Guide to the Best Places to Retire
Guide to the Best Cities to Retire in 2025
Ideal-Living offers a free comprehensive service that begins with helping you find your ideal lifestyle. Until you know how you want to live, you can’t know where you want to live. We offer a wide array of tools to help you get answers to the questions that are keeping you from moving to your ideal destination. We can help you find the best cities to retire in the US in 2025.
There are lots of publications that put out annual lists of the best places to live. We have compiled a list of the cities and towns that are most often cited as the best places to retire. Ideal-LIVING has compiled the top cities frequently featured as the best places to retire in the USA in 2025:.
- Naples, Florida
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Milford, Delaware
- Beaufort, South Carolina
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Williamsburg, Virginia
Explore Communities in Our Top Retirement Locations
Ideal-LIVING provides insights into communities in these top retirement cities and beyond. Compare and contrast these locations based on your preferences and aspirations, making sure they align with your ideal lifestyle.
The best place to retire can be influenced by numerous factors - weather, taxes, cost of living, and recreational activities, to name a few. However, it's your dreams and tastes that will ultimately determine your best cities for retirement.
Access Free Resources for Selecting the Best Places to Retire
Take advantage of our free Retirement Guide, Digital Ideal-LIVING Magazine, and e-Newsletter for detailed insights on the best states, towns, and cities for retirees, vacationers, and second-home buyers.
Gain crucial information about retirement-friendly cities, states and communities, including:
The Most Tax Friendly States
Tax Benefits for Retirees in Specific States
Best Climates
States with the Lowest Cost of Living
Population & Demographics
How to Get the Most for Your Home
Proximity of Schools, Hospitals, Airports & Entertainment
We can help you answer these and any other questions you may have concerning YOUR best place to retire. Our FREE resources can give you the scoop on this and much, much more. It only takes a quick minute to fill out the short form and get the information you need to decide where you can find your ideal lifestyle.
Sample Communities to Discover
Kissing Tree
Find yourself at Kissing Tree.
Perfectly placed in the Texas Hill Country halfway between Austin and San Antonio, Kissing Tree is a master-planned resort community by Brookfield Residential. Designed specifically for those 55 and better, Kissing Tree offers 1,300 acres of views, brews, and barbecues. Here, hundred-year-old live oak trees welcome you home, and friendly neighbors provide a genuine sense of community and connection.
When you live at Kissing Tree, every day is what you make it. Start the day enjoying the views from a workout class at the two-story Fitness Center, followed by coffee with friends at Independence Hall. Or play a leisurely round of golf on the 18-hole semi-private course designed by Gary Stephenson before having lunch at Tarbox & Brown, the onsite restaurant. Relax by the resort-style pool or swim some laps at the indoor Junior Olympic lap pool. Explore your creative passions in the Art Studio, or take on new neighbors in a friendly game of pickleball or bocce. Dance beneath the stars to live music at the Biergarten. You can be as active — or as relaxed — as you choose to be.
Here at Kissing Tree, you’ll find gorgeous homes designed for the ways you live and entertain by Brookfield Residential and David Weekley homes, priced from the $300s to $1 million plus. Whether you prefer to live large or downsize, there are floor plans to fit your style, structured in thoughtful neighborhood enclaves that encourage camaraderie. Choose from an inviting variety of architectural elevations, design options, and interior finishes that allow you to build a home that reflects your individual tastes. Or get in on the good times faster by choosing a professionally designed home that’s all ready to move in.
As a bustling college town with ample options for live music, restaurants, and festivals, San Marcos is the perfect backdrop for your next adventure (and the Mermaid Capital of Texas). Named one of Forbes’ “25 Best Places to Retire” three years in a row, San Marcos is a historic small town with big city conveniences. There are cool rivers to float and fish, clear lakes for boating, miles of trails, amazing scenery and wildlife, and winding backcountry roads for exploring on two wheels or four.
Ready to write your next chapter? Come for a visit and see how exciting life can be at Kissing Tree.
Cresswind at Rocky River
Opening Spring 2026
Cresswind at Rocky River is a 55+ community in Locust, North Carolina, where small-town charm meets everyday convenience. Located just 30 miles east of Charlotte, the community offers a peaceful, nature-rich setting with easy access to the city’s shopping, dining and entertainment.
New homes at Cresswind at Rocky River are specifically designed for active adults with design with flexible floorplans and hundreds of design and structural personalization options available. Miles of walking trails meander throughout the community, and the resident-exclusive clubhouse will feature a SmartFit Training Center powered by EGYM, resort-style swimming pool, over 30 pickleball courts, art studio and more. A full-time Lifestyle Director organizes a full event calendar, including fitness programs and clubs for every hobby.
Homebuyers can choose from a collection of 10 floorplans, ranging from 2- up to 5- Bedrooms and designed for optimal flexibility to create a home Built Around You. Kolter Homes offers a minimum of 25 structural options per plan so you can have the ability to add bedrooms, expand garages, second-floor bonus rooms and more. Plus, choose from hundreds of design personalization opportunities.
Locust blends natural beauty, rich history and recreation at every turn. From scenic parks like Locust City Park to nearby day-trip destinations such as Concord, Lake Tillery and the surrounding foothills, residents enjoy a lifestyle rooted in nature and connection. With its rolling hills, lush forests and strong community spirit, Locust is the ideal backdrop for life at Cresswind at Rocky River.
Requesting more information below is your first step towards enjoying the award-winning active lifestyle that will be offered at Cresswind at Rocky River.
Esprit at Avenir
Esprit at Avenir by Kolter Homes is a 55+ community for active adults seeking a refined South Florida lifestyle in the heart of Palm Beach Gardens. Residents are just minutes from pristine Atlantic beaches, championship golf, including the iconic PGA NationalResort & Spa, luxury shopping at The Gardens Mall, al fresco dining, cultural attractions and live entertainment. With Palm Beach International Airport less than 20 miles away, travel and weekend getaways are always within easy reach. Designed for those who value both sophistication and connection, Esprit blends contemporary living with resort- inspired experiences in one of the area’s most desirable locations.
Homes at Esprit at Avenir feature modern designs created for today’s active adults, offering comfortable, stylish spaces that support both everyday living and entertaining. The community features six unique floorplans ranging from 2- to 5 Bedrooms, with a wide range of personalization options. Thoughtful layouts and high-end finishes provide a fresh take on low-maintenance living, allowing homeowners to focus more on lifestyle and less on upkeep.
The lifestyle at Esprit at Avenir is crafted to elevate every day. Residents enjoy full country club living with resort-style pools, a full-service restaurant and bar serving craft cocktails and refined wines, and a cutting-edge fitness experience powered by EGYM, including recovery features like a cold plunge. A dedicated Lifestyle Director curates a robust calendar of social events, fitness programs and clubs, fostering connection and an active, engaging community.
Request more information today to discover an active adult lifestyle defined by comfort, connection and effortless luxury.
SayeBrook
Located just minutes from the beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, SayeBrook offers a coastal lifestyle shaped by thoughtful design, walkable living, and a strong sense of community.
Every detail of SayeBrook has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the way people live, connect, and enjoy the coast. Located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, just minutes from the beach, SayeBrook blends timeless Lowcountry architecture with welcoming front porches, tree-lined streets, sidewalks, inviting outdoor spaces, and resort-style amenities.
At the heart of the community is a walkable town center that brings shopping, dining, and wellness-focused destinations together. From everyday conveniences to casual meetups with friends, the town center adds energy and serves as a natural gathering place for the community.
SayeBrook’s amenities are designed to draw residents outdoors and bring people together. The SayeBrook Club features an expansive kitchen, spacious gathering areas, and a screened porch overlooking a resort-style pool and fire pit. Residents also enjoy a dog park, playground, pickleball courts, a half basketball court, and a dedicated space for outdoor community events.
Homes at SayeBrook reflect the same attention to detail found throughout the community. Built by respected regional and national builders, homes feature thoughtful layouts, welcoming front porches, and architectural character inspired by the Lowcountry. A range of floor plans offers flexibility for modern living, whether you’re relocating to the coast, looking for a place that fits your next chapter, or raising a family.
With renowned golf courses and miles of beach just minutes away, SayeBrook offers an elevated coastal lifestyle that feels both relaxed and dynamic. It’s a place where craftsmanship, attention to detail, character, and community come together—creating a neighborhood that feels deeply rooted, welcoming, and unmistakably home.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top retirement communities, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
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- ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
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