Sarasota One of 2023’s Top Retirement Hubs [national ranking]

Aura Michelle Mogosanu, Storage Cafe

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

Not all places are equally accommodating destinations for the golden years following the 9-to-5 grind. In order to assist the approx. 3.6 million boomers who are turning 65 in 2023 and are thinking about where they want to set down stakes in retirement, we’ve put together a list of the top cities for their golden years.

Naturally, every list of places for retirees should feature The Sunshine State and our list includes five top-20 hotspots from Florida. And it’s not just because of its beautiful beaches (although they’re obviously a draw.) Access to quality healthcare and finding a community of like-minded people are crucial for aging successfully and that’s exactly what the top-scoring places on our list have in common.

North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton emerges as the 3rd-best retirement hotspot* in the US, racking up high scores in all categories.

What makes the Sarasota metro a top place for retirees to settle down?

  • Seniors make up 63 percent of the city’s adult population and residents have a very high average life expectancy at 81.4 years.
  • On average, retirement income is $36,157 a year, the 5th-highest among the places analyzed.
  • 10% of the metro’s multifamily accommodation is made up of age 55+ communities that are designed specifically to cater to a more relaxed, yet engaging lifestyle.
  • Sarasota boasts one of the best safety scores out of the 100 metros in our ranking.
  • Additionally, seniors in Florida also benefit from a pleasant tax climate, with their incomes, benefits and inheritances untaxed, although there is both a sales tax and a property tax

Here’s a link to a heatmap of the top 100 metro areas ranked by their ability to respond to retirees’ needs for quality living environments: https://www.storagecafe.com/blog/best-places-to-retire-in-the-us/#datawrapper-chart-H4EfI. Simply hover over each location to see what pushed it up in the ranking.

*We looked at the US’s 100 largest metro areas, evaluating them for their age-friendliness across criteria ranging from cost of living and access to healthcare to the local tax burden, safety and the availability of recreational activities.