A major component of any successful retirement is knowing exactly where to live. To that end, GOBankingRates conducted a study to determine the 25 most livable Southern retirement towns by analyzing every Southern metropolitan area with a population of 10,000 more — at least 33% of which are above the age of 65. Also factored into the study were median household incomes and a livability index of 0 (the lowest score) to 100 (the highest).
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Whether you’re looking to kick back on a Florida beach in retirement or bask in the dry heat of Arizona, these 25 cities offer the highest quality of life in the South for those ready to retire.
1. Dunedin, Florida
- % of population 65+: 34.7%
- Livability: 84
2. Ormond Beach, Florida
- % of population 65+: 33.3%
- Livability: 83
3. Sebastian, Florida
- % of population 65+: 35.9%
- Livability: 83
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4. Parole, Maryland
- % of population 65+: 34.4%
- Livability: 82
5. Gulfport, Florida
- % of population 65+: 35.6%
- Livability: 81
6. Estero, Florida
- % of population 65+: 50.7%
- Livability: 79
7. Naples, Florida
- % of population 65+: 56.2%
- Livability: 79
8. Venice, Florida
- % of population 65+: 59.9%
- Livability: 79
9. Tavares, Florida
- % of population 65+: 38.0%
- Livability: 76
10. Punta Gorda, Florida
- % of population 65+: 53.6%
- Livability: 76
11. Mount Dora, Florida
- % of population 65+: 33.1%
- Livability: 75
12. Inlet, South Carolina
- % of population 65+: 37.0%
- Livability: 74
13. Garden City, South Carolina
- % of population 65+: 38.0%
- Livability: 74
14. Cypress Lake, Florida
- % of population 65+: 43.1%
- Livability: 74
15. North Fort Myers, Florida
- % of population 65+: 47.2%
- Livability: 74
16. West Vero Corridor, Florida
- % of population 65+: 51.8%
- Livability: 74
17. Fredericksburg, Texas
- % of population 65+: 33.9%
- Livability: 73
18. Pinehurst, North Carolina
- % of population 65+: 39.4%
- Livability: 73
19. Hudson, Florida
- % of population 65+: 48.1%
- Livability: 73
20. Fernandina Beach, Florida
- % of population 65+: 37.7%
- Livability: 72
21. Englewood, Florida
- % of population 65+: 59.4%
- Livability: 72
22. Cocoa Beach, Florida
- % of population 65+: 35.3%
- Livability: 71
23. Iona, Florida
- % of population 65+: 59.0%
- Livability: 71
24. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
- % of population 65+: 35.3%
- Livability: 70
25. St. Simons, Georgia
- % of population 65+: 38.0%
- Livability: 70
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed cities with at least 10,000 total population and a population percent for ages 65 and over of at least 33%, as sourced from U.S. Census 2023 5-Year American Community Survey. The total households and household median income was also sourced from the same source. Using AreaVibes.com, the livability index was sourced for each location in order to help determine the overall quality of life. The cities were sorted to show the highest livability index first representing the most livable retirement towns. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 29, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 25 Most Livable Southern Retirement Towns
