These 10 Beach Towns Are Great for Retirement

May 21, 2024 – When we ask people what they want in a place to retire, living near the beach is often their #1 desire. They like the idea of being close enough to the beach so they can walk, bike, or take a short drive to relax in the sun and enjoy the relaxing sound of the surf. That might mean a beach on the ocean, a bay, or even a big lake – any of those could fit the bill. Here are 10 great beach towns to consider for retirement. We welcome your suggestions for more.

Florida Beach Towns

Vero Beach, FL and nearby Sebastian are great options for anyone wanting to live near the beach. Located midway down the east coast, this area is not quite as expensive as cities further south, but it does have enough cultural options to keep people engaged. There is a large number of active communities to choose from, some of which even have their own marinas and beaches.

Dunedin is a favorite Florida town of ours. An old railroad right of way that was turned into a bike and walking path runs through the center of town. The beaches here are beautiful white sand. The Tampa airport offers great connections to just about everywhere. Tampa and St. Petersburg offer amazing cultural opportunities, including the Salvador Dali Museum.

Fernandina Beach, FL. This old town at top of Florida’s eastern coast is just above 13.5 miles of the beautiful beaches of Amelia Island. Fernandina Beach has a charming downtown with an artsy feel and many quiet neighborhoods. It is one of the most charming towns in Florida in our opinion.

Alabama and Mississippi Coast beaches

Fairhope, AL, is a former utopian community with ambiance and a tradition of outstanding cultural opportunities. A 1,450-foot town pier serves as a local gathering spot. Biking is good in the community. Nearby Foley is farther from the water, but offers a less expensive alternative. Mobile would be the closest airport, although Pensacola is a good alternate.

Orange Beach, AL. Located on a barrier island along the Gulf Coast, close to the west Florida border. Bustling in the summer and much quieter in the winter, the year-round population is just over 8,000, and growing. Fishing and golf-centric, Orange Beach also has beautiful bright-white beaches. The Orange Beach Islands, known as the Islands of Perdido Pass, are quite special.

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Delaware to Georgia beaches

From Maryland to Georgia there are many towns and cities with access to beaches. Here are two good ones.

Lewes, DE. Just above Rehoboth Beach, this was originally a whaling town and the first town in Delaware be settled (1631!). The area is the fastest growing region of Delaware. Second St. has many shops, restaurants, and historical attractions. Fisherman’s Wharf is a dock that stretches along the Rehoboth Canal.

Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Near the southern-most corner of the state, it is not far from the attractions of Myrtle Beach. The year-round population is under 1,000, which swells in the season. The area offers one of America’s finest restored beaches, plus the intra-coastal for boaters.

Texas beaches

The Lone Star State has a very long coastline that runs from Port Arthur in the East to South Padre Island in the south. There are three major cities along the coast: Galveston, Houston, and Corpus Christi. There are also numerous beach towns like Port Isabel in the south.

Laguna Vista, TX. This small town is on the coast near beautiful South Padre Island, Harlingen and Port Isabel, Texas. This popular resort area at the southern tip of Texas has a very warm winter climate, and is increasingly home to many retirees as well as vacationers. The pirate Jean Lafitte lived here for a time.

The West Coast beaches

From Washington State to California there are an amazing number of great beaches – it is a very long coastline! In Oregon and Washington the beach towns tend to be small, like Bandon. Larger towns are separated from the coast by big mountains so beaches are not that accessible. In California towns near beaches are expensive, so if you want to live near the beach you will have to settle a bit inland or live in a modest home or neighborhood.

Long Beach, CA not only has an unbelievably long stretch of beach, but it is also considered one of the best cycling towns in America. The paved paths along the beach that go for miles are a top attraction. Home prices are well above the national average. Culture level is high here with attractions like the Long Beach Museum of Art, and you can take a train to San Diego or LA for more. Long Beach airport offers good service and LAX is not far away.

Astoria, Oregon. Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, it is just a few miles away from the Pacific. Lewis and Clark stayed here for the winter of 1806. It was the first town in Oregon and has an excellent stock of Victorian homes and a nice downtown. Seaside Beach is a great beach on the Pacific.

Bottom line

Identifying your priorities for what you want in a place to retire is crucial to retirement happiness. After you do that you can start to identify places that match your criteria, and then spend time in the ones that look like the best fit. Do you know some spots on or close to beaches that we should have included? Please let us know in the Comments section below.

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