Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Clearwater, Florida
A "Snowbird" and Tourist Destination, Clearwater is Home to Beautiful Clearwater Beach, Often Named One of the Nation's Best
Beautiful, bright Clearwater stretches across the Pinellas Peninsula, which sits between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on Florida's mid-Gulf Coast. The Intracoastal Waterway separates Clearwater from its breathtaking oceanfront beach, Clearwater Beach.
The smallest of the three major cities in the Tampa metro, Clearwater is a vacation and "snowbird" destination, drawing millions of out-of-state visitors every year. The main draw here is the beach, which is often named as one of the country's best.
Many people think that Clearwater Beach is a separate city, but it is really a Clearwater suburb with a fun small town atmosphere, sugar soft white sand, turquoise water, amazing sunsets and a marina with 207 slips. Downtown is lined with palm trees and modern shops, stores and restaurants.
Housing runs the gamut from modest ranch ramblers and cottages to luxury highrise oceanfront condos. The north end of town tends to be less expensive than the west or south. Island Estates is a quiet island neighborhood between Clearwater and Clearwater Beach and has waterfront homes and a rescue and rehabilitation aquarium with dolphins, sea turtles, otters, and white pelicans. Sand Key is a peaceful oceanfront neighborhood south of Clearwater Beach.
Population: 118,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 45%
Cost of Living: 6% below the national average
Median Home Price: $375,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. On average, the area receives 53 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients: Yes
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission: Yes
Public Transit: Yes
Crime Rate: Slightly above the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 27%
Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: Hurricanes are always a possibility, and residents complain about traffic congestion, slow drivers and tourists.
Notes: Clearwater has grown 5% during the last 10 years. Home prices have increased 3% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
Florida:
Named Pascua Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, the Sunshine State did not enter the Union until March 3, 1845. Balmy mild winters began attracting snowbirds to the state in the late 19th century. Retirees continue to flock to the state. It's not hard to see why tourism has become the leading industry.
International trade and citrus are also major contributors to the state's economy. Eighty percent of the nation's oranges and grapefruits are grown here, and 40 percent of all U.S. exports to Latin America flow through Florida.
Florida's landscape includes uplands and coastal plains. It contains more than 11,000 miles of waterways and about 4,500 islands spread across 10 acres.
The state has 1,250 more golf courses than any other state in the Union. The 47 mile Pinellas Trail is the longest urban trail on the east coast. Orlando theme parks attract more visitors than any other theme parks in the U.S. The only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist is in National Everglades Park.
Best Places to Retire
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