25 Best Places to Retire in Florida - Updated for 2023 (2024)

At Florida for Boomers, I've written about many of the best places to retire in Florida and I cover 100+ of them in The Florida Retirement Handbook.

But every year I take a look at our website analytics and go through the hundreds of emails I get from readers to figure out the places that people are reading about and asking me about the most.

If you are researching the best places to retire in Florida and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the options, I hope this list can help you.

Without further ado, here are the 25 best places to retire in Florida today.

1. Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch earns the top spot on our list for 2023. It has an in-demand central west coast location and proximity to popular cities like Sarasota and Bradenton, and offers a variety of 55+ and all-ages neighborhoods, making it suitable for a variety of retirement tastes.

Main Street at Lakewood Ranch offers residents the ideal downtown experience filled with an eclectic collection of boutiques and eateries. Main Street is also the home of Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, as well as regular concerts and festivals throughout the year.

Waterside Placeis the newest commercial destination at Lakewood Ranch, and it offers a wide range of restaurants and retail stores that are perfectly integrated with apartment living, all right on the water.

Where to Retire in Lakewood Ranch:

Though Lakewood Ranch is considered a multi-generational community, there are certain neighborhoods that are 55+, such as Cresswind at Lakewood Ranch and Del Webb at Lakewood Ranch.

You can request more information about Lakewood Ranch here.

2. Ocala

The Ocala area represents a unique combination of history, horses, and culture that is surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural environments you will find anywhere. Sprinkle in the collection of interesting shops and restaurants in Ocala’s downtown district and you will find Ocala to be the type of place where no one struggles to find something to do.

Where to Retire in Ocala:

There are a handful of 55+ communities in Ocala, but two in particular stand out among the crowd.

The first is On Top of the World. Leisure amenities here include 54 holes of golf on three courses, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a private R/C flying field, bocce, racquetball and basketball courts, a fitness center, a health club and spa, restaurants, cultural venues, and much more. Residents can also participate in over 175 clubs, leagues, hobbies, and lifelong learning opportunities.

There are 23 floor plans available with prices ranging to suit every budget starting from the $200k's. You can request more information about On Top of the World here.

The other Ocala area community you should check out is Del Webb Stone Creek, which is right next door to On Top of the World. It has all of the amenities most people have come to expect from Del Webb communities. Very few new Del Webb's in Florida have golf courses, but Del Webb Stone Creek does. You can learn more about Del Webb Stone Creek here.

3. The Villages

Located about an hour north of Orlando, The Villages is consistently one of the best-selling communities, retirement or otherwise, in the country.

Because of its sheer size and scale, The Villages is unlike any other place or community you'll encounter in Florida. Residents have access to an amazing collection of golf courses, recreation centers, and town squares, as well as an unparalleled number of clubs covering just about any topic you can imagine. Perhaps best of all, nearly everything is golf cart accessible.

Learn more about The Villages here.

4. Tampa

As the third largest city in the state of Florida, Tampa offers residents all of the big city amenities they are looking for combined with the fantastic climate that draws people to the Sunshine State in the first place. In addition to tons of amenities and great weather, Tampa is also located right on the water and filled with outstanding shopping and dining options.

Where to Retire in Tampa:

Valencia Del Sol’sconvenient Tampa location makes it easy to enjoy having fun in the sun along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Offering a robust and extraordinary 55+ lifestyle, Valencia del Sol caters to residents looking to socialize and stay physically active.

Kings Point, with over 5,200 homes, is a snowbird's paradise.This gated community offers over 200 clubs to keep anyone and everyone entertained.The two large clubhouses contain 3 indoor pools and 2 outdoor resort-style pools.Kings Point offers its residents free scheduled transportation throughout Sun City Center. All of the homes are paired villas and the price point can be from mid $100k's to high $400k's.

5. Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie and other neighboring towns in St. Lucie County promote themselves as offering “the real Florida,” which they describe as a perfect atmosphere for golf lovers or anyone looking for a small, friendly, beach town.

Where to Retire in Port St. Lucie:

Valencia Walk at Riverland is the third 55+ community to be built as a part of the overall4,000-acre Riverland masterplan. Valencia Walk will offer the next generation of new home designs, incredible amenities, and is located in very close proximity to Riverland’s 5-acre Arts & Culture Center, as well as the future City Parks and Town Center.

Request more information about Valencia Walk here.

Tradition is a master-planned community in Port St. Lucie. The Town Center creates a natural community hub for residents to meet and socialize, where events like a weekly farmers market invite one and all to gather. The extensive Tradition Trail winds through the community connected to over 300 acres of parks, inviting residents to explore the outdoors, meet up with friends, or enjoy a casual stroll and visit the Town Center.

Tradition is comprised of several different neighborhoods. While some neighborhoods are open to residents of all ages, Tradition also includesseveral 55+ neighborhoods.

Request more information about Tradition here.

6. Babco*ck Ranch

Babco*ck Ranch is a solar-powered townlocated near Fort Myers in Southwest Florida. It is designed with walkability and bike-ability in mind, and much of it is golf cart accessible.

Babco*ck Ranch gained a lot of national notoriety in 2022 after news stories fromCNNand60 Minutescovered how well the community fared during Hurricane Ian.

Situated on approximately 18,000 acres, adjacent to an extensive wilderness preserve, an 870-acre solar farm powers some of the community. There are clubhouses, pools, a golf course, hiking and biking paths, greenways, and lakes perfect for outdoor adventures.

Where to Retire in Babco*ck Ranch

There are several great single-family home and condominium neighborhoods retirees might like in Babco*ck Ranch, but the first 55+ neighborhood is opening there in 2023 called Regency at Babco*ck Ranch.

7. New Smyrna Beach

Located just 15 miles south of Daytona Beach is where you will find New Smyrna Beach. This quaint little beach town offers the atmosphere that many Boomers are looking for, but also brings quite a few unique amenities to the table.

New Smyrna is only about 20 minutes away from where I used to live inDaytona Beach Shores, and we often found ourselves down in New Smyrna for one reason or another (usually food or drink related…haha!) a few times per week.

Where to Retire in New Smyrna Beach:

Perfectly situated in Central Florida’s favorite beach town,Venetian Bayoffers World Class Resort-Style amenities to its residents.

Play a round of golf on their 18-Hole Championship golf course, spend a day with your family at the Beach and Swim Club, enjoy a relaxing day at their World Class Spa, stay active by joining the on-site fitness center or walking and biking on the miles of beautiful trails.

Venetian Bay has luxury estates in gated private communities; semi-custom homes; mid-sized single-family homes and duplexes; maintenance-free luxury townhomes and apartment homes.With prices ranging from the $200k’s to over $1 million, there really is something for everyone at Venetian Bay.

Get more information about Venetian Bay here.

8. Jacksonville

Located in northeast Florida, Jacksonville offers its residents all of the amenities that come with a beachfront city for a fraction of the cost of some of the other popular retirement destinations in the state.

Known as the “River City on the Sea,” Jacksonville is packed with more than 22 miles of beaches, a scenic stretch of the beautiful St. Johns River, the largest urban park system in the nation, historic neighborhoods, and a thriving street art scene.

Where to Retire in Jacksonville

There are so many great places to retire here that it's probably best to point you to our list of 55+ communities in Jacksonville, but one of our favorites is Del Webb eTown.

Del Webb eTown is a new, smart-living, 55+ gated community in Jacksonville centrally located near the popular St. Johns Town Center retail/dining/entertainment center off I-295.

Meet friends at the private clubhouse and amenity center with recreational activities including tennis, pickleball, bocce courts, walking trails, outdoor pavilions, fire pits and so much more.

Get more information about Del Webb eTown here.

9. Watersound

Watersound is located near Panama City Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast and is a place that you are going to hear A LOT about in the coming years. That’s because it's the location of the 3rd Jimmy Buffett-inspired Latitude Margaritaville retirement community, afterDaytona Beach(1st location) and Hilton Head (2nd location), Latitude Margaritaville Watersound.

Watersound is located in the Florida Panhandle, right off Scenic Highway 30-A in the heart of South Walton county, about 17 miles northwest ofPanama City Beach, and 30 miles east ofDestin.

With the amount of land the developer has assembled, Latitude Margaritaville Watersound “could” get as big or even bigger than The Villages. That would take decades of course, but the space is there to do it.

Where to Retire in Watersound

Most people headed to this area are probably going to be interested in Latitude Margaritaville Watersound.

The list of amenities coming to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is very similar to what we’ve seen in other Latitude Margaritaville communities. Home prices range from the $200k’s to the $400k’s.

You can request more information about the community here.

10. St. Augustine

Famous for being the oldest city in the country, St. Augustine is absolutely the perfect place for anyone who appreciates history. The city is located along the east coast of Florida just about 45 minutes south of Jacksonville, and a little over an hour north of Daytona Beach.

In addition to being a great location for history buffs, St. Augustine is also filled with tons of culture, great shopping, unique places to eat, and two really wonderful retirement communities. If you are passionate about any combination of those things, the Nation’s Oldest City could be a great option for your retirement.

Where to Retire in St. Augustine

Parkland Preserve at World Golf Villageis an active adult neighborhood offered by Freedom Homes (a D.R. Horton company). Community features include a gated entrance, an amenity center with a pool, and a Lifestyle Director to help residents meet their neighbors, stay active and make new friends.

Also, Reverie at Trailmark is a 55+ community developed by Dream Finders Homes, located in St. Augustine between the St. John's River and the Atlantic Ocean.

11. Boynton Beach

Located just about halfway between West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Boynton Beach offers residents a lifestyle that is far removed from all of the popular Florida tourist destinations without actually being all that far away from those places.

Where to Retire in Boynton Beach:

GL Homes has developed 8 of their “Valencia 55+ Communities” in Boynton Beach alone, and their newest is called Valencia Grand.

Valencia Grand in Boynton Beach offers truly premium 55+ living unlike anywhere else, with a prime South Florida location, sophisticated country-club lifestyle, and all-new unmatched amenities. Valencia Grand takes sophisticated living to the next level with one-story home designs made for 55+ living with stand-out features including expansive high ceilings, transom windows that let in even more Florida sunshine, impressive gourmet kitchens, spa-like baths, spacious outdoor living areas, and more.

You can request more information right here.

12. Naples

Like many southwest Florida communities, Naples brings together the best of shopping, recreation, and beautiful beaches. But residents here would definitely argue that Naples offers the best versions of all three.

Historic downtown Naples is filled with high-end shops and boutiques. The surrounding areas are littered with championship-level golf courses. And this location along the southern Gulf Coast of Florida boasts some of the most stunning beaches you will find anywhere.

Where to Retire in Naples

Valencia Trails in Naples offers the best resort lifestyle with a magnificent 42,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse where every day new events, clubs, and entertainment abound. Relax by the pool, grab a bite at the restaurant, catch a show in the social hall, or take a relaxing stroll or jog along the community’s iconic trails. The options are endless!

Designed for 55+ living, the gorgeous contemporary-style single-family homes at Valencia Trails offer the ultimate in style, convenience, and luxury with spacious living areas, impressive gourmet kitchens, and screened and covered patios to make the most of Florida’s beautiful weather year-round. Come home to luxurious standard features including tile roof, brick pavers, stainless steel and gas appliances, designer tile flooring throughout main areas, rich stone exterior finishes and so much more.

You can request more information right here.

13. Winter Garden

Located about 25 minutes west of downtown Orlando, Winter Garden offers residents the perfect combination of an Old Florida feel and plenty of modern amenities.

You’ll love strolling through the historic downtown district but will also enjoy the lake lifestyle, the thriving cultural scene, shopping at the weekly farmers’ market, and dining at the impressive collection of modern restaurants.

Where to Retire in Winter Garden

Del Webb Oasis in Winter Garden is located just minutes from Orlando area theme parks and attractions. This community is slated to include a 14,000-square-foot clubhouse that will be situated to provide an excellent view of theme park fireworks. Del Webb Oasis is offering a selection of single-family homes and villas.

14. Melbourne

Considered part of the Space Coast on Florida's East Coast, Melbourne is seeing an uptick in interest among readers in part due to all of the activity surrounding the fast-growing commercial space program.

Where to Retire in Melbourne

Situated over 500 acres, withplans for approximately 1,300 homes, Del Webb at Viera will offer retirement living in an acclaimed master-planned community known for its robust amenities and proximity to beautiful beaches, fine dining, and shopping.

Opening in early 2023, Del Webb at Viera will offer single-family and villa homes similar to those available in other Del Webb communities. At the time of this writing, pricing has yet to be released.

15. Fort Myers

Known for offering the perfect combination of recreation and relaxation, Fort Myers contains an endless amount of options including great beaches, first-class golf courses, exciting deep-sea fishing, and outstanding shopping. It's no wonder why you'll find so many 55+ communities there.

There is an amazing selection of great local restaurants in just about every neighborhood, and baseball fans will be excited to know that both the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins host their spring training activities here.

Where to Retire in Fort Myers

Verandah is a beautiful, private, guard-gated golf course community in Fort Myers. Enjoy life among mature oak trees, meandering bike paths and walking trails, and breathtaking views of the Orange River. Verandah is an all-inclusive community, with full-service dining options, social events and activities, fitness and recreation options, and 2 spectacular 18-hole championship golf courses: Old Orange, designed by Bob Cupp and Whispering Oak, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Prices start in the $400k’s.

Opened in 2022, Del Webb Oak Creek inFort Myersis yet another addition to the longlist of Del Webb communitiesin Florida. Like most Del Webb communities, Del Webb Oak Creek will have a long list of amenities for residents to enjoy, including a 6-acre resort-style amenity center.

16. The Nature Coast

Located along the inside curve of Florida’s coastline, the Nature Coast region connects the Sun Coast counties with the areas located further west along the Florida Panhandle.

It is comprised of nine counties that include Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and the city of Dunnellon, which is a part of Marion County.

This area of Florida is known for being a nature lover’s paradise with some of the best collections of state parks and wildlife populations that you will find anywhere in the country.

Where to Retire on The Nature Coast

Just a short drive from Tampa, the Villages of Citrus Hills is a Florida Retirement Community with single-family homes and maintenance-free villas that have been built with today’s demanding baby-boomer in mind. But what makes the promise of Florida Retirement in the Villages of Citrus Hills truly come together for today’s new breed of active adult retiree is its extraordinary collection of world-class community country club amenities and extensive social activities. A wide variety of homes and homesite packages are available.

You can request more information right here.

17. Delray Beach

Located just an hour up the coast from Miami you will find one of the best small-town communities in the entire country. The state’s official tourism website describes Delray Beach as a “small and intimate town with big-city sophistication.”

This is obvious to anyone who visits based solely on the number of art galleries, restaurants, and nightly entertainment events available throughout the popular downtown area. Delray Beach is the place where you can find big-city culture in a small-town environment…which is why so many people have decided to make their homes here.

Where to Retire in Delray Beach

Avalon Trailsis a new 55+ community in Delray Beach with 105 single-family homes and 208 attached villas.

18. St. Cloud

Located along the southern banks of East Lake Tohopekaliga near Kissimmee and just south of Orlando, St. Cloud is a quiet city that was originally known as a retirement destination for Civil War veterans.

In addition to having a rich history, the area also offers a type of small-town living that is getting harder and harder to find here in Florida. Combining that small-town atmosphere with access to all of the fantastic amenities located just to the north in Orlando makes St. Cloud a perfect mixture of old and new Florida living.

Where to Retire in St. Cloud

DelWebbSunbridge is a new 55+ gated community in St. Cloud.

The 27,000 sf. clubhouse will feature luxurious indoor and outdoor amenities like a zero-entry pool, resistance pool, pickleball and tennis courts, a fitness center, a movement studio, and more. Single-Family Homes and Villas start from the $400k’s.

You can request more information right here.

19. Clermont

Sitting right in the heart of Central Florida, just 20 miles west of Orlando, is where you will find the impressive little city of Clermont. It has at times been ranked as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Retire by Forbes and Money Magazines and was also voted the #1 Florida Bicycle-Friendly Community.

As if that wasn’t enough already, Clermont is considered the center point of the impressive Coast-to-Coast Trail, and the city is still growing and developing at an incredible rate.

Where to Retire in Clermont

Palms at Serenoa – Clermont, FL

Located just west of Orlando, Palms at Serenoa is a gated, active adult community of 570 attached villas and single-family homes that began construction in 2018. Residents here enjoy access to amenities like a community clubhouse, fitness center, resort-style pool, and more than 16 acres of parks and green spaces around the community.

The attached homes at Palms at Serenoa are a 1,608 square foot floorplan with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The single-family homes range in size from 1,402 to 2,034 square feet and come in six different models. Prices start in the $300k’s.

Request more information

Del Webb Minneola is a new 55+ community scheduled to open soon just north of Clermont. The community is only one mile from the Florida Turnpike, which makes getting just about anywhere you need to go in the greater Orlando area extremely easy. You can expect to see the same types of homes and amenities offered in other Del Webb communities here in Florida.

20. Venice

Located just south of Sarasota, but not quite as far south as Fort Myers or Sanibel Island, Venice sits in a sweet spot along Florida’s southern Gulf Coast that makes it the perfect destination for anyone looking to make the most of 14 miles of stunning beaches.

In addition to those beautiful beaches, Venice is also known for all kinds of exciting ways to enjoy the great outdoors. It is a fabulous destination for boomers interested in exploring arts and culture, boutique shopping, or a wide range of outstanding restaurant choices.

Where to Retire in Venice

Grand Palm is truly a one-of-a-kind community! This beautiful, amenity-rich, nature-focused community in Venice, Florida is exactly what resort living should be like. Residents enjoy easy access to downtown Venice and beaches (20 minutes away) and a multitude of activities right in their own backyard with an on-site activities coordinator, state-of-the-art fitness facility, and large, resort-style pool with water slide.

Located just south of Venice in Sarasota County, Boca Royale Golf & Country Club offers a rare lifestyle that feels more like a vacation than the everyday. Residents of the gated 1,000-acre community enjoy a full line of fun and fitness amenities, including an 18-hole par 72 golf course. A beautiful amenity center and clubhouse round out the community.

Also nearby, Wellen Park is a next-generation community made up of friendlyneighborhoods and a vibrant downtown. Wellen Park is currently the third best-selling community in Florida, trailing onlyThe VillagesandLakewood Ranch. There aren't any 55+ neighborhoods in Wellen Park yet, but the wide range of community amenities, proximity to great Venice area beaches, great restaurants, and Braves Spring Training baseball more than make up for that fact.

21. Kissimmee

If one of your concerns is that you move to Florida for retirement and your kids and grandkids never come to visit, that won't be the case if you end up in Kissimmee.

In fact, you might have a hard time getting them to leave!

Kissimmee is located just south of Orlando and is just minutes from popular attractions like the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Sea World, and more.

Where to Retire in Kissimmee

Popular 55+ communities here include Solivita and Four Seasons at Orlando.

22. Palm Beach County

It's rare for readers to ask me about communities in specific counties in Florida, but for whatever reason,Palm Beach Countyis an exception to that rule.

Palm Beach County is the largest county in Florida by area, has 47 miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, and in my estimation has more55+ communitiesthan any other county in Florida.

I've listed a few cities in Palm Beach County on this list already, but other cities like Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, and Westlake also deserve recognition.

23. The Florida Keys

There are some places that are nice to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there.

The Florida Keys are perfect whether visiting for a weekend or deciding to make it a permanent home.

An idyllic tropical setting at the tip of the United States combined with a myriad of recreation, entertainment, and cultural opportunities create the ideal place to spend the next stage in life.

24. Daytona Beach

Because of its popularity among race fans, motorcycle enthusiasts, spring breakers, and summer vacationers,Daytona Beachis often overlooked by many boomers as they search for a Florida retirement destination that will fit their ideal lifestyle. However, those popular reasons for visiting Daytona Beach are really just scratching the surface of what residents enjoy here throughout the year.

Where to Retire in Daytona Beach

Latitude Margaritaville is a new 55+ community in Daytona Beach, inspired by the lifestyle and music of Jimmy Buffett.

Amenities include a fully outfitted gym / Spin Room, aerobics room with virtual personal trainer, indoor whirlpool spa and lap pool, Latitude Town Square where you’ll find the Bandshell with live music, The Last Mango Theater includes a banquet hall with stage for performances and dancing, Barkaritaville Pet Spa, Coconut Telegraph Business Center, Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant, Changes in Attitude Bar, Paradise Pool with beach entry, cabanas, and tiki huts, plus, an amenity that you don’t see every day…your very own private beach club! Home prices start in the $200k’s.

Get More Information About Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach Here.

25. Amelia Island

Located in the far northeast corner of the state, just north of Jacksonville, Amelia Island is stunningly beautiful and filled with history, culture, great shopping, championship-level golf, world-class resorts, and a collection of incredible restaurants.

People who make their homes on Amelia Island have been quoted saying things like, “It’s the kind of place that captures your soul.” They describe the area as “the type of place you feel like you spent your whole life searching for.”

Where to Retire Near Amelia Island

Del Webb Wildlight is a new 55+ community scheduled to open soon in the Amelia Island area. For those who plan to travel frequently, the community is only about 15 minutes from Jacksonville International Airport. You can expect to see the same types of homes and amenities offered in other Del Webb communities here in Florida.

What Did I Miss?

There you have it, the top 25 best places to retire in Florida today.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often because I am constantly updating this page.

Better yet, sign up for our Florida retirement newsletter and I'll let you know whenever we update this list.

Know a great place in Florida that I should consider adding to the list in the future?

Let me know in the comments section below!