Let’s cut to the chase: what puts Florida on the global map, the tourism map, and the retirement map are its 825 miles of sandy beaches. That topographical blessing, coupled with the state’s tropical and subtropical climates (it’s a big state), has always been its indelible draw as one of the best places to live.
Florida has also served as a haven for tax refugees: according to TurboTax, it has the fifth-lowest overall tax burden in the nation, owing, in large part, to the absence of a state income tax.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, those realities were just some of the reasons for the so-called Great Migration, when hundreds of thousands of people — including a posse of ultra-high-net-worth individuals — headed south from colder, higher-tax states, and marquee businesses relocated or expanded their operations in the Sunshine State. Florida’s burst of growth and activity has made it even more enticing to retirees, whether you crave the Atlantic or the Gulf Coast, an urban lifestyle or a chill vibe.
1. Miami Beach, best for sand, sea, and sightseeing
- Population: 82,890 [Census]
- Cost of living: 50% higher than the U.S. average [ERI]
- Average single-family home price: $513,208 [Zillow]
- Average rent: $3,350 [Zillow]
There is a common misconception that Miami Beach is a neighborhood within the city of Miami proper, but this coastal resort icon is actually a city in itself, located on one main barrier island — and some small, highly exclusive manmade isles that dot Biscayne Bay…