Retire in Paradise: The Best 8 Cities in Florida for Your Golden Years

Are you dreaming of spending your golden years in a sunny paradise? Look no further than Florida. With its warm climate, beautiful beaches, and endless outdoor activities, it’s no wonder why Florida is a top destination for retirees. After all, six of the US News and World Report’s best cities to retire in 2024 were in the Sunshine State. But with so many cities to choose from, where should you start your search? In this guide, we’ll introduce you to some of the best retirement cities in Florida, helping you find your perfect paradise.

The Villages

Located in central Florida just outside Ocala (another top retirement destination), The Villages is renowned for its active lifestyle and endless amenities. Not technically a city, it needs inclusion because it is one of the nation’s largest purpose-built communities for retirement.

Retirees definitely stay busy and have ample opportunity to socialize with like-minded individuals thanks to:

• Over 50 golf courses
• Over two dozen recreation centers
• 3,000 social clubs and activities
• Three amenity-rich town centers

Other perks of The Villages? A low crime rate, affordable housing options, and easy access to healthcare services. Plus, you can ditch the car and get everywhere you need with a golf cart! It’s not a shocker that The Villages is a top choice for retirement in Florida. 

Naples

Naples might be the perfect fit if you’re looking for a luxurious retirement experience. This coastal city on the Gulf of Mexico is known for its upscale shopping, fine dining, and high-end real estate options.

But that’s not all Naples has to offer for your golden years. Its beautiful beaches, golf courses, and year-round warm weather make it an ideal spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Two expansive nature sanctuaries, including Big Pine Cypress Preserve, are within a half-hour drive. Street fairs and art festivals pack the social calendar during “snowbird season,” while boutique local retailers and high-end names pack the shopping districts.

Plus, with 40% of its population aged 60 and older, retirees dominate the community. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to connect with others who share your interests.

Naples’ real estate includes the upscale Marco Island and the luxurious Port Royal neighborhood. Find resort-style living in Pelican Point or Valencia Trails. The downside to retiring in Naples is its high cost of living, primarily driven by its waterfront real estate. Still, many consider the cost worth it for the city’s perks. 

Sarasota

Sarasota is another popular retirement destination on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and for years, ranked no. 1, although it’s dropped to no. 18 in the nation as of 2024. This artistic coastal city is renowned for its cultural attractions, like:

• John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
• Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
• Sarasota Opera
• Sarasota Film Festival
• Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Public art installations crisscross the city, from the downtown waterfront to the murals of Burns Square.

But it’s not just about the arts scene in Sarasota. The beautiful, nationally-ranked beaches, dozens of championship golf courses, and outdoor activities make it a top choice for retirees looking to stay active in their golden years. Plus, the city is known for its welcoming and inclusive community, making it easy to make new friends.

Need further proof Sarasota is a retirement destination? Around 40% of the 850,000 people who call Sarasota home are over 60. It has many over 55 communities that pack in amenities and low-maintenance housing options. But even the non-age restricted neighborhoods are either amenity-packed or optimally located near the city’s vast entertainment perks or parks.

Lakewood Ranch is popular with people of all ages for its convenient layout and amenities. Longwood Key is a top destination for luxurious retirement living with its many upscale condo residences. The Siesta Key homes match Florida beachfront living with an island coastal escape.

The downside is Sarasota’s popularity is the secret’s out. High demand has driven up its housing costs and made the cost of living less affordable than when it earned top honors as a retirement city.

Pensacola

Pensacola could be the perfect fit if you’re looking for a more affordable retirement option in Florida. In fact, US News and World ranked it the top retirement city in Florida for 2023. As far west on the Florida Panhandle as possible, this coastal city matches the waterfront lifestyle with a bustling downtown area.

Part of the Pensacola perks are beautiful white sand beaches and shimmering sapphire waters. Nearby Perdido Key Beach has been recognized as one of the best beaches in the country. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is an excellent place to escape crowds, with miles of undeveloped beaches showing what Florida’s shores used to be like.

With over 343 days of sunshine per year, you’ll have endless opportunities to soak up the sun and enjoy outdoor activities like golfing, fishing, or kayaking. The city is also known for its delicious seafood, with fresh-caught and locally sourced crawfish, shrimp, and oysters. 

Retirees in Pensacola further benefit from a low cost of living and affordable housing options. It’s one of Florida’s more affordable waterfront cities, though you can expect to pay more the closer you get to the coast. 

Just note that Pensacola (and the whole of northwest Florida) has experienced more hurricane impacts than any other part of the state–66 since record-keeping began.  

Sun City Center

Located near Tampa on the Gulf Coast, Sun City Center is one development that made Florida cities for retirement a whole movement. This age-restricted community’s robust amenities and activities for retirees inspired The Villages. It’s purposefully designed to help residents stay active and socialize with people their age. Today, about 20,000 retirees call Sun City Center home. 

You’ll never run out of things to do. The community packs in over 11 golf courses, multiple recreation centers, and various clubs and classes. Plus, Tampa’s amenities are a short drive away. Add an aquarium, professional sports games, a cruise port, and shopping to your list of perks.

Sun City Center prides itself on being self-contained, with medical care, shopping, and continuing education just a golf cart ride away. Its affordable cost of living and housing options include single-family homes, condos, and villas. It has an average age of 75.

Tampa

Tampa is not just for spring breakers and young professionals, it’s also a great retirement destination. US News and World gave this bustling Gulf Coast city honors as second-best in the Florida and 12th in the nation for 2024 because of its balanced mix of fun and essentials.

If you wrap in the greater metro with St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Tampa has beautiful beaches, multiple golf courses, and outdoor activities like boating and fishing. Its diverse culinary scene includes world-famous steak houses, the world’s largest Spanish cuisine restaurants, and fresh-caught seafood. Cultural attractions include Lowry Park Zoo, Straz Center for Performing Arts, and the Salvador Dali Museum. And with professional sports teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lightning, and Rays, sports fans won’t be disappointed.

As for retirement essentials, Tampa shines when it comes to healthcare. Tampa General Hospital is one of the state’s best medical providers, with national rankings and accreditation. But the region has multiple other hospitals, too, expanding your health care choices. 

For those who want to travel, Tampa has an international airport and a cruise port to take you to far-flung destinations.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach may be known for its spring break parties and NASCAR racing, but it’s also a top retirement destination. In 2024, it was the only Florida city to crack into the top ten cities to retire in the nation. It ranked eighth, with around a quarter of residents of retirement age.

This Florida’s Atlantic coast city has 23 miles of beautiful beaches whose densely packed sands enable cars to drive on the beach! It’s on these sands that stock car racing got its start.

That rip-roaring, adrenaline-paced lifestyle is part of the Daytona Beach culture. Besides the Daytona 500 and Speedway, this city hosts a massive Bike Week that draws over 500,000 people. Many other auto shows and vehicle-related events happen throughout the year. 

Daytona Beach balances out the fast-paced fun with its outdoor recreation access. This city is waterfront, after all, so the choices include walks on the beach, boating, fishing, and surfing. World-class golfing is in reach, with the PGA headquarters not too far away.

Retirees can take advantage of the many waterfront condos and housing options at more affordable prices than other high-profile beach towns in Florida. Just don’t consider Daytona Beach a quiet place to live.

Port St. Lucie

If you’re looking for a quieter retirement on Florida’s east coast, Port St. Lucie could be your perfect choice. This mid-sized city has a slower pace of life than other Florida top retirement destinations. It’s often ranked one of the state’s top ten places to retire and about a third of its residents are 60 years or older.

Retirees enjoy outdoor activities like golfing and fishing at one of its many parks. Imagine sunrise strolls on the soft sand beach at nearby Hutchinson Island, or kayking quiet wetlands as you watch for migratory species. 

The outdoors is beautiful, but Port St Lucie is active when you want something else to do. The New York Mets play here for spring training. The city’s delicious restaurants and shopping choices mean you won’t have to travel far for your daily needs.

Port St. Lucie has a low cost of living and affordable housing options, allowing retirees to stretch their retirement savings further. Plus, being located just north of Palm Beach County, it has access to larger cities’ amenities and attractions like museums and art festivals. 

Retiring to Florida

Florida is known as the “Sunshine State” for good reason. With an average of 230 sunny days per year and warm temperatures, it’s the perfect place to retire if you love mild weather. 

But Florida offers much more than just sunshine and easygoing winters. Find numerous retirement communities with amenities and activities tailored to older adults. Stay active and socialize as you age in a place friendly to aging adults, with excellent health care and affordable living on a fixed budget. Learn more about the perks of retiring in Florida.