Best Places To Retire In Florida Without Hurricanes (2023)

FAQs

Which part of Florida is least affected by hurricanes? ›

The Least Hurricane-Prone Areas in Florida

Take Northeast Florida for instance. This large area has seen just 26 total hurricanes, including just a single Category 3 since the scale was introduced 167 years ago. That means, on average, Northeast Florida gets hit by a hurricane every 6.5 years or so.

1. Southeast Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) Southeast Florida is very susceptible to hurricanes, given its location at the tip of the state. Most large hurricanes affect Southeast Florida with storm surges and plentiful rain – and those that make direct landfall can cause severe damage.

While historic Charleston, South Carolina, takes first place, Orlando, Florida, ranks a close second. The survey ranked 182 cities based on four key categories of equal weight: affordability, activities, quality of life and health care. Their analysis also assumes a retiree will be living on a fixed income.

Cape Coral

It's easily one of the most affordable places to live in Florida. It's also one of the safest cities in Florida, with one of the lowest crime rates in the state. The median cost in Cape Coral is about $290,700, below the Florida and US averages.

North Palm Beach

In North Palm Beach, crime rates are lower than in other Suburban areas, nationally and statewide. The total crime rate here is 9 per 1000 people, which is 64% lower than Florida's average total crime rate, making it a safe living place.

Where is the best and cheapest place to retire in Florida? ›

St. Augustine is the best place to retire in Florida if you're on a budget as the city has everything for which Florida is known – sandy beaches, mild weather, and a low cost of living – with an added cultural flair.

A common misconception in Florida is that there are parts of the state that do not get hurricanes. Since 1850, all of Florida's coastline has been impacted by at least one hurricane. With its long coastline and location, Florida frequently finds itself in the path of these intense storms.

Florida's southeast coast and panhandle are particularly susceptible to landfalling hurricanes. Ian is aimed at the less-struck western coast of Florida, near Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay area has not been hit by a major storm in more than a century.

No there is not. ALL of Florida is subject to hurricanes: at the coasts or inland. Hurricanes can be up to a few hundred miles in diameter, though they are usually smaller than that.

The “ABC Islands” of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are the classic destinations to go to avoid hurricanes—off the coast of South America, they're about as far south in the Caribbean as you can get. Aruba offers gorgeous white sand beaches, top-notch restaurants, and an arid climate that's lovely year-round.

While no portion of Florida's extensive coastline is immune from hurricanes, some areas are far more hurricane-prone. Overall, the Gulf Coast has a higher incidence, due to its greater expanse from the western tip of the panhandle all the way east, then south to the Everglades.

These risks are disproportionately shouldered by metropolitan areas along the Eastern Seaboard and along the Gulf of Mexico. Located on the Gulf Coast in southern Florida, Naples is at risk of considerable hurricane damage.

Sarasota, FL

Frequently recognized as one of the best places to live in the U.S. and one of the best places to retire, the Florida Gulf Coast city of Sarasota offers warm weather throughout the year with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s and winter temperatures as high as 70 degrees.

Warm winter temperatures, particularly at Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Key West, Orlando, Tampa and Vero Beach make Florida's weather most inviting, while summertime highs average in the low 90s. These places usually receive 45 to 50 inches of rain a year.

Are retirees moving out of Florida? ›

Even before the pandemic, some retirees found that Florida wasn't the paradise they thought it would be. In 2019, about 145,000 retirees moved to Florida, according to a study by SmartAsset, but an estimated 78,500 older people left the state that same year.

If you are searching for the best beach town to retire in Florida, then you should consider Sarasota. Along the Gulf Coast just 60 miles south of Tampa and 77 miles north of Fort Myers, lays one of the most vibrant and perfect places for retirees.

You will need a few sources of income coming in monthly to pay for these costs: Social Security Income: A couple together would bring in an average of $3,086 per month. Level Income Annuity: $175,000 in retirement savings would generate the additional $743.00 a month for life.

Moving to the Sunshine State could save you a lot of money in taxes. Florida, one of our 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees, has no state income tax. That means no state taxes on Social Security benefits, pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement income. It also has no inheritance tax or estate tax.

Michigan ranks as the most affordable state to retire in 2022, according to a recent Bankrate analysis. This is due to a low cost of living and light tax burden for residents.

Fort Pierce is the most affordable place to live in Florida near the beach, offering gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Downsize a Current Home

Moving to a one- or two-bedroom home can save money. Snowbirds looking to stay on a budget may choose to spend more money on a new home in a desired area and downsize a current home. Downsizing means moving to a smaller home, which generally costs less, both in price and maintenance.

How much does it cost to snowbird in Florida? ›

Florida (East Central Coast): $2,800-$6,000 (condo); $3,200-$9,000 (single family). Florida (Panhandle): $800-$2,200 (condo); $1,100-$3,500 (single family). Florida (South): $2,500-$8,000 (condo); $5,000-$12,000 (single family).

When it comes to the city in Florida with the best weather, many experts point to Vero Beach. Located on the Atlantic coast, Vero Beach has the perfect climate and location to enjoy for living, vacation, or retirement. This is both due to the white sandy beaches, as well as the overall average daily temperature.

Visit Gulfport, Florida, The Friendliest Town In The State.

McAllen made the No. 1 spot as the best city to retire on a monthly budget of $2,500 or less by offering the most budget-friendly expenditures compared to the rest of the U.S. and the top livability score among these 11 cities. Rent averages $1,042, $885 less than the U.S. mean.

Panama. Not for the first time, Panama tops the list of the world's best places to retire. Located away from Central America's hurricane belt, its warm tropical climate is tempered by breezes from the Pacific Ocean on one coast and the Caribbean Sea on the other.

Palm Bay

Just south of Melbourne along the Atlantic Ocean is Palm Bay, an affordable option for Florida retirees. The costs of rent ($1,189 monthly average), groceries, healthcare and utilities all are lower than the national average.

During the winter, north Florida and the Panhandle is much less humid than South Florida due to colder winter temperatures. Remember, colder air holds much less water vapor than warm air, so the colder parts of Florida will be less humid that warmer areas further south.

How far inland do hurricanes go? Hurricanes can travel up to 100 – 200 miles inland. However, once a hurricane moves inland, it can no longer draw on heat energy from the ocean and weakens rapidly to a tropical storm (39 to 73 mph winds) or tropical depression.

Sarasota County has a high natural disaster risk score of 55%. Over the past 20 years, 35 disasters have been declared by the county, most of which related to Hurricane incidents. 53% of Sarasota County has a moderate or higher wildfire hazard potential, while its 4% average earthquake risk score is very low.

What city in Florida has the least hurricanes? ›

The North Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season, that includes the storms that would hit Clearwater Beach, actually started back in June and continues through November. The peak of Clearwater Beach Hurricane Season begins in mid-August and continues through September.

The Panhandle has been one of the most active centers for severe storm activity in Florida in recent years, suffering a major storm approximately every two years. One of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes to ever hit the Panhandle was Hurricane Michael, which struck the area in the fall of 2018.

1. Southeast Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) Southeast Florida is very susceptible to hurricanes, given its location at the tip of the state. Most large hurricanes affect Southeast Florida with storm surges and plentiful rain – and those that make direct landfall can cause severe damage.

A common misconception in Florida is that there are parts of the state that do not get hurricanes. Since 1850, all of Florida's coastline has been impacted by at least one hurricane. With its long coastline and location, Florida frequently finds itself in the path of these intense storms.

No there is not. ALL of Florida is subject to hurricanes: at the coasts or inland. Hurricanes can be up to a few hundred miles in diameter, though they are usually smaller than that.

The “ABC Islands” of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are the classic destinations to go to avoid hurricanes—off the coast of South America, they're about as far south in the Caribbean as you can get. Aruba offers gorgeous white sand beaches, top-notch restaurants, and an arid climate that's lovely year-round.

During the winter, north Florida and the Panhandle is much less humid than South Florida due to colder winter temperatures. Remember, colder air holds much less water vapor than warm air, so the colder parts of Florida will be less humid that warmer areas further south.

How far inland do hurricanes go? Hurricanes can travel up to 100 – 200 miles inland. However, once a hurricane moves inland, it can no longer draw on heat energy from the ocean and weakens rapidly to a tropical storm (39 to 73 mph winds) or tropical depression.