Dueling Retirement States: Sun and Lower Cost of Living on the Gulf Coast
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
November 7, 2015 — In this installment of our “Dueling Retirement States” we compare and analyze retirement in the warm states that surround the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas are better known and appreciated by residents of the South, while Florida is popular with retirees from all over the nation and Canada. See Further Reading at end for links to the other comparisons in the series.
Do warm sandy beaches call to mind your dream retirement lifestyle? The states that border the Gulf of Mexico – Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas – offer many advantages for retirement living. For one, they are almost always much less expensive than either the West or East Coasts. They have some of the warmest winters in the U.S. They represent 5 of the lowest tax states in the nation. And they are generally uncrowded and less congested than many other retirement locations.
The attraction for many folks is the opportunity to enjoy beautiful beaches that go from the West Coast of Florida all the way to southern Texas, where the Lone Star State runs into Mexico. In this article we will compare and contrast these 5 Gulf Coast states: Alabama and Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana,and Texas. (links go to our mini-retirement guides to each state). Population and income data is from American Fact Finder-U.S. Census Bureau.
A Few Facts
Texas, with its close to 27 million population, is by far the more populous of the 5 states. Florida’s total estimated 2014 population increased to just under 19.9 million, adding 1 million people from 2010. Its West Coast is not as crowded as its East Coast, where more of the population lives. There were an estimated 4.8 million people in Alabama, 4.6 million in Louisiana, and 3 million in Mississippi during 2014.
Comments on "Dueling Retirement States: Sun and Lower Cost of Living on the Gulf Coast"
Admin says:
This comment came in from Rita:
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Does anyone know what are the best places to retire around the Houston area? Not interested in a 55+. Just a nice community close to transportation, shopping, etc. People are friendly with a percentage of baby boomers?
DeyErmand says:
Rita, Bay City. TX. very affordable, and very friendly. But may not be close enough to Houston.
RickW says:
I've lived in Houston for 58 years, but what you ask is difficult to narrow down. Houston is very spread out and heavily populated in most areas. Some insight into which side of Houston or how far you would like to commute would help with suggestions. What, if anything, would you like to be near?
Wayne says:
How are those affordable property taxes in Houston. Yikes
RickW says:
Property taxes were agregious when I sold and became a full-timer due to years of the city electing democrat do-gooders trying to save the world with other people's money. At least the state remained Republican for the most part and have resisted income tax and newly elected leadership is currently working on reducing property taxes statewide. Yeah, I lost hope in Houston when a few years back, voters passed a new ordinance to RAISE taxes on themselves!
artbonds says:
Wayne, try this link: http://interactive.taxfoundation.org/propertytax/
Wes says:
Does anyone have any good, honest information about retirement living in the area of Sandpiper Bay Community in and around Sunset Beach, NC?
Jim Finley says:
We have owned a home in Carolina Shores (very close to Sandpiper) for 10 years. Lots of great golf, nice beach and low taxes. It is very easy to make friends as everyone is from some where else. If you are an Elk they have a great lodge in Calabash. You also don't have the traffic that they get a little south of here.
Elaine McElroy says:
We are planning to go west winter 2016. This is our first trip travelling/living in our new Class A motorhome. We have chosen to stay in the Tucson, AZ area. We have researched resorts in the area but would like to hear from folks living in them. Anyone have any sage advice or recommendations?
Amy says:
Hi Jim. Is there any public transportation (bus) in the area? Taxis? Are there any supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, medical facilities within walking distance?
says:
How does the cost of flood insurance factor into the cost of living along the coast in these states?
Admin says:
We moved this question concerning retiring in Texas from a different Blog article:
I was wondering if anyone could tell their thoughts about retiring in Texas and where would be a good place? Thank you so much. Janet
by Janet — June 22, 2018
Walter Brock says:
I'm considering retiring to either Cape Coral, FL or Orange Beach, AL.
Which would be the better location for retiremen and why ?
Gratefully,
WALTER
Moderator Flo says:
Hi Walter
If you go to the top of this page you'll see the drop down menu (Orange, Find a Community). There you’ll find State Directories listed where you can search for information on both of your locations.
You can also ask a question or make a comment on the city reviews (it is at the bottom - What People are Saying. You do have to be registered as a Member to do that, but that is easy.
What things are you looking for? I like to do google searches on all the things that are important to me in selecting a new location.
Hope this helps!
Flo
uncle al says:
We moved Uncle Al's comment to the Dueling Carolina's post fro a better fit. See https://www.topretirements.com/blog/great-towns/dueling-carolinas-north-carolina-vs-south-carolina-as-the-best-retirement-state.html/#comment-313780
ella says:
We moved Ella's comment to this blog: https://www.topretirements.com/blog/great-towns/dueling-carolinas-north-carolina-vs-south-carolina-as-the-best-retirement-state.html/#comment-313781
Kate says:
We moved Kate's comment to https://www.topretirements.com/blog/great-towns/dueling-carolinas-north-carolina-vs-south-carolina-as-the-best-retirement-state.html/#comment-313782