5 Reasons Many Retirees May Soon Regret Leaving Florida
Written by
J. David Herman
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Florida’s reputation as the Grand Poobah of retirement destinations has taken some hits lately.
Consider the latest rankings from Seniorly, a senior living website. The Sunshine State ranked No. 18 in the U.S., well behind Washington, D.C. in the No. 1 spot. Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five in Seniorly’s rankings, which were based on affordability, quality of life and healthcare options.
There are multiple reasons some retirees are less drawn to Florida these days. Once a strong point, the state’s cost of living is on the rise as an increasing number of remote workers settle there. Climate change and the dangers of natural disasters are a factor, as are related spikes in insurance costs. Concerns around healthcare are also increasing, as reflected in Seniorly’s study.
That said, many of the characteristics that forged Florida’s retirement-friendly reputation remain in place. Here are five reasons retirees skipping or fleeing the Sunshine State may want to reconsider.
Highly Ranked Cities and Communities
While Florida as a whole is descending in some retirement ratings, some of its cities are soaring.
Naples, a city with about 20,000 residents on Florida’s southwest coast, climbed from No. 28 place to No. 1 in the most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings. The publication evaluated 150 U.S. cities based on happiness, retiree tax burdens, affordability and other factors. Part of a metro area with about 400,000 residents, Naples bills itself as the “Golf Capital of the World” and boasts some of the nation’s most highly rated beaches.
Naples wasn’t the only Florida city rated highly by U.S. News and World Reports. Sarasota, another Gulf Coast City with about 58,000 residents, ranked fourth.
Florida’s most populous city, Jacksonville, ranked seventh in the nation for retirees. Located in northeast Florida, “Jax” has about a million residents and a lower cost of living than many other parts of the state.
There Is Still a Lot To Like About the Weather
Yes, parts of Florida are more prone to natural disasters — particularly hurricanes — than many other options. And the humidity in parts of the state can be tough to handle, particularly for the uninitiated.
If your retirement dreams include consistent warmth and sunshine, though, Florida remains tough to beat.
The Beaches
Florida’s wide array of natural beauty includes some the nation’s top-ranked beaches. There are also just a lot of beaches there, in general. Florida boasts nearly 8,500 miles of coastline, tops in the continental United States.
The Sunshine State landed three beaches in Dr. Beach’s most recent top 10 list for the nation: Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin and Clearwater, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples, and Ft. De Soto Park in St. Petersburg. Another Florida beach — St. George Island State Park — topped the list the previous year.
No State Income Tax and Other Financial Factors
Florida’s cost of living is on the rise, but don’t forget to weigh other financial aspects. You may find that other states are not as affordable as they seemed.
For example, Florida has no state income tax. Other states, like New York, California and Oregon, have high state income taxes that can eat into retirement savings. You should also weigh the costs of housing, food and transportation before you skip Florida in favor of other destinations. The Sunshine State isn’t the only place where things feel more expensive in recent years.
Access to Healthcare
In some ways, Florida is built for retirees — despite the challenges to infrastructure posed by recent growth. In addition to its plethora of retirement communities, the Sunshine State still has a high concentration of top-rated hospitals and medical facilities.
Other states may not have the same level of access to quality healthcare, which can be a major concern for the 65-plus set. That said, healthcare access and quality depend on what part of the state you live in.
Final Take To GO
As always, it pays to do your homework while scoping out your dream retirement or deciding whether to remain in your current retirement spot. For many, Florida may not be the retirement slam dunk it once was.
But there’s still a lot for retirees to like about the Sunshine State, and it may be worth keeping on your shortlist.
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