Indian River Colony Club
Melbourne, Florida
Dunedin, Florida
What It Is Like to Retire in Dunedin
Dunedin is an old sailing town of about 36,000 with a spectacular setting on the west coast of Florida, just above Clearwater. Dunedin (pronounced da-need'-in) boasts at least a mile of unobstructed views of Gulf beaches including those on Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Park. The latter was named the best public beach in America. Its downtown is quaint but prosperous and serves as the model for other Florida towns looking to avoid the big box/corporate franchise look-alike sweepstakes. Dunedin was the early name of the Scottish city of Edinburgh - Dunedin was settled by Scots and retains many interesting Scottish traditions and festivals such as the Highland Games and Spring Clan Gathering each spring. Here is what Southern Living Magazine had to say about Dunedin in its November, 2008 feature story on the town: "You could walk the 15 square blocks of downtown Dunedin in less than an hour. Still, odds are, you’d get lost within minutes. There’s just something—many things, actually—about this coastal town on the St. Joseph Sound that engulfs the unsuspecting as well as the willing. Just ask the locals." A former trolley or rail line that runs through the center of town is a popular bike, walk, and running trail. See this article: "Topretirements Tours Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Neighboring Towns" for more.
Where to Retire in Dunedin and Home Prices
Dunedin has active adult communities as well as some interesting, walkable neighborhoods. Zillow reports the median home value to be $455,808 in mid 2024, which is above the national figure.
What Is Special about Dunedin
Unusually good access to beautiful beaches. Interesting downtown. Home to spring training for the Toronto Blue Jays. Many parks and an outstanding recreation program and resources. A 39 mile of bike/pedestrian trail that bisects the downtown. Money Magazine named Dunedin 1 of "6 terrific towns on the water". Dunedin Highland Games is an annual celebration of Scottish music, dance and sports.
What Is Not Special about Dunedin
Like a lot of popular places, you might complain about traffic and congestion. Hurricanes are scary when you are this close to the coast in Florida. Home insurance rates are high. Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused damage and flooding.
Who Will Like Retirement in Dunedin
People who like vital small towns and being close to the beach love it in Dunedin. The average age of residents is 55, much higher than the Florida median age of 42. While visiting the Visitors Center we found out that people of all ages are moving to Dunedin, not just retirees. There are brewpubs, a distillery, and several good restaurants. Dunedin offers a casual, small town atmosphere that is close to important cities - it is an ideal combination if you want both. The people who live here are crazy about it.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Tourism, retirees.
Climate and Physical Environment
Right on the Gulf of Mexico and west of Tampa Bay. Just a few miles from Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Dunedin has a huge public library that is very popular. The library is across the street from a large senior center and next door to the baseball stadium where the Toronto Blue Jays have spring training and their minor league team plays in summer. Shopping and restaurants are good in the compact downtown. The Scottish roots of Dunedin provide some interesting festivals such as the Dunedin Highland Games, an annual celebration of Scottish music, dance and sports. Nature is a big passion in Dunedin, but if you are looking for culture you can find it in nearby Tampa, a very large city with every kind of cultural resource.
Crime
Crime is below average in Dunedin.
Medical facilities
Mease Hospital Dunedin is a facility that has every major specialty. The facility completed a $19-million multi-phase expansion renovating 33,000-square-feet of the hospital's main building and adding 4,000-square-feet of new construction.
Transportation
Nearby Tampa is a major transportation hub. That airport is a just a short hop away with convenient flights about everywhere. A former trolley line is now an extremely popular walk/bike trail - it runs right through the center of town. There is a town marina a block from downtown.
Valuable Links
Visit Dunedin Florida retirement guide 6 Terrific Towns on the Water
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