Guide to the Best Places to Retire



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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

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Pennfield

Middletown, DE
Single-Family Homes from the $500s

Introducing K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Pennfield, a small enclave of new-construction homes in a luxury 55+ community located directly off Route 1. Five floorplans offer up to 3 beds, 3 baths, 3-car garages, 2,810 sq. ft., and one of K. Hovnanian’s designer-curated Looks collections.

Experience an amenity-filled lifestyle, where every day feels like a resort vacation. Gather with friends at the 3,500-sq.-ft. clubhouse, swim laps or cool off in the 2,400-sq.-ft. outdoor pool, and challenge your neighbors to a friendly game of pickleball or bocce. With an on-site lifestyle director planning activities and events, your calendar will always be booked with fun and relaxing things to do.

Middletown is a charming and friendly place to live. Explore Middletown Main Street, a hub of local shopping, community events, neighborhood dining, and historical charm. Wander the Middletown Historic District, check out the Olde-Tyme Peach Festival, attend the Everett Theater’s Spring Fashion Show, or savor a relaxed meal at a local restaurant. Stop by the Dutch County Farmers Market for an abundance of fresh, locally sourced produce. The year concludes with a community Thanksgiving and Christmas Parade, reinforcing a community atmosphere and thriving local culture.

Residents can enjoy easy access to Route 1 and I-95, perfect for everyday commutes or convenient trips to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey. Take advantage of proximity to the best Northern Delaware has to offer, like incredible shopping at the Christiana Fashion Center, dining in downtown Newark and events in the city of Wilmington.

Hidden gems and iconic Delaware attractions are right at your fingertips. Take a day trip to a picturesque beach on the shores of Delaware or the Chesapeake Bay to explore waterfront dining in places like Chesapeake City, Delaware City, and The Riverfront in Wilmington. Or, spend the day taking in the breathtaking scenery at Longwood Gardens, playing a round of golf at White Clay Creek Country Club or enjoying an afternoon wine tasting.

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K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Easton

Easton, MD
Single-Family Homes from the $300s

Discover resort-style living at K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Easton, a picturesque 55+ active lifestyle community of single-family homes in Easton, Maryland. A wide variety of floorplans offer up to 4 beds, 3.5 baths, and 3,505 sq. ft., with finishes in one of our designer-curated Looks. Nestled on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, this amenity-filled community keeps your calendar filled with recreation, relaxation, and more.

With our exclusive Loft, Farmhouse, Classic, and Elements Looks, your new-construction home will match your style, stress-free.

Cultivate the lifestyle of your dreams with the spectacular community amenities. Start your morning by taking a stroll along the walking trails to the butterfly garden or bring your pup to the fenced-in dog park. Lounge by the resort-style pool with a good book, then mingle with neighbors at the clubhouse. Enjoy tranquil outdoor spaces, then play a round of pickleball or bocce. In the evening, join friends at the tiki bar and catch up around the fire pit.

This incredible community is situated in Easton, which has been named one of the best small towns in America. Venture to the historic downtown district, where you can find a weekly farmers market and charming streets filled with shops, bars and restaurants, museums, and theaters. Easton is also home to incredible outdoor recreation, including marinas, golf courses, and the 3-mile-long Easton Rails-to-Trails biking and running trail, which begins just moments from K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Easton.

Chesapeake Bay recreation and tidewater-area scenery are at your fingertips! Spend the day in nearby St. Michaels, Oxford, Tilghman Island, and beyond, then set sail on the bay or fish and crab to your heart’s content. Join a local country club or yacht club to discover additional coastal recreation, hit the links at a state-of-the-art golf course, and more. Visit Easton Point Park or Pickering Creek Audubon Center for waterfront trails, kayaking, picnics, and natural beauty in this picturesque region.

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K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Hilton Head Lakes

Hardeeville, SC
Single-Family Homes from the $400s

Discover the epitome of resort-style living at K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Hilton Head Lakes, a stunning, amenity-filled community of new single-family homes for sale in Hardeeville, SC, set among breathtaking, preserved open spaces and wetlands. With available wooded homesites, these new-construction homes feature spacious floorplans and interior Looks. Enjoy living just a drive away from incredible Hilton Head beaches, charming Beaufort, and vibrant Savannah.

Each of our new-construction homes is finished in one of our designer-curated Looks — Loft, Farmhouse, Elements, and Classic — so you can achieve the interior of your dreams. Breathtaking Lowcountry scenery awaits within and just beyond the community. More than half of K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Hilton Head Lakes has been preserved as open space, and a quarter of the community is home to picturesque wetlands. Many homesites are nestled among wooded surroundings for those seeking an enhanced connection to nature or a more private setting. Enjoy more nature and outdoor recreation just outside the community at Sergeant Jasper Park, which features fishing lakes, trails and boardwalks, a playground, and a nature preserve.

Luxuriate in endless amenities —opening winter 2027— K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Hilton Head Lakes offers a charming and intimate neighborhood feel with luxurious amenities that offer many ways to relax, keep fit, and socialize. Our on-site lifestyle director creates a calendar of events, so you can get to know your neighbors, make lifelong friends, and feel immersed in an incredible community. Challenge your new neighbors to a game of pickleball, then bring your four-legged friend to the dog park to meet friends of their own!

Living in Hardeeville means living in one of the state’s fastest-growing cities. It also means you’re within 30 miles of four amazing towns and cities. Venture out for an afternoon in the sun on the Hilton Head Island, ranked the #1 island in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler. Explore local history and take in the amazing architecture in Savannah, Beaufort, and Bluffton. Shop at one-of-a-kind boutiques, dine at renowned restaurants, and enjoy picturesque southern charm that will have you venturing back again and again.

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The Esplanade at St Marys

St Marys, GA
Homes from $375,000 - $795,000

Looking for your dream home near the Georgia coast? Esplanade at St. Marys is where it all begins. Nestled in one of the most desirable regions in the Southeast and set to open in 2026, this resort-style golf community offers everything you’ve ever wanted—golf, spa, culinary experiences, water access, and more.
Homes will range from the $400s to over $1M, but with demand already building, now is the time to act. Contact Atlantic Salt Realty today to secure your spot on the interest list and be among the first to receive VIP updates, floor plans, and pricing. This is a rare opportunity—don’t let it pass you by!
Esplanade at St. Marys will feature a stunning 18-hole championship golf course designed by C.W. Golf Architecture—blending coastal beauty with thoughtful course design. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or new to the game, this course will challenge and delight. A full-service pro shoppe, aqua driving range, and convenient snack shack add to the resort-level experience.

This isn’t just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive. Esplanade is built around connection, wellness, and everyday joy. From high-end dining to luxurious spa days, the lifestyle here is truly unmatched.

Planned Amenities Include:

  • Resort-style pool & cabanas
  • Signature Culinary Center
  • Bahama Bar & Fire Pit Lounge
  • Wellness Center & Full-Service Spa
  • Tennis, Pickleball, & Bocce Courts
  • Miles of Walking Trails
  • Kayak Launch on the St. Marys RiverBark Park for furry friends
  • Clubhouse, fitness center, & more!

With a dedicated lifestyle director, residents can expect curated events, culinary classes, wine tastings, fitness programs, concerts, and unforgettable social gatherings all year long.

Located in St. Marys, Georgia, just minutes from I-95, Esplanade offers quick access to Jacksonville, FL, Brunswick, and the Golden Isles including Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island. Enjoy big-city conveniences—world-class healthcare, airports, professional sports, and dining—without giving up the charm and serenity of small-town coastal living.

Esplanade at St. Marys is unlike anything else on the Georgia coast. It combines the tranquility of nature with the luxury of resort living and the connection of community. But with high demand and limited availability, this opportunity won’t last long.

Contact Atlantic Salt Realty today to learn more about this exceptional new community.

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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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