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

The Ridge at Sienna Hills

Buckeye, AZ
Homes from $440,900 - $630,900

The Ridge at Sienna Hills offers serene tranquility with mountainside living in Buckeye, Arizona. You have easy access to I-10 and twelve floor plans to choose from to make your home unique to you. You have the exciting option to live in the Aqua or Arbor Collection phase. Whether you’re looking for a cozy yet spacious home or a larger, more luxurious abode, Sienna Hills has a perfect floor plan for you. Experience true comfort with energy efficiency and temperature control throughout your home with our spray foam insulation and energy-efficient features. With our Energy Guarantee program, you’ll receive a guaranteed usage amount based on the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home. Plus, receive a 100% reimbursement if you pay above the Guaranteed Amount. Take advantage of all that this serene and picturesque area has to offer today.

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Echelon – Arkansas

Bentonville, AR
Homes from $1M-$1.5M

What Makes Echelon Unique?

Echelon stands apart as a community where thoughtful design meets purposeful living. It’s not simply the architecture, the location, or the lifestyle—it’s how all of these elements are woven together to create something that feels distinct and elevated. Echelon redefines what it means to “come home.”

1. Location That Fuels Lifestyle

Echelon is strategically located in Bentonville, Arkansas—one of the most exciting growth areas in the country. Positioned near the acclaimed Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, the community offers instant access to some of the region’s best biking and walking trails. This isn’t just about proximity to nature; it’s about integrating adventure into everyday life. Whether you’re a weekend cyclist or someone who enjoys peaceful morning walks, Echelon makes the outdoors part of your rhythm.

Beyond recreation, Echelon places you at the heart of Bentonville’s thriving innovation economy and cultural momentum. From the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to a flourishing food and entrepreneurship scene, the location offers an unmatched blend of creative energy and long-term investment value.

2. Design-Forward Living

Architecture at Echelon isn’t about trend—it’s about intention. Homes here are designed to feel personal, sophisticated, and timeless. Clean lines, natural materials, and curated finishes create a quiet elegance that elevates daily living. Each home is based on plans that maintain community cohesion while giving homeowners room to customize and create a space that feels truly their own.

Unlike typical subdivisions, the streetscapes at Echelon are curated to feel both cohesive and calming. Thoughtful landscaping, balanced setbacks, and uniform design principles create an environment that feels considered and complete.

3. A Community That Prioritizes Connection and Calm

Echelon is designed to foster natural social interaction without compromising privacy. Welcoming front porches, walkable streets, and shared green spaces encourage moments of connection—impromptu chats, shared sunsets, neighborhood gatherings. Yet, every home is also a sanctuary, with layouts and private yards that offer serenity when you need it.

This duality—connection and calm—is what makes the lifestyle at Echelon truly special. It’s a place where neighbors become friends, and solitude is always within reach.

4. Effortless, Low-Maintenance Living

For many, Echelon offers a lock-and-leave lifestyle without sacrificing beauty or comfort. Whether you’re a full-time resident or someone seeking a secondary retreat, homes here are designed for ease. The architecture and landscaping are low-maintenance by design, supporting a lifestyle filled with freedom and flexibility.

This ease doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. On the contrary, every material, fixture, and finish is selected for its durability and aesthetic integrity—creating spaces that feel luxurious, live comfortably, and age beautifully.

5. A Future-Ready Investment

Bentonville is on a dynamic upward trajectory, and Echelon is poised to rise with it. The city’s expansion as a hub for innovation, culture, and the arts makes homeownership here more than just a lifestyle decision—it’s a strategic investment. As the region grows, Echelon stands out as a community that values legacy, quality, and vision.

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Cresswind at Hammock Oaks

Lady Lake, FL

Cresswind at Hammock Oaks by Kolter Homes is a new 55+ community in Lady Lake, FL, designed specifically for active adults. Just three miles from The Villages, this Central Florida active adult community offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and modern convenience. Residents will enjoy easy access to Leesburg, Orlando, and Gainesville, as well as nearby attractions like Spanish Springs Town Square and Brownwood Paddock Square, which offer shopping, dining, and free nightly entertainment. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the area’s abundant golf courses, parks, and lakes, including Lake Griffin State Park, which is ideal for boating, fishing, and hiking.

 

New homes will offer a new collection of flexible floorplans designed for active adults. With more than a dozen floorplans to choose from, each home is designed for comfort and personalization, featuring Kolter’s Best-in-Class options with up to 25 structural options per plan and hundreds of design personalization options in the on-site Design Studio. Homes at Cresswind are truly Built Around You.

 

Designed for an active and social lifestyle, Cresswind at Hammock Oaks will feature an array of resort-style amenities, including a resident-exclusive clubhouse, a SmartFIT Training Center powered by EGYM, a resort-style pool and dedicated spaces for yoga, arts, and social clubs. Residents can enjoy friendly competition on eight pickleball courts, two tennis courts and bocce courts, while wide walkways and trails provide the perfect setting for leisurely strolls and outdoor exercise. With a full calendar of activities and social events planned by a full-time Lifestyle Director, there will be endless opportunities to connect with neighbors and embrace a dynamic lifestyle.

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Portugal – The Agency Real Estate

Lisbon, Cascais, Portugal
Homes from $190K to $9M

We can find your Portugal home throughout the entire country from Porto to Lisbon to the Algarve!”

 

Discover Portugal – A Premier Destination for Living & Investment

Portugal stands out as an attractive destination for those looking to live, invest, or expand their portfolio of properties and experiences. With its high quality of life, pleasant climate, thriving economy, and balanced lifestyle, the country was named Europe’s Leading Destination 2023 by the World Travel Awards.

Exceptional Quality of Life

Ranked as the 3rd safest country globally, Portugal offers a peaceful environment, excellent infrastructure, and a lower cost of living compared to other European capitals. It boasts top-tier healthcare, leading educational institutions, and a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere.

Connectivity & Infrastructure

Portugal is well-connected, featuring efficient metro systems, modern highways, and high-speed internet that surpasses European averages. Strategically located, it is just hours away from major European cities, making it ideal for tourism, investors, and global professionals. Additionally, 70% of the population speaks English, ranking sixth among non-native English-speaking countries worldwide.

A Thriving Real Estate Market

Portugal’s property sector has appreciated by 70% since 2010. Investors benefit from a stable market, competitive prices, and attractive financing options, whether acquiring a luxury residence, vacation home, or investment property.

Gastronomy

Portugal’s culinary scene is one of its treasures, known for fresh, authentic, and diverse dishes. Its cuisine blends Mediterranean, oceanic, mountain, and international influences, creating a unique gastronomic experience.

Healthcare

Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS) is ranked among the world’s best, providing high-quality healthcare to the entire population.

 

 

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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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