2021 Best Places to Retire in Florida

Pelican Bay

• Town in Florida
• Rating 2.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Visitor: It's absolutely beautiful here, but you need money to live in this area. The area by the numbered streets and pier is classy and sophisticated with upscale shopping and restaurants. Houses start around a million. We are looking to buy a home here to retire, since it's similar in demographics to where we live in NY.
Read 5 Reviews

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• 6,140 Population

South Palm Beach

• Suburb of Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: I moved to S Palm last year after living in Ft Lauderdale for many years. The area feels very safe and the people are friendly. There are many places to dine and I love the new Publix grocery store at the corner of Ocean and Lantana. Overall, I’d give S Palm Beach an A+!
Read 3 Reviews

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• 1,296 Population

Highland Beach

• Suburb of Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Rating 4.67 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: Highland Beach is a small town about 2 miles long. We have our own water system, library, post office, police, fire station and town hall. The area is well kept and safe.
Read 18 Reviews

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• 3,885 Population

Indian River Shores

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4.6 out of 5  5 reviews

Niche User: I haven't lived in Vero Beach for that long, it will be 2 years this summer, but so far I love it here. I'm originally from a small town in New England, and I am so glad that I no longer have to deal with the brutal winters. It is also such a change having the beach just a short walk away, instead of having to drive around 2 hours to get to one beach where there are so many people that you can't even move.
Read 5 Reviews

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• 4,206 Population

Gulf Stream

• Suburb of Fort Lauderdale, FL

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• 1,053 Population

Hillsboro Beach

• Suburb of Fort Lauderdale, FL

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• 1,752 Population

Siesta Key

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Niche User: Growing up in Sarasota, FL is a wonderful experience. Siesta Key Beach and many parks provide areas for visiting or residential families. There are many options for restaurants and shopping. The economy is booming due to it's high ratings by tourists. There are urban and suburban neighborhoods, and even rural areas out East. Go far enough and you can visit a near-by fully operational Dairy! The downtown area attracts much of the young adult generation.
Read 7 Reviews

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• 5,573 Population

Jensen Beach

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4.57 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: Small coastal town with a lot of charm! Great place to raise a family and settle down. If you enjoy boating, great schools, you'll love Jensen Beach.
Read 30 Reviews

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• 13,479 Population

Cypress Lake

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: It is a very clean neighborhood. Though the homeowners association is strict, it is a nice place to live. It is very kid friendly, with an elementary, middle, and high school within walking distance.
Read 11 Reviews

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• 12,978 Population

Cape Canaveral

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful place to live. Watch rocket launches, go to the beaches, and friendly people. Can get a little busy from tourists but all around nice place to live!
Read 7 Reviews

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• 10,377 Population

Whiskey Creek

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Nearby Resident: Whiskey Creek is a neighborhood and CDP in unincorporated Lee County (Fort Myers mailing address). Very safe and well kept neighborhood. Close to beaches, shopping, FSW State, restaurants and 10 minutes to downtown Fort Myers. There are also Gulf-access properties in the neighborhood.
Read 6 Reviews

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• 5,022 Population

Timber Pines

• Suburb of Tampa, FL
• Rating 3 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Timber Pines is the best kept secret in Florida. The residents own the corporation with one vote per household. We improve, maintain and keep our community in too shape. With an elected Board of Directors and a Manager with 90 other paid dedicated employees.
Read 2 Reviews

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• 5,198 Population

Villas

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.88 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Close-knit community where neighbors care about you and HELP you. Villas has its own Community park of 2 acres on Sunrise. We have fundraisers to help rebuild the Villas Civic Center. We just had a wonderful Fall Festival. Safe and happy place!
Read 8 Reviews

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• 13,072 Population

High Point

• Suburb of Tampa, FL
• Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

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• 3,974 Population

Englewood

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here my whole life and I love this town! The beaches are beautiful and I know almost everyone here. The schools are good and there are a few little parks. It’s a very safe place to live and I have never felt unsafe here, even getting out of work at 10pm and walking to my car doesn’t worry me. The downside is that during season the town is overrun with snowbirds and the traffic is horrendous. There is not much to do unless you are 65+ (which most the population is). The town is growing though and being taken over by retirees, it’s kind of sad to see my hometown change so much.
Read 32 Reviews

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• 15,095 Population

Naples

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4.25 out of 5  332 reviews

Current Resident: I never thought I’d love this home, small town city like I do now. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and moved here in Naples back in 2007. I have determined that I will never live anywhere else. Many people say “boring” but I say “peaceful”. Its clean, safe, and the traffic is great! During the day you can enjoy the beach, go shopping at multiple different malls, go for walks in any of our board walks and parks, and eat literally anywhere of course! If you’re a night owl multiple restaurants are night clubs on the weekend. Enjoy downtown fifth avenue lights or go bar hopping at Mercato and end your festivities eating tacos at Roscos Tacos at 1am. Want a more relax environment? I highly recommend wine tasting at Coopers Hawk followed by a wonderful dinner when you’re ready to eat. Overall, there’s more to do here than most people say and long term it is a perfect city to raise a family.
Read 332 Reviews

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• 21,812 Population

Southgate

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: I've lived here my whole life, it's great!
Read 4 Reviews

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• 7,817 Population

St. Pete Beach

• Suburb of St. Petersburg, FL
• Rating 4.46 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: Its a beautiful location, great people and lots to do! Only downside would that it is a big tourist attraction which causes it to be very crowded and often busy on the weekends.
Read 13 Reviews

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• 9,587 Population

North River Shores

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.38 out of 5  8 reviews

Niche User: It was voted the happiest small town so I believe that it cannot be too bad
Read 8 Reviews

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• 3,874 Population

Bal Harbour

• Suburb of Miami, FL
• Rating 4.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: Bal Harbour has the lavish lifestyle and the beautiful mall named Bal Habour Shops. It is the most luxurious shopping mall in America and has several extremely high quality food and dozens of designer brands inside the mall. The hotel is very expensive and enjoyable for vacation. The beaches is very very nice too and the street is very safety. You can see lots of police there. And Bal Harbour has lots of millionaries and billionaries living there. You can see lots of supercars on Collins Avenue and Bal Habour shops. For me, I am a current resident living here and I feel very lucky to be part of 3000 people at Bal Harbour! Because this place is fantastic and you can see lots of super rich people there to kind of motivate your life everyday and meantime enjoy the exclusive lifestyle at Bal Harbour!
Read 7 Reviews

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• 3,004 Population

Brookridge

• Suburb of Tampa, FL
• Rating 1.5 out of 5  2 reviews

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• 4,412 Population

North Redington Beach

• Suburb of St. Petersburg, FL
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: It is a small fishing and boating oriented town where everyone knows each other. There are lots of Canadians since many of them have homes or rent condos here for the winter.
Read 1 Review

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• 1,242 Population

Iona

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.42 out of 5  12 reviews

Niche User: Fort Myers is a fantastic area to be outside and enjoying our natural beaches. Along the beaches are multiple shops that have kept the same owners since my mom was a child. In fact, my grandmother owns a restaurant by the beach and all the time that I've spent their, her customers have always been polite. Other restaurant owners will go to see and eat there which keeps the beach shop owners close, so when it's the snowbird season owners can be on top of sales.
Read 12 Reviews

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• 14,118 Population

Bee Ridge

• Town in Florida
• Rating 4.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: This area is probably one of the best in the country. We just built a new mall and we have siesta key the number one beach in the country. The weather is perfect and the restaurants are great.
Read 9 Reviews

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• 9,958 Population

Longboat Key

• Town in Florida
• Rating 3.7 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: I have been a resident of LBK since 2007. It is a beautiful place to live. Due to this, however, it is becoming very developed and a popular tourist destination. Thus, traffic is terrible during season and the lush environment is growing sparse. Yet it is still incredibly safe. LBK offers numerous recreational activities for residents and the beach is always stunning.
Read 10 Reviews

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• 7,283 Population