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Retirees are spread across the state, but some counties are far older than others.
By the Census Bureau's latest five-year figures, more than 30 percent of residents are 65 or older in nine counties: Sumter, Charlotte, Sarasota, Citrus, Highlands, Indian River, Collier, Martin and Flagler. Sumter, where most of The Villages sits, stands apart, with more than half its residents 65 or older. Charlotte, Sarasota and Collier are on the southwest Gulf coast, around Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, Sarasota and Venice, and Naples and Marco Island. Indian River, Martin and Flagler are on the Atlantic side, around Vero Beach, Stuart and Palm Coast. Citrus and Highlands are inland, around Inverness and Crystal River, and Sebring and Lake Placid. The prices run far apart: in the three months to June 2026 the typical home sold for under $300,000 in Citrus and Highlands and for more than $500,000 in Martin and Collier. Once you own and live in a home here, the homestead exemption lowers the tax, and many counties and cities take off more for residents 65 or older on a limited income.
Population 143,408. Typical home sale price about $345,000 from March to May 2026. Median household income $76,508; 57.7% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 201,064. Typical home sale price $339,043 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $205,000 in May 2026. Median household income $69,952; 40.5% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 459,547. Typical home sale price $433,776 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $355,000 in May 2026. Median household income $83,416; 37.5% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 162,472. Typical home sale price $279,706 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $169,950 in May 2026. Median household income $56,546; 36.5% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 105,702. Typical home sale price $274,226 in the three months ending June 2026. Median household income $54,897; 36% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 166,936. Typical home sale price $373,945 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $145,000 in May 2026. Median household income $73,491; 34.8% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 398,291. Typical home sale price $633,214 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $470,000 in May 2026. Median household income $90,045; 33.8% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 162,176. Typical home sale price $508,565 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $225,000 in May 2026. Median household income $82,943; 32.2% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →Population 126,528. Typical home sale price $357,442 in the three months ending June 2026; typical condo $327,500 in May 2026. Median household income $77,363; 31.3% of residents are 65 or older. (Source: Redfin; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, published January 2026)
Open the county guide →The average Social Security check for a retired worker is $2,071 a month in 2026, just under $25,000 a year, and Florida takes no income tax from it.
Read the answer →Florida's youngest counties are its two big college towns. Leon County, around Tallahassee, home to Florida State and Florida A&M, and Alachua County, around Gainesville, home to the University of Florida, have a median age of about 32, the lowest in the state by the Census Bureau's latest five-year figures.
Start with the school, because in Florida the address decides it. The state grades its public schools and every school district from A to F each year; for 2025-26, 34 of the 67 districts were graded A, 23 B and 10 C, and none D or F.
By the Census Bureau's latest five-year figures, six Florida counties have more than a million residents: Miami-Dade, the largest by far with more than 2.7 million, then Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange and Duval.
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