Get Quartz in your inbox

Free daily briefing on global business news.

The 9 best coastal towns to retire in the U.S., ranked

From a Gulf Coast town under $400,000 to a sun-soaked Pacific community with walkable beach access, nine towns worth retiring to

Daniel Halseth / Unsplash

Retirees have long steadily gravitated toward the coast for many reasons that go well beyond scenery alone, and a growing body of research now backs up that instinct fairly directly, with several recent studies linking regular proximity to the ocean to measurable, lasting health benefits and even longer lifespans overall. This research helps explain why coastal retirement consistently tops so many wish lists, even as the price of achieving it varies dramatically depending on which stretch of American coastline a retiree has in mind and which tradeoffs that retiree remains willing to make.

This price variation runs much wider than many prospective retirees might expect, spanning modest Gulf Coast towns where a median home costs well under $400,000 to Southern California beach communities where the average listing tops $1.4 million. The coastline itself varies just as dramatically across these nine towns, from the rocky, seasonal charm of coastal Maine to the barrier islands of the American Southeast and the mild, sun-soaked climate along much of the Pacific coast. Walkability, healthcare access, and state tax policy toward retirement income together all shape the ongoing, everyday cost of settling into any one of these communities well beyond the sticker price of a home itself, sometimes counting for more than the raw purchase price ever suggests once monthly expenses and long-term financial planning enter the picture.

The nine towns below all appear in Travel Leisure, based on input from local real estate professionals alongside the author’s own firsthand travel experience across each of these communities. Presented in the exact same order as the original roundup since the list isn’t formally ranked, each entry below covers the coastline, cost figures, and lifestyle details that make the town worth careful consideration for anyone planning a coastal retirement within the United States.

1. Ponte Vedra Beach pairs golf courses with zero income tax

Josh Moore / Unsplash

Ponte Vedra Beach sits along Florida’s Atlantic Coast about 32 miles from Jacksonville International Airport, offering retirees mild weather, beaches, golf courses, restaurants, and a lively nightlife scene, along with nearby nature reserves and a busy calendar of cultural programming. The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall alone hosts more than 140 concerts and events annually, giving residents a steady supply of live entertainment without traveling far from home.

Nearby St. Augustine adds even more cultural depth to the area, as the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city, offering deep history, art, and festival programming year-round. Outdoor enthusiasts also have plenty to do locally, since the surrounding area supports kayaking, biking, bird-watching, fishing, and hiking across a range of accessible natural settings.

Local realtor Ethan Loosen, who works with Dream Finders Homes, notes that this part of northern Florida sees noticeable seasonal shifts in fall and winter while staying warm most of the year, making it especially appealing for retirees who want to stay active outdoors without extreme heat. Home values in the area average around $800,000 according to Zillow, and Florida’s lack of any state income tax adds a meaningful financial advantage for retirees managing a fixed budget.

Healthcare remains strong throughout the region, with several respected hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic and Baptist Health, located nearby. The Jacksonville metro area beyond Ponte Vedra Beach itself adds professional sports, a busy airport, and a wider hospital network within easy driving distance, giving retirees a bigger city to lean on without actually living in one. Many residents split their time between the beach and downtown Jacksonville for shopping, medical appointments, or simply a change of pace.

Ponte Vedra Beach earns its spot on this list by combining cultural depth and reliable healthcare access with the financial advantages of Florida’s tax-friendly retirement environment.

2. St. Simons Island keeps its small-town charm

Philip Arambula / Unsplash

St. Simons Island is the largest barrier island in Georgia’s Golden Isles, offering retirees a true small-town atmosphere alongside walkable shopping and plenty of outdoor recreation throughout the surrounding coastal landscape. Associate broker Chandra Kendall, of DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty, points to the island’s extensive network of nature trails and miles of accessible sidewalks running alongside its beaches as a major draw for retirees seeking an active, walkable lifestyle.

Kendall also highlights the wide range of recreational activities available locally, noting that residents regularly enjoy kayaking, boating, fishing, golf, and pickleball across the island’s various facilities and natural areas. This mix of water-based and land-based recreation gives retirees real variety in how they stay active year-round, regardless of fitness preferences or physical limitations.

St. Simons Island’s small-town character extends beyond pure recreation into its broader community feel, since the island’s modest scale keeps daily errands and social........

© Quartz