8. Daytona Beach, Florida
If you’re looking for a cheap place to retire near the beach, consider Daytona Beach. The median home price among retirees is just $160,200. Homeowners age 60 and older pay a median of $1,173 per month with a mortgage or $433 monthly for a paid-off house. The median rent is $910 per month. But this is not a sleepy seaside community. The headquarters for NASCAR is home to several large motorsports events each year. Health care services are provided by Halifax Health Medical Center of Daytona Beach and Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. Located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, cars can be driven onto some of the hard-packed sandy beaches.
Population: 70,902
Median House Value: $160,200
Median Monthly Rent: $910
Happiness Index: 6.94 (Country rank 18)
Escape to Daytona Beach, and discover a destination where new adventures for all ages are around every corner — whether you’re strolling along 23 miles of uncrowded, white-sand beaches or reeling in a new discovery at the Main Street Pier. Greet the morning by soaking in the salt air on a paddleboard tour or by rounding the famed Daytona Beach International Speedway at top speed. Then get a taste of local culture at the Riverfront Shops and the fantastic Museum of Arts & Sciences.
- Accessibility: 10/10
- Atmosphere: 8/10
- Sand and Water Quality: 8/10
- Annual Days of Sunshine: 324
- Average Annual Temperature: 35 C