Most people quit after having worked hard for many years. In some cases, this means setting down in a place where life is easy for people who are retired. But more and more senior living communities encourage a more busy lifestyle that includes spending time with friends, traveling, and doing fun things.
Finding the best retirement communities in the United States depends on a number of things, such as features, proximity to shopping and entertainment areas, cost of living, and how well the housing fits the needs of the residents. Here are 10 places to live if you’re a senior and want to get things done faster.
1. The Villages
The Villages is billed as Florida’s friendliest town for adults aged 55 and up who like to stay busy. It is one of the biggest retirement villages in the United States, and it is in central Florida. Given its size and the fact that it has more than 60,000 units and more than 115,000 residents, life here is like living in a town just for older people.
You can choose from six different floor plans for homes, which are a mix of homes and houses. Depending on the plan and size you want, you can find houses that range in price from around $160,000 to over $1 million.
A network of marketplaces offers free entertainment every night, as well as shopping malls, leisure centers, golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, and more.
2. Sun City Hilton Head
Sun City Hilton Head is part of the Del Webb collection and is in Bluffton, South Carolina. It is the biggest busy senior community in the Lowcountry area. It has won multiple awards as one of the best places to live a busy life, and more than 16,000 people call it home. There are more than 8,200 homes in this neighborhood, and their prices range from the middle $100,000s to more than $1 million. At the center of the community is a college with places to eat, swim, play games, and meet new people. There are three state-of-the-art exercise centers and walks with views of local wetlands that are 7.5 miles long. The three 18-hole championship golf courses at Sun City Hilton Head are also well-known.
3. Sun City Summerlin
Sun City Summerlin is the first community in the Del Webb network. It is on the western edge of Las Vegas, close enough to go shopping, eat out, or go out on the town once in a while. The neighborhood has just under 7,800 homes, which start at a reasonable price in the mid-$200,000s and can go as high as $1 million for custom choices. Sun City Summerlin is very famous because of its center, which has four clubhouses with high-end services and lots of activities. Residents can eat, swim, and play games in places that are like resorts.
4. Sun City Huntley
Sun City Huntley is a busy retirement community that is in Huntley, Illinois. It is spread out over 2,200 acres. This neighborhood has about 5,500 homes that range in price from the mid-$100,000s to the high-$500,000s. This makes it a good choice for retirees on a tight budget. Along with being close to Chicago, the neighborhood has a 94,000-square-foot clubhouse with 80 clubs and services. There is an indoor jogging track and spa, as well as art and craft workshops and a hall that is used for many different activities and events throughout the year. Residents can enjoy miles of nature walks and outdoor activities, or they can go inside to take yoga, line dancing, exercise, or jazzercise lessons.
5. Laguna Woods Village
Laguna Woods Village, which is in Laguna Woods, California, is one of the best places to retire in Orange County if you want to enjoy the SoCal way of life. More than 18,500 people live here in retirement. It’s a quiet place that’s only a few minutes from the ocean. Prices for homes range from mid-$100,000 to over $1 million, and people can choose from more than 80 floor plans. Laguna Woods Village is a closed community with a private bus system, 36 holes of top-quality golf, and places for social gatherings, swimming, games, and more. This is a great place to retire if you want privacy in your new home.
6. Lake Providence
Lake Providence is a gated neighborhood with about 1,000 homes set from the mid-$200,000s to the high-$500,000s. It is just outside of Nashville, TN. The building is in the middle of the park and looks out on a 15-acre lake. The residents get to know each other through neighborhood and personal events that are planned by the lifestyle director. People who live there have places to swim, eat, play, and live a busy life. If you want to go a little further from home, there are a lot of important places to visit nearby.
7. Village at Deaton Creek
Another Del Webb retirement community is the Village at Deaton Creek in Hoschton, GA. This gated community has a building that is 35,000 square feet and is the center of all community activities. It’s where you can take lessons to get in shape, work on arts and crafts, play pool, or look through the library. Residents can play baseball or tennis, swim in the resort-style pool, or hike miles of outdoor tracks. There is also a special playground area for grandkids. Residents can also go to downtown Atlanta on day trips that are set up. The prices of the more than 1,100 homes run from high $200,000 to mid $600,000.
8. Del Webb Sweetgrass
In Richmond, Texas, Del Webb Sweetgrass is being built on 500 acres of good land. Residents can get their wildlife fixed from the miles of walking paths and other outdoor amenities. The neighborhood will have about 1,500 homes with prices between the mid-$200,000s and the low $600,000s. If you can’t get there to see them in person, you can take video tours online. The 27,000-square-foot center is in the middle of the community and has many features, such as places to play games, eat, and meet other people.
9. Solivita
Solivita is in Kissimmee, FL, and is becoming more and more famous because it is affordable and in a great place. The master-planned community is on 4,300 acres of great Florida land. It has more than 150,000 square feet of amenities, such as golf, water sports, and places for private and community-wide events. It might be a good choice if you’re looking for a place to spend your retirement where it’s warm. Prices for homes range from around $100,000 to around $500,000, so there are choices for almost any retirement budget.
10. Stone Creek
Stone Creek is in Ocala, FL, and is expected to have 3,800 houses with prices between $100,000 and the middle of $500,000. This gated community has 17 different home designs, some of which are ready to move in right away. This lets you choose the home that best fits your wants and way of life. Stone Creek is known for its beautiful natural surroundings. It has a 60,000-square-foot leisure center with a kitchen, eating, and gaming areas, as well as social rooms for personal and community use, a spa, and a resort-style pool.