Best Places to Live in Florida for Retirees
I sell South Florida, so this is the South Florida answer. Nine cities ranked on healthcare access, 55-plus communities and real prices, plus the tax picture and the honest answer on hurricanes that most retirement guides skip.
Short answer: Florida taxes none of a retiree's Social Security, pension or retirement-account income, and has no estate tax. Owners 65 and older can qualify for an extra $50,000 homestead exemption on top of the standard one. For where to actually live, I lead retiree clients to Boca Raton and Delray Beach for healthcare and 55-plus communities, Aventura and Sunny Isles Beach for low-maintenance oceanfront condos. No part of coastal Florida is hurricane-free, and I say so below.
- $0Florida state tax on Social Security, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals.
- $50,000Additional homestead exemption for owners 65+ under the income limit (Fla. Stat. 196.075).
- $38,6862026 household income limit to qualify for that additional exemption.
- $449KMost affordable full-service pick ranked below, Aventura (Redfin, Aug 2026).
Why retirees move to Florida
Florida's constitution bars a state income tax on individuals, so Social Security, pensions, and 401(k) or IRA withdrawals are not taxed at the state level, and there is no state estate or inheritance tax either. That is the headline. The part most guides leave out is the senior homestead exemption.
Florida Statute 196.075 lets a county adopt, by local ordinance, an additional $50,000 homestead exemption for owners 65 and older whose household income is under a statutory limit, $38,686 for 2026 (up from $37,694 in 2025), plus a second exemption equal to the home's full assessed value for owners 65 and older who have lived in a home valued under $250,000 for 25 years or more. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have all adopted the exemption; the exact amount can vary by city within a county, so check with your county property appraiser.
Not tax or legal advice. I am a broker, not a CPA or attorney. Confirm your own eligibility and exemption amount with your county property appraiser before you rely on any figure here.
Healthcare
Baptist Health South Florida runs 11 hospitals and more than 100 outpatient sites across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties, including Baptist Hospital of Miami, South Miami Hospital, and Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables. Jackson Health System, Miami-Dade's public system, and Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach both carry nationally-ranked specialties per U.S. News. Cleveland Clinic Florida, headquartered in Weston, was ranked the number one hospital overall in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro in the 2026-27 U.S. News rankings, with five nationally-ranked specialties. In Broward and Palm Beach, Broward Health, Memorial Healthcare System, and Baptist Health/Boca Raton Regional Hospital round out the systems I hear about most from retiree clients. Statewide, Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville led the 2026-27 U.S. News cycle, that is not South Florida, but it is worth knowing if a health need ever takes you there.
Ranked: nine places for retirees
- Healthcare + country club
Boca Raton
Baptist Health/Boca Raton Regional Hospital anchors care here, and a cluster of GL Homes "Valencia" 55-plus communities sits in western Boca and Boynton Beach. Population 101,582, median household income $106,273. Median sale price $675,000 (Redfin, August 2026). About 30 minutes to FLL, an hour to Miami.
- Walkable + 55-plus
Delray Beach
Home to two named 55-plus communities: Valencia Falls, 724 single-family homes by GL Homes, and Kings Point, 7,200 condo units built 1973 to 1985, resale-only. Downtown Delray scores 94 on Walk Score along Atlantic Avenue. Population 69,809, median household income $82,041. Median sale price has run $510,000 to $545,000 (Redfin, May to September 2026 cuts).
- Low-maintenance condo
Aventura
Full-service buildings with the maintenance handled by the association, minutes from Aventura Mall and Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach. Population 39,880, median household income $89,274. Median sale price $449,702 (Redfin, August 2026), the most affordable full-service pick on this page.
- Oceanfront + full service
Sunny Isles Beach
Doorman buildings, beach service, and Walk Score 60, high for South Florida. Population 22,395, median household income $61,921. Median sale price $925,000 (Redfin, November 2025). About 25 to 30 minutes to MIA and its connections.
- Doctors Hospital nearby
Coral Gables
Doctors Hospital, part of the Baptist Health system, sits inside the city. Population 49,578, median household income $134,216. Median sale price $1.7 million (Redfin, three months ending June 2026). Historic, walkable pockets around the Biltmore area for retirees who still want to be near the city.
- Top-ranked hospital
Weston
Cleveland Clinic Florida is headquartered here and was ranked the top hospital in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro for 2026-27 by U.S. News. The Palms at Weston is a named 55-plus community, developed since 2008. Population 69,588, median household income $139,825. Median sale price $764,000 (Redfin, most recent monthly cut, September 2026 pull).
- Central, budget
Plantation
Lauderdale West, a 55-plus community of detached homes and villas with a clubhouse, pool and shuffleboard, sits here. Population 99,183, median household income $92,541. My pricing sources disagreed by nearly 50% on the current median last time I checked, ask me for a fresh number.
- Budget-friendly
Pembroke Pines
A common budget pick among Broward retirees for its condo inventory, but I do not have a current sourced population, median price or named 55-plus community for Pembroke Pines to put in front of you, ask me and I will pull live comps and community names.
- Northernmost pick
Jupiter
The furthest north I will point a South Florida retiree, in Palm Beach County. Population 62,350, median household income $110,240. Home prices here swung meaningfully between my last two data pulls, so ask me for a current median rather than one that might already be stale.
On a budget
Aventura is the clearest budget pick with sourced numbers: a $449,702 median sale price (Redfin, August 2026) for full-service condo living. Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and Coconut Creek all come up in budget-focused retiree searches and generally run condos below the Aventura number, but I do not have a current, sourced median for any of the three to print here honestly, rather than guess, ask me and I will pull live comps for the specific building or area you are looking at. Renting instead of buying, and a condo over a single-family home, both lower the number further in any city on this page.
Named 55+ communities
A handful of named active-adult communities come up repeatedly with my retiree clients: Valencia Falls (724 single-family homes, GL Homes) and Kings Point (7,200 condo units, built 1973 to 1985, resale-only) in Delray Beach; the cluster of Valencia communities (Valencia Pointe, Valencia Sound, Valencia Cove and others, also GL Homes) in western Boca Raton and Boynton Beach; The Palms at Weston, developed since 2008; and Lauderdale West in Plantation, detached homes and villas with a clubhouse, pool and shuffleboard. I could not find a sourced total count of 55-plus communities for any single city, so I am not going to state one.
Side-by-side comparison
| City | Median sale price | District grade | Commute (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Raton | $675,000 | A | 30 min to FLL |
| Delray Beach | $510,000–$545,000 | A | 30–35 min to FLL |
| Aventura | $449,702 | A | 20–25 min to MIA |
| Sunny Isles Beach | $925,000 | A | 25–30 min to MIA |
| Coral Gables | $1,700,000 | A | 15 min to MIA |
| Weston | $764,000 | A | 20–25 min to FLL |
| Plantation | ask me | A | 15 min to FLL |
| Pembroke Pines | ask me | A | ask me |
| Jupiter | ask me | A | 55 min to FLL |
Related guides: every South Florida city ranked, best places for families, what Florida does and doesn't tax, pros and cons of living in Florida, and why people are moving to South Florida.
Live listings in three of these cities
Current MLS listings between $400,000 and $1,500,000 in Aventura, Boca Raton and Delray Beach, refreshed as you load this page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best places to live in Florida for retirees?
For South Florida retirees I lead with Boca Raton and Delray Beach for healthcare access and 55-plus communities, Aventura and Sunny Isles Beach for low-maintenance oceanfront condos, and Coral Gables or Weston if you want to stay close to a top-ranked hospital. This page covers South Florida only.
What are the best cities to live in Florida for retirees?
Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Coral Gables, Weston, Plantation, Pembroke Pines and Jupiter are the nine I show retiree clients most, each with different tradeoffs on price, healthcare distance and how much upkeep you want.
What are the best places to retire in Florida on a budget?
Aventura's median sale price is $449,702 (Redfin, August 2026), the most affordable full-service option here. Plantation and Pembroke Pines run lower still, though I do not have a current sourced median for Pembroke Pines to quote, ask me for live comps. Condos generally cost less than single-family homes in every city on this page.
What are the best places to retire in Florida without hurricanes?
No coastal Florida location is truly hurricane-free, and I would not tell a retiree otherwise. What reduces exposure: building inland rather than directly oceanfront, choosing a newer building built to the post-Hurricane Andrew wind code, and checking a condo's milestone inspection status and master insurance policy before you buy. Plantation, Weston and inland Palm Beach County sit further from storm surge than the barrier islands, though every part of South Florida is in a hurricane zone.
Does Florida tax Social Security or pension income?
No. Florida's constitution bars a state income tax on individuals, so Social Security, pensions, and 401(k) or IRA withdrawals are not taxed at the state level. There is also no state estate or inheritance tax.
What is the senior homestead exemption in Florida?
Florida Statute 196.075 lets counties adopt an additional $50,000 homestead exemption for owners 65 and older whose household income is under a statutory limit, $38,686 for 2026, plus a second exemption equal to the full assessed value for longtime owners 65 and older who have lived in a home valued under $250,000 for 25 years or more. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have all adopted it, check with your county property appraiser for the exact local ordinance.
Let's find your fit
Tell me how much upkeep you want to deal with, how close you need to be to a hospital, and your budget, and I will send you the two or three cities that actually fit along with what is on the market right now in each one.
Kevin Poler · Broker, The Poler Team · Optimar International Realty, 18246 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160Sources
- Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5(a) (no state income, estate or inheritance tax). Text.
- Florida Statute 196.075, additional homestead exemptions for persons 65 and older; Florida Department of Revenue summary, revised January 2026. floridarevenue.com.
- Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County Property Appraisers, senior exemption pages. miamidade.gov, bcpa.net, pbcpao.gov.
- Baptist Health South Florida, hospital and outpatient locations. baptisthealth.net.
- U.S. News Best Hospitals, Florida, 2026-27 rankings (Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston). health.usnews.com.
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts, 2025 population estimates and ACS 2020-24 5-year median household income, by city. census.gov.
- Redfin, city housing-market pages, various 2026 dates as noted above. redfin.com.
- 55places.com, Valencia Falls and Palm Beach County active-adult community listings. 55places.com.