Retire Comfortably in These American Beach Towns

Most Americans dream of their retirement years and the peace and stability that hopefully will come alongside it. We want this to be a time when our hard work has paid off and we get to enjoy plenty of leisure activities, secure in the knowledge that we can maintain a certain standard of life. However, due to modern issues like dwindling pensions and high cost of living, the prospect of retirement isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. We now live in a time when Social Security is nowhere near enough money to cover the cost of living. Additionally, thanks to advances in medical technology, humans are living longer, which means their retirement funds need to stretch even further.

Upon reaching retirement age, many people look to relocate. When searching for a new home, a retiree may have certain qualities in mind, such as moderate temperatures, affordable cost of living, and access to decent healthcare. Aging Americans also value a place that offers plenty of recreational activities in a nice climate. States that come to mind include Florida and North Carolina. But there are plenty more locations to check out if you are looking to start over after retirement.

Using data from a range of sources, 24/7 Wall St. identified the beach towns outside of the Sun Belt where the most Americans can retire comfortably. We reviewed data on cost of living and home prices in each U.S. county that shares a border with either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean — either directly or on an estuary. Only counties in the continental U.S., outside of the Sun Belt, with housing markets that are more affordable than average were considered. Counties are ranked on estimated regional price parity — a measure of the cost of living relative to the national average — with data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Supplemental population data are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.

Why It Matters

Every year, millions of retirees in the United States move to a new home — and some of the most popular destinations for this demographic group are coastal areas. Still, because older adults are especially vulnerable to financial insecurity, moving to a new home is prohibitively expensive for a large share of Americans 65 and older. But even for those on a tight budget, there are parts of the country where buying a beach home for retirement does not have to break the bank.

20. New Castle County, Delaware

• Est. cost of living: 1.3% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $409,950 ($15,000 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,918 square feet (83 sq. ft. larger than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 1,410
• Retirement age population: 90,904 (15.9% of total population)
• Total population: 570,567
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

19. Atlantic County, New Jersey

• Est. cost of living: 3.0% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $399,950 ($25,000 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,538 square feet (297 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 1,585
• Retirement age population: 49,851 (18.2% of total population)
• Total population: 274,339
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

18. Cumberland County, New Jersey

• Est. cost of living: 3.5% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $299,850 ($125,100 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,554 square feet (281 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 500
• Retirement age population: 23,622 (15.4% of total population)
• Total population: 153,588
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

17. Kent County, Delaware

• Est. cost of living: 4.1% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $408,000 ($16,950 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,978 square feet (143 sq. ft. larger than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 756
• Retirement age population: 31,687 (17.4% of total population)
• Total population: 182,400
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

16. Norfolk city, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 4.3% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $330,838 ($94,112 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,700 square feet (135 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 545
• Retirement age population: 28,652 (12.1% of total population)
• Total population: 236,973
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

15. Salem County, New Jersey

• Est. cost of living: 4.4% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $302,500 ($122,450 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,783 square feet (52 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 288
• Retirement age population: 12,162 (18.8% of total population)
• Total population: 64,840
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

14. Newport News city, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 4.8% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $292,450 ($132,500 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,600 square feet (235 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 403
• Retirement age population: 24,096 (13.0% of total population)
• Total population: 185,118
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

13. Hampton city, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 5.4% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $285,000 ($139,950 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,540 square feet (295 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 339
• Retirement age population: 21,548 (15.7% of total population)
• Total population: 137,217
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

12. Grays Harbor County, Washington

• Est. cost of living: 5.5% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $399,900 ($25,050 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,498 square feet (337 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 582
• Retirement age population: 16,678 (22.0% of total population)
• Total population: 75,672
• Coastline: Pacific Ocean

11. Portsmouth city, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 5.7% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $271,000 ($153,950 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,585 square feet (250 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 302
• Retirement age population: 14,633 (15.0% of total population)
• Total population: 97,384
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

10. Gloucester County, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 6.5% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $420,975 ($3,975 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 2,040 square feet (205 sq. ft. larger than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 138
• Retirement age population: 7,546 (19.4% of total population)
• Total population: 38,875
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

9. Richmond County, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 7.5% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $343,200 ($81,750 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,752 square feet (83 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 39
• Retirement age population: 1,794 (20.0% of total population)
• Total population: 8,968
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

8. Pacific County, Washington

• Est. cost of living: 7.6% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $415,125 ($9,825 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,518 square feet (317 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 257
• Retirement age population: 7,587 (32.4% of total population)
• Total population: 23,396
• Coastline: Pacific Ocean

7. Wicomico County, Maryland

• Est. cost of living: 8.5% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $300,000 ($124,950 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,661 square feet (174 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 365
• Retirement age population: 16,510 (15.9% of total population)
• Total population: 103,815
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

6. Westmoreland County, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 8.6% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $349,450 ($75,500 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,502 square feet (333 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 215
• Retirement age population: 4,750 (25.7% of total population)
• Total population: 18,480
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

5. Essex County, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 9.0% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $359,325 ($65,625 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,682 square feet (153 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 79
• Retirement age population: 2,490 (23.5% of total population)
• Total population: 10,602
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

4. Dorchester County, Maryland

• Est. cost of living: 10.7% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $304,473 ($120,477 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,666 square feet (169 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 225
• Retirement age population: 6,972 (21.4% of total population)
• Total population: 32,557
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

3. Washington County, Maine

• Est. cost of living: 10.8% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $315,500 ($109,450 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,493 square feet (342 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 286
• Retirement age population: 7,750 (24.9% of total population)
• Total population: 31,096
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

2. Accomack County, Virginia

• Est. cost of living: 12.1% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $339,000 ($85,950 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,596 square feet (239 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 275
• Retirement age population: 8,281 (24.8% of total population)
• Total population: 33,367
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

1. Somerset County, Maryland

• Est. cost of living: 12.1% less expensive than national average
• Median home list price; Oct. 2024: $276,000 ($148,950 less than national median list price)
• Median size of a listed home in Oct. 2024: 1,528 square feet (307 sq. ft. smaller than national median)
• Number of homes for sale in Oct. 2024: 143
• Retirement age population: 4,209 (17.1% of total population)
• Total population: 24,672
• Coastline: Atlantic Ocean

The post Retire Comfortably in These American Beach Towns appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..