Safest Place To Retire In Florida

Best Places To Retire In Florida: Daytona Beach

If youre a retiree looking for more excitement and nightlife, Daytona Beach is a great choice. However, one caveat is that its not a quiet, tranquil city. Thats because, throughout the year, there are auto and motorcycle events here. That includes the Daytona 500, NASCAR races, and much more. The city is more affordable, though, which is a big plus. Indeed, many folks live on the water in Daytona Beach, even if theyre on a budget.

• Population Aged 60 or Over- 33%
• Median Home Cost- $194.500.
• Overall Cost of Living Index- 86/100
• Comfort Index- Summer = 3.7/10 Winter= 8.9/10

Your Pass To Affordable Living

$98,000Average House

Cost

Here’s your opportunity to purchase a cozy home nestled against a majestic landscape.

Walkable

From shopping and dining to entertainment and leisure, Raton is easy to traverse on foot.

Easy Access to

Colorado &

Texas

You’re never too far from other points of interest but always snuggled in a safe and quiet community.

Mountains & Clean Water

…and lots of water when others are in drought. And our drinking water is delicious!

Economic Development Hub

We will rally behind you and help you start your business – big or small! We still have some affordable commercial properties, but they won’t last for long!

Outdoor Recreation Abounds

We’re at the doorstep of 66+ square miles of new public land with outdoor recreation in development as we speak.

Benefits Of Retiring In A Rural Coastal Area

Everyone needs to get away from it all from time to time, which is why so many Americans flock to their favorite idyllic spots in the mountains, woods, lakes, rivers and ocean beaches during the summer months. As working adults, we crave not only a change of scenery, but the possibilities for relaxation, fun, fresh sensory experiences, and happy memories that remote areas offer us while were on vacation. In fact, most people hate to leave. But what if you didnt have to? What if you could take a permanent vacation during your retirement?

Retiring to a rural area is a great way to make the most of your golden years, and coastal living in particular offers even more benefits. Heres why rural coastal communities in the US are some of the best places to retire.

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Five Florida Towns Make List Of Top 20 Most Affordable Places To Retire

Home prices, taxes, health care, climate. These are all important considerations when deciding where to retire.

To help with the decision, 55places.com put all the factors together and came up with a top 20 list. The most important data points were cost , state taxes, transit score, walk score, volunteer opportunities, clime and 55+ community selection.

The list ranges from traditional retirement destinations to bigger northern cities to some surprising places out west.

Coming in at No. 1 was Boynton Beach in Florida. Known as the land of five minutes, because everything is five minutes away, Boynton Beach drew top scores for its short commute times, beautiful beaches and outdoor spaces, abundance of water sports, plentiful restaurants and shopping and plethora of 55+ communities.

There are few cities in the U.S. with more 55+ communities than Boynton Beach. Many of the homes there are priced below $100,000, although higher price points and more luxurious communities are available.

Coming in at No. 2, Sarasota was singled out for its shorelines and pristine beaches as well as its abundance of 55+ communities, with 30 age-restricted communities in the area and 33 active lifestyle communities.

Nabbing the No. 5 spot, Tampa-St. Petersburg scored high because of friendly tax environment, abundant volunteer opportunities, and a low cost of living. The area has a solid walk score and transit score too, on top of great weather year-round.

Q What Is The Cheapest Place To Retire In Florida

A) What is the cheapest place to live where youre now located? The cheapest place to live in your area is probably also one of the least desirable places. It may be the cheapest because theres a lack of places to work, shop or dine. It could be cheap because lots of violent crime happens there.

The cheapest places to live in Florida are also usually, but not always, cheap for a desirability/demand reason. However, there are still a few places that offer a high quality of life where the cost of living is lower.

Thats what you really want, a place thats both affordable and also a desirable place to retire. Youll be happy to know that all of the places on the list below are highly desirable places to retire, and a couple are affordable.

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Forbes Compared More Than 800 Locales In America On Everything From Housing Costs And Taxes To Healthcare Air Quality Crime And Climate Change And Natural Hazard Risk These Are The Top 25 Cities For Retirees

After30 years in Orange County, Calif., Rex and Barbara Scott picked up last year and moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Theyre now a three-hour plane ride from their two kids and six grandkids in California, but Rex, now 66, and Barbara, now 62, found the economics of the move compelling. By selling their two-story, 4-bedroom, 2-bath house just a few miles from the beach and Disneyland for nearly $1 million, they were able to buy a slightly larger split-level house in Sioux Falls mortgage freeat a fourth the price per square foot, Rex figureswith plenty of cash left over to help finance their retirement in a lower-cost, lower-tax locale.

Barbara, who worked in human resources for a health care system , now happily puts in 25-to-30 hours a week as a grocery store clerk. As for Rex, after 20 years toiling away at Home Depot, he has returned to his first loveperforming in a musical group. In fact, the couple met 45 years ago in Sioux Falls, while Rex was a drummer and vocalist for a short-lived hard rock band, ROX, that was inducted last year into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Not every sixty-something is looking to return to their rock n roll roots. But many baby boomers are now, as the Scotts were, sitting on huge gains in home equity that could provide a cushion in retirementif theyre ready to move to lower-cost areas.

Fargo, N.D remains the only city on the list for all 12 years weve put it together.

Forbes

CON: Not very walkable

Larry Braun/Getty

The Safest Places To Live In Florida From Hurricanes: Is One Of These Locations Going To Be Your New Home

If youre looking for the safest places to live in Florida from hurricanes, this list can help guide your research into safe Florida communities. The rankings on our list are based on a number of different factors. These include the number of storm events in each city, storm-related property damage, storm-related deaths, and storm-related injuries between the years of 1965 and 2014.

Its important to understand that the cities on this list are not in any way guaranteed to be safe from tropical storms. Florida is a coastal state, and its location makes it the most impacted state in the country by hurricanes and tropical storms. That being said, some cities tend to receive fewer pummelings than others.

Millions of people live happily in Florida, and the risk of hurricanes likely shouldnt spoil your plans for tropical living entirely. However, its important to understand the risks of hurricanes and tropical storms so you can be prepared and plan accordingly.

Is it time for you to sell your home and make your move to a tropical state? If so, learn how much your home is worth with our free home valuation tool and get a no-obligation offer.

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Find A Realtor To Help You Buy A Home

If you want to leave the freezing Northeast winters or find a coastal bungalow far away from a landlocked state, the right Realtor can assist with the move. With UpNest, you can compare Florida real estate agents and find the top performers in your area. They can help you see the most competitive homes and find the cheapest place to live in Florida. Check out our system to meet your future Realtor.

UpNest is a no-cost service for home sellers and buyers to find the best real estate agents locally. The UpNest platform allows you to compare multiple agents in your area so you can compare reviews, commission rates, previous sales, and more.

Our agents have been carefully vetted and often offer competitive, lower than average commission rates to UpNest customers. There is no obligation to sign up with one of our Realtors, but when you can potentially save thousands on commission why wouldnt you? If youre ready to get started, just enter your zipcode below!

Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in Florida?

Gaiesville is one of the safest and cheapest places to live in Florida. It is a large city and located in Alachua County. Gainesville is an ideal destination when youre searching for that affordable big town feel.

Whats bad about living in Florida?

Common Questions About Retiring In Florida

How much money do you need to retire in Florida?

Retirees looking to live comfortably in Florida need to have about $1.2 million dollars saved, slightly higher than the national average.

What are the benefits of retiring in Florida?

Retirees can enjoy a life they always dreamed about while working in the office! Some of the benefits of retiring in Florida include amazing weather, perfect for golfing or beachfront living, no state income taxes, and no estate taxes.

Do seniors pay property taxes in Florida?

Seniors and retirees can defer most or all of their property taxes. If you are over the age of 65 and have a primary residence in Florida for at least 25 years, you can defer all your property taxes.

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Where Is The Best Place

The best places to retire in Florida depend on your own personal situation.

No matter which place you consider, its best to visit a place frequently before making any significant commitments. Ideally, visit several times, at various times of the year, and in a variety of different conditions to know what a place is really like.

Its a great idea to rent a home for at least a year or two before buying real estate of any kind. Renting allows you to explore the area at your own pace, and make friends and connections in the community.

Insight from actual, real-life residents is priceless. If you can find people with similar preferences, hobbies and interests, they may be able to offer insights, both good and bad, that you couldnt find anywhere else.

There are a few places in Florida that, for various reasons, tend to attract retirees in great numbers. This guide will present some options for the best places to retire in Florida.

Note: This list is not exhaustive. We will continue to add to it. If you want to suggest a community that should be included, please feel free to get in touch via our contact form, and well add it to the list.

If youre from Florida, you already know what to expect. But, if youre from anywhere else besides Florida, check this great video guide out for an idea of what to expect when moving to Florida.

So Many Places To Explore In Florida

Every man is a child at heart therefore you can explore a theme park in Orlando, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum in Everglades, Cape Canaveral, the McLarty Treasure Museum, the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum, or just relax on white-sand beaches. You can also go for a drive in freshwater springs or a day trip to Keys, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Kennedy Space Center, or explore the reef islands.

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North Carolinas Triangle Cities

When it comes to North Carolinas Triangle cities, its hard to choose just one Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill have a lot to offer retirees. Each city takes full advantage of the beautiful rolling hills of the Carolinas: Walking trails, bike paths, and hiking opportunities are everywhere.

Nature lovers enjoy living near the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the beach is just a day trip away. The Triangle still offers a low cost of living, its foodie scene is thriving, and the cities are adding new cultural amenities and events every day. Continue your learning with world-class educational opportunities at Dukes Durham campus or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sports lovers will revel in their spirited rivalry. Youll never lack for music, theater and festival choices in the Triangle, and transit is simple, since anyone 65 and older can take a Triangle Transit bus for free. The Raleigh-Durham airport makes travel convenient and quick.

All Of The Towns On My Best Places To Retire In Florida List Have 3

Why is this so important to know when retiring to Florida?

• Most of the hospitals in Florida have below average ratings from Medicare . Its alright if you werent aware of this, I found almost no newly retired folks moving to Florida know this .
• Medicare has been the main health insurer for almost all US retirees 65 and older, for many years and theyve learned a thing or two. Theyll probably be paying your healthcare bills for you too. The latest hospital ratings from Medicare were made available in January 2020. Of the 50 US states and DC, only Nevada, New York and DC have a lower average hospital rating than Florida, according to a study done by Psy.D. Programs published February 24th 2020.
• Additionally, Floridas health care quality in general, is rated lower than most other states. Thats according to data from the US Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Heres an article on the subject from Heath News Florida

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Top 10 Cities To Retire In Florida

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Percentage of the Population Over 65: 17.9%

Median Home Value: $113,600

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 260

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,377

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 5

If you spent your days at the office dreaming of a beach side retirement, Fort Pierce is the perfect community for you. This idyllic coastal town in the Port St. Lucie Area has an incredibly low median home price, so get ready to embrace your inner beach bum and enjoy fun in the sun during your golden years.

Idyllic Communities In Ideal Locations

Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.

We can help you find your ideal location to live and retire in the beautiful state of Florida. Our resources put all the information at your fingertips to make the best decision for you, including putting you in contact with representatives from the top retirement and resort communities in Florida, this includes FL Del Webb communities and Minto communities.

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Where To Retire In Fort Myers:

Offering easy access to everything Southwest Florida is famous for, GL Homes is proud to introduce Valencia Bonita 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. Homes start in the $600ks.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Retiring In Florida

To make your life even easier, here are the 3 advantages and disadvantages of living in Florida.

Pros:

• 20.9 % of the Florida population is 65 years old and even more. Therefore, a large senior population and a great chance to make new friends.
• Fixed income groups can easily find affordable homes ranging from $170,000 $210,000.
• 300 days of warm weather and beautiful climate to enjoy during your retirement years.

Life without cons is incomplete. So, lets know the cons of retiring in Florida.

Cons:

• The healthcare system in the state is below average.
• There is too much traffic in the state which is challenging to navigate all time.
• Florida is home to snakes, alligators, and other dangerous critters.

To know more about the pros and cons of living in Florida, you can .

Final Words

What are you waiting for? You have now reached a stage where enjoying life and balancing time between relaxing on the beach and spending quality time with family matters. Florida is home to pleasant cities, and towns on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and inland. Pack your bags and lets settle here!

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What Part Of Florida Is Least Likely To Be Hit By A Hurricane

Areas in Florida that are least vulnerable to hurricanes As an example, consider the region of Northeast Florida. Since the introduction of the hurricane scale 167 years ago, this vast area has been hit by just 26 total storms, with just one of those being a Category 3 storm. That indicates that, on average, a hurricane strikes the northeastern part of Florida every 6.5 years or so.