The 21 Most Popular Active and 55+ Communities in the Southeast
Category: Active adult communities
May 18, 2020 — The Southeast is by far the most popular region for retirement on this site. But which of the hundreds of 55 plus and active adult communities in this region attract the most attention from our Members and visitors? To find out we examined the data from the first five and one half months of 2021. Here are the most popular communities in the Southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina (we included Alabama but no communities made the cut). Most of the winners are in Florida (15), with Georgia and South Carolina making up the rest. This article updates one we did in 2018, and complements a similar one for the Southwest: “15 Most Popular Active Adult Communities in the Southwest for 2019“.
The results are a combination of: “of course” (The Villages and several communities we have as advertisers), “head shakers” that we never expected to make this list, and some pleasant “surprises”. What was really interesting is that only seven of the communities on our 2018 list made it again this year. The winners cover a wide range – from really big (On Top of the World and Solivita), to 55+ communities within larger master planned developments (Cresswind), to special interest (Shantinakin and Nalcrest), to inexpensive manufactured home and RV communities popular with snowbirds (Lost Lakes and Jamaica Bay). Note that most, but not all, of these communities are designated 55 plus, although the majority of their residents would probably meet that qualification.
While these are the 21 most popular active adult communities on this site for these four states, they might not necessarily be the “best” for your needs. They were, however, interesting enough to beat out hundreds of other great communities. If this list does anything for you, we hope it expands your horizons and reinforces how important it is to spread your net wide when researching active adult and 55 plus communities, the same way you’d compare options in any crowded category, from local services to real money online casinos. There are thousands of choices that might work for you, but you won’t even find out about them unless you look around. There are many good choices awaiting you, so make a little effort and go beyond the one you or your friends know about.
The most popular 55+ communities in the Southeast
Comments on "The 21 Most Popular Active and 55+ Communities in the Southeast"
Admin says:
How timely your list was as I just returned from a trip to St Simons and Amelia Island. We stayed at a condo on Amelia Island Plantation and loved it!!
Amelia Island seems to have so many things we’re into, it’s really caught our attention.
Patty MacDuff says:
Are you kidding—you chose 14 communities in Florida! Do you have any idea how hot it gets in Florida, ESPECIALLY in the summer?
I live in western NC with four very pleasant seasons. North Carolinians now call people moving to NC from FL “halfbacks” . . . they retired to Florida, then came halfway back to NC for the weather (and other factors).
Comment from Admin: Just for clarification, it was our Members and visitors who picked the 14 Florida communities, they were the listings most viewed on this site from Jan 1 of this year. It was also confined to AL, FL, GA, and SC. But I take your point, many people who moved to Florida decided they don't like it after all (and many do like it!). To each his own.
Roland says:
For those folks thinking that FL is the retirement land of "Milk and Honey", you may want to rent for a year first before you buy. Renting will be cheaper than trying to sell your home after living in FL for a couple of years. There are currently over 87,000 listed homes in FL today, mostly along both coasts. Who knows how many are "For Sale by Owner".
Another thought: If you were not an "ACTIVE" person prior to moving to an "Active 55+ community", you're probably not going to be active when you move into one. One has to find the right place that matches one's life-long personality.
Gail says:
Barefoot bay in Sebastian is not a 55+ community
However, it is mostly older folks but not a requirement to purchase a home.
Note from John Brady: Thanks for that clarification, now corrected.
RichPB says:
Patty, it will probably surprise you that some people like heat and humidity. On the other hand, there are many whose first exposure to extended heat and humidity is when they retire to the deep South. People can acclimate, but it typically takes years and that doesn't involve hiding indoors in the a/c. As Roland appropriately reminded, if you have never lived true heat and humidity for months on end, it would be much better to rent a year before commiting extensive resources to a move far south.
Admin says:
There was a Comment made on this Blog about retiring to Maryland, which in turn generated a raft of other Comments. Since Maryland is not an active community nor is it in the Southeast, we created a new Blog article about Maryland as a place to retire. Then we moved all of the previous Comments there. Here it is https://www.topretirements.com/blog/financial/is-maryland-or-any-other-state-a-good-place-to-retire.html/