55+ Communities in Southeast Florida

Southeast Florida — the Gold Coast stretching from Jupiter down through Miami — is where retirees come when they want everything at once: ocean, tax breaks, big-city amenities, and the deepest 55+ community bench in the country. Palm Beach County alone has nearly 400 age-restricted communities across every price tier, from $80,000 one-bedroom Century Village condos to $2 million estates at Regency at Avenir. Add Broward's Century Village East, Wynmoor Village, and newer builds like The Falls at Parkland and Four Seasons at Parkland, and no other Florida region matches the sheer selection.

Southeast Florida is the most expensive part of Florida to retire. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro's consumer price index has risen 36% since 2019 — more than any other tracked area except Tampa — and housing costs now run roughly 5% higher than metro New York. West Palm Beach's overall cost of living lands 13–16% above the U.S. national average depending on the source (BestPlaces puts it at 14.1%, Salary.com at 16%). Housing is the biggest driver: median home values sit around $454,000 in West Palm Beach and roughly $576,000 in the Miami area, with housing costs across the metro tracking about 55% above the national average. Utilities and healthcare run near or slightly below national averages; groceries are a few points above.

Retiree Specific: Florida has no state income tax, which means Social Security benefits, pension income, traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, military retirement pay, dividends, interest, and capital gains all pass through untaxed at the state level. Florida also has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. The Homestead Exemption removes up to $50,000 from assessed value on a primary residence, and the Save Our Homes cap limits annual assessed-value increases to 3% or CPI, whichever is lower (the cap for 2025 is 2.9%). Seniors 65+ with household income under roughly $36,614 may qualify for an additional exemption of up to $50,000 in participating counties. Portability lets you carry accumulated Save Our Homes savings — up to $500,000 in assessed-value difference — to a new Florida homestead. State sales tax is 6%, with local surtaxes bringing the effective rate to about 7% in Palm Beach and Broward and 7% in Miami-Dade; groceries and most prescription drugs are exempt.

Additional Considerations: Homeowners insurance is the single biggest budget shock for retirees moving from lower-risk states. South Florida averages $4,375–$7,290 per year for typical inland homes and $5,000–$12,000+ for coastal or near-coastal properties — the highest in the country. Rates began softening in 2026 after tort reform and a quiet 2025 hurricane season (Broward averaging around $6,290, Palm Beach around $6,614), but absolute levels remain elevated. Flood insurance is a separate line item, and FEMA remapped about 5,000 Palm Beach County properties into high-risk zones in the most recent update. HOA and country-club dues in newer 55+ communities run $400–$900+ per month, which can rival a small mortgage payment. And when you sell and buy a new home, the Save Our Homes cap resets — a new buyer's property tax bill typically jumps to full market value the following year, which can double or triple the previous owner's tax bill.