Dozens of Florida Cities Offer a Great Quality of Life

For generations, Florida has been one of the most popular places in the U.S. to buy a retirement home. In addition to the fact that there are a lot of communities and services geared to the needs of senior citizens, the warm weather, tropical beaches, golf courses, and sunshine are all major selling points.

The climate is an especially strong draw for people up north, because there comes a time in life when you just don't want to have to deal with snowy roads, icy sidewalks, or snow-covered driveways any more! While the changing seasons may hold a certain appeal for many people, those appealing aspects quickly fade from memory when you're faced with bone-chilling temperatures, frozen pipes, and hazardous driving conditions!

The topic of seasonal change brings to mind the old folk song "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)," written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950's. One of the main messages of the song is the fact that change is a natural progression, and that life doesn't stand still. For many Baby Boomers who are looking ahead to the next phase of their lives, Florida is a logical destination!

Researching Florida Communities

If you're seeking a desirable community to move to in Florida, there are a lot of different criteria to consider. One helpful resource to factor in is an annual ranking list published by U.S News & World Report. In its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S., it mentions nine cities in Florida, which meet several vital standards, such as cost of living, crime rate, availability of quality health care, patterns of population growth or decline, and the results of surveys on quality of life.

The Florida cities that made its Top 100 list (in order of ranking) are Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Lakeland, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, and Miami. For those who seek more of a small-town atmosphere, there are also many suburban areas in Florida that provide easy access to bustling metropolitan centers. Small and medium-size cities like Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala, Pensacola, and Boca Raton may not have made the list because they are not among the most populous metro areas that U.S. News targets in its study.

Speaking of quality of life standards, the AARP has developed a good definition of "livability", which reads as follows: "A livable community is one that is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing and transportation options, and has supportive community features and services. Once in place, those resources enhance personal independence; allow residents to age in place; and foster residents’ engagement in the community’s civic, economic, and social life."

There are literally dozens of smaller communities in Florida worth researching in your quest to find a great Florida community in which to settle or buy a vacation home. Possibilities may include Vero Beach, Venice, Mount Dora, Naples, Sanibel, St. Augustine, Winter Haven, Boynton Beach, and many others. With the help of an experienced Florida real estate agent, you're sure to find a satisfying place to call home that will meet your lifestyle needs, budgetary objectives, and personal standards for maintaining a high quality of living.