When you realize your career is coming to an end, you start to think about the best place in Florida to live out your retirement.
Florida is known as the retirement state. A place where you can soak up the sun and live in massive upscale retirement communities. It is no surprise that Florida is a favorite retirement destination. The weather is beautiful, the beaches practically surround the state, and the state is very affordable.
From Disney to the Everglades and everything in between, Florida is a great vacation spot, so why not retire here? If Florida is a top retirement state, we wanted to know which places are the best to retire. To find the best places to retire, we considered things that retirees like to do, like visiting museums and libraries, affordable housing near major airports, and safety.
We figured out the best places to retire in Florida, and it’s not Miami or Jacksonville.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Florida For 2025
What is the best place to retire in Florida? The best place to retire in Florida is Tavares.
Using data from the Census and FBI, we based this analysis on several retirement criteria, like low cost of living, low crime, good weather, and the average age of residents.
Interested to see how your favorite Florida city stacked up in terms of retirement glory? Read on to find out.
Why did Tavares take the top spot? And where are Miami and Tampa?
For more Florida state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Florida
- Cheapest Places To Live In Florida
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Florida
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Florida For 2025
/10
Population: 19,738
Median Income: $57,644
Median Home Price: $225,500
Median Rent: $1,409
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Tavares: Data
/10
Population: 16,785
Median Income: $67,351
Median Home Price: $392,500
Median Rent: $1,197
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Vero Beach: Data
/10
Population: 56,218
Median Income: $70,065
Median Home Price: $409,700
Median Rent: $1,514
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Sarasota: Data
/10
Population: 56,289
Median Income: $60,964
Median Home Price: $282,500
Median Rent: $1,475
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Bradenton: Data
/10
Population: 13,089
Median Income: $91,042
Median Home Price: $456,700
Median Rent: $1,929
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on North Palm Beach: Data
/10
Population: 36,060
Median Income: $68,068
Median Home Price: $341,700
Median Rent: $1,523
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Dunedin: Data
/10
Population: 10,463
Median Income: $92,268
Median Home Price: $667,000
Median Rent: $1,776
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Lighthouse Point: Data
/10
Population: 17,040
Median Income: $105,813
Median Home Price: $433,300
Median Rent: $1,719
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Safety Harbor: Data
/10
Population: 19,451
Median Income: $83,093
Median Home Price: $286,700
Median Rent: $1,577
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Lynn Haven: Data
/10
Population: 25,759
Median Income: $68,863
Median Home Price: $281,700
Median Rent: $1,414
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Sebastian: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Sunshine State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Florida to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Sunshine State — 915 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 71 places from across the state.
For these 71, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 71, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Tavares, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Florida.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Florida Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Florida goes to Tavares.
The best places to retire in Florida are Tavares, Vero Beach, Sarasota, Bradenton, North Palm Beach, Dunedin, Lighthouse Point, Safety Harbor, Lynn Haven, and Sebastian.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Apopka
- Belle Glade
- Davenport
For more Florida reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Florida
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tavares | 19,738 | $57,644 | $225,500 | $1,409 |
| 2 | Vero Beach | 16,785 | $67,351 | $392,500 | $1,197 |
| 3 | Sarasota | 56,218 | $70,065 | $409,700 | $1,514 |
| 4 | Bradenton | 56,289 | $60,964 | $282,500 | $1,475 |
| 5 | North Palm Beach | 13,089 | $91,042 | $456,700 | $1,929 |
| 6 | Dunedin | 36,060 | $68,068 | $341,700 | $1,523 |
| 7 | Lighthouse Point | 10,463 | $92,268 | $667,000 | $1,776 |
| 8 | Safety Harbor | 17,040 | $105,813 | $433,300 | $1,719 |
| 9 | Lynn Haven | 19,451 | $83,093 | $286,700 | $1,577 |
| 10 | Sebastian | 25,759 | $68,863 | $281,700 | $1,414 |