Notable Cities and Communities

Last Updated: December 27, 2025

Some places in Florida are known for their bustling nightlife and younger residents. If you’re planning to retire in Florida, you might not want to move to the louder, younger spots. Some of the best cities include:

1. Naples. This west coast city is ideal for retirees. It’s small—a little more than 20,000 residents—but more than half of residents are 65 years of age and up.¹ You’ll need a good housing budget, as median home prices are selling for $619,000 right now.²
   

2. Sarasota. Also on the west coast of Florida, this city is a bit bigger than its Gulf of Mexico neighbor to the south. It has almost 58,000 residents, with about 30% of them 65 years and up.³ The median sold home price is $500,000.⁴
   

3. Fort Myers. Another west coast town, Fort Myers also offers white sandy beaches in a quiet community. About 22% of the 99,918 residents are ages 65 and up.⁵ The median home price for homes sold here is about $309,900.⁶
   

4. The Villages. This central Florida retirement mega center is a major plus for retirees. It’s also the biggest retirement community in the country. It’s known for its golf courses, social clubs, and other activities for older folks. The Villages has almost 80,000 residents, with more than 86% of them ages 65 and up.⁷ Home prices are a bit more affordable here compared to some of the cities along the Gulf Coast, with the median sold price at $359,900.⁸ Many people love the small community at The Villages, ditching cars and using golf carts or local shuttles to get around.

5. Century Village. There are four Century Village locations in South Florida: Pembroke Pines, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. Each one is a 55+ community—made specifically for retirees. Each location has pools, golf courses, walking paths and other recreational activities. The clubhouses host games, movie screenings and musicals. There are more than 30,000 residents across all four locations, which feature one- and two-bedroom condominiums inside a gated community. Homes can cost around $350,000 and rentals go anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000+ but costs differ by location.⁹
   
   

SOURCES

1. “QuickFacts: Collier County, Florida; Naples City, Florida; United States.” United States Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/colliercountyflorida,naplescityflorida,US/PST045219. Accessed 27 December 2025. 

2. “Naples, FL Real Estate Market.” Realtor.com, https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Naples_FL/overview. Accessed 27 December 2025.

3. “QuickFacts: Sarasota City, Florida; Sarasota County, Florida.” United States Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sarasotacityflorida,sarasotacountyflorida/PST045219. Accessed 27 December 2025.

4. “Sarasota, FL Real Estate Market.” Realtor.com, https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Sarasota_FL/overview. Accessed 27 December 2025.

5. “QuickFacts: Fort Myers City, Florida.” United States Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fortmyerscityflorida/PST045219. Accessed 27 December 2025.

6. “Fort Myers, FL Real Estate Market.” Realtor.com, https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Fort-Myers_FL/overview. Accessed 27 December 2025.

7. “QuickFacts: The Villages, Florida.” United States Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/thevillagescdpflorida/PST045219. Accessed 27 December 2025.

8. “The Villages, FL Real Estate Market.” Realtor.com, https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/The-Villages_FL/overview. Accessed 27 December 2025.

9. “About Us.” Century Village, https://www.centuryvillage.com/about-century-village. Accessed 27 December 2025.