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Overview

Overview of Climate and Culture

Florida is by far the most popular retirement destination for active adults. There are many age-restricted or age-targeted communities in the eight major regions, The Panhandle, Northern Florida, Upper Atlantic Coast and Jacksonville, Central Florida and Orlando, Tampa Bay, The Space Coast, Lower Gulf Coast and the Lower Atlantic Coast and Miami.

With a tropical/subtropical climate that encourages gardening, sun-worship, and year-round golf, Florida is filled with exciting urban areas such as Miami, Tampa, and Orlando. The heat is bearable keeping in mind that no part of Florida is too far from any coast. Standing in central Florida you can see the Space Shuttle flying as it launched with the naked eye. During the summer months the temperature is in the low 90’s while it is a balmy 50 degree average in the winter months. During the summer there are a lot of quick thunderstorms that come and go quickly. The results of these summer rains means Florida has one of the highest averages of precipitation, keeping the state lush and green throughout. The southern region of Florida is known as the Everglades and made up of swamps and marshes. You’ll find many lakes in the central region of Florida. That is one of the reasons Walt Disney picked Orlando to build his theme park, Walt Disney World.

Historical sites like St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral are intriguing aside a surprising amount of quiet, purely rural countryside in the central and northern parts of the state.

Many active adults call Florida home and enjoy a myriad opportunities for recreation and entertainment. Over 161 state parks in the state offer activities like camping, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding and much more. Many of these parks offer educational services geared towards informing people about this state's wildlife. This state was made for active senior living. The famous Everglades in the south, numerous theme parks and sports and extensive parks and preserves featuring boating, fishing, and aquatic activity, have all helped transform Florida from a sleepy Southern backwater to a booming state in little more than a century.

Healthcare

Active adults who need regular medical attention will be glad to know that Florida has 252 active physicians per 100,000 people. That is one of the highest physician counts in the entire country. There are 303 hospitals in the state offering state-of-the-art care, treating everything from the common cold to cancer. Active adults in this state live well knowing that if they ever need help there are numerous medical options in the area. There is even a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

Cost of Living

Florida is a friendly tax state for active adults and a robust senior living lifestyle. There is no state income tax. A low 6% sales tax on all good sold is a state law. Property tax is collected at the local level rather than by the state. Active senior adults will find one very interesting exemption, the Senior Citizen Exemption. This exemption is available in certain counties only and is valued up to $50,000 for residents 65 and older with a gross income below $20,000. And no tax on Lottery winnings!

Top 195 most popular retirement cities in Florida... Alafaya:32826 Apollo Beach:33572 Apopka:32703 Arcadia:34266 Armstrong:32033 Auburndale:33823 Avon Park:33825 B Ton:34211 Babcock Ranch:33982 Barefoot Bay:32976 Bayonet Point:34667 Bayshore Gardens:34207 Beverly Beach:32136 Bonita Spgs:33931 Bonita Springs:33931 Boynton Beach:33436 Brad:34211 Braden River:34203 Bradenton:34205 Bradington:34211 Brooksville:34614 Buckingham:33905 Bushnell:33513 Casselberry:32707 Cedar Hammock:34205 Clearwater:33759 Coconut Creek:33073 Coral Springs:33073 Crystal River:34429 Cypress Gardens:33884 Cypress Gdns:33884 Dade City:33525 Davenport:33897 Davie:33325 Daytona Beach:32119 Debary:32713 Deland:32723 Dunedin:34698 Eau Gallie:32934 Edgewater:32141 Edgewood:32839 Elkton:32033 Ellenton:34222 Eloise:33880 Estero:34135 Flagler Beach:32136 Florence Villa:33881 Forest City:32703 Fort Lauderdale:33325 Fort Mc Coy:32134 Fort Myers:33903 Fort Myers Beach:33931 Fort Pierce:34986 Frostproof:33843 Ft Lauderdale:33325 Ft Myers:33903 Ft Myers Bch:33931 Ft Myers Beach:33931 Golf:33436 Grand Island:32735 Grant Valkaria:32950 Grant Vlkria:32950 Groveland:34736 Haines City:33844 Haines Creek:34788 Hernando Bch:34607 Hernando Beach:34607 Highland Park:33898 Holly Hill:32117 Hollywood:33021 Homosassa:34448 Homosassa Spg:34448 Homosassa Springs:34448 Hudson:34667 Jensen Beach:34957 JPV:33880 Kissimmee:34746 Lady Lake:32159 Lake Alfred:33850 Lake Suzy:34266 Lake Wales:33898 Lakeland:33809 Lakewood Ranch:34202 Lakewood Rch:34202 Land O Lakes:34638 Largo:33773 Lealman:33714 Leesburg:34788 Lithia:33547 Longwood:32779 Malabar:32950 Margate:33073 Melbourne:32904 Melbourne Bch:32951 Melbourne Beach:32951 Melbourne Village:32904 Melbourne Vlg:32904 Merritt Is:32953 Merritt Island:32953 Micco:32976 Moore Haven:33471 Mulberry:33860 N Fort Myers:33903 N Ft Myers:33903 Naples:34110 New Port Richey:34653 New Prt Rchy:34653 New Pt Richey:34653 New Smyrna:32168 New Smyrna Beach:32168 No Fort Myers:33903 No Ft Myers:33903 North Fort Myers:33903 North Ft Myers:33917 Oak Hill:32759 Ocala:34474 Ocean Breeze:34957 Ocean Breeze Park:34957 Ocean Brz Pk:34957 Orlando:32826 Ormond Beach:32174 Oviedo:32765 Palatka:32134 Palm City:34990 Palma Sola:34209 Palmetto:34221 Parkland:33073 Pembroke Park:33021 Pine Castle:32839 Pinellas Park:33782 Plant City:33565 Plantation:33325 Pompano Beach:33073 Ponce Inlet:32127 Port Charlotte:33953 Port Orange:32129 Port Richey:34667 Port Saint Lucie:34986 Port St Lucie:34986 Pt Charlotte:33953 Pt Orange:32129 Punta Gorda:33955 Richland:33525 Riverview:33569 Rubonia:34221 Ruskin:33573 S Daytona:32119 S Daytona Bch:32119 Saint Augustine:32086 Saint Augustine Beach:32086 Saint Lucie West:34986 Saint Petersburg:33713 Salt Springs:32134 Samoset:34208 Sarasota:34238 Sebastian:32976 Sebring:33872 Sidell:34266 Silver Spgs:34488 Silver Springs:34488 South Daytona:32119 Spring Hill:34607 St Aug Beach:32086 St Augustine:32086 St Augustine Beach:32086 St Lucie West:34986 St Petersburg:33713 Stetson University:32723 Stuart:34997 Sun City Center:33573 Sun City Ctr:33573 Sunrise:33325 Tampa:33613 Tarpon Spgs:34689 Tarpon Spngs:34689 Tarpon Springs:34689 The Villages:32159 Tice:33905 Valkaria:32950 Venice:34293 Village of Golf:33436 Vlg of Golf:33436 W Melbourne:32904 Wahneta:33880 Weeki Wachee:34614 Wekiva Spg:32779 Wekiva Springs:32779 West Bradenton:34205 West Melbourne:32904 West Villages:34233 Wilbur By Sea:32127 Wilbur by the Sea:32127 Wimauma:33598 Winter Haven:33881 Zephyrhills:33541