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Guide to the Best Places to Retire



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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

The Tides of Shallotte Apartments

Shallotte, NC
Apartment Homes starting at $1450

Make coming home feel like getting away at The Tides of Shallotte Apartments in Shallotte! Our community offers a range of luxury one, two, and three bedroom apartments surrounded by breathtaking views. Enjoy smart home features that allow you to control your thermostat, lighting, and locks from your mobile device. Thrive in your gourmet kitchen and with our spacious layouts, which make sure your home will be the perfect place to host and relax. Plus, enjoy USB-enabled wall outlets, soft-close drawers & cabinets, and stainless steel appliances.

As a resident, you unlock access to exceptional community amenities. Workout in our 24-hour fully-equipped fitness center or go for a dip in our saltwater swimming pool. Focus In our coworking space or melt away your tension in our recovery room with automated massage chairs. Plus, our secure package lockers and our dedicated resident parking add an extra layer of convenience.

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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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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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