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Mexico Beach, Florida

On the Florida Panhandle, Little Mexico Beach Boasts a Laid Back Lifestyle and Miles of Sugar White Oceanfront Sand Kissed by Warm Gulf Waters

Little Mexico Beach sits alone along the Florida Panhandle, 25 miles to the southeast of Panama City. It is a very relaxed place, known by some as "Mayberry on the Water."

It was, though, essentially destroyed in 2018 when Hurricane Michael made landfall nearby. Reconstruction is still happening today, but Mexico Beach is almost as it was before the storm, if a little more modern. Building height restrictions remain in place - no tall hotels and towering condominiums are allowed. The beach is five miles of often nearly empty sugar white sand caressed by warm waters and is clean and renourished.

The pier is often dotted with fishermen, and mom and pop beachwear shops, delis, oyster bars, cafes, bike rental shops and grocery stores sell their wares. Events such as the Art and Wine Festival and the weekly Music in the Park bring neighbors together for art, food and toe-tapping music. Fishing, snorkeling, SCUBA diving and swimming remain a way of life.

Colorful new single family homes atop stilts in neighborhoods with sandy streets, no sidewalks and an unfinished feeling. Residences along U.S. 98 feature incredible ocean views.

Before Michael, Mexico Beach did not have a single traffic stop light. Town leaders have no plans to add one now.

Population: 1,100 (city proper)

Percentage of Population Age 45 or Better: 66%

Cost of Living: 28% above the national average

Median Home Price: $580,000

Climate: This area has a humid subtropical climate, meaning two seasons a year. Summers and early fall are hot and humid, while late fall and winter are less humid and cooler.

At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Sacred Heart Hospital is 11 miles away in Port St. Joe and accepts Medicare patients.

At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Sacred Heart Hospital is 11 miles away in Port St. Joe and is accredited.

Public Transit: No

Crime Rate: Meets the national average

Public Library: Yes

Political Leanings: Conservative

Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes

Cons: Future hurricanes are possible.

Notes: Spring Breakers come in March but not in the numbers seen in other beach towns. The beach has "squeaky" sand, comprised of evenly sized quartz crystals. The population dipped in 2018 but started to rebound in 2020 and is now where it was before Michael. Home prices have increased 3% from a year ago.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes

Florida:

Sticking out into Hurricane Alley, Florida was a land no nation seemed to want. Ruled successively by Spain, France, England, and the Confederate States of America, the state had a backwater reputation. Other than St. Augustine and Pensacola, there were few cities. The area was rural and populated by frontier farmers.

In the late-1800s, changes came when railroads began chugging down both coasts. Industrialist Henry Flagler's Florida Easy Coast Railway even made it all the way to Key West. The Great Florida Land Boom, the build-up to World War II, and the space industry also helped turn Florida into one of the nation's most populous states. In 1900, there were about 500,000 residents. Today, there are more than 20 million, almost 351 people per square mile.

Why do people keep coming? Tourism marketing is one reason. Annually, millions visit Orlando's theme parks and the state's 663 miles of white sand beaches. Taxes generated by the billion dollar vacation industry allow Florida to prosper without a personal income tax. Budget-sensitive retirees have flocked to its cities and shorelines.

If you can ignore the hurricanes, the state's climate is relatively mild. Only five other states are sunnier. Florida's system of state universities and community colleges is sizable, and its big cities are meccas for culture and the arts. Sarasota is a good example. Its Ringling Museum Complex contains internationally known art museum, a circus museum, an historic theater, and a 66-acre garden. Museums near Orlando range from a Zora Neale Hurston gallery to a Madame Tussauds.

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