Money Magazine - Best Places To Live

BEST PLACES TO LIVE 2017

These Are the 7 Best Places to Retire Right Now Kerri Anne Renzulli Oct 16, 2017

What does your fantasy retirement look like? It’s going to be a little bit different for everyone. Some people swear they never want to stop working— especially if it’s now on their own terms—while others want their daily grind to be a hike in the woods, or a few rounds on the links.

No matter what your dream, you’ll probably want to live somewhere with great amenities and good neighbors, plus a way to make the most of your hard-earned retirement savings.

Finding that perfect, affordable spot can be tricky, so MONEY has done the legwork for you, identifying seven places in the U.S. guaranteed to win you over—however you want to spend the next phase of your life. (And if you don't find your perfect spot among the following, check out MONEY's entire Best Places to Live package.)

Best for Water-Lovers: Palm Coast, Florida

The Palm Coast Marina at sunset. Vicki Payne

50+ population: 45.5% County median home price: $203,000 Clear days per year: 221 Located on the Sunshine State’s east coast between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Palm Coast delivers everything water-seeking retirees could want. An extensive network of freshwater and saltwater canals—80 miles in total—flows through the town, linking residents with the Intracoastal Waterway, which runs along the Eastern Seaboard, from Norfolk to the Florida Keys. Those looking to cruise ocean waves or catch saltwater fish can access the Atlantic from Ponce Inlet to the south.

Drive a few minutes past the city’s limits and you’ll hit the beautiful white sand at Flagler Beach, where you can splash in the surf, fish off the pier, or stroll down the boardwalk. Many of the 19 miles of beach that stretch out along Palm Coast are pet friendly too.

Being slightly off the oceanfront means you can get more square footage at cheaper rates. The median home sale price in Flagler County is $203,000—$46,000 cheaper than in better-known Palm Beach County and almost $75,000 less than in Miami-Dade County.