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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
Waterway Southport
Discover Coastal Living at Waterway of Southport
Welcome to Waterway, an exciting new coastal community taking shape along the Intracoastal Waterway in beautiful Southport, North Carolina. Thoughtfully designed for those who appreciate an active, connected, and relaxed coastal lifestyle, Waterway brings together beautiful homes, exceptional amenities, and an enviable location in one of southeastern North Carolina’s most charming waterfront destinations.
At Waterway, you’ll discover a variety of opportunities to make coastal living your own. Choose from homesites starting in the $180s, low-maintenance townhome residences from the upper $500s, or custom homes by respected local builders starting in the $800s. Whether you’re planning your retirement, relocating to the coast, or searching for a second home, Waterway offers flexibility to fit your lifestyle.
Life here is designed to be enjoyed. Planned amenities include a welcoming amenity center, resort-style swimming pool, fitness center, pickleball and tennis courts, bocce, walking trails, and a marina along the Intracoastal Waterway. From mornings on the water to afternoons with friends and neighbors, Waterway offers opportunities to stay active, connect, and embrace the outdoors.
Walk, bike, or ride your golf cart to historic downtown Southport to explore its picturesque streets, waterfront restaurants, and local boutiques. Nearby Oak Island beaches offer sun, sand, and coastal recreation, while Wilmington and Myrtle Beach provide additional shopping, entertainment, healthcare, and travel conveniences.
With its desirable location, thoughtfully planned amenities, and diverse residential offerings, Waterway represents an exciting opportunity to enjoy the best of coastal North Carolina.
Your next chapter starts here. Discover Waterway of Southport.
WaterwaySouthport.com
910-509-1929
Coastal Run at Heritage Shores
Located within the established Heritage Shores community in Bridgeville, Delaware, Coastal Run features spacious two-, three- and four-bedroom single-family homes designed for comfortable, low-maintenance living. Residents enjoy the privacy and space of a home without many of the responsibilities that come with traditional homeownership. Lawn care and home maintenance are handled for you, leaving more time to enjoy the things that matter most.
But Coastal Run is about much more than the home—it’s about the lifestyle just outside your door.
Residents have access to the exceptional amenities and activities of Heritage Shores, including a championship golf course, pickleball and tennis, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness facilities, walking and biking opportunities, dining at three onsite restaurants, live entertainment, clubs, activities and a full calendar of social events. Whether your ideal day includes a round of golf, meeting friends for dinner, staying active, or simply relaxing, there are countless ways to make each day your own.
Coastal Run can be especially appealing for those entering a new chapter of life. Some residents are relocating to Delaware, while others are downsizing, simplifying, or choosing to sell their current home and preserve their equity rather than immediately purchasing another property. Leasing provides the flexibility to enjoy the Heritage Shores lifestyle without making another long-term homeownership commitment.
Conveniently located on Delaware’s Eastern Shore, Heritage Shores offers a relaxed small-town setting while providing access to shopping, healthcare and the beaches and attractions of the Delmarva Peninsula.
At Coastal Run, you don’t have to choose between the comfort of a beautiful home and the freedom to enjoy retirement on your terms.
Lease the Home. Live the Lifestyle.
K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Crossprairie
Opening in February 2027, K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Crossprairie is a resort-style 55+ community in St. Cloud, Florida, where living fully comes naturally. With a dedicated Lifestyle Director and amenities like pools, fitness studios, pickleball courts, walking paths, dog parks, and a community garden, you can be as active or relaxed as you choose. Your single-story home features easy, low-maintenance living with open floorplans, space to relax and entertain, and professionally curated Looks interiors.
As the only active adult neighborhood within the 1,400-acre Crossprairie master plan, you’ll enjoy multigenerational connections while savoring your own intimate, gated enclave surrounded by natural beauty. St. Cloud’s lakefront charm, nearby Walt Disney World, Lake Nona Medical City, and Orlando International Airport keep family, adventure, and essentials within easy reach. From your home to your community and beyond, you’re perfectly placed to embrace an exciting, fulfilling new chapter.
This 55+ community features beautiful new single-family and villa homes, and offers a range of resort-style amenities designed for an active and social lifestyle.
The Shores at Brightwater
The Shores at Brightwater – 55+ Active Adult Living in North Fort Myers, FL
Discover a vibrant new way to enjoy Florida living at The Shores at Brightwater, a premier 55+ active adult community by D.R. Horton in North Fort Myers. Designed for those who want an exciting, low-maintenance lifestyle, The Shores at Brightwater combines beautiful new construction homes with resort-style amenities, social activities, and a private community atmosphere.
At the heart of the community is a stunning lagoon, creating the perfect atmosphere to relax, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the Florida sunshine. Residents can take advantage of the community’s private amenities, designed exclusively for homeowners of The Shores at Brightwater, offering opportunities for recreation, fitness, relaxation, and socializing—all close to home.
Choose from thoughtfully designed single-story homes featuring open-concept living spaces, modern kitchens, spacious bedrooms, and highly desirable finishes throughout. Many homes are designed with entertaining and everyday comfort in mind, making it easy to enjoy everything from quiet mornings at home to gatherings with friends and family.
Life at The Shores at Brightwater is about more than just a beautiful home. It’s about having a built-in lifestyle and a community where there is always something to do. Spend the day by the lagoon, stay active with resort-style amenities, meet friends for a social event, or simply enjoy the laid-back Florida lifestyle.
Located in North Fort Myers, The Shores at Brightwater puts residents within convenient reach of Southwest Florida’s beaches, dining, shopping, entertainment, golf, and outdoor recreation. Enjoy easy access to Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the Gulf Coast while coming home to a community designed specifically for 55+, active adults.
If you’re searching for new homes in a 55+ active adult community in North Fort Myers, The Shores at Brightwater offers the perfect blend of new construction, private resort-style amenities, a beautiful lagoon, and an active Florida lifestyle.
Come discover The Shores at Brightwater and find your place in this exciting new 55+ community by D.R. Horton.
What amenities are included in The Shores at Brightwater?
- The Shores at Brightwater is an active adult, 55-plus resort-style gated community built by a premier builder, featuring top-tier amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts, dog park, fishing opportunities, and scenic nature trails.
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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