Indian River Colony Club
Melbourne, Florida
Cocoa, Florida
What It Is Like to Retire in Cocoa
Cocoa is a small town of 19,041 (2020 census), on the central Atlantic coast of Florida. Cocoa Beach on the barrier island to the east from the mainland has 11,700 citizens. Nearby Merritt Island is nearby. Several stories circulate among Cocoa old timers as to how the town got its name. One story says that the mail used to come by river boat and was placed in an empty tin box labeled Baker's Cocoa. The box was nailed to a piling in the river next to downtown. Additionally, an early hotel in the area, located on the Indian River lagoon, was named Cocoa House. The historic downtown area is called Cocoa Village along Florida Avenue and Stone Street. It has shops and restaurants, and is surrounded by historic buildings and the Cocoa Riverfront Park. The Florida Historical Society is headquartered in the historic Cocoa Post Office, originally built in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration. Photo of the Aladdin Theater is from Wikipedia in the public domain. Photo of welcome sign courtesy of COCOAFL Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0/
Where to Retire in Cocoa and Home Prices
There are active adult communities in Cocoa and in nearby Merritt Island. See Find a Community for the Florida Directory. The Zillow Home Value Index in mid-2023 was $298,443 in Cocoa, whereas on the barrier island of Cocoa Beach the prices were much higher at $501,651.
What Is Special about Cocoa
Living on the barrier island is pretty special. Cocoa Village is interesting. People like its low-key atmosphere.
What Is Not Special about Cocoa
Household incomes are relatively low and crime rate high in certain areas. Tourism is big in the downtown historic business district with cruise passenger tourists coming from Port Canaveral on excursions or day trips.
Who Will Like Retirement in Cocoa
A Topretirements Member reported that she and her husband retired to Cocoa Beach because they liked that it has more of a small-town atmosphere than many areas of Florida. People who like the beach will love it here.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Construction and retail trade are the two largest industries by employment in Cocoa as of 2017.
Climate and Physical Environment
Cocoa and Cocoa Beach are located midway down the Atlantic side of Florida, just below Cape Canaveral and near Merritt Island. It is hot and humid in summer and warm in winter.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Cocoa Village is home to the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, which was originally called The Aladdin Theatre. Tourists are attracted to the historic sites and local attractions such as the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science, the Eastern Florida State College Planetarium and Observatory, Historic Cocoa Village, Indian River Queen (excursion boat), Indian River Drive scenic bypass, the Aladdin Theater, Historic Porcher House, and Riverfront Park. Historic Cocoa Village has shopping and two Golden Spoon award-winning restaurants, and boutiques.
Crime
The crime rate is higher than the U.S. and the Florida averages.
Medical facilities
Rockledge Regional Medical Center is in Cocoa. Health First has an emergency room in Cocoa Beach.
Transportation
The Florida East Coast Railway runs through Cocoa. A planned Brightline higher speed rail expansion is designed to connect Orlando to Miami making a turn in Cocoa (designated the "Cocoa Curve"). Melbourne International Airport is 22 miles away.
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