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 2026
What is the best place to retire in Florida? The best place to retire in Florida is Vero Beach.
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 Vero Beach 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 2026
/10
Population: 17,042
Median Income: $69,758
Median Home Price: $362,131
Median Rent: $1,221
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Vero Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,463
Median Income: $58,886
Median Home Price: $310,772
Median Rent: $1,496
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Tavares: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 56,970
Median Income: $72,105
Median Home Price: $412,112
Median Rent: $1,684
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Sarasota: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 57,014
Median Income: $60,822
Median Home Price: $353,217
Median Rent: $1,618
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Bradenton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,238
Median Income: $90,049
Median Home Price: $622,594
Median Rent: $2,010
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on North Palm Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,081
Median Income: $80,973
Median Home Price: $321,841
Median Rent: $1,563
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Lynn Haven: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,033
Median Income: $106,830
Median Home Price: $495,956
Median Rent: $1,743
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Safety Harbor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,600
Median Income: $92,135
Median Home Price: $762,810
Median Rent: $1,880
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Lighthouse Point: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 36,062
Median Income: $74,477
Median Home Price: $405,386
Median Rent: $1,675
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Dunedin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,262
Median Income: $69,409
Median Home Price: $346,765
Median Rent: $1,451
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Sebastian: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Sunshine State for 2026
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 Vero Beach, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 Vero Beach.
The best places to retire in Florida are Vero Beach, Tavares, Sarasota, Bradenton, North Palm Beach, Lynn Haven, Safety Harbor, Lighthouse Point, Dunedin, and Sebastian.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Apopka
- Gainesville
- Crestview
For more Florida reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Florida
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vero Beach | 17,042 | $69,758 | $362,131 | $1,221 |
| 2 | Tavares | 20,463 | $58,886 | $310,772 | $1,496 |
| 3 | Sarasota | 56,970 | $72,105 | $412,112 | $1,684 |
| 4 | Bradenton | 57,014 | $60,822 | $353,217 | $1,618 |
| 5 | North Palm Beach | 13,238 | $90,049 | $622,594 | $2,010 |
| 6 | Lynn Haven | 20,081 | $80,973 | $321,841 | $1,563 |
| 7 | Safety Harbor | 17,033 | $106,830 | $495,956 | $1,743 |
| 8 | Lighthouse Point | 10,600 | $92,135 | $762,810 | $1,880 |
| 9 | Dunedin | 36,062 | $74,477 | $405,386 | $1,675 |
| 10 | Sebastian | 26,262 | $69,409 | $346,765 | $1,451 |