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Guide to the Best Places to Retire
Best Places to Live & Retire
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 places to live & retire.
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. So, here is our list of the top 10 best places to retire.
- 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
The fun is just beginning! We have communities in all of these cities and many more. We can provide you with information on communities in some of the most inviting locales across the United States and internationally.
We give you the information so you can compare across all the things you think are important for your ideal lifestyle. What makes a city or town one of the best places to retire? Weather? Taxes? Cost of living? Fun things to do? Sure, they all matter, but most of all it is your preferences, your taste, your dreams that make it the best place to retire for you.
Our free Retirement Guide, Digital Ideal-Living Magazine and e-Newsletter offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers. All sent to you for FREE.
You can get specific information that is critical to helping you find best retirement cities, states and communities. You’ll find out information such as:
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 provide you with key information. Fill out the short form and get the information you need to decide where you can find your ideal lifestyle.
Sample Communities to Discover
Chambers Creek by Caldwell Communities
Chambers Creek is a 55+ gated lifestyle community in Willis, Texas, near Lake Conroe and within easy reach of The Woodlands. Designed for people who want more from the place they call home, it brings together natural beauty, distinctive homes, thoughtfully planned amenities and genuine opportunities to connect.
What makes Chambers Creek special is not simply the number of amenities, but the way they work together to make everyday life more active, social and enjoyable. Residents can start the morning on the trails, meet friends for pickleball, play a round of golf or head to the marina for a sunset cruise. Many destinations are easily accessible by golf cart, making it simple to move from one experience to the next without ever feeling far from home.
Shoreline Park and Marina offers direct access to Lake Conroe, reserved boat slips, private docks, community kayaks and places to fish, picnic or relax by the water. Throughout the community, fitness spaces, parks, gathering areas, social venues and planned activities create natural opportunities to participate, try something new or spend time with neighbors.
The Chapel, overlooking the vineyard, adds another meaningful place to gather. It hosts Sunday Bible services, special events, celebrations and quiet moments of reflection.
Chambers Creek also offers homes from nine respected builders, including three custom builders, giving buyers a wide range of floor plans, architectural styles and opportunities to personalize.
Residents often describe an immediate feeling the moment they pass through the gates — a sense of peace, ease, and welcome that’s hard to put into words. Chambers Creek is a community that feels alive with possibility, where thoughtful design, inviting spaces, and meaningful connections come together to create a lifestyle that feels deeply comforting, genuinely engaging, and full of joy. It’s a place that makes it easier to step outside, slow down, connect with others, and spend each day doing more of what you love.
BluestonePeak at Massanutten Mountain
BluestonePeak is a new 55+ active adult community at Massanutten Mountain in the heart of Virginia’s stunning Shenandoah Valley. Designed for those who believe life’s next chapter should be filled with adventure, connection and discovery, BluestonePeak offers mountain living with resort-style amenities and a welcoming neighborhood feel.
Surrounded by the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, BluestonePeak provides a setting where nature is always within reach. Thoughtfully designed homes, inspired by the region’s historic architecture, are woven into walkable neighborhoods with scenic trails, inviting gathering spaces and clubhouse amenities that encourage an active and connected lifestyle. Whether enjoying a quiet morning on the porch, meeting friends for pickleball or taking in mountain views on a hike, residents experience the best of Shenandoah Valley living every day.
A Lifestyle for All Seasons
What truly sets BluestonePeak apart is its connection to Massanutten Resort, Virgina’s premier four-season resort destination. In addition to a collection of private community amenities, residents enjoy convenient access to resort experiences, including snow sports, golf courses, dining, entertainment and more.
Built for Connection
A robust calendar of community-led events, clubs and activities makes it easy to meet people with shared interests. Residents can gather for backyard barbecues, guided outdoor adventures, wine tastings, cultural outings, recreational leagues, card games and seasonal celebrations. Whether you’re looking to stay active, pursue new hobbies, or simply spend time with like-minded people, there is always something to do and someone to share it with.
The Estates at Silverwood
The Estates at Silverwood: New single family homes in Hesperia, CA
Welcome to The Estates at Silverwood, a master-planned community of new homes in Hesperia, CA. Choose from 5 floorplans up to 2,932 sq. ft., 4 beds, 3.5 baths, and 3-car garages. Select plans feature an Extra Suite Plus, perfect for multi-generational living or housing guests. We offer Looks interiors, where you can pick from 4 options – Loft, Farmhouse, Classic, or Elements – for a unique palette to evoke a specific atmosphere.
Indulge in amenities like our clubhouse for a game of cards in the game room or for a chat over coffee in the kitchen. Make a splash in our pool or start a game of pickleball or basketball. Silverwood’s rich amenities have been designed as an extension of your home; calling you to gather, laugh and splash. Whether it’s playing checkers, grilling with friends, or yoga on the lawn, these will be your spaces to enjoy.
- The Crest Club
- Pools Complex
- Game Room
- Poolside Kitchen
- The Village Green
- Overlook Park and Playground
- 387 Acres of Parks
- 107 Miles of paths and paseos
- 59 Miles of off-street trails
- Silverwood Lake
- Public Art
Commute easily with I-15, Highway 395, Highway 138, and Highway 18 nearby. Hike or bike at a park or visit Silverwood Lake or Lake Arrowhead. Buy a new-construction home at The Estates at Silverwood today.
K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Pennfield
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.
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.
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.
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