With its warm climate, sprawling golf courses, beaches, senior communities and financial benefits among other attractions, Florida has long been a retirement paradise for many Americans.
But rising living costs in many cities in the Sunshine State is enough to give retirees pause and cause them to seek out alternative destinations that are more affordable.
According to a report by GOBankingRates, Florida is home to 24 of America’s 50 most expensive retirement towns. The personal finance website used data from the U.S. Census Bureau to analyze cities with a total population greater than 25,000 and a retirement age population (65 and up) above 25%. The analysis focused on factors such as average 2024 home value and annual mortgage, annual costs for groceries, healthcare, utilities.
Six of Florida’s highest ranked towns were in the top 20: Aventura (12), Palm Beach Gardens (14), Boca Raton (15), Palm City (17), Bonita Springs (18) and Estero (20).
These highest ranked Florida cities all have a 2024 typical home value above $600,000 and have grocery costs that range from 7% to10% higher than the national average, noted CJ Williamson, data content researcher at GOBankingRates. He cautioned that “retirees who are on a tight budget should be wary of these high costs before choosing which part of Florida to live out their Golden Years.”
Estero, for example, is one of Florida’s fastest growing cities, according to a separate report by GOBankingRates, citing MoveBuddha, a Georgia-based aggregator of moving companies. The city saw a 64% jump from 2020 to 2023 in its average home value ($321,867 to $527,221). Its home value this year has risen to $637,529.
Another growing area, Boca Raton, went from $367,695 to $568,958, a 55% jump in three years. Prices this year have climbed to $734,478.
But while Florida dominated the top 50 list of most expensive retirement cities, California controlled the top 10 list in the category. The Golden State swept the top 10 with six of the most expensive retirement towns, led by Rancho Palos Verdes, followed by Walnut Creek at No. 2, Seal Beach at No. 3, Novato at No. 4, Cerritos at No. 6 and Palm Springs at No. 7.
The 2024 average home value in these towns is above $1 million, and in the case of Ranchos Palo nearing $2 million. The average cost of a home there is $1,995,454 and the annual expenditure as a homeowner is $149,970. For Walnut Creek, the average cost of a home is $1,480,984 with an annual expenditure of $118,693; and for Seal Beach, it’s $1.502,206 with an annual expenditure of $117,197.
Two cities in Hawaii made the top 10 list, Mililani at No. 5 with an average home value of $1,026,769, and Pearl City at No. 8, with an average home value of $967,106. Rounding out the top 10 most expensive cities list are Hilton Head Island, S.C., at No. 9 with an average home value of $1,012,359, and Fort Lee, N.J. at No. 10, with an average home value of $917,040.