The 5 Best Cities To Retire On The Atlantic Coast

The Atlantic Coast of the United States has some of the most diverse climates in the country, from four seasons in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states to year-round sunny weather in Florida. It really only matters what you are looking for when you consider your retirement options. The common denominator among many of these cities is a location that is friendly to seniors’ needs. From world-class health care to walkable downtowns with a strong sense of community, these Atlantic Coast cities have much to offer a retiree looking for a new place to settle down.

Charleston, South Carolina

Coastal living in a historic city, Charleston is a wonderful choice for retirees thinking of a new location to settle. Deep in Southern charm, a warm climate, and a laid-back lifestyle, this South Carolina city also benefits from no tax on social security and low property taxes.

Add to that the Homestead Exemption Act that reduces property taxes for residents over 65, and from a financial point-of-view, Charleston is a great place to retire. The coastal lifestyle and access to beaches will appeal to seniors who are nevertheless seeking a more vibrant urban life, with world-class dining and a rich cultural scene. Downtown Charleston is a walkable district with historic architecture, including the iconic 18th-century pastel homes and the Battery Seawall.

The City Market, established in 1790, covers four city blocks along Meeting Street, with rows of market sheds that have been restored for contemporary commercial use; the complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Market is also divided into lower, middle, and upper sections and serves as a popular shopping destination within Charleston’s historic downtown. Guided horse-drawn carriage tours operate throughout the surrounding historic downtown district, and there are plenty of locally owned shops and boutiques along nearby King Street.

At the southern end of the downtown district is the Battery & White Point Garden, providing harbor views, antebellum mansions, and other historic sites. If you are looking for some opportunities to develop craft skills, Indigo Dyeing at Drayton Hall gives hands-on workshops on the historically significant process of dyeing fabric with the indigo plant, or you can take a red wine blending class at Grand Bohemian. Pounce Cat Cafe is a cozy lounge offering not only coffee, but also wine and craft beer while you are surrounded by adoptable cats and kittens.

Alexandria, Virginia

Although Alexandria, Virginia, sits on the Potomac River, it offers convenient access to the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waterways, giving residents the benefits of Atlantic Coast living near the nation’s capital. Alexandria is considered a top destination for retirees, a walkable city with world-class health care and an active cultural life and is considered to be quite safe.

Close to Washington, DC, Alexandria enjoys a high quality of life and a vibrant city culture, with access to the amenities and history in the nation’s capital. A compact city, retirees will find Alexandria to be pedestrian-friendly, with homes closer to shopping and dining, and the Potomac River waterfront. There is no tax on Social Security, and tax breaks are available for other income for seniors.

For the active retiree, Alexandria provides lively and vibrant city life, with many housing options, including historic townhomes in Old Town and over-55 condos throughout the city. Old Town is the downtown district situated on the Potomac River, with cobblestone streets and 18th century architecture. The Old Town district is a nationally designated historic district.

The King Street Mile is the central artery for Old Town, with over 200 independent shops and restaurants. Although very much a walkable downtown, you can also get around on the free King Street Trolley. The area is home to the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former WWII munitions plant, now housing over 82 artist studios plus galleries.

Old Town Waterfront provides scenic views of the DC skyline, with river cruises and the Potomac Water Taxi, with connections to Georgetown, National Harbor, and The Wharf. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is housed in a Revolutionary-era tavern frequented by George Washington. Other museums include the Georgian mansion, The Carlyle House, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, located in a historic apothecary's shop, with the preserved interior featuring thousands of artifacts on the shelves left when the store closed. The store features the original antebellum Gothic Revival furnishings.

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Port St. Lucie is on Florida's Treasure Coast and is known for being a safe and affordable place for retirees who crave beach life and sunshine. The city is also known to be quiet and peaceful in comparison to other Florida coastal destinations. Port St. Lucie also has a large senior community, with over 20% of the population being over 65. It has also been listed as the fifth-best place to retire in the United States, as shared on the City of Port St. Lucie website.

Known to be both senior-friendly and family-friendly, Port St. Lucie is perfect for the active retiree who still wants some downtime on the beach. Downtown Port St. Lucie provides riverfront views and is close to many natural preserved areas. The downtown district offers access to Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens and the North Fork St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve. If you love baseball, the St. Lucie Mets are a Minor League Baseball team, part of the Florida State League, and the Single A affiliate of the New York Mets. They play home games at Clover Park, adjacent to downtown.

Tradition Square, located within the master-planned Tradition community in Port St. Lucie, serves as a central gathering place for shops, dining, and local events. The Riverwalk Boardwalk is a walkway winding through mangroves on the St. Lucie River. With its location between Orlando and Miami, St. Lucie offers a quieter alternative while still providing big city amenities. The St. Lucie Savannas Preserve State Park has over 17 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. For golfers, there are lots of opportunities to hit the links all year.

For some local color, the Devil's Tree in Oak Hammock Park is a site deep in local legends of paranormal activity. The park itself is great for picnics and walking. The Treasure Coast Model Railroad Museum is a key attraction for model train enthusiasts, with highly detailed railroad layouts.

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a perfect balance of beach life and amenities attractive to retirees. With its coastal setting and year-round mild weather, the city makes for a desirable place to settle. One bonus is that Wilmington has a lower cost of living when compared to many other coastal cities. North Carolina does not tax Social Security, and there are other municipal and state tax-friendly policies, including low property taxes.

For the active senior, in addition to the beach, the city offers a thriving arts scene, numerous golf courses, a robust culinary scene, and many outdoor activities. Downtown Wilmington is a walkable historic district on the Cape Fear River. The two-mile-long Riverwalk is a walkway lined with cafes, shops, and art galleries, and the downtown features over 230 blocks of historic homes. The historic district is one of the largest in the South and has been carefully restored.

The Blind Elephant Speakeasy is a 1920s prohibition bar located in a downtown alley that requires a small annual membership fee. The Haunted Pub Crawls are 2.5-hour tours that visit reportedly haunted pubs and landmarks such as Thalian Hall. The Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden at Piney Ridge Nature Preserve is a garden dedicated to native carnivorous plants, including the Venus flytrap, native to the area.

Airlie Gardens is 67 acres of gardens, wildlife, 10 acres of lakes, and more than 75,000 azaleas, with a butterfly house, and the Airlie Oak dating back to 1545. Shark Tooth Island, on the Cape Fear River, is reachable only by small boats and is a great location to find prehistoric fossils and shark teeth during low tide. Oakdale Cemetery, founded in 1855 and recognized as North Carolina’s first rural cemetery, features historic funerary sculptures and the graves of many notable local figures.

Hampton, Virginia

The big advantage to retiring in Hampton is the area’s affordability and the reasonable cost of waterfront homes. The cost of living is below the national average, and the city’s access to Chesapeake Bay beaches, the local history, and a friendly community make Hampton an attractive retirement location. The area has moderate temperatures, with mild winters, and the coastal lifestyle is relaxed and welcoming.

It is also known to be culturally diverse, providing bigger city attractions and amenities, while maintaining a small-town atmosphere. Downtown Hampton is a historic district on the water, with colonial architecture, and was the site of the first continuous English-speaking settlement in the United States, starting in 1610. The downtown is walkable, with cobblestone streets, red-brick sidewalks, and scenic views of the river.

The Docks, in Downtown Hampton, provide slips for boating and are within walking distance of local shopping and dining. Mill Point Park is on the river and serves as a community hub, hosting major festivals and a summer concert series. Queens Way, in Downtown Hampton, is the center of the culinary scene, and the street is lined with restaurants and outdoor seating. The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery is housed in a historic armory and features house-made spirits and craft beer.

For brunch and bakery items, The Grey Goose is a popular location, while Guilty Pleasure Coffee Shop provides a breakfast menu that goes beyond your typical coffeehouse croissants and donuts. Annual events include the Blackbeard Pirate Festival, celebrating the city’s maritime history, and Crabtown Shellabration, focused on Hampton's seafood history. The Virginia Air & Space Science Center for NASA features over 100 hands-on exhibits, historic aircraft, and an IMAX theater. The Hampton History Museum is a record of over 400 years of area and national history, from colonial to the early space program.

Affordable Coastal Living

The Atlantic Coast offers many opportunities for retirees seeking an active, urban lifestyle while living close to the coast. These cities provide the amenities seniors require, while allowing them to lead independent and rewarding retirement years. These Atlantic Coast cities have the best of many worlds: big city life with small-town community spirit, outdoor pursuits, history, and regular access to beaches. Whether you want year-round sunshine or the diversity of four seasons, the Atlantic Coast is an attractive choice for retirees to relocate.