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Retire in Islamorada, Florida?
Overview: Also known as Islamorada-Village of Islands, idyllic Islamorada (aisle-a-more-AH-dah) is spread across five islands (Tea Table, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and Plantation) in the northern Florida Keys. The Overseas Highway connects the islands.
Flip flops and t-shirts are standard attire here, and often a day spent on/in the water fishing, windsurfing, diving or kayaking is followed by an evening with friends in a mellow Tiki bar. Town institutions include a diving museum and a hurricane monument. The Morada Way Arts and Cultural District sponsors walkabouts, events, and workshops. Islamorada's Founders Park has an Olympic-sized pool, a fishing jetty and the TIB Amphitheater, which is home to the annual Bay Jam's bluegrass and reggae festivals. The Plantation Yacht Harbor at the edge of Founders Park has a fuel dock and wet slips, and there are another dozen or so bait and marine establishments in town. Shopping is mostly of the locally-owned boutique variety.
Islamorada is primarily known for its world class sport fishing, with its waters full of everything from mahi-mahi and sailfish to tuna. Many of these fish wind up in local fish houses and seafood restaurants that are tucked along the docks. Some of these eateries are very low key while others are very upscale.
Anne's Beach is the main stretch of sand and has a 300-foot boardwalk. Local state parks include the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park and the Indian Key Historic State Park. Several gorgeous resorts attract tourists year-round.
Variations of square or rectangular conch style homes set on posts or piers with colorful clapboarding, a low gabled roof and a house-wide front porch are common.
Population: 6,500 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 50%
Cost of Living: 52% above the national average
Median Home Price: $620,000
Climate: Summer and early fall are hot and humid. Late fall and winter are less humid and cooler. On average, the area receives 46 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Mariners Hospital, five miles away, accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital is Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Mariners Hospital, five miles away, is accredited.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Nearly split down the middle
College Educated: 35%
Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: Hurricanes are always a possibility, and Irma in 2017 caused a lot of damage.
Notes: Islamorada has grown by 6% during the last decade.
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 golf courses, more 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.
Stats:
Population - 20,612,439
Persons 65 years old and over - 20%
High school graduates, persons age 25+ - 87%
Bachelor's degree or higher, persons age 25+ - 27%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin - 24%
White persons, not Hispanic - 58%
Median household income - $47,525
Median home value - $159,900
Social Security taxed? No
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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