Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key TakeawaysMany people dream of relocating to a beach town for retirement. These same beach towns, with their temperate weather and endless outdoor activities to engage in, also tend to be popular with well-heeled retirees. You may find the perfect place but later discover the cost of living is simply too expensive to justify relocation.
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Fortunately, there are still many beach towns to match modest retirement budgets. Referencing several media outlets to find the top coastal cities, GOBankingRates pulled qualifying cities with at least 25% of the population ages 65 and over for this list. A full methodology can be found below further explaining key data, including each town’s livability score, analyzed in this study.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R25e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R45e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeKeep reading to find out which 10 coastal cities are ideal for retirees to spend an affordable retirement.
benedek / Getty Images1. Crystal River, Florida
Population ages 65+ (%): 46%
Average home value: $287,672
Total cost of living annually: $43,789
Livability: 66
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benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto2. Hudson, Florida
Population ages 65+ (%): 48%
Average home value: $306,656
Total cost of living annually: $47,373
Livability: 73
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©Shutterstock.com3. Long Beach, Washington
Population ages 65+ (%): 29%
Average home value: $386,467
Total cost of living annually: $47,924
Livability: 74
JeffGoulden / Getty Images/iStockphotoAdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2ke4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4ke4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe 4. Ocean Shores, Washington
Population ages 65+ (%): 47%
Average home value: $371,175
Total cost of living annually: $48,701
Livability: 61
Phil Friar / Shutterstock.com5. Englewood, Florida
Population ages 65+ (%): 59%
Average home value: $351,884
Total cost of living annually: $49,256
Livability: 72
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MandD / Getty Images6. Chincoteague, Virginia
Population ages 65+ (%): 38%
Average home value: $375,795
Total cost of living annually: $49,288
Livability: 65
Vito Palmisano / Getty Images/iStockphoto7. Punta Gorda, Florida
Population ages 65+ (%): 54%
Average home value: $391,688
Total cost of living annually: $50,897
Livability: 76
felixmizioznikov / Getty ImagesAdvertisementAdvertisement#«R32e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R52e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe 8. Vero Beach, Florida
Population ages 65+ (%): 28%
Average home value: $388,437
Total cost of living annually: $51,185
Livability: 79
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Darwin Brandis / iStock.com9. Calabash, North Carolina
Population ages 65+ (%): 27%
Average home value: $379,807
Total cost of living annually: $51,635
Livability: 62
Sean Pavone / iStock.com10. Cedar Key, Florida
Population ages 65+ (%): 55%
Average home value: $383,737
Total cost of living annually: $51,794
Livability: 73
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities located along the coast to find the most affordable places for retirees. GOBankingRates found coastal cities from Realtor.com, Travel + Leisure, U.S. News & World Report, Thrillist, and USA TODAY 10BEST. Population ages 65 and over was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The annual cost of living was sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. Home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for May 2025. To qualify for this study, the city had to have at least 25% of the population ages 65 and over, as well as all the data points available. The cities were then sorted to show the most affordable locations first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 2, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Most Affordable Beach Towns for Retirees — 6 Are in Florida
