Best Places to Retire in Florida – A Guide

If you have been looking for the best places to retire in Florida this website has the answers you need. Choose from over 100 of the best places to retire in Florida that are popular with active adults 55+. Updated March, 2024.

Overall
Florida is where many people instinctively look for a retirement or active adult community – it probably has more retirement oriented communities than anywhere in the world. Its climate is warm all year round and you are never too far from water. Living costs can vary a great deal within the state; inland and northern towns tend to have more inexpensive options, while high-end communities like Naples have real estate prices and a significantly higher cost of living. Recreational activities are exceptional in this state with a double coastline on the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. The 2020 household population was just 21.5 million and growing. Median age is 42.7, several years higher than national average.  From 2022-2023 the Census Bureau reported that FL had 4 of the 5 fastest growing Metros in the country (the one with The Villages was #1). This page will acquaint you with some basic facts about the best retirement places in Florida.

Best places to retire in Florida
Florida is so big that is likely to have the perfect retirement lifestyle for just about anybody. Some obvious picks include retirement places like Venice, Key West, and Winter Park. Other towns to investigate include: Stuart, Delray Beach, Sarasota, and Gainesville. Two other popular retirement towns that are very different but close geographically are Abacoa and Vero Beach. Many people are interested in a Central Florida retirement. See our free mini-guide to The Villages (near Ocala), which is the #1 most popular active adult community at Topretirements.com. For more ideas, see the list at right.

Climate
The Florida climate is characterized as humid subtropical. Summers are hot and wet, winters are warm or mild. Marine air from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic controls the climate. Key West is the only frost-free location in the continental U.S.

Economy and Home Prices
In 2023 the Florida household income was $69,203, well below the all state median of $74,555. Home prices have doubled since the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. Median home value in early 2024 was $387,000, just above the national median (Zillow data).   In Cape Coral/Ft. Myers the median selling price was $400,000 in late 2023 (National Association of Realtors), whereas in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale the median was $600,000.

Taxes

Tax Burden: At 9.1% Florida’s total state/local tax burden is 11th lowest in the nation (Source: The Tax Foundation).

Marginal Income Tax Rates. Florida is one of the few states with no income tax, which automatically makes it a tax bargain. Obviously Social Security and other retirement income is not taxed.

Sales Tax: Sales tax is 6%, one of the higher rates compared to other states.

Property Taxes: Florida`s successful Save Our Homes law has attracted tens of thousands of permanent residents from other states. The Florida law caps increases in a home’s assessed value for full time residents at 3% a year or the CPI, whichever is lower. Full time residents are also eligible for a $50,000 exemption on assessed value. Local communities in Florida can change mill rates at will, but at least the most volatile component of the property tax, wild swings in appraised values, are moderated. The state is ranked 16th highest in per-capita property tax collections with $1216 per capita collected.

Estate and/or Inheritance Taxes. Florida does not have inheritance or estate taxes.

Link to the Florida Department of Revenue

See very interesting commentary about  “Save Our Homes” from OldNassau in our Forum.

Certified Retirement Communities
Florida does not have a certified retirement community program.

Get started with reviews of the best retirement communities.

Reviews of best retirement cities

Park near downtown Venice FL – a popular retirement community

Click on the Florida Retirement Community reviews on the right. Or to find information about what retirement is like in different states for example to retire in Kentucky, retire in Georgia, retire in North Carolina, and retire in Tennessee.