Where To Retire In Jacksonville:
Del Webb eTown is a new, smart-living, 55+ gated community in Jacksonville centrally located near prestigious St. Johns Town 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.
Single-Family Homes start from the upper-$200ks.
The 10 Best Active Retirement Communities In Florida
Best Florida cities for retirees | Best retirement communities in Florida | Methodology
Florida is undeniably the nations retirement hot spot. The pristine beaches, mild winters, and low taxes make it a paradise for folks 55 and over.
The most difficult part about retiring to Florida is choosing the best community for your lifestyle. To make this easier, weve identified the top ten Florida cities for retirees and the highest-rated retirement communities in each city.
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Why Retire To Florida
Florida attracts retirees across the U.S. for four key reasons:
- Low taxes. Florida has no state income, estate, or inheritance taxes. Social Security benefits, pension income, and income from IRAs are all untaxed as well.
- Large population of adults aged 55+. Folks aged 60 and over make up more than 25% of the total population in many of Floridas most popular cities.
- Pleasant year-round climate. Active retirees can enjoy the outdoors almost every day in the Sunshine State. The mild winters appeal to snowbirds, and the hot summer months are great for lazy days on the beach.
- Countless attractions and events. Florida truly offers something for everyone. In addition to its numerous beaches and state parks, Florida has art and history museums with free admission and hosts special events throughout the year. Outdoor concerts, festivals, farmers markets, and art fairs can also be found in most metro areas.
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Keystone Place At Naples Preserve
Retirement marks the transition from a harried life to a relaxed lifestyle. At the same time, it gives you the freedom to follow through on your goals. A life-fulfilling community awaits you at Keystone Place at Naples Preserve. Located only just a short drive from the Gulf Coast, this luxury retirement community facility offers you a spectrum of amenities and services. It boasts of spacious apartment homes and private suites, a state-of-the-art fitness center, resort-style heated pool, and on-site wellness resources so youll stay fit, sharp, connected, and inspired.
Let the charm of the Gulf Coast, views of the Nature Preserve, and the aroma of expertly prepared breakfast awaken your senses to resort-style living every day.
In short, everyones business at Keystone Place at Naples Preserve is to make you happy, whether your living option is for independent living, assisted living, or memory care. Want some proof? In case you are not fully satisfied in your first 30 days of residency, you will be refunded and you receive up to $1,000 toward the cost of relocation.
Cypress Falls At The Woodlands North Port Fl
214-7413 | Website
Cypress Falls at The Woodlands is a gated community of 710 attached and single-family homes in North Port, Florida, which is about halfway between Sarasota and Fort Myers. Residents here enjoy access to amenities like a community clubhouse, resort-style pool, and a putting green.
New construction is available here for either attached or single-family homes. The attached homes range in size from 1,362 to 1,651 square feet. Then the single-family options are a little bigger ranging from 1,372 to 1,968 square feet.
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Latitude Margaritaville 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 youll 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 dont see every dayyour very own private beach club!
Home prices start in the $200ks.
Cascades At Southern Hills Brooksville Fl
815-403-1800 | Website
Cascades at Southern Hills is an age-restricted gated neighborhood of nearly 200 single-family homes inside the larger master-planned community of Southern Hills Plantation about an hour south of Tampa. Amenities here include a neighborhood clubhouse, as well as the opportunity to purchase access to all of the many amenities of Southern Hills Plantation.
New construction at Cascades at Southern Hills is currently available in seven different floorplans ranging from about 1,500 to 2,335 square feet.
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You Can Retire And Live In Margaritaville
Our generation will be begging our children to put us in a home a retirement home, to be specific.
We at The Manual assumed this business venture was fake news, but as it turns out, the merging of margaritas with 55-plus living is as real as the fact that snails have 14,000 teeth.
Were here to announce that the Jimmy Buffett chain Margaritaville has expanded its branding to Margaritaville retirement communities. Theyre being called Latitude Margaritaville. This collaboration between Minto Communities and Margaritaville should fuse quality real estate with exciting recreation, live entertainment, and great dining into one epic old folks home.
Were hoping it smells like tequila and limes and not like, well, most retirement homes.
Three locations have currently been designated for Latitude Margaritavilles, including Daytona Beach, Florida Hilton Head, South Carolina and Watersound, Florida.
The model homes for two Latitude Margaritaville locations were unveiled in spring of 2018, featuring four Caribbean Collection villa models, three Beach Collection single-family homes, and two Island Collection single-family homes. Each space is painted a beachy pastel outside and features a crisp, white interior reminiscent of island retreats. The layout looks like a normal suburban community that has listened to Pass the Dutchie one too many times.
Plus a fitness center, tiki huts, cabanas, and private beach and pool.
Editors Recommendations
Florida Retirement Communities Defined
Florida retirement communities offer a chance for active retirees to achieve the most enjoyment out of their golden years. In contrast to assisted living arrangements, active retirement communities offer a greater measure of independence, allowing mature adults to enjoy their retirement as they please. A number of these communities offer resort-style accommodations while others offer single-level housing or private cottages. Retirees are not responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the property those tasks are left to the on-site staff. Staff is also available to handle nearly any emergency situation that comes up. However, active retirees are expected to handle their own medical needs, as long-term medical care is not offered within the community.
Find Senior Living
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Freedom At Arbor Mill Jacksonville Fl
300-3003 | Website | Request more information here
If smaller single-family homes are what you are looking for, Freedom at Arbor Mill is a fantastic option located right outside of Jacksonville. Residents here enjoy access to their own private clubhouse and pool, as well as the public amenities of the larger Oakleaf Plantation community.
The 156 single-family homes at Freedom at Arbor Mill are available with three or four bedrooms with anywhere from 1,585 to 1,986 square feet of living area with prices starting in the $200ks.
The Retirement Community Must Be In An Area With A Low Crime Rate
Florida has the 39th worst crime rate of the 50 states. Almost every Florida retirement community is a private development that is walled off from the rest of the world, where you must enter through a gate just to get inside. So most of these retirement communities are quite safe when you are inside of the development.
The problem is, youll have to leave that safety for dining, shopping and entertainment, going to the doctor and more. So if a retirement community in located in a city or town with a high crime rate, it wont be considered for our list, with one important exception as youll see below.
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Valencia Bonita Bonita Springs Fl
308-4600 | Website | Request more information
Offering easy access to everything Southwest Florida is famous for, GL Homes is developing Valencia Bonita, setting a new standard of 55-plus living on Floridas beautiful Gulf Coast. With an exciting vacation-inspired lifestyle that rivals the finest resorts, Valencia Bonita features an opulent 45,000 sq. ft. clubhouse and carefully designed single-family and villa home designs that are tailored to those looking for spacious layouts and sophisticated style.
Valencia Bonita is located just minutes from pristine beaches, tranquil nature preserves, chic shops and fine dining. Plus, everyday conveniences including banks, grocery stores and top rated medical facilities are also just a short drive away.
Harmony Reserve Vero Beach Fl
772-562-9889 | Website
Harmony Reserve is a gated community of 397 attached and single-family homes that is located just outside of Vero Beach along Floridas popular Treasure Coast. Amenities here include everything from a 15,000 square foot clubhouse with a state-of-the-art fitness center to a huge outdoor pool surrounded by a collection of lakes and ponds.
Residents at Harmony Reserve can choose from six different attached villa floorplans and more than a dozen different single-family options. When you combine all of those models, this community can offer anywhere from 1,219 to 2,756 square feet.
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Villages Of Seloy St Augustine Fl
904-810-2097 | Website
Located in historic St. Augustine, Florida, Villages of Seloy is a gated community of 240 attached villas designed to offer residents a low-maintenance lifestyle. Amenities here include a community clubhouse, a fitness center, and a resort-style pool.
The attached homes at Villages of Seloy are available in four different floorplans that each come with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
Where To Retire In Naples
Valencia Trails in Naples, FL 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 communitys 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 Floridas 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. Homes start in the $600ks.
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The Best Cities In Florida For Senior Living
According to the U.S. News & World ReportBest Places to Retire in 2020-2021 survey, 13 of the top 25 cities to retire in are in Florida. Sarasota earned the No. 1 title in the nation. Other noteworthy Florida cities on the list included:
- Daytona Beach
For our list of top retirement communities, first we considered the total population of each city on the U.S. News & World Report list and then calculated the percentage of people aged 65 and over.
When searching for the top communities in each city, we considered:
- The location of each community
- The communitys access to high-quality healthcare
- Whether communities were age-restricted or multi-generational
- The type of retirement community
Some retirees may want to live in age-targeted communities, which are marketed towards retirees but welcome people of all ages, or in strictly 55+ communities. Seniors in both types of communities can purchase their own homes instead of renting an apartment. Age-restricted and age-targeted communities are best for active adults who need little to no daily assistance.
Continuing care retirement communities are popular in Florida because they include several types of housing options. On the same property, a CCRC may have senior apartments, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes so residents can easily move if their needs change.
The Retirement Community Must Be In An Area With A High Number Of Amenities Per Capita
Retirement means you will have a lot of free time to fill. The retirement communities on our list offer access to a higher number of restaurants, shops and entertainment options per 1000 residents, than most other cities in Florida. Almost every retirement community in Florida has a clubhouse, pool and offers additional social and recreational opportunities. To make this list, the retirement community must also be located in a town that offers a high quality of life when youre outside the retirement communitys gates.
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Del Webb Nocatee Ponte Vedra Fl
543-3927 | Request more information
Del Webb Nocatee is a new 55+ gated community in Ponte Vedra, which is in Northeast Florida, just minutes from Jacksonville and St. Augustine, and about 4 miles from pristine beaches.
The Canopy Club will will offer luxury amenities just a golf carts drive away, including a zero-entry pool, pickleball courts, fitness studio, and even an onsite Tavern & Grill with private wine lockers.
Del Webb Etown Jacksonville Fl
543-3959 | Website
Del Webb eTown is a community of 346 single-family homes in Jacksonville that began construction in 2018. Plans here call for over five acres of amenities that include an 8,000 square foot clubhouse and a resort-style pool.
The homes at Del Webb eTown are available in a number of different models starting in the $300ks.
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The 10 Best Retirement Communities In Florida
With its sunny climate, gorgeous beaches, and low cost of living, Florida is a mecca for retirees. The fact that theres no state income tax doesnt exactly dent its appeal either. As a result, retirement communities have sprung up left, right, and center, all doing their best to outbid each other in their attempts to attract the grey dollar. With so many diverse options to choose from, selecting your ideal home can be overwhelming. To help out, weve ranked the ten best retirement communities in Florida. If youre ready to move south for your retirement, these are the best places to head.
The Lakes At Harmony St Cloud Fl
407-988-3285 | Website | Request more information
The Lakes at Harmony, is the newest addition to Harmony from Jones Homes USA. These two and three bedroom homes are built for the way you live today, with space where you need it most. Residents here enjoy less crowded living with spacious outdoor living areas, many of which include water or conservation views, and a private recreation center and pool.
From the miles of walking and biking trails, to the community garden, parks and fitness center, Harmony has something for everyone. Gather at the Town Square which includes a spa, market, physician office, restaurants and more or play a round of golf on the only Johnny Miller Signature course in Central Florida without ever leaving your community.
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Century Village At Deerfield Beach
- Price Range: Low to high $100ks
- Number of homes: 8,508
- Age Restrictions: 55+
The Century Village in Deerfield Beach has more than 8,000 homes. But its main attraction is the 145,000 square-foot clubhouse that offers a fitness center, pool, sauna and more. And you can also check out a show at the theater that can seat 1,600 people. Other popular attractions include the Century Village beach.
As far as living arrangements go, you can choose from more than 7,000 condominium units. Each ranges in size from 600 to 1,500 square feet. Most offer scenic water views. Plus, most homes are very low maintenance.
The community is also home to the Everglades National Park. You can do everything from fishing to hiking in this massive wildlife area.
Pga Village Verano Port St Lucie
Although this is not specifically a retirement community, there is a 55+ neighborhood located within the PGA Village Verano in Port St. Lucie. It features a massive social center for private and community events, a pickleball center, a year-round social calendar filled with activities, and a modern fitness center.
Additionally, Port St. Lucie is one of the best cities on the coast of southern Florida that has a little something for everyone!
With plenty of outdoor nature activities, this outdoor mecca has no shortage of fun things to do in your free time. For example, the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens features hundreds of plants, hummingbirds, and other unique attractions. You can also visit the Savannas Preserve State Park and the Veterans Park at Rivergate.
Standout Feature: Golf-centric activities
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Independent Living Communities In Florida
Independent living communities are ideal for aged retirees who wish to maintain their independence, but at the same time want to downsize their current living situation. These retirement communities in Florida provide different services that elders can take advantage of. They typically offer some personal services like transportation to doctors appointments, meals and activities at a monthly fee. They are in place for members of the older generation who do not require assistance with daily living tasks but crave for unity and support of a senior based community. Overwhelmingly, independent living communities in Florida do not include medical services in their care packages. It is because their design is for seniors who have limited or no health problems. They may partner with reputable healthcare professionals who make sure retirees are always healthy.
Some of the Florida independent living communities, however, include social adjustment services, counselling and guidance care, rehabilitation, and a myriad of other day care services. The apartment style complexes may also offer other services that include housekeeping, laundry services and exercise programs. These enable retirees to trade in burdens of home maintenance for more sophisticated comforts that come with a well-deserved retirement. There are plenty of opportunities for engaging physical and mental being in a supportive and social environment.
