Guide to Best Places to Retire in Florida
Best Places to Live & Retire in Florida
Our free Digital Retirement Guide and Ideal-Living Magazine offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers. This includes retirement communities in Central Florida, as well as the panhandle and Southern Florida.
In Florida, we have many communities for which you can get all the information you need. You can compare locations within Florida as well as vacation and retirement communities all across the U.S. Our Ideal-Living Digital Magazine includes numerous articles such as the top travel destinations, tips on selling your home, and how to make the most of your retirement. Our Guide allows you to compare cities and communities on variables such as climate, population, home values, cost of living and the proximity of schools, hospitals and airports.
Besides its natural beauty and incredible coastline, Florida is one of the most tax friendly states for retirees and seniors. The tax benefits of living in Florida include:
- No state income tax
- No tax on social security benefits
- Permanent residents qualify for Homestead Exemption
- Seniors may qualify for additional property tax exemptions
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.
Sample Communities to Discover
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch
Whether you’re retiring or continuing to work remotely, Cresswind Lakewood Ranch is a 55+ community for active adults who want to live and play in southwest Florida’s most enticing location.
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch is a gated community with its own private clubhouse that includes the Cresswind SmartFIT Training Center powered by EGYM with cardio studio, a lounge, a game room and an arts & crafts studio. The community Lifestyle Director organizes interest club meetings and social events. Outdoor exercise can be enjoyed in the resort-style, resistance and spa pools or on the pickleball, tennis and bocce ball courts.
In addition, Cresswind residents have access to all of the amenities and services in the surrounding Lakewood Ranch master-planned community, including golf courses, a polo club, village centers with shops, restaurants, medical offices and so much more.
Choose from a variety of ranch-style floorplans designed specifically for today’s active adult, ranging from just over 2,100 to more than 4,400 total square feet of living space. All of the designs have spacious great rooms for entertaining and 2- car garages. Kolter Homes’ Built Around You approach provides hundreds of structural and design personalization options to create your ideal home, including flex spaces and 2nd-floor bonus rooms.
In addition to the convenient Lakewood Ranch amenities, Cresswind residents have access to all of the top-rated medical centers, cultural attractions, fine- dining restaurants and year-round festival events in the nearby Sarasota- Bradenton area. The region’s finest Gulf Coast beaches are just a short drive away.
Request more information below and discover why Cresswind Lakewood Ranch may be the ideal Florida destination for you.
Lakewood Ranch
Live the Florida lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of—with 20+ villages, each featuring distinctive homes, amenities, and features, Lakewood Ranch is designed to support every aspect of your life. New homes include townhomes, condos, attached villas, single-family homes and estates, with prices from the $300s to over $1 million.
We set out to build a community that is more than just the homes it’s made up of. Here you’ll find all the shopping, dining, entertainment, education, healthcare, nature, and recreational options you could want to make the most out of every day. And the best part is that it’s all already here. You don’t have to envision it—you can simply start living it.
Our 48% open space plan and mixed-use component work together to provide each village on The Ranch with easy access to parks, trails, and recreational opportunities like three town centers, a sports campus featuring pickleball, Sarasota Polo Club and The Farmers’ Market.
Just beyond our backyard you can enjoy Sarasota’s white sand beaches and arts scene, Tampa’s sports teams, and quick access to four airports.
ideal-LIVING has named Lakewood Ranch Best Health and Fitness Community and Best Golf Community. Lakewood Ranch has also earned the spot as the #1 best-selling community in the U.S. for all ages for six years running.
Come explore Florida’s favorite place to call home. LakewoodRanch.com
What to expect at The Ranch:
• 20+ villages, 1 is 55+
• 3 town centers & 8 neighborhood shopping plazas with Publix Grocery stores
• 150 miles of multi-surface trails
• 10,000+ acres of lakes, parks, and preserves
• 60+ clubs and groups
• Over 200 shops and eateries
• 13 community parks
• 162 holes of golf
• 32 courts for racquet sports
• A-rated schools & higher education campuses
• Sarasota Polo Club
• Farmers’ Market voted #1 in Florida
• Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club
• 22 fields at Premier Sports Campus
• Sights and Sounds Performing and Fine Arts Series
Ready to discover it? Great. Request more information below to receive discovery tour packages
and specials. You won’t know until you go!
Wildlight
A new kind of Lowcountry Living
You might say that Wildlight is where the beachy vibe of Amelia Island and the culture of Jacksonville meet in the middle—with each destination a mere 20 minutes in either direction. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a community that focuses on both walkability and wellness—where a short stroll or bike ride can lead you to your favorite ice cream shop, hair salon, burger spot, or Publix supermarket. And a UF Health and YMCA are right in the neighborhood.
We’re now selling at Del Webb Wildlight, a special place within this unique community for residents 55+. This gated neighborhood features luxury single-story, low-maintenance homes starting in the $300s, along with a dedicated clubhouse, private resort-style pool, and more.
Don’t miss our remaining houses, from townhomes to single-family options, in Forest Park and Founder’s Park neighborhoods. Be sure to check out our latest neighborhood, Hawthorn Park, where Pulte Homes is about to begin selling bungalows and village homes.
A town, in nature
You’ll find that what has been preserved at Wildlight is every bit as important to the community as what has been developed. Over 10 miles of scenic nature trails wind through neighborhoods and take you into the town center. And hundreds of acres of the community have been set aside for permanent conservation—with wetlands, parks, and trails putting the great outdoors steps from your front door.
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 communities in Florida, 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.
Free Package includes:
- ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
The ultimate guide to find your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
- ideal-LIVING Magazine
Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
- ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
- Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.