Finally leaving your job is a thing you are surely looking forward to celebrating, especially if you plan to change your life completely, even if it means moving to one of these 10 best places to retire in Florida on the water.
Florida is a great state to move to, it has a great climate, with hot days and nights, plenty of fresh air, loads of nature to enjoy, and most of all lots and lots of water. On top of the fact that a great part of the state has a coastline, there are also dozens of lakes and rivers to fall in love with, which means it’s perfect if you want to move to a less traditional home, like a boat, for instance; or perhaps you’d enjoy a house with a lake in your backyard, since that’s also an option. If you’d like you can also check out other articles we have on related topics, including the best places to retire in Florida Gulf Coast and the best places to retire in Florida on social security.
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Well, for our list today we took a look at all Florida’s counties and set apart those that have over 25% of their territory made out of water. Then, we looked at average house prices, millage rates and how much you’d end up spending on home taxes, and the cost of living index. We graded each county on a 1 to 10 scale on each of these aspects and ended up with a score, just so we could tell you which are the 10 best places to retire in Florida on the water.
10. Monroe
Score: 3
Median house price: $402,700
Millage rate: 10,21
Cost of living index: 144.6
Water out of total area: 73.7%
Last on our list is Monroe. This is a great place to live, and it’s actually the county with the most water coverage, namely 73.7 percent. Since this is the largest county in Florida by total area, that means there is quite a bit of water to enjoy. The place is home to over 73,000 people, most of which live in the Florida Keys, an island chain. Other areas are pretty much uninhabited, such as the Cape Sable Census County Division, which covers nearly 87 percent of Monroe’s land area, but doesn’t even hold 1 percent of its population.
While Monroe is great in some aspects, it’s ridiculous in others. For instance, the medium home price in the area is around $400,000 and we’re not even kidding. Taxes alone for a home of such value would rise to over $4,100, which is more than double than the taxes our number one county on this list has.
The cost of living in Monroe is also off the charts, the index being 144,6 with 100 being the national average. This means that everything is a lot more expensive here so you’d have to have quite a bit of money every month for your daily necessities.
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9. St. Johns
Score: 6
Median house price: $229,700
Millage rate: 15,95
Cost of living index: 113.3
Water out of total area: 26.9%
With a population of over 190,000 people, St. Johns is a nice place to retire to, being one of the two original counties that were created once Florida was ceded to the United States, its history going back to 1821. The median age in the county is 42.2 years, while the unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, well under the national average of 6.3 percent.
The median home price in the area is $229,700 which is quite high, but many believe it is justified by the way the town looks, the local economy and all the things you can do here, including the arts and culture circles. The cost of living index here is also a bit high, namely 113.3, but it’s not exactly terrible.
26.9 percent of the county’s territory is made out of water so there’s plenty of places to chose from, if you are really eager to find the place on the water.
8. Martin
Score: 9
Median house price: $180,700
Millage rate: 17.44
Cost of living index: 102.4
Water out of total area: 27.8%
Located in the Treasure Coast region in Florida, Martin County is home to over 146,000 people, according to the latest census, with a median age of 49.8 years, meaning there are plenty of other retirees who call it home.
The median home price here is a bit above $180,000 which is quite high, but not impossibly so. 27.8 percent of the county’s land is covered with water so there’s plenty of places to pick from if you want to live on the water or close to it.
7. Lee
Score: 15
Median house price: $157,200
Millage rate: 17.81
Cost of living index: 97.7
Water out of total area: 35.3%
With a population of over 618,000 people, Lee county is one of the largest in Florida. Its total area is 1,212 square miles, out of which 35.3 percent is water, including the Caloosahatchee River and the Imperial River, to name a few.
The median house price in this county is $157,200, while the cost of living index in the area is below the national average, but only by a little. Offering residents a view of the Gulf of Mexico, many have chosen it as a home when they reached retirement age, which is reflected in the 45.5 years median age.
6. Franklin
Score: 15
Median house price: $159,800
Millage rate: 13.73
Cost of living index: 99.4
Water out of total area: 47.9%
One of the smallest counties on our list today, Franklin is home to just a bit over 11,500 people, with a median age of 42.3 years. With a large shore dipping into the Gulf of Mexico, Franklin County is a great place to live in. Aside from this beautiful coastline, the county also includes several preserved areas, as well as rivers and it’s known for its fishing and timber industries, although given the median age in the area, it’s also quite popular among retirees. Out of the total area, 47.9 percent is water so finding a home close to it shouldn’t be too difficult.
The median home price in Franklin is close to $160,000, while the cost of living is pretty much the same as the national average since the index is 99.4.
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5. Pinellas
Score: 19
Median house price: $136,300
Millage rate: 21.07
Cost of living index: 92.5
Water out of total area: 55%
Home to over 916,000 people, Pinellas county is a massively populated place. Covering over 608 square miles, it’s not exactly a large county, but it is extremely busy. Over half of its total territory is made out of water, so if you’re looking to have a river in your backyard, or for a place to dock your boat you’re surely going to be able to find something proper.
The median house price in the area is over $136,000 and the taxes are a bit higher than in other areas, but you shouldn’t let that discourage you. The median age in the area is 46.3 years, so you can be sure that other retirees have picked it as their new home.
4. Bay
Score: 21
Median house price: $150,300
Millage rate: 12.06
Cost of living index: 97
Water out of total area: 26.6%
Home to nearly 170,000 people, Bay County is an interesting place to live in, its residents having a median age of 39.3 years, which means there’s plenty of young folks here if you’re interested in also feeling the vibe of the younger generation.
Out of the 1,033 square miles that constitutes Bay County, 26.6 percent is water, so finding a new place to relocate shouldn’t be too difficult. The median house price in the area is a bit above $150,000, so if you’re looking for a new place to buy, you should take this into consideration. The cost of living in this county is also quite similar to the national average, as the index sits at 97.
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3. Brevard
Score: 22
Median house price: $125,300
Millage rate: 19.14
Cost of living index: 93.2
Water out of total area: 34.8
On the East coast of Florida sits Brevard County, home to over 543,000 people with a median age of 45.5 years. Out of the total area of 1,557 square miles, 34.8 percent is water, most of which is actually the Atlantic Ocean. The St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoons are also up there in the charts, however, so you are surely going to be able to find a suitable home for you, or a place to dock your boat if that’s more of your flavor.
The median house price in the area, if you’re looking to buy, is north of $125,000, which isn’t too terrible. The cost of living index in this county is 93.2 so you should be able to save a little, although that all depends on the prices in your current place of living.
2. Gulf
Score: 25
Median house price: $126,600
Millage rate: 14.97
Cost of living index: 92.4
Water out of total area: 25.4
Even though Gulf County covers 756 square miles, it’s only home to under 16,000 people. The median age in the area is 43.8 years, so there are plenty of other retirees living here. On top of the coastline with the Gulf of Mexico, the county is home to several lakes, but also to the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, in part, if you want to enjoy some extra time in the outdoors.
If you’re looking to buy a home rather than sail your own, you can get one for about $126,600, which is the median price in the area.
1. Escambia
Score: 30
Median house price: $108,600
Millage rate: 16
Cost of living index: 90
Water out of total area: 25
With a territory of 875 square miles, a quarter of it is only water in Escambia county. Even though it’s not that big of an area, there are over 297,000 people living here, with the median age of the residents being 37.5 years.
The county is a lovely place, with plenty of green areas to enjoy if you’re into spending time in the wild. If you’re looking to buy a home, you should know that the median house price in the area is $108,600, which isn’t all that high, while the millage rate is listed at 16. The cost of living here is also pretty great, with the index sitting at 90, which is obviously great news. All in all, Escambia county tops the list of the 10 best places to retire in Florida on the water.
Scott Hallford (USN employee)
