5 Affordable Places To Retire Near the Beach

Jennifer Taylor
·4 min read
littleny / Getty Images
littleny / Getty Images

You’re getting ready to retire, and you want to go to the beach — possibly every day. Since you don’t currently live in a coastal community, this means you’re going to need to pack up and move.

Learn: How Long $1 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State
Read: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Don’t Realize They Should Do This One Thing

Living near the beach has been your dream for years. However, since you’ll be on a fixed income, you need to find an affordable spot.

In February, the median home listing price in the U.S. was $386,721, according to Redfin. You might be willing to pay to live by the beach, but you don’t want to stretch your budget too far.

Thankfully, there are plenty of beach towns that offer the best of both worlds — affordable living and a large population of seniors.

Choosing one of these retirement hot spots will offer plenty of opportunities to make friends while living within your means. Here’s a look at affordable U.S. beach towns for retirees, so you can start planning your new life on the beach.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Garden City, South Carolina

Located approximately 10 miles south of Myrtle Beach, Garden City, South Carolina, is a small resort town with a population of 10,600 — and 38% of residents are 65 years old and up.

Covering about 5.5 square miles, Garden City offers easy access to the beach from anywhere you choose to live. The median home selling price is $232,450, as of February 2023, which is notably less than the national average.

You’ll also enjoy South Carolina’s low taxes. This involves no tax on Social Security benefits, minimal property taxes and a notable retirement-income deduction from your state income tax.

Related: 10 Best Places in Kansas for a Couple To Live on Only a Social Security Check
Save: 10 Ways for Retirees To Cut Back on Expenses in 2024

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

CG-Photos / iStock.com
CG-Photos / iStock.com

Vero Beach, Florida

Situated along the Atlantic Ocean, Vero Beach, Florida, is a quiet coastal town where you can enjoy your golden years. In fact, it was named the second-best city in the U.S. for senior health by The Mesothelioma Center in 2023.

The median home sale price was $340,000, as of February 2023, allowing you to live by the beach for less than the national average. Florida is also one of nine states that doesn’t have an income tax or a tax on certain kinds of unearned income, meaning you’ll keep more of your money in your pocket.

A relatively small community, Vero Beach has a population of approximately 16,707. Nearly 30% of residents are age 65 and up, creating plenty of opportunities for socializing.

Update: Social Security: ‘Win-Win’ Bill To Cut Federal Taxes Would Extend Funds to 2054

Jim Schwabel / Shutterstock.com
Jim Schwabel / Shutterstock.com

Venice, Florida

A retirement haven, Venice, Florida, has a population of just over 26,000 — 61% are age 65 and up. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the city was named the top destination for snowbirds in 2021-22 by StorageCafe.

Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the city offers plenty of entertainment, including concerts in the park, festivals and community theater. As of 2023, the median home sale price was $461,400.

Since Florida doesn’t have income tax or a tax on certain kinds of unearned income, this can offset the slightly higher than average — but still affordable — cost of living.

DawnDamico / Getty Images/iStockphoto
DawnDamico / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Cape Carteret, North Carolina

A Certified Retirement Community by RetireNC, Carteret County, North Carolina, is a great place for active retirees. Part of the state’s southern outer banks, Cape Carteret is located in the Western Crystal Coast region, known for stunning beaches and tranquil living.

Carteret County has a population of roughly 68,500, with just over 26% age 65 and up. As of February 2023, homes had a median selling price of $435,000, making beach living cheaper than the national average.

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

Daytona Beach, Florida

Home of the Daytona 500 and so much more, Daytona Beach, Florida, offers 23 miles of white-sand beaches. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, home sales averaged $221,100, as of February 2023, making beach living seriously affordable.

Daytona Beach has a population of nearly 75,000 — and 20% of people are age 65 and up. The city is so retiree-friendly, it’s even home to Latitude Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffet-inspired 55-plus community.

Plus, you’ll enjoy low taxes, since Florida doesn’t have an income tax or a tax on certain kinds of unearned income.

Please note: Photos are for representational purposes only. Unless otherwise noted, all data was sourced from Redfin and the U.S. Census Bureau. All information is accurate as of March 21, 2023 and is subject to change.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Affordable Places To Retire Near the Beach

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Home Hardware is having a huge sale on garden & lawn essentials — save on lawn mowers, fertilizer and more

    Now through April 24, save on everything you need for spring gardening at Home Hardware.

  • Woodstock facing an ’emergency level situation’ with its water supply

    Almost a decade after identifying the need to secure a second well site to guard against a potential loss of water supply, Woodstock sits in a more precarious position than ever. During the long-awaited water update at the April 16 council session, Mayor Trina Jones delivered a stark analysis of the town’s water supply concerns. “It has been about a year since our council became aware of the issues with the new Grafton Wellhouse project and that it was deemed by Dillon Consulting to be usable on

  • Prison Architect 2 is denied release until September 3

    Double Eleven and publisher Paradox Interactive have delayed Prison Architect 2 by four moths to work on technical issues.

  • We found Taylor Swift's iconic red lipstick favorites from over the years

    The singer's signature bold picks have included Pat McGrath, CoverGirl and Chanel.

  • Amazon advertising chief steps aside for new role

    Amazon.com's advertising chief Colleen Aubrey, who has held that role for nearly three years, is moving to a new undisclosed position at the company. Spokeswoman Kristin Mariani said Aubrey's new position would be announced later. Aubrey is also a member of the elite "S-team," which advises CEO Andy Jassy and has worked in the advertising unit for over 11 years.

  • Strain on emergency services a concern with new evacuation model

    Area politicians are concerned about the potential strain evacuations could have on emergency services. Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) director of health Jean Carriere gave an update on First Nation evacuations at the April 18 meeting. Some CDSSAB members expressed concerns about hosting First Nations evacuees and the strain it can have on services that are already stretched thin due to flooding in some areas and the recent Empire Complex fire. While Carriere sai

  • Stock market today: Wall Street limps toward its longest weekly losing streak since September

    NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s latest losing week looks to be coming to a relatively quiet close on Friday. U.S. stocks are drifting in mixed trading after oil prices briefly surged overnight on worries about fighting in the Middle East. The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in afternoon trading and on track for its third straight losing week. That would be its longest such streak since September, before it broke out into a record-setting romp. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 207 points, or 0.6%, as

  • Overnight visitors to the Kent coast could face tourist tax

    A Labour council in a holiday hotspot is considering imposing a tax on tourists who stay overnight.

  • Thousands of housing units, tramway in Montreal's new Hippodrome plan

    The City of Montreal is planning to build a carbon-neutral district of 20,000 housing units on the site of the former Montreal Hippodrome and land east of the Namur Metro station.Sandwiched between a railway yard, highway and industrial buildings in northwestern Montreal, the huge swath of land used to house the former Blue Bonnets track, where horses raced for over a century. In 2017, the city acquired the land from Quebec.Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has called the plan Quebec's largest real

  • NDP hosting town hall in Wilmot Friday

    The Ontario New Democrats have scheduled a town hall meeting April 19 to further protest the attempted land acquisition by the Region of Waterloo. This time, NDP leader and leader of the provincial opposition Marit Stiles will be in attendance. A release from Stiles’ office said since last August, government officials have put into play the expropriation of 770 hectares of farmland for industrial development without public consultation. “To date, there are no clear answers on how rezoning will a

  • Women doing long jail sentences failed by ‘system designed for men’

    Exclusive: ‘In lots of women’s prisons, you will come off remand and be sentenced and be put on a wing among prisoners with sentences that vary from a month to longer,’ woman serving life sentence says

  • Train driver who upskirted female passenger avoids jail sentence

    Paolo Barone found guilty of voyeurism after taking photos of sleeping woman on train to St Albans in 2022

  • Man United overhaul under Ratcliffe extends to new technical director

    MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe continued his overhaul at Manchester United by appointing Jason Wilcox as technical director on Friday. Ratcliffe has assumed control of United's failing soccer operations since February when he secured a 25% stake in the storied club. A new CEO has been hired and a sporting director is also on his wanted list. Wilcox, who United said would start immediately, is seen as a key appointment ahead of Ratcliffe's first summer transfer windo

  • Caught between Israel and Iran, Jordan clings desperately to stability

    After Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel on April 13, Jordan finds itself caught between the two enemies. Friday morning's suspected Israeli strikes in central Iran have intensified fear that the country could be dragged into an escalation against its will. Having been historically neutral in the two countries’ decades-old struggle, the Hashemite kingdom is now seeing its delicate balancing act threatened. It’s a balancing act years in the making. Jordan, long obsessed with

  • Wilmot Roots sells out of trees

    In celebration of Earth Day, the Township of Wilmot offered a free tree giveaway program called Wilmot Roots for the second year in a row. This community initiative is the result of a donation of funds from Enova Power Corporation to help reforest the township. With the ongoing organizational support of the volunteer-based Let’s Tree Wilmot group, the township offered over 300 free trees to residents this spring. Chris Catania is the township’s director of community services and said the program

  • Man sets himself on fire outside Trump trial in New York

    Just minutes before jury selection finished, a man set himself on fire outside the court

  • Historic day for Kahnawake in Ottawa

    The sun shone and optimism ran rampant amongst the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake contingent last Wednesday on Parliament Hill for the signing of a document with the federal government that will put the community on an equal footing in government negotiations. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Indigenous Rights and Research lead Ross Montour were on hand to sign the historic document with federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree in the West Bl

  • Federal government announces increased firefighter tax credit

    The federal government has announced it will be increasing tax credits and providing additional funding and support for volunteer firefighters. There are over 90,000 volunteer firefighters in Canada who put their lives on the line every single day. Many of them have to pay out of pocket to cover expenses associated with the life-saving services they provide. Right now, they get a tax credit of $3,000 to cover those expenses. In a pre-budget announcement last week, the federal government confirme

  • Magnificent Seven Stocks To Buy And Watch: Nvidia Stock Dives Below Key Level

    Magnificent Seven stocks, including AI leader Nvidia, are among the best stocks to buy and watch in today's stock market.

  • Katz group blames real estate, pandemic for years-long delay of Ice District's urban village

    An urban village at Ice District in central Edmonton — 2,500 residential units and a public park — is now expected to take at least three years longer to build than previously planned. Construction was slated to start this year as part of Phase 2 of the OEG (formerly Oilers Entertainment Group) master plan to develop the land around Rogers Place. Tim Shipton, executive vice-president of OEG, appealed to city council at a public hearing April 2, outlining the obstacles the development was facing.