Melbourne Beach, Florida

Inland homes sit along palm-lined streets neatly laid out along grids.   On the Atlantic side, tall, white-washed condominium buildings with beachfront pools line the sand, while the river side is dotted with large Mediterranean-style residences with long piers and boat docks.   Businesses include bait shops, colorful, terraced seafood restaurants and two local markets.  Ryckman Park is home to the town hall, the community center and the Melbourne Beach Pier. The park also hosts Founders' Day and the annual Fall Festival. The Juan Ponce de Leon Landing, built to commemorate the explorer's American arrival, is a pretty beach park with mangrove-packed dunes and walkways.

There are two well-managed golf courses in the area, the Spessard Holland course and the Aquarina Country Club course. The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, a safe haven for loggerhead turtles, has foot trails, a kayak launch and tours. The Barrier Island Center has an observation deck, interactive exhibits and ongoing education programs.

Population:  3,300 (city proper)

Age 45 or Better:  51%

Cost of Living:  54% above the national average

Median Home Price: $725,000

Climate:    This area has a humid subtropical climate, meaning two seasons per year, one hot and humid and one less hot and less humid.  On average, Melbourne Beach receives 55 inches of rain per year.

At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients?  No, but Melbourne, three miles away, has a hospital that accepts Medicare patients.

At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission?  No, but Melbourne, three miles away, has a hospital that is accredited and a primary stroke center.

Public Transit:   No, but there is a private shuttle service to neighboring towns.

Crime Rate:    Below the national average

Public Library:    Yes

Political Leanings:   Conservative

College Educated:   51%

Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement?    Yes

Cons:    Several hurricanes have brushed the area, and Irma brought some damage in 2017. Hurricane Ian in 2022 swept some of the beach away.

Notes:    The Melbourne Causeway is the road to the mainland, and it can become clogged with traffic during the summer. Melbourne Beach has maintained its population within the last decade. Home prices have increased 5% during the 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 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.