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Cudjoe Key, Florida
Part of a Group of Islands at the Southern End of the Florida Keys, Little Cudjoe Key Boasts a Summery, Bohemian Vibe
The Lower Keys is a group of islands at the southern end of the Florida Keys and includes Summerland Key, Big Torch Key, Little Torch Key, Sugarloaf Key, Big Coppitt and Cudjoe Key. Named after either the Joewood tree or a fugitive slave - no one is quite sure - Cudjoe Key the island (and the town upon it with the same name) became home to an air force station in 1959. A small Department of Homeland Security station remains.
Balmy, mellow and a little bohemian, Cudjoe Key is a place where life moves slowly. Businesses include charter fishing services, fish warehouses, rental cottages, an inn, a market and a handful of restaurants, including seafood places, a steakhouse, an Italian place and a Cuban cafe. Fishermen reel in plentiful amounts of mahi mahi, jack fish, and snapper from Cudjoe Bay, and the full-service Cudjoe Key Garden Marina is a great place to set sail for a tropical adventure. Most of the island is in its natural state, so nearly all residences - a mixture of white and pastel-colored mobile homes and beautiful stilt homes - are clustered closely together the on island's southern end where short palm trees sway and streets have no sidewalks. Most homes sit next to a canal and have direct access to Cudjoe Bay or Pirate's Cove.
Residents are 20 minutes from all of the galleries, festivals, theater, and cultural amenities of Key West. The Lower Keys are also home to the Underwater Music Festival. The Great White Heron National Refuge stretches from Bahia Honda State Park to North Key West, and the nearby 9,200-acre National Key Deer Refuge has 23 endangered species.
Population: 2,500 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 56%
Cost of Living: 110% above the national average
Median Home Price: $1.2 million
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. On average, the area receives 40 inches of rain each year.
Hospital: Fisherman's Community Hospital clinic is 10 miles away in Big Pine Key.
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Transit: No, but a bus runs from Key West to the Miami area.
Public Library: No, but one is in Big Pine Key, about 10 miles away.
Political Leanings: Slightly conservative
College Educated: 40%
Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Drawbacks: In 2017, Hurricane Irma, a Category 4 storm, made landfall on Cudjoe Key and brought extensive flooding and wind damage. Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused some street flooding.
Notes: Cudjoe Key has boat launch areas but does not have a beach. The population has grown 35% within the last decade. Home prices remained steady from a year ago. One road, the Overseas Highway, runs across the southern end of the island and connects Cudjoe Key to Upper Suarloaf Key to the west and Summerland Key to the east. The "Fat Albert" blimp (actually a Tethered Aerostat Radar System) still hovers over the island's DHS station, detecting illegal drugs en route to the U.S. Hurricane damage is still visible in some spots.
The Lower Keysof Florida, located between the Seven Mile Bridge and Key West, offer a more laid-back and natural experience compared to the busier Upper Keys.
Known for their unspoiled beauty, the Lower Keys are home to protected wildlife refuges like the National Key Deer Refuge, where the endangered Key Deer roam freely. This area is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, offering pristine waters for kayaking, snorkeling, and diving, especially around Looe Key, a coral reef teeming with marine life.
With fewer crowds and a slower pace, the Lower Keys provide a tranquil escape surrounded by stunning scenery, tropical breezes, and a strong sense of community.
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