10 Safest Towns In Florida For Senior Living
A hearty side of sunshine — this, among several others — is one of Florida’s most desirable retirement allures. The beach and the breeze, warm, welcoming neighborhoods, and a relaxed, laid-back ambiance all combine to curate a truly golden experience. No wonder Florida is consistently ranked among the best states to retire in. There will be bad spots, as is everywhere in the United States; however, you can find several areas where you don’t have to worry much about your purse being snatched or your house broken into. For specific recommendations, discover below the 10 safest towns in Florida for senior living.
Longboat Key
There are many things about Longboat Key that can make a retiree regret why she is late to the party. Take the nearby case of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Many museums are places to visit — and off you go, meaning there is nothing much to come back for. This museum, however, the official State Art Museum of Florida, can keep you coming back every week. Also, you will always want to mingle with free-roaming flamingoes, brush shoulders with lemurs, and hold alligators — at the nearby Sarasota Jungle Gardens. Keep in mind that you have miles of white-sand beach, including Coquina Beach, once named among the world's "top island beaches for perfect sand" by Conde Nast Traveler readers.
Longboat Key’s property crime rate is 7.61 per 1,000 residents, which compares positively with Florida’s 15.16. Put another way, your chances of becoming a victim of property crime is a minuscule 1 in 131. Moreover, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, just a hair out of town, is a 2024 recipient of the America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Excellence Award. Do you want to interact with fellow empty nesters? Residents here have a median age of 71 — the highest on this list — with those aged 60 and above comprising a remarkable 67% of the population.
Englewood
With the Myakka State Forest in its backyard and a flatwood area with riverside camping, hiking, and beautiful equestrian trails — Englewood is a perfect setting to spend one’s golden years. Plus, one will have access to the Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve, a pristine space loved for its clear waters, mangrove forests, and marine life. Also, although temporarily closed, the captivating scenery of Stump Pass Beach State Park is probably unlike anything you have ever come across.
What’s more? Englewood is safe. Its property crime rate is 6.7 per 1,000 residents. Additionally, if your heart acts like it wants to do a number on you, HCA Florida Englewood Hospital is right in town. It should be up to the task because it is a 2024 recipient of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Award. Worried that you will be out of place? Not a chance. Englewood residents have a median age of 68, with those aged 60 and above comprising 59% of the population.
Sanibel
Part of Sanibel’s retirement appeal lies in its close-knit community, white-sand beaches, and reassuringly low crime rates. For perspective, Sanibel’s property crime rate is 5.37, which compares favorably with the statewide rate of 15.16. You can’t also discount Sanibel’s proximity to Fort Myers; it means doorstep access to a world of amenities. HealthPark Medical Center, for example, is a three-time winner of the America's 100 Best Hospitals Award. Plus, it is quite remarkable that Sanibel residents have a median age of 68, with empty nesters aged 60 and above comprising 59% of the population.
Places of fun and diversion include the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States; the unbelievably beautiful Sanctuary Golf Club, Sanibel Historical Museum and Village (for a glimpse into pioneer life); and, of course, the beach.
Estero
With Naples an easy 35 minutes to the south — and Fort Myers 30 minutes in the opposite direction — Estero’s dream location is among its most noticeable retirement appeals. As a Florida resident and a senior citizen, you can attend Florida Gulf Coast University undergraduate courses tuition-free, provided you meet certain requirements. Moreover, you will have access to Florida’s first aquatic preserve: the spellbinding Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. There is the Bonita Beach Dog Park, if you are wondering how to convince your furry companion, and Lovers Key State Park, where several movies have been shot.
Don’t even mention healthcare access. Estero’s proximity to Fort Myers means a retiree will find it hard to choose one of the several excellent facilities just a hair out. The most exciting part is that Estero’s median age is 65, with those aged 60 and above comprising 50% of the population.
North Palm Beach
North Palm Beach is a short, one-hour drive to Fort Lauderdale — and an additional 30 minutes to Miami, Florida's second-most populous city. The pleasures to enjoy here include miles of sun-kissed oceanfront sands, the gift of eternal sunshine, and excellent golf courses. For instance, North Palm Beach Country Club, loved for its well-bunkered greens, is one of only two municipal courses in the U.S. designed by the revered Jack William Nicklaus, popularly known as the Golden Bear. Keep in mind that Phil Foster Park features an underwater snorkeling trail, while John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, beautifully ensconced in improbably lush environs, is natural beauty at its most ethereal.
On amenities, a retiree here has access to a world of options. Good Samaritan Medical Center will be at hand if your spine starts to act weird. The 105-year-old facility is a 2025 recipient of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery Award. Moreover, residents here have a median age of 56, with those aged 60 and above comprising 33% of the population. Is North Palm Beach safe? No doubt. The property crime rate in North Palm Beach is below 10 per 1,000 residents.
Marco Island
Marco Island sits in one of the wealthiest metro areas in the United States. It’s particularly popular with retirees, who love its pristine beaches and stunning waterfront properties. Like most affluent places, Marco Island is safe. Also, with Naples just 30 minutes away, retirees here enjoy fantastic access to big-city amenities. These include the Physicians Regional-Collier Boulevard, a 2024 winner of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award.
So, what can keep a retiree busy here? She can go to the beach (Tigertail Beach is well-known for its shorebirds and shells), tee an afternoon away at the beautifully maintained Island Country Club — or mingle with egrets at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Finally, Marco Island residents have a median age of 67, with 59% of its population aged 60 and above. In all respects, Marco Island is a big retirement community.
St. Augustine Beach
With Jacksonville just 50 miles down the road and a food scene that will transform anyone into a restaurant-hopper, St. Augustine boasts several dream retirement qualities. There is a lot of history here, especially because St. Augustine is the nation's oldest continuously occupied city. Besides delicious honey badgers at Kookaburra Downtown, one can enjoy evening strolls at the St. Johns County Ocean & Fishing Pier (locals love a beach sunrise) — swinging on the many white-sand beaches or retracing the town’s history at spots such as the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Remember, you’ll be bumping into college students here (St. Augustine hosts the prestigious Flagler College), an experience that is sure to awaken your old, sparky self.
The property crime rate in St. Augustine Beach is 6.93 per 1,000 residents, which compares favorably with the statewide rate of 15.16. With UF Health Flagler Hospital right in town and several other options in nearby Jacksonville, an empty nester should never worry about healthcare access. The most exciting part is that this town’s residents have a median age of 55, with those aged 60 and above comprising 28% of the population.
Safety Harbor
The name itself is a giveaway. Safety Harbor is in the heart of Tampa Bay, conveniently close to the beach and downtown Tampa. For perspective, a retiree here is just 25 minutes from Tampa. On the third Friday of every month, Main Street transforms itself into a party-like scene, complete with live music, beautiful artwork, food, and home decor items. The well-kept Folly Farms Nature Preserve is a nice, peaceful place to learn about plants and decompress, while the Alligator Lake — which spans 79 acres — is an ideal place to mingle with snowy egrets, wood storks, and roseate spoonbills. Of course, you also have a white-sand beach and a pier, just in case you want to spend the evening with manatees and dolphins.
In terms of amenities, including hospitals, the Tampa Bay Area provides almost an unmatched variety. For example, the award-winning Mease Countryside Hospital is right at your doorstep. Finally, Safety Harbor residents have a median age of 49, with those aged 60 and above comprising 24% of the population.
Key Largo
A retiree will love Key Largo for its strong sense of community, small-town feel (it can be quite intimate here), and beautiful scenery. This is the first and northernmost of the Florida Keys, a string of tropical islands between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico — now the Gulf of America. There is the astounding John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, a surreal undersea space with vibrant marine life that a retiree can view while snorkeling. Moreover, one can swim or swing at the Harry Harris Beach and Park or explore peaceful trails at the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park.
The most exciting part is that Key Largo is quite safe. To a large extent, there will be no worrying about handbag snatchings or midnight break-ins. Its property crime rate is 5.78 per 1,000 residents. Remember, you are just an hour from Miami, implying fantastic access to big-city amenities, including excellent hospitals and shopping venues. Still, Homestead — which is even closer — is home to the Homestead Hospital, a 2025 recipient of the Stroke Care Excellence Award. On the social side, Key Largo residents have a median age of 51, which proves the town’s retirement appeal. Residents aged 60 and above comprise 28% of the population.
Gulf Breeze
A town with “breeze” as part of its name will likely captivate any retiree. From birding at the Gulf Islands National Seashore to afternoon rounds of golf at the Tiger Point Golf Club, there are several spots to enjoy a cool breeze while passing the time with fun and adventure. Known for its white quartz sand, the Gulf Islands National Seashore features historic forts, local wetlands, and a preserve of Naval Live Oaks. Of course, a retiree here will also have access to Pensacola Beach, a blue-space gem loved for its sugar-white sand and emerald waters.
If your lungs are trying to act suspiciously, Gulf Breeze Hospital is right in town. It should be an excellent choice because it won the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award in 2023. Worried that you will be out of place? Not likely. Gulf Breeze residents have a median age of 50, with those aged 60 and above comprising 23% of its population.
The Takeaway
If your picture of retirement is enjoying pleasant weather while hopping from one island to another, Florida easily fits the bill. The state is loved for its spellbinding nautical charm — think of the Maldives — and offers an experience that is among the most relaxing of anywhere in the U.S. Vermont may be the safest state in the U.S., but this does not mean you cannot find places in Florida with next to zero break-in incidents. These include Sanibel, which is famous for some of the best shelling in the world.
