largo
Percentage of the Population over 65: 26%
Median Home Price: $117,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 323
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,592
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 14
If you don’t want to live in a beautiful oceanfront town, that happens to have a low cost of living while still being a comfortable suburb of an exciting urban hub then stay far away from Largo. Seriously, this charming city in Pinellas County has something for everybody, except for couch potatoes who never want to have any fun.
4. Haines City
Percentage of the Population over 65: 13.8%
Median Home Price: $124,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 36
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 588
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
Haines City is a comfortable suburb of Orlando that fosters a welcoming community for retirees. This affordable town on the banks of Lake Eva offers you the chance to live a life you love outside of an amazing metropolitan hub in central Florida.
5. Lauderhill
Percentage of the Population over 65: 13.8%
Median Home Price: $124,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 553
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,338
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 20
Not to be confused with Lauderdale, Luderhill is a fantastic suburb of Fort Lauderdale. This fantastic community has everything you could possibly want in a Florida retirement destination: easy access to the beach, a safe neighborhood, a short drive to a urban amenities, and fantastic health care.
6. Palm Springs
Percentage of the Population over 65: 19.8%
Median Home Price: $129,000
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 127
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 988
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 10
Lake Worth has a wonderful city for retirees in Palm Springs. This charming town is perfect for people who love the great outdoors thanks to its numerous wooded parks, and easy access to marinas and boat launches on Lake Worth. You can stay active and healthy when you make your retirement home in Palm Springs.
7. Ocala
Percentage of the Population over 65: 18%
Median Home Price: $128,600
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 406
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,908
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3
Active adults will love retiring in Ocala. Easy access to the Ocala National Forest and Florida’s West Coast mean you can enjoy the best of Florida’s natural setting, making it easy for you to get out, stay active, and have a healthy lifestyle well into your golden years.
8. Titusville
Percentage of the Population over 65: 23%
Median Home Price: $130,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 289
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,397
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2
Titusville is a charmingly historic town on Florida’s East Coast. This beautiful city offers retirees a low cost of living, especially for a coastal community. Get ready to enjoy the white sand, beach retirement you always wanted when you retire to Titusville.
9. Casselberry
Percentage of the Population over 65:15.1%
Median Home Price: $132,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 152
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 946
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City:6
Northern Orlando has a wonderful suburb for retirees in Casselberry. This great city has the best of all possible worlds, easy access to Florida’s iconic beaches, a low cost of living, a great urban hub, and a safe and private environment. If you’re ready to start a life you love, get on over to Casselberry and start your dream retirement!
10. Lakeland
Percentage of the Population over 65: 21.8%
Median Home Price: $132,100
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 363
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 3,422
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 4
Lakeland is a wonderful Western Florida community. This thriving city has a really low median home price, making it a smart choice for people who want to settle into their next adventure. Nearby Tampa and beaches let you sample the best that Florida has to offer, without inserting yourself into the constant hustle and bustle.
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.
Common Questions About Retiring in Florida
Retirees looking to live comfortably in Florida need to have about $1.2 million dollars saved, slightly higher than the national average.
Retirees can enjoy a life they always dreamed about while working in the office! Some of the benefits of retiring in Florida include amazing weather, perfect for golfing or beachfront living, no state income taxes, and no estate taxes.
Seniors and retirees can defer most or all of their property taxes. If you are over the age of 65 and have a primary residence in Florida for at least 25 years, you can defer all your property taxes.
| City Name | People Over 65 | Violent Crimes | Property Crimes | Access to Doctors | Median Home Price |
| Fort Pierce | 16.5% | 303 | 1,298 | 4 | $100,100 |
| Lauderdale Lakes | 15.7% | 314 | 1,222 | 18 | $109,600 |
| Largo | 26% | 323 | 2,593 | 14 | $117,900 |
| Haines City | 13.8% | 36 | 528 | 6 | $124,200 |
| Lauderhill | 13.8% | 553 | 2,338 | 20 | $124,400 |
| Palm Springs | 19.8% | 127 | 988 | 10 | $129,000 |
| Ocala | 18.% | 406 | 2,908 | 3 | $128,600 |
| Titusville | 23% | 289 | 1,397 | 2 | $130,500 |
| Casselberry | 15.1% | 152 | 946 | 6 | $132,300 |
| Lakeland | 21.8% | 363 | 3,422 | 4 | $132,100 |
| Sanford | 12% | 421 | 2,133 | 7 | $133,800 |
| Palm Bay | 18.3% | 404 | 2,109 | 5 | $136,600 |
| Pinellas Park | 21% | 224 | 2,423 | 13 | $138,300 |
| Deltona | 15.7% | 235 | 1,123 | 4 | $139,000 |
| Winter Haven | 23.8% | 236 | 1,032 | 6 | $140,200 |
| Daytona Beach | 20.4% | 765 | 3,368 | 3 | $141,000 |
| Greenacres | 15.3% | 161 | 848 | 10 | $147,500 |
| North Lauderdale | 8.8% | 248 | 821 | 18 | $152,000 |
| Panama City | 18.4% | 239 | 2,230 | 2 | $153,600 |
| Deerfield Beach | 21.5% | 331 | 2,518 | 14 | $153,600 |
| Plant City | 13.5% | 186 | 1,198 | 7 | $154,300 |
| Tamarac | 25.6% | 208 | 1,262 | 18 | $156,200 |
| Melbourne | 21.2% | 601 | 2,960 | 7 | $155,300 |
| Gainesville | 10.2% | 1,010 | 5,664 | 2 | $154,00 |
| Bradenton | 24.7% | 390 | 1,571 | 8 | $160,700 |
| Crestview | 10.35% | 86 | 702 | 2 | $162,000 |
| Kissimmee | 10.7% | 298 | 1,842 | 7 | $162,600 |
| Port Orange | 24% | 26 | 1,406 | 3 | $165,800 |
| Pensacola | 16.8% | 290 | 2,071 | 5 | $165,700 |
| Altamonte Springs | 14.8% | 136 | 1,446 | 6 | $169,800 |
| Coconut Creek | 18% | 91 | 1,048 | 18 | $171,500 |
| Margate | 22.3% | 100 | 1,018 | 17 | $172,900 |
| Miami Gardens | 12.9% | 821 | 4,553 | 25 | $170,900 |
| Riviera Beach | 16.4% | 414 | 1,343 | 8 | $172,600 |
| St. Cloud | 13.5% | 76 | 666 | 4 | $174,600 |
| North Port | 24% | 117 | 1,192 | 5 | $174600 |
| Sebastian | 33.2% | 31 | 279 | 3 | $175,900 |
| Jacksonville | 20% | 5,414 | 30,668 | 8 | $160,900 |
| Sunrise | 16.5% | 189 | 2,384 | 18 | $179,200 |
| Rockridge | 21.9% | 61 | 408 | 5 | $180,500 |
| Port St. Lucie | 19.9% | 218 | 1,851 | 3 | $180,400 |
| North Miami Beach | 12.9% | 325 | 1,692 | 24 | $180,500 |
| Dunedin | 31% | 52 | 652 | 16 | $181,700 |
| Dania Beach | 15.2% | 210 | 1,222 | 22 | $183,500 |
| North Miami | 11.4% | 527 | 2,342 | 23 | $183,200 |
| Lake Worth Beach | 13.7% | 957 | 2,989 | 9 | $182,700 |
| St. Petersburg | 18% | 1,662 | 8,818 | 16 | $182,900 |
| Boynton Beach | 20.8% | 481 | 2,989 | 10 | $187,100 |
| Deland | 23.9% | 183 | 1,266 | 5 | $187,100 |
| Clearwater | 21.9% | 511 | 3,087 | 12 | 191,600 |
Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.
Other Florida Resources
After graduating in 2016 from The University of Texas with a degree in English, Sanda Brown became a content writer for the BDX with a focus on website copy and content marketing.
At the BDX, Sanda helps write and edit articles on NewHomeSource.com, writes website copy for builders, and manages a team of freelancers that work on additional content needs.
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