Many articles about affordable retirement communities in Florida mention towns with which readers are already familiar. Jacksonville comes up frequently. Lakeland, Tallahassee, and Gainesville all have similar characteristics.
However, many Floridians (or those looking to relocate to Florida) are already aware of these cities. The website Finance Buzz recently identified Florida towns where one can reportedly live solely on social security benefits.
Several of the cities were already well-known. Many retirees prefer lesser-known towns because moving there can mean less traffic, so I’ve included a list of them below, along with some information about each.
What Was The Criteria?: Finance Buzz assumed that in 2025, a couple’s average social security income would be $3,089 per month. It used Apartments.com’s rent data and Zillow’s home prices. With that established, let us look at the lesser-known towns on the list.
Arcadia: Sarasota, Florida, is probably the most well-known city near Arcadia. Arcadia, located on the Peace River, offers a variety of outdoor activities, including canoeing, camping, boating, and fossil hunting. It has a beautiful historic district, as well as shops and restaurants. (An Arcadia shop is shown at the top of this article.)
According to Niche, Arcadia has a population of just over 7,500 and a livability rating of C. According to Finance Buzz, the median home price in Arcadia is $239,267, and the average rent is $736.
Haines City: Haines City, in Polk County, is rapidly growing. It’s not very far from Orlando. It provides access to beautiful outdoor areas such as Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park and Lake Eva Park.
