Check Out These Undiscovered Beach Towns for Retirement

10 Great Undiscovered Beach Towns for Retirement

Affordable | Peaceful | Coastal Gems

Dreaming of retiring by the beach—without the crowds or sky-high prices?
Here are 10 hidden coastal towns where you can enjoy sandy toes and a slower pace of life. Click to discover why these towns should be on your radar!

Sebastian, Florida – On the shores of Indian River Lagoon on Florida’s Treasure Coast, just north of Vero. The harbor has a working waterfront, and the city operates a championship golf course.

Biloxi, Mississippi – This old town city with a small town feel has miles and miles (26) of white sandy beaches. Bored? It has at least 9 major casinos, plus the O’Keefe Museum of Art to entertain you.

Southport, North Carolina – Still an active fishing seaport, Southport is comprised of several towns – Caswell Beach, Oak Island, the Village of Bald Head Island, Boiling Springs Lakes, and the Town of St. James. History meets harbor views.

Rockport, Texas – Artist-friendly, calm Gulf breezes. Situated on the southeastern Texas Gulf Coast, it’s a low-key tourist and retirement destination protected by barrier islands. Clean beaches offer great fishing and birding opportunities.

Ocean Isle Beach – North Carolina – small resort town near the southern-most corner of North Carolina. It is near Sunset Beach and Myrtle Beach. The year-round population is under 700, but there are several great active communities in the area.

Depoe Bay, Oregon – Pacific Northwest quiet beauty in this little town with the world’s smallest navigable harbor. Great beaches at nearby locations like Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area, Nye Beach, or Siletz Bay Park. 

Carrabelle, Florida – Quirky, coastal, and affordable, Carabelle is on the “Forgotten Coast” as the Panhandle starts to turn west. It has a lovely harbor and a downtown with a modern library and several residents

Cambria, California – Seaside escape on the Central Coast. Cambria benefited greatly from the building of Hearst Castle, when during the Great Depression, many Cambria citizens found welcome employment in its construction.

Orange Beach, AL – Located on a barrier island along the Gulf Coast, close to the west Florida border. The year-round population is just over 8,000, and growing as Orange Beach is a booming tourist town. Fishing and golf-centric, Orange Beach also has beautiful bright-white beaches.

Westerly, RI – The downtown is especially beautiful with classic buildings, churches, and library. The town includes Watch Hill, one of the nicest watering holes for New York’s elite. Misquamicut State Beach is one of the finest public beaches anywhere in the country.

What are your favorite beach towns? This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to listing great beach towns. Please let us know your favorites in the Comments section below.