Finding the top-rated retirement communities in America hinges on several factors, including amenities, access to shopping and entertainment areas, cost of living, and suitability of housing. If you’re interested in senior living at a faster pace, here are 10 communities to consider.
Key Takeaways
- Retirement communities can offer a wide range of amenities for active seniors, including recreation, on-site dining, and travel.
- The cost of living in a retirement community can vary greatly, depending on its location and what’s being offered to residents.
- When comparing retirement communities for active seniors, it’s helpful to compare the monthly/annual costs to what you might pay to age in place in your current home.
1. The Villages
The Villages is billed as Florida’s friendliest active adult community for seniors aged 55 and up. Located in central Florida, it is one of the largest age-restricted retirement communities in the United States. Given its size and the fact that it’s home to more than 71,000 households and over 145,000 residents, living here is like living in a town just for retirees.
There are six types of houses to choose from, plus apartment-style living. Depending on the layout and size you choose, you can find properties with prices starting from the low-$100,000s up to homes over $1 million. A network of market squares provides entertainment, shopping plazas, recreation centers, golf courses, swimming, tennis, and more.
The Villages has its own on-site hospital and public safety department, which includes EMS/EMT and fire services.
2. Sun City Hilton Head
Sun City Hilton Head, located in Bluffton, South Carolina, part of the Del Webb collection, is the largest active retirement community for seniors in the Lowcountry region. It’s won multiple awards as one of the best communities for an active lifestyle and is home to more than 17,000 residents. This community includes more than 8,200 homes ranging from the high-$200,000s to over $1 million. The heart of the community is an amenity campus complete with areas to dine, swim, play games, and socialize. There are 7.5 miles of walking trails with views of local wetlands and three state-of-the-art fitness centers. Sun City Hilton Head is also well-known for its three golf courses.
3. Sun City Summerlin
Sun City Summerlin, a Del Webb network community, sits on the western edge of Las Vegas, making it close enough for shopping, dining, or the occasional night on the town. The community’s real estate includes just under 7,800 homes which start in the low-$300,000s and can top $1 million. Four clubhouses provide luxury amenities and various activities. Resort-class dining, swimming, and gaming areas cater to the whims of residents.
4. Sun City Huntley
Sun City Huntley, located in Huntley, Illinois, is an active retirement community spanning 2,200 acres. This community features approximately 5,500 homes priced from the mid-$200,000s to the low-$600,000s, making it an affordable option if you’re working with a smaller retirement budget. In addition to its close proximity to Chicago, community perks include a 94,000 square-foot clubhouse hosting 80 clubs and amenities. These include an indoor walking track and spa, arts and crafts studios, and a ballroom that hosts various activities and events year-round. Residents can enjoy miles of nature trails and outdoor activities or head indoors for yoga, dancing, cardio, or jazzercise classes.
When comparing active retirement communities, compare the fees closely. Some communities may require an entrance fee as well as a monthly fee, depending on the type of services and amenities offered.
5. Laguna Woods Village
Laguna Woods Village, located in Laguna Woods, California, is one of Orange County’s most desirable retirement destinations if you’re looking for a place to enjoy the SoCal lifestyle. There are about 18,500 residents enjoying retirement here in a peaceful setting that’s just minutes from the ocean. Home prices range from the high-$200,000s to over $1 million. There are more than 90 floor plans residents can choose from. Laguna Woods Village is a gated community, complete with a private bus system, 36 holes of golf, and areas for social events, swimming, games, and more.
6. Lake Providence
Just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, Lake Providence is a moderate-sized gated community with just over 1,000 homes priced from the low-$400,000s to the high-$800,000s. The centrally-located clubhouse overlooks a 15-acre lake. An in-house lifestyle director keeps residents socializing by organizing community and personal events. The residents have areas to swim, eat, play, and enjoy an active lifestyle, but if you want to venture a little further from home, there are numerous historic attractions to check out locally.
7. Village at Deaton Creek
The Village at Deaton Creek in Hoschton, Georgia is another Del Webb retirement property. This gated community features a 35,000 square-foot clubhouse that is the heart of all community activity. It’s where you can take fitness classes, work on arts and crafts, play a game of pool, or browse the library. Residents can play a game of softball or tennis, swim in the resort-style pool, or hike miles of outdoor trails—and there’s a special playground area reserved just for grandkids. Residents can also take organized day trips to downtown Atlanta. The more than 1,100 homes range in price from the mid-$300,000s to the mid-$700,000s.
8. Del Webb Sweetgrass
Del Webb Sweetgrass is in Richmond, Texas, 40 minutes from Houston. Miles of walking trails and other outdoor amenities give residents their nature fixes. The community offers a projected 1,500 homes with price tags between the mid-$200,000s and the mid-$600,000s. If you can’t get there to view them in-person, you can take virtual tours online. The 27,000 square-foot clubhouse houses numerous amenities, including gaming and dining areas and places for residents to socialize.
9. Solivita
Solivita is located in Kissimmee, Florida. The master-planned community, situated on 4,300 acres, houses more than 150,000 square feet of amenities with golf, water activities, and areas for private and community-wide events. It could be a great choice if you’re looking for a warm-weather destination to spend your retirement. Homes are priced from the low-$300,000s to the high-$2 millions.
When comparing retirement communities, remember to factor in all housing costs. Consider what you’ll pay for the property itself, plus property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, as well as whether you’ll need to purchase additional homeowner’s coverage for things like hurricanes or floods if you’re contemplating retirement in an area that’s prone to either one.
10. Stone Creek
Located in Ocala, Florida, Stone Creek includes a projected 3,800 homes ranging in price from the high-$200,000s to the mid-$700,000s. This gated community offers several home designs, including some that are ready for quick move-ins so you can pick and choose the home that works best for your needs and lifestyle. Known for its beautiful surrounding landscape, Stone Creek has a 60,000 square-foot recreation complex housing dining and gaming areas, as well as social halls for personal and community use, a spa, and a resort-class pool.
What Is the Best Age for a Retirement Community?
This is a question that many retirees are facing. The answer depends on your desired lifestyle, plus where you are with your health and finances. Moving into a 55+ community can be a transformative experience, but there can be a big difference in doing it at 55, versus at 75.
Consider what you will be gaining, and what you could be giving up. What is the opportunity cost?
Also, ask yourself: Where would your money be coming from? Are you withdrawing funds—what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calls taking distributions—from a 401(k) or a traditional or Roth individual retirement account (IRA)? What about Social Security? Or will it be from a mix of sources? And how far will these funds take you?
How Much Do I Need to Retire at 55?
This can be a bit tricky to answer, because one of the traditional guidelines—the 4% rule—was designed to cover 30 years of retirement with a lifestyle that doesn’t change. It might cover more, but it’s not guaranteed. Talk with a financial advisor about how to make sure you don’t outlive your assets.
Is Retiring at 55 Realistic?
For most people, retiring at 55 isn’t realistic. Using the 4% rule and a goal of living on $80,000 per year, you would need to have $2 million saved by age 55 to retire—and those funds would cover you for an estimated 30 years, which may not be enough.
The Bottom Line
For most individuals, retirement comes after decades of hard work. In some cases, this means settling down in a community designed for people of retirement age where living is easy. Other retirees seek a more active lifestyle. Choosing which one is right for you will take time—so give yourself that time. Create a budget, talk with friends and family, and do some soul searching. This is a big decision.
