25 Most Popular Active Communities – 2025

January 8, 2025 – The votes are in for Topretirements’ 25 most popular active communities for 2025. Not surprisingly, Florida and North Carolina had the most winners at 5 each. South Carolina and Virginia were hot too, garnering 3 spots each. Connecticut had 2 winners. Pine Village in Flagstaff, AZ was the only community in the west to make the top 25.

All of the 25 were active adult communities, and most were designated 55+ (although the owners in all are predominately over 55) . Two were mostly specialized: Indian River Colony Club (retired military) and Carefree Cove (LGBT). In what appears to be a trend, very few of the communities offered golf as an amenity.

To calculate the top 25 we looked at our Google Analytics data for all of 2024 to see which community reviews had the most online visits at Topretirements. Some of the winners are surprising, like the #1 vote getter, Sandestin, in Destin, FL. Most of the winners are advertisers at Topretirements, who drew more attention from their enhanced listings. Since our sponsors pay the bills, we are grateful to these outstanding communities for their support.

“The range of communities on this list is a great example of the variety of communities today’s retirees can choose from.”

John Brady

The description of most of the communities is taken from the blurbs these companies have provided.

Sandestin – Destin, Florida. Just east of Destin, the 2,400 acre resort offers townhomes, condos and villas both for rent and for sale.

Fairfield Glade – Crossville, TN. Perched high atop the Cumberland Plateau, it offers serene mountain beauty sitting on the highest point between the Rocky and Smoky Mountains.

Handsmill on Lake Wylie – Rock Hill, SC. Handsmill on Lake Wylie is a lakefront, new home community located in the historic and quaint town of York, South Carolina. The master-planned community boasts direct access a boat launch, fishing, water sports, and lakeside dining.

Woodside – Aiken, SC. The community boasts: “Yet perhaps its greatest asset lies in its thoughtfully rendered composition: the superbly crafted homes; the stunning wooded, lake and golf course home sites; and a carefully conceived use of natural beauty.”

Cresswind Charleston – Charleston, SC. This gated 55+ community is integrated within the thriving community of The Ponds while maintaining its own privacy. It features a full list of resort-style amenities, all located within a natural, Lowcountry setting.

Amblebrook – Gettysburg, PA. Amblebrook offers a farm-to-table lifestyle that is surrounded by parks, trails, lakes and streams. The community will be comprised of 2,000 homes and also includes a Town Center with a community clubhouse, coffee shop, and farm stand. 

Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes – Hoschton, GA. This new gated 55+ community is conveniently located within the master-planned community of Twin Lakes, just 40 miles northeast of Atlanta in Hoschton, neighboring Braselton.

Wesley Chapel – Charlotte, NC. Cresswind Wesley Chapel is a next generation, active adult community with an award-winning lifestyle program including a Lifestyle Director.

Carefree Cove – Boone, NC. Certainly the most unusual of all of the winners, Carefree Cove is a LGBT log home community located near Boone, North Carolina, on 165 acres of hardwood forest. Appalachian State Univ. offers classes within the community.

Hyatt Pointe at Snowden Bridge – Winchester, VA. Residents of this 55+ gated community will enjoy the many amenities which will include an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, outdoor kitchen area, patio, and a gas fire table.

Wendell Falls – Wendell, NC. Located just outside downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, the community features an eclectic, walkable mix of retail and residential, town and country. It is built entirely with environmentally friendly homes. 

The Crest at Linton Hall – Bristow, VA. Choose from spacious villa and single-family homes by Brookfield Residential. Many amenities include pickleball and bocce courts, horseshoes, trails, a covered outdoor kitchen with sink and grill, outdoor seating area with firepit. 

The Village at Nags Head – Nags Head, NC. An upscale golf and beach community located on the Outer Banks in North Carolina with custom-built homes. The community features two Soundside Parks with piers, and offer sailing, swimming, fishing and water sports.

Cresswind Charlotte – Charlotte, NC. This nature-rich refuge of inviting streetscapes, manicured landscaping and miles of walking trails combines resort-style amenities with easy access to the shopping, dining and entertainment of uptown Charlotte. 

Barefoot Bay – Sebastian, FL.

Indian River at Colony Club – Melbourne, FL. Primarily a military retirement community, Indian River Colony Club (IRCC) is a 55+, active adult community dedicated to serving those who served. It has 773 individually owned 2-4 bedroom single family homes

Birchwood at Brambleton – Brambleton, VA. Everything that you want in this walkable, 55+ community is at your fingertips, including a 20,000 square foot clubhouse with indoor and outdoor pools, hiking and biking trails, open spaces, shopping and dining.

The Tides at Charleston – Staten Island, NY. The first active adult 55+ community in New York City (Staten Island), The Tides is a gated, waterfront community. Experience resort-style living with amenities including a waterfront clubhouse, pool, fitness center, and bocce court. 

Bon Ayre – Dover, DE. This carefully planned community in retirement friendly Delaware features a Community Center and pool, sidewalks, streetlights, off-street parking and a guest parking area, natural gas, town police and fire protection, on-site management, and a 12-acre public park.

Cresswind at Lake Harris – Tavares, FL. A brand new 55+ active adult community that opened for new home sales in the Fall of 2024. Located in Tavares, Florida, also known as  “America’s Seaplane City”,  the community includes walkways & trails, a clubhouse overlooking the lake, and a wide array of social areas.

Cresswind Deland – Deland, FL. In DeLand, near Orlando and Daytona, this new Central Florida community is designed for active adults with resort-style amenities. Convenient access to beaches, shopping and dining, golf, and healthcare.

The Villages – FL. By now almost everyone has heard of The Villages, home to about 150,000 people enjoying retirement. It has too many amenities and clubs to count. Frankly, we are surprised that it didn’t rank at the top, as it has in so many years.

Pine Canyon – Flagstaff, AZ. This private golf community offers mountain living in a choice of two separate neighborhoods.  Choose between single family homes or condominium homes, and enjoy amenities which include a championship golf course.

The Hammocks at Long Island Sound – Clinton, CT.  A village of 53 individual custom homes with views of Long Island Sound and Clinton Harbor. Located in nearby Clinton, the Hammocks is within walking distance of the town, beaches, and local marinas. Nearby Tidewater is a less expensive option.

66 High St. – Guilford, CT. Downtown living with water views. Live within steps to the historic Guilford Green, downtown shopping and restaurants, and the beautiful Guilford Library. Luxury and convenience collide with high ceilings, crown moldings, finely appointed baths and exquisite high end finishes.

Comments? What community do you think should have made the top 25 list of active communities last year? Please add your suggestions in the Comments section below.