7 Cost-Effective Towns On Florida's Emerald Coast For Retirees
Known for its warm weather and gorgeous beaches, Florida has long been considered one of the top states to retire in. It holds some of the best retirement communities in the country and has steadily remained an affordable place to live. There's no estate, inheritance, or income tax here, and the housing cost is ranked slightly below the national average. The state has a high life expectancy for people 65 and older, and the warm, sunny climate keeps seniors active year-round. One area in particular that continues to gain popularity is the Emerald Coast.
Located on Florida's Panhandle, the Emerald Coast is a 100-mile stretch of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. The area is known for its white sugar sand beaches and clear, emerald-green waters. It offers some of the best saltwater fishing in the country. From impressive fishing piers to art galleries and museums, discover the 7 most cost-effective towns on the Emerald Coast for retirees.
Destin
With direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Destin is a sparsely populated town known for excellent fishing. Seniors can cast a line for swordfish or marlin at the 100-foot fathom curve, an iconic spot where the sea floor drops. It's located ten miles offshore and gives Destin notoriety for having some of the closest access to deep-sea fishing. The town is also home to the largest charter fishing fleet in the country, which seniors can learn about at the Destin History and Fishery Museum. It's located near the harbor boardwalk, where seniors can enjoy shopping and dining. Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant is an eatery named after the town’s founder, Leonard Destin, and has excellent views of Crab Island.
Destin's median home sale price is about $660,000, which is listed above the national average. Though the overall cost of living is higher, healthcare costs are lower than in the rest of the country. The nearest hospital is Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, a top-performing acute care medical facility with an ER.
Fort Walton Beach
Known for its heritage, Fort Walton Beach is an inviting town on the Emerald Coast with a rich Indigenous history spanning 14,000 years. Numerous artifacts, such as arrowheads and shark tooth tools, were left behind, and there are plenty of historic sites where seniors can see them. Retirees can visit the Fort Walton Temple Mound, an impressive earth structure listed as a National Historic Landmark. It’s estimated that tribal people moved 200,000 baskets of dirt to build the space that served ceremonial, religious, and political purposes. To learn about the way of life, over 1,000 artifacts made from materials such as bone, clay, and shell are on display at the Indian Temple Mound Museum. Fort Walton Beach is also home to Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, and the Civil War Exhibit building.
The median home sale price is $369,500 in Fort Walton Beach, which is lower than the national average. The overall cost of living is also lower compared to the rest of the country, and healthcare is priced below the nation's average. The nearest hospital is Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, known for its wide variety of specialty practices and procedures such as open heart surgery.
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is a gorgeous resort town where retirees can bask in the natural beauty. The community is home to two state parks, St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park, which offer beachcombing, hiking, and fishing. Further, for seniors seeking adventure, the region is famous for scuba diving among the dozens of artificial coral reefs created by anglers and shipwrecks. St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve is a popular spot where a barge and lifeboats sank in the 1970s, creating a haven for aquatic biodiversity. There's quite a bit of history for seniors to learn about. Camp Helen Historic District is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
The median home sale price in Panama Beach is $475,000, below the national average. The overall cost of living is marked lower, and the cost of healthcare is below the country's average. The closest medical facility is Florida Gulf Hospital.
Seaside
Seaside is an adorable town on the Gulf Coast with colorful cottages, a thriving art scene, and beautiful gardens. About 6 miles inland, seniors can tour the stunning ornamental gardens that display magnificent colors throughout the year at Eden Gardens State Park. The 163 acres of land is the former estate of William Henry Wesley's family, and retirees can get a glimpse of their high society life by touring the sprawling mansion on the grounds. From there, if seniors are up for a drive, a popular site about two hours away is Fort Pickens. It's one of four historic military forts built to protect Pensacola Bay in the 1800s.
The median home sale price in Seaside is $633,000, above the national average. Though the overall cost of living is considered high, the cost of healthcare is considered lower than the national average. Twin Cities Hospital is one of the nearest medical facilities.
DeFuniak Springs
Holding one of two naturally round spring-fed lakes in the world, DeFuniak Springs is a charming lakeside town located about 50 miles inland from the sugar sand coastline. There are 11 lakes to explore around the region, from Spring Lake to Lake Stanley, which gives the region its notoriety for boating and birding. Seniors can expect to catch largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish and see a number of birds that migrate during the winter, such as sandhill cranes.
In town, DeFuniak Springs is best known for its historic district. The heritage makes the town a natural backdrop for festivals that attract visitors from afar. Annual events like Christmas Reflections and Christmas Tours of Homes will surely keep seniors entertained. Circle Drive is one notable neighborhood that transforms during the holidays, given it has over 200 historic homes.
The median home sale price in DeFuniak Spring is $250,000, lower than the national average. The overall cost of living is below the rest of the country, and healthcare is marked as affordable. The closest hospital is North Walton Doctors Hospital.
Niceville
Niceville is a tiny town on the Emerald Coast, perfect for seniors who enjoy the arts, history, and the outdoors. It’s home to Mattie Kelly Arts Center, a performing arts complex that hosts Broadway shows and dance recitals. As far as history goes, the Niceville Historic District holds several historic buildings from when the town was a sleepy fishing village. Historical markers give insight into the town's storied past, such as the Boggy Mill Company site. Seniors can learn about the role the hardwood lumber industry played in the region at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. It also holds artifacts about the Florida Panhandle’s fishing industry. Further, there are excellent places for wildlife spotting in Niceville. Retirees can visit Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, where there are old-growth longleaf pine trees.
The median home sale price in Niceville is $550,000. Though housing is priced higher compared to the national average, the overall cost of living and healthcare is lower. The closest hospital is Florida Twin Cities Hospital.
Navarre Beach
Navarre Beach is known for its world-class fishing by charter boat or from the town's iconic pier. Navarre Beach has the longest pier in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and it's a popular spot to catch northern red snapper and spotted seatrout. There’s also a significant effort to conserve sea turtles in the region. Seniors can head to Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center and learn about efforts underway to protect sea turtles, as well as explore jellyfish and seagrass exhibits. Another popular spot about 25 miles inland is the Panhandle Butterfly House, which has an outdoor butterfly garden and an indoor collection of different butterfly specimens.
The median home sale price in Navarre Beach is $892,500, which is higher than the national average. However, the overall cost of living and healthcare are lower than the rest of the country. The nearest hospital is Baptist Medical Park.
Florida is comprised of six regions that vary in climate and geography, from swamplands to long stretches of untouched beaches. Tucked along the Gulf Coast, the Emerald Coast is one of the state's gems with emerald waters and white sand beaches. There are plenty of senior-friendly communities from Destin to Fort Walton Beach and no shortage of opportunities to go deep sea fishing and explore the region's fishery heritage.
