Palm Coast : Florida

The City of Palm Coast is an enormous planned community of more than 77,000 located on Florida’s northeast coast, equidistant from the large cities of Jacksonville and Orlando. Many of its residents are active adults using it as a retirement community. Palm Coast is one of the more interesting hybrid communities in existence. Planned originally by ITT in 1969 as a huge development, the community is now incorporated as a City, with a traditional form of city government. Palm Coast Beach is located in Flagler County.

The City of Palm Coast is the 4th fastest growing “micropolis” in the Southeastern United States -it grew 136% from 2000 to 2012. Fortunately it seems to have a plan to control and direct its growth. Unlike most cities this one has a vision statement that it expressed in its comprehensive plan. Some of what Palm Coast strives to be is to offer exceptional quality of life, attractive job opportunities, diversified housing, and superbly designed commercial areas, valued natural, recreational, and cultural resources, exemplary public facilities and services, and responsible growth and fiscal planning. What it lacks is a town center. Although there are bike paths, the community is so large it would be difficult to go very far on a bike.

Find out about more about what it is like to retire in Florida or nearby Jacksonville.

Palm Coast gives people the chance to live in a new and interesting planned development. They can choose from a variety of housing alternatives, from active communities to stand along houses.

The median price of a home slumped in the 2008 recession, but has come back since. In late 2021 the median home value was $311,249, according to Zillow. Many desirable rental apartments are available for less than $1000 per month. Homes on the water will be more.

A master planning document; Intracoastal waterway; Many residential options for retirees; Many community parks, nature preserves, and state parks; Palm Harbor Shopping Center; Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool; 8 championship golf courses; Indian Trails Sports Complex (164 acres).

Hurricane season. This community might be too big and too busy for many people. On a recent visit there was a lot of traffic on the central arteries. There is also no real town center - there are shopping malls and plazas, but no real community center.

Palm Coast is not really a retirement community, it was intended to be that way but that has changed. The community is planning a new grade school each year for the next several years and has 3 high schools with another in the works.

Palm Coast attracts a community of retirees who want to live in a planned community with mild winters. The planned communities generally offer plenty of recreation. Average age is 45.  But this is an all ages community with children and schools.

Construction, retail, services, and real estate are important to the economy. There are more than 30 mid to large size businesses in industrial parks here as part of the community’s economic development plan.

Economy has drivin small companies out, construction at a standstill , employment mostly min wage service type, unemployment highest in the state !5% at the moment. 

Palm Coast is a large community and there are some cultural events available. However your choice of independent restaurants is going to be slim. For culture you will probably want to head to nearby Jacksonville, which has many venues to choose from.