Best counties to retire to in Florida
Best counties to retire to in Florida
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Florida based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Florida.
#25. Pasco County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 588,758
- Median household income: $67,384
- Median home value: $265,800
- Top places to live: Wesley Chapel (A+), Odessa (A), Trinity (A)
#24. Monroe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (C), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 81,840
- Median household income: $82,430
- Median home value: $723,800
- Top places to live: Key West (A-), North Key Largo (A-), Marathon (A-)
#23. Gulf County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 14,772
- Median household income: $67,361
- Median home value: $235,700
- Top places to live: Port St. Joe (A-), Wewahitchka (B)
#22. Levy County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 44,276
- Median household income: $53,805
- Median home value: $171,400
- Top places to live: Williston (B), Raleigh (A-), Cedar Key (A-)
#21. Marion County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 387,697
- Median household income: $58,535
- Median home value: $220,800
- Top places to live: Ocala (B+), Belleview (B), Silver Springs Shores (B)
#20. Nassau County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 94,653
- Median household income: $88,900
- Median home value: $351,100
- Top places to live: Fernandina Beach (A), Yulee (B+), Callahan (B)
#19. St. Johns County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 292,243
- Median household income: $106,169
- Median home value: $457,600
- Top places to live: Nocatee (A+), Palm Valley (A+), Fruit Cove (A+)
#18. Volusia County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 568,229
- Median household income: $66,581
- Median home value: $278,000
- Top places to live: DeLand (A-), Ormond Beach (A-), DeBary (A-)
#17. Flagler County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 121,710
- Median household income: $72,923
- Median home value: $333,400
- Top places to live: Flagler Beach (B+), Palm Coast (B+), Bunnell (B)
#16. Hernando County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (A), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 201,512
- Median household income: $63,193
- Median home value: $240,700
- Top places to live: Brooksville (B+), North Brooksville (B+), South Brooksville (B+)
#15. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 398,696
- Median household income: $69,956
- Median home value: $287,900
- Top places to live: Montverde (A-), Clermont (A-), Groveland (A-)
#14. Citrus County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 158,693
- Median household income: $55,355
- Median home value: $223,200
- Top places to live: Black Diamond (B+), Homosassa Springs (B), Crystal River (B)
#13. Manatee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 416,020
- Median household income: $75,792
- Median home value: $359,800
- Top places to live: Holmes Beach (A-), West Bradenton (A-), Whitfield (B+)
#12. Palm Beach County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,507,453
- Median household income: $81,115
- Median home value: $407,300
- Top places to live: Boca Raton (A+), Highland Beach (A+), Jupiter (A)
#11. Franklin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 12,418
- Median household income: $62,734
- Median home value: $254,300
- Top places to live: Apalachicola (B+), Eastpoint (B), Carrabelle (B)
#10. Collier County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 387,681
- Median household income: $86,173
- Median home value: $486,800
- Top places to live: Pine Ridge (A), Naples (A), Vineyards (A)
#9. Charlotte County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 195,083
- Median household income: $66,154
- Median home value: $291,000
- Top places to live: Solana (B+), Punta Gorda (B+), Cleveland (B+)
#8. Brevard County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 620,533
- Median household income: $75,817
- Median home value: $304,400
- Top places to live: Satellite Beach (A+), Melbourne Beach (A+), Indialantic (A+)
#7. Martin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 160,464
- Median household income: $80,701
- Median home value: $386,500
- Top places to live: Jensen Beach (A), Palm City (A), Stuart (A)
#6. Lee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 792,692
- Median household income: $73,099
- Median home value: $326,300
- Top places to live: Sanibel (A), Estero (A), Three Oaks (A)
#5. Highlands County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B+), weather (A), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 103,808
- Median household income: $55,581
- Median home value: $177,900
- Top places to live: Avon Park (B), Sebring (B), Lake Placid (B-)
#4. Sumter County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 137,536
- Median household income: $73,297
- Median home value: $356,000
- Top places to live: Bushnell (A-), The Villages (B), Lake Panasoffkee (B)
#3. Indian River County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 163,856
- Median household income: $71,049
- Median home value: $314,700
- Top places to live: South Beach (A), Indian River Shores (A), Vero Beach (A-)
#2. Pinellas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 960,565
- Median household income: $70,293
- Median home value: $319,000
- Top places to live: Crescent Lake (A+), North Shore (A+), Safety Harbor (A+)
#1. Sarasota County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 449,011
- Median household income: $80,633
- Median home value: $373,100
- Top places to live: Vamo (A+), Siesta Key (A), South Gate Ridge (A)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
