Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Citrus Springs, Florida
Citrus Springs Boasts a Country Quality and Has Golf Courses, Wildlife, Nearby State Parks and Reasonable Prices
This friendly, unincorporated town/master planned development lies near the northern edge of Citrus County in northwestern Florida and began in the 1970s as a family-owned real estate venture. Today it is essentially a remote, modest subdivision with a mature demographic.
The community has room for 32,000 homes. Some neighborhoods are developed and densely populated, but many are still in their natural, wooded state, giving Citrus Springs a country feeling. Residences are primarily single story with stucco exteriors, and home sites are good size. Wildlife is abundant and for the most part co-exists peacefully with humans. Residents enjoy a variety of events, including AARP classes, bingo nights and a community chorus, all of which are sponsored by the Citrus Springs Civic Association. Golfers play on 36 holes at two country clubs, and there are 30 parks. Restaurants, churches, doctors' offices and banks are all here. A farmers' market is 12 miles away. Further shopping and services are in Inverness, 15 miles away.
The community is one of the trailheads for the Withlacoochee State Trail, a 46-mile path that meanders through small towns, ranches, and natural areas. Nearby Springs State Park is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking, and man-made Lake Rousseau, just northwest of town, is populated with bass, catfish, specs and stump knockers (otherwise known as fish).
The floodplain forests of the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve are open to bikers, horseback riders, and hikers. Manatees gather in the nearby Crystal River and seem to enjoy swimming with snorkelers. Bird Beach, a small, natural Gulf beach, is 45 minutes away in Yankeetown.
Population: 9,300 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 60%
Cost of Living: 23% below the national average
Median Home Price: $285,000
Climate: Summer temperatures reach into the 90s, and winter temperatures are in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The area, on average, receives 53 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center is 11 miles away in Crystal River and accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center is 11 miles away in Crystal River and is accredited.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Meets the national average
Public Library: Yes, and it is run by dedicated volunteers.
Political Leanings: Conservative
College Educated: 18%
Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: The tornado risk is 70% higher than the national average, and hurricanes can strike. In fact, in 2022, Hurricane Idalia brought flooding and wind damage.
Notes: People seem to enjoy living here. Citrus Springs is a deed restricted community, but most people say that the restrictions are not aggressively enforced and there is no HOA fee. The community has grown 10% during the last decade, and home prices have remained steady since just last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
Florida:
The world's 11th largest peninsula doesn't just have an east coast and a west coast. It has a First Coast, Surf Coast, Space Coast, Treasure Coast, Gold Coast, Paradise Coast, Lee Island Coast, Cultural Coast, Nature Coast, Big Bend Coast, Emerald Coast, and a Forgotten Coast.
Each of these geographic regions is packed with its own history and attractions. The first place to be colonized by Europeans, the First Coast is rich with tidal marshes. It's the home of Amelia Island and St. Augustine. The venerable Castillo de San Marcos sits here and guards the Matanzas Bay.
Daytona Beach and the Halifax River are the heart of the Surf Coast. Automobile racing helped it develop its reputation. The area code is 386 (FUN). South of the fun is the Space Coast. Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, and the Kennedy Space Center are a part of its culture.
Named after the Spanish fleet lost in a 1715 hurricane, the Treasure Coast's principle city is Port St. Lucie. It is a northern neighbor to Miami and the Gold Coast. The affluent Naples and major land reserves characterize the Paradise Coast. The Ringling Estate and Sarasota make the Cultural Coast come alive. Twenty miles of beaches along the Gulf Coast distinguish the Suncoast from the forests and blackwater rivers of the Nature Coast.
Travel up to Florida's Big Bend along its emerald waters. Find the Forgotten Coast. With no major cities, it may be the best place to enjoy the state's white-sand beaches.
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