9 Best Towns On The Atlantic Coast For Retirees
Retirement on the Atlantic Coast is nothing short of spectacular. Think of beautiful beaches, sights of hundreds of birds on the Atlantic Flyway, and lots of good seafood restaurants; These are just a few things to enjoy in this region bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The mild year-round weather, rich culture, and friendly people further add to the appeal. In these towns, retirees can expect even more great features, including affordability. Notably, these towns on the Atlantic Coast offer some of the best deals in the US, with home prices often around the state or national averages, and sometimes lower. This is despite the blend of modern facilities and coastal pleasures they offer. In a town like Fort Pierce, for instance, homes sell between $305,000-$315,000, far lower than the state average, even as the city hosts an award-winning hospital, multiple senior facilities, and one of the rarest beaches in the US, where clothing is optional. Your years will be golden when you retire in these towns on the Atlantic Coast.
Stuart, Florida
Florida has some of the best places to retire in the world, and Stuart is just one of them. Here, every day can feel like a mini vacation amid sunny skies and salty breezes. Known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, this town in Florida’s Treasure Coast offers endless opportunities for water-based recreation. Stuart is home to beautiful beaches like Stuart Beach and Bathtub Beach, where soft sand, calm surf, and warm waters make perfect afternoons of lounging, snorkeling, and scuba diving. History lovers will enjoy exploring the vintage car displays and other exhibits about art, technology, and history at the Elliot Museum. The Stuart Heritage Museum is always open to take guests down memory lane, with thousands of artifacts from the town and surrounding communities.
Additionally, Stuart has a thriving cultural scene that will further excite retirees, with the historic Lyric Theatre hosting music concerts and plays year-round. Art lovers will always find something new to admire at the Court House Cultural Center, which offers rotating exhibits from local and national artists. Also, the Cleveland Clinic Family Health Center is in town to provide quality healthcare. Stuart's average home price is around $389,200, around the state average of $386,500, and still within reach for many retirees.
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce is a fantastic destination for retirement, offering affordability and plenty of oceanside charms. For such a prime location on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, homes in this town sell for $305,000-$315,000, which is far lower than the state average, and that’s not all. This town has a strong sense of community, modern amenities, and attractions to spice things up. At any time in Fort Pierce, the award-winning HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital is always open to offer a wide range of health services, meaning less worries for retirees. Multiple senior living facilities are also in town to make retirement more pleasurable. Some popular ones include Lynmore at Lawnwood and Lake Forest Park, offering assisted living and memory care, while the latter further offers independent living.
In terms of recreation, Fort Pierce is fully endowed. It has the Blind Creek Beach, one of the rarest beaches in America, where clothing is optional. The beach is secluded and ideal for fishing, surfing, and sunbathing, plus it offers sights of Green and Loggerhead sea turtles. Nearby, the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park invites retirees to enjoy more beach relaxation and some of the best surf conditions on the coast. For culture-loving retirees, the Sunrise Theatre hosts concerts and community events year-round, while the Heathcote Botanical Gardens will always soothe nature enthusiasts with its diverse gardens.
St. Marys, Georgia
St. Marys is a true coastal paradise, offering a laid-back lifestyle, historical richness, and natural beauty, all at a significantly lower cost than other coastal areas such as Tybee Island and Savannah. Homes in St. Marys sell for $309,800 on average, lower than the state average of $335,700. The town’s crime rate is low, and healthcare is easily accessible, especially at the Urgent Care of Coastal Georgia. The St. Marys Senior Center in town also helps bolster social inclusion among seniors, while offering plenty of activities.
In the meantime, nature-loving retirees will find pleasure here, with the St. Marys Waterfront Park offering quiet views of the river, walking paths, and shaded picnic areas. The town is also the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore, a protected paradise featuring wild horses, unspoiled beaches, and lush maritime forests. As one of the oldest towns in America, established in 1792 and officially incorporated in 1802, St. Marys has plenty of things to delight history buffs, starting with the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum. This museum focuses on the island’s history, with exhibits covering Native Americans, African Americans, the Carnegie family, and others who have lived there. Furthermore, the St. Mary's Submarine Museum offers insights into the history of the submarine force. Its collections include many World War II submarine-related artifacts, photographs, and paintings.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is among the most appealing retirement destinations on the East Coast for many reasons. It is a surprisingly affordable place to live, with a median home price of around $324,500, a little north of the state average of $304,00, but still below the national average despite being home to the acclaimed Grand Strand Medical Center and several senior living establishments, such as Watercrest Myrtle Beach, which offers assisted living and memory care. All of these, plus low taxes, warm coastal living, and many attractions, have earned Myrtle Beach the fastest-growing destination for retirees in the US. This is according to population estimates released by the US Census Bureau in late June 2025, which showed a 6.3% increase in residents aged 65 years and older last year.
Retiring in Myrtle Beach means easy access to the iconic Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and its lineup of restaurants. It also means proximity to Broadway at the Beach, an outdoor hub of shopping and entertainment featuring three theaters, dozens of restaurants, bars, and attractions like Hollywood Wax Museum, where life-sized sculptures of celebrities and movie characters are on display. Additionally, Myrtle Beach is home to a 60-mile stretch of beachfront for endless coastal pleasures, and over 80 golf courses to delight golf lovers. Truly, Myrtle Beach is a paradise and a worthy place to spend your golden years.
Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Surfside Beach is one of South Carolina’s oceanside treasures, ideal for retirees seeking a laid-back lifestyle. Nicknamed “The Family Beach,” this small town offers a quieter alternative to nearby Myrtle Beach while providing plenty of outdoor fun. Retirees here will enjoy spending time at the Surfside Beach Fishing Pier, strolling, and fishing. Plus, the All Children’s Park is always a cool place to picnic and enjoy the greenery and sights of children. The town also has a two-mile oceanfront ideal for beach fun and relaxation, while its Hudson’s Surfside Flea Market is the largest in the area.
Meanwhile, Surfside is less than 10 miles from Huntington Beach State Park, where retirees will lose track of time enjoying the tranquil three-mile beach, hiking, camping, fishing, and watching birds. The Surfside Beach Senior Center keeps retirees active with fitness classes, art workshops, and social events. And for peace of mind, top-rated healthcare is available at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, located around six miles away in Murrells Inlet. According to Zillow, the average home price in Surfside Beach is approximately $354,700, a little above the state average but still a good value for coastal living in a laid-back, welcoming community.
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Murrells Inlet is a peaceful South Carolina town offering a charming mix of natural beauty, history, and small-town hospitality. Located just south of Myrtle Beach, this town is another great alternative for those seeking a peaceful retirement while being near top-rated facilities and attractions. For one, Murrells Inlet hosts some of the best medical facilities in the country, particularly the Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, A 124-bed hospital offering a wide range of services, including 24-hour emergency care and surgical services. The highly-rated Murrells Inlet Community Center is also in town to help retirees stay socially and physically active, with activities including fitness classes, arts and crafts, and group excursions.
Known as the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina," Murrells Inlet will also delight retirees with some of the country’s best seafood restaurants, such as Dead Dog Restaurant and Hot Fish Club. Both restaurants feature open-air dining, live music, and various seafood favorites. For nature aficionados, the Huntington Beach State Park is always great with its wide-open beaches, birdwatching areas, salt marshes, and walking trails through maritime forest. The town’s Brookgreen Gardens is a 9,100-acre botanical and cultural treasure filled with sculptures, gardens, a zoo, and trails winding through different ecosystems. Multiple impressive golf courses, such as TPC Myrtle Beach and Blackmoor Golf Club, are also in town to keep golfers entertained. And despite all of these incredible features, homes in Murrells Inlet sell for an average of $399,000, which is still a great deal, despite being above the state average.
Cape Charles, Virginia
Cape Charles is a gem on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, offering a laid-back lifestyle with stunning Chesapeake Bay views. Although populated by fewer than 1,200 people, this town is full of things to keep retirees entertained year-round, starting from the Kiptopeke State Park. This park offers access to exciting activities on Chesapeake Bay, such as boating, fishing, and kayaking. It also has over five miles of hiking and biking trails, secluded beaches ideal for swimming, hundreds of campsites, and the chance to witness migratory birds on the Atlantic Flyway. Back in town, the Cape Charles Beach will be a favorite spot for retirees to unwind, and the Cape Charles Fishing Pier is in the area for free fishing.
For golf lovers, the town is home to the acclaimed Bay Creek Golf Club, which has two golf courses with impressive views of the bay. Additionally, the 17-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is always open to offer a memorable road trip full of awe-inspiring bay scenery. The Riverside Cape Charles Medical Center provides healthcare, while the town is near more top-notch facilities such as AFC Urgent Care Norfolk. The average home price in Cape Charles is $403,400, lower than the state average of $409,300.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Retiring in Chincoteague, Virginia, is one of the most rewarding choices. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Bay, this quaint island town offers retirees easy access to the 14,000-acre Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife refuge will be a favorite spot for nature lovers, as it has dozens of trails winding through shrubs, salt marshes, and maritime forests, offering wildlife sights such as white-tailed deer, songbirds, woodpeckers, and more. The mile-long beach in the refuge is also one of the most unique shorelines in America, where one can relax while watching feral ponies strolling with their young. Back in town, the Veterans Memorial Park and Donald Leonard Park offer access to the waters for kayaking and fishing. History lovers will appreciate the Museum of Chincoteague Island, where exhibits showcase the island’s maritime heritage, local culture, and the story of the beloved Chincoteague Ponies. And for those who would like to feel an adrenaline rush sometimes, the Maui Jack’s Waterpark is in town. It features a lazy river, slides, tipping buckets, giant sprinklers, and tiki cabanas for relaxation.
Furthermore, Chincoteague bolsters a strong sense of belonging for retirees, with approximately 38% of the town’s population aged 65 years and older. The Chincoteague Island Community Health Center is also in town to take care of health needs, plus the nearby town of Onancock has the Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital for more health services. According to Zillow, the average home price in Chincoteague is around $377,000, far below the state average of $409,382, adding affordability to the town’s list of retirement appeal.
Ocean City, Maryland
Those who desire retirement in one of America’s most famous beach cities will be pleased with Ocean City. Although home to a permanent population of around 7,000 people, this town bustles with crowds year-round, meaning lots of people to meet and plenty of things to do all year for retirees, especially around the Ocean City Beach. Stretching the island’s entire 10 miles, this beach is the perfect spot to relax or play volleyball with fellow retirees. And with around 29% of the town’s population above 65, there are always fellow retirees to play with on the beach. At the Ocean City Boardwalk, it’s entertainment galore as everything from amusement rides to souvenir shops and legendary eateries like Thrasher’s French Fries can be found on the nearly three-mile-long stretch.
Beyond the boardwalk, the Northside Park is a relaxing place for seniors to fish, walk, picnic, and kayak. Assateague Island is around nine miles away, offering a more tranquil beach experience and the chance to see feral horses roam the dunes.
Additionally, the West Ocean City Injury & Illness Center is always open to offer rapid healthcare. At the same time, the Atlantic General Hospital provides all-around medical services just minutes away in Berlin. The town even has multiple senior living facilities, including the Ocean City 50Plus Center, which helps seniors stay physically active and socially connected. Despite these incredible features, Ocean City remains relatively affordable, with average home prices hovering around $448,600, just a bit higher than the state average of $433,735.
Coastal living is no doubt the best way to enjoy retirement. There’s something special about being close to a coastline, where the sounds of waves are always audible and the sea breeze never stops. The thought alone increases happiness and just makes life worth living. And you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy this pleasurable lifestyle, especially when you choose from these towns on the Atlantic Coast. From Myrtle Beach to St Mary's, these towns offer pleasant coastal experiences for far less money than other coastal destinations around the US. Retire to these towns soon, and you’ll wish you had known about them earlier.
