The 30 Best Coastal Towns for Retirees in the USA

Top row: Chatham, MA; Cannon Beach, OR; Kennebunkport, ME. Bottom row: Gulf Shores, AL; Laguna Beach, CA; Sitka, AK. Photos: m01229 (CC BY 2.0), Jeffhollett (CC BY-SA 4.0), mislibrarain (CC BY 2.0), ourgulfshoresvacation.com (CC BY-SA 4.0), Don Graham (CC BY-SA 2.0), VermontPowderKing (CC BY 4.0) · via Wikimedia Commons

Lots of people picture retirement with a view of the ocean. But which coastal towns are actually great places to live year-round, not just for a week in July? We scored every census tract in the United States on CoreLogic’s neighborhood indexes, which rate neighborhoods from 1 to 100 using data from the Census, the FBI and local police, the Department of Education, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and more.

We rolled the tract scores up to the city, town, village or borough they belong to and kept real municipalities with 1,000 to 50,000 residents that CoreLogic rates as coastal. We then checked that every finalist sits on the ocean, the Gulf of Mexico or a saltwater bay or sound that opens onto them. Lake and river towns don’t count. We also left out the 50 towns from our small beach towns list, so this is a different set of places, including some bigger towns with more to do.

Each town’s score blends six measures. Retirement friendliness counts most. It’s CoreLogic’s own mix of peace and quiet, low crime, educated seniors and a range of housing. Quiet streets, walkability, local shops and restaurants, light traffic and culture make up the rest. Towns scoring under 35 on quiet were left out.

To spread the list around the country, no state gets more than two towns, except Florida and California, which get three each for their long coastlines. The result is 30 towns in 18 states: New England, Long Island, the Jersey Shore, the Carolinas, both Florida coasts, the Gulf Coast, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

Each town's chart shows its six scores in gold. The black tick marks the median for all 494 US coastal towns we scored.

Here they are, counting down from 30 to the best coastal town in America for retirees.

30. Long Beach, Mississippi

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Long Beach is a Gulf Coast town between Gulfport and Pass Christian in Mississippi. It has a long sand beach, a small-craft harbor and a classic beachfront drive along Highway 90.

Long Beach scores 84 for easy driving and 78 for retirement friendliness. Mississippi doesn’t tax Social Security or most retirement income, and the cost of living is among the lowest on any coast.

Overall score: 60.4 · Population: 17,217 · State: Mississippi · Best score: Easy driving 84

29. South Padre Island, Texas

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South Padre Island is at the southern tip of Texas, on a barrier island off Port Isabel. It has wide Gulf beaches, warm winters and a big community of winter Texans.

South Padre Island scores 94 for quiet, one of the best scores on the list. It’s busy during spring break, but the rest of the year it’s a sunny, easygoing place to live.

Overall score: 62.6 · Population: 2,076 · State: Texas · Best score: Quiet 94

28. Sitka, Alaska

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Sitka is on Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska, facing the open Pacific. It was the capital of Russian America, and its onion-domed cathedral, totem park and mountain views make it one of Alaska’s most beautiful towns.

Sitka scores 88 for retirement friendliness and 72 for quiet. You can only reach it by air or sea, so it suits retirees who want true small-town Alaska life on the ocean.

Overall score: 63.0 · Population: 8,355 · State: Alaska · Best score: Retirement 88

27. Cannon Beach, Oregon

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Cannon Beach is a small town on Oregon’s north coast, known for Haystack Rock, the giant sea stack that rises from its beach. It has a walkable art-gallery downtown and Ecola State Park just to the north.

Cannon Beach scores 94 for retirement friendliness and 80 for quiet. It’s one of the most scenic towns on the West Coast, about 90 minutes from Portland.

Overall score: 63.8 · Population: 1,500 · State: Oregon · Best score: Retirement 94

26. Gulf Shores, Alabama

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Gulf Shores is Alabama’s best-known beach town, with sugar-white sand along the Gulf of Mexico. It’s home to Gulf State Park, its long fishing pier and miles of bike trails.

Gulf Shores scores 93 for retirement friendliness and 80 for easy driving. It gets busy in summer, but winter brings snowbirds and a quieter pace.

Overall score: 64.5 · Population: 17,431 · State: Alabama · Best score: Retirement 93

25. Lincoln City, Oregon

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Lincoln City stretches along seven miles of beach on the central Oregon coast. It’s known for its glass floats hidden on the beach, Devil’s Lake and its outlet shops and casino.

Lincoln City scores 77 for quiet and 70 for easy driving. It’s one of the larger towns on the Oregon coast, and Portland is about two hours away.

Overall score: 65.3 · Population: 10,034 · State: Oregon · Best score: Retirement 78

24. Lewes, Delaware

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Lewes sits where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic at Cape Henlopen. Founded by the Dutch in 1631, it calls itself “the first town in the first state” and has a historic downtown and a ferry to Cape May, New Jersey.

Lewes scores 91 for quiet and 86 for retirement friendliness. Delaware has no sales tax and low property taxes, which has made the Lewes and Rehoboth area a magnet for retirees.

Overall score: 65.9 · Population: 3,702 · State: Delaware · Best score: Quiet 91

23. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Hilton Head Island is a resort island on South Carolina’s southern coast, near Savannah. It’s known for 12 miles of beaches, bike paths, golf courses and harbors like Harbour Town.

Hilton Head scores 86 for retirement friendliness and 85 for quiet. With about 38,000 residents it’s the biggest town on this list, and it has long been one of the country’s most popular retirement destinations.

Overall score: 66.2 · Population: 38,158 · State: South Carolina · Best score: Retirement 86

22. Sequim, Washington

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Sequim sits on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, near the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It’s known for its lavender farms, the Dungeness Spit and a sunny, dry climate thanks to the Olympic Mountains’ rain shadow.

Sequim scores 91 for retirement friendliness and 89 for quiet. It has a large retiree community, and Olympic National Park and the ferries to Victoria, B.C., are a short drive away.

Overall score: 67.1 · Population: 8,199 · State: Washington · Best score: Retirement 91

21. Half Moon Bay, California

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Half Moon Bay is a coastal town about 30 miles south of San Francisco, on the San Mateo County coast. It’s known for its bluff-top coastal trail, beaches, pumpkin farms and the Mavericks surf break just to the north.

Half Moon Bay scores 92 for retirement friendliness and 83 for culture. It feels like a small farm town on the ocean, with the Bay Area less than an hour away.

Overall score: 67.4 · Population: 11,324 · State: California · Best score: Retirement 92

20. Kiawah Island, South Carolina

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Kiawah Island is a barrier island about 25 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. It’s known for 10 miles of quiet beach, maritime forest and the golf courses of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

Kiawah Island scores a perfect 100 for retirement friendliness and 98 for quiet, the best of any town on this list. It’s car-dependent and private, but Charleston is within an hour.

Overall score: 67.5 · Population: 2,003 · State: South Carolina · Best score: Retirement 100

19. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

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Wrightsville Beach is a small island town just east of Wilmington, North Carolina. It’s known for its clean beaches, Johnnie Mercer’s Fishing Pier and the Loop, a popular walking path.

Wrightsville Beach scores 86 for both retirement friendliness and culture. Wilmington’s riverfront, hospitals and airport are about 15 minutes away.

Overall score: 69.3 · Population: 2,411 · State: North Carolina · Best score: Retirement 86

18. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

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Kitty Hawk is an Outer Banks town on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Albemarle Sound. It lent its name to the Wright brothers’ first flight, which took place just to the south.

Kitty Hawk scores 92 for retirement friendliness and 90 for quiet. It’s mostly residential and beachfront, with Outer Banks restaurants and shops along the main highway a short drive away.

Overall score: 69.5 · Population: 3,691 · State: North Carolina · Best score: Retirement 92

17. Fairhope, Alabama

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Fairhope sits on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast. It’s known for its flower-lined downtown, its municipal pier and its arts scene, and it has long been a favorite with retirees.

Fairhope scores 92 for retirement friendliness and 85 for easy driving. It’s one of the larger towns on this list, with about 26,000 residents, and the Gulf beaches at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are within about an hour.

Overall score: 69.6 · Population: 26,044 · State: Alabama · Best score: Retirement 92

16. Bainbridge Island, Washington

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Bainbridge Island sits across Puget Sound from Seattle, about 35 minutes away by ferry. It’s a mix of forest, farms, beaches and the walkable town center of Winslow near the ferry dock.

Bainbridge Island scores 94 for both retirement friendliness and culture. With about 25,000 residents it’s one of the larger towns on this list, and you can reach Seattle without driving.

Overall score: 70.0 · Population: 24,618 · State: Washington · Best score: Cultured 94

15. Narragansett, Rhode Island

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Narragansett is a Rhode Island beach town where Narragansett Bay meets the open Atlantic. It’s known for Narragansett Town Beach, the Towers, Point Judith Lighthouse and the fishing village of Galilee.

Narragansett scores 94 for retirement friendliness and 77 for easy driving. Ferries to Block Island leave from Galilee, and Newport is about 30 minutes away.

Overall score: 72.9 · Population: 14,407 · State: Rhode Island · Best score: Retirement 94

14. Laguna Beach, California

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Laguna Beach is an Orange County town known for its coves, tide pools and long history as an artists’ colony. It hosts the Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters every summer.

Laguna Beach scores 96 for culture and 69 for walkability. It’s one of the more expensive towns on this list, but few places combine beaches, galleries and dining as well.

Overall score: 73.3 · Population: 22,564 · State: California · Best score: Cultured 96

13. Marco Island, Florida

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Marco Island is the largest of Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, on the Gulf Coast just south of Naples. It’s known for its white-sand beaches, canal-front homes and easy access to boating and fishing.

Marco Island scores 97 for retirement friendliness and 91 for quiet, and retirees make up a large share of residents. You’ll need a car, since it scores 22 for walkability, but Naples is about 30 minutes away.

Overall score: 73.3 · Population: 16,554 · State: Florida · Best score: Retirement 97

12. Chatham, Massachusetts

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Chatham sits at the elbow of Cape Cod, with ocean on three sides. It’s known for Chatham Lighthouse, its fishing pier, wide beaches and a classic Cape Cod Main Street.

Chatham scores 96 for retirement friendliness and 90 for quiet. It’s a popular retirement town, and once the summer visitors leave it’s one of the most peaceful places on the Cape.

Overall score: 73.8 · Population: 6,711 · State: Massachusetts · Best score: Retirement 96

11. Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

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Manchester-by-the-Sea is a small town on Massachusetts’ North Shore, between Beverly and Gloucester on Cape Ann. It’s known for Singing Beach, its sheltered harbor and its old summer estates.

Manchester-by-the-Sea scores 98 for both retirement friendliness and culture. The commuter rail runs to Boston in about an hour, so the city is easy to reach without driving.

Overall score: 74.5 · Population: 5,467 · State: Massachusetts · Best score: Cultured 98

10. Greenport, New York

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Greenport is a historic whaling and fishing village on Long Island’s North Fork, on Peconic Bay. It has a working harbor, a waterfront carousel and a walkable downtown of restaurants, shops and galleries.

Greenport scores 94 for retirement friendliness and 63 for walkability. It’s surrounded by North Fork wineries and farm stands, and ferries connect it to Shelter Island.

Overall score: 74.9 · Population: 2,591 · State: New York · Best score: Retirement 94

9. York, Maine

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York is the southernmost town on the Maine coast and includes York Harbor, York Beach and York Village. It’s home to the Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country.

York scores 97 for retirement friendliness and 85 for quiet. With about 14,000 residents it has more services than most Maine coast towns, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is about 15 minutes away.

Overall score: 75.0 · Population: 14,179 · State: Maine · Best score: Retirement 97

8. St. Augustine Beach, Florida

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St. Augustine Beach is the beach town on Anastasia Island, just across the water from historic St. Augustine on Florida’s northeast coast. It has a fishing pier, wide sandy beaches and a relaxed, small-town pace.

St. Augustine Beach scores 94 for retirement friendliness and 69 for vibrancy. The oldest city in the country is about 10 minutes away, with its restaurants, museums and history.

Overall score: 75.0 · Population: 6,808 · State: Florida · Best score: Retirement 94

7. Kennebunkport, Maine

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Kennebunkport is a historic seaside town on Maine’s southern coast, known for Dock Square, its sea captains’ houses and Walker’s Point. It’s one of the most loved small towns in New England.

Kennebunkport scores 99 for retirement friendliness and 95 for quiet, two of the best scores on the list. Winters are long and quiet, but Portland is about 40 minutes away.

Overall score: 75.2 · Population: 3,708 · State: Maine · Best score: Retirement 99

6. Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Old Saybrook sits where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound, about halfway between New Haven and Mystic. It has a classic New England Main Street, beaches along the Sound and two lighthouses at the river mouth.

Old Saybrook scores 90 for quiet and 93 for culture. It also has an Amtrak and commuter rail station, so New York and Boston are within reach without a car.

Overall score: 75.4 · Population: 10,689 · State: Connecticut · Best score: Cultured 93

5. Pacific Grove, California

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Pacific Grove sits at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula, next to Monterey and Pebble Beach. It’s famous for its Victorian houses, the rocky Ocean View Boulevard shoreline and the monarch butterflies that winter there.

Pacific Grove scores 83 for walkability and 88 for culture. It’s busier than most towns here, which is why it scores only 36 for quiet, but it’s a walkable seaside town with a long history of drawing retirees.

Overall score: 76.1 · Population: 14,851 · State: California · Best score: Retirement 93

4. Hampton, New Hampshire

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Hampton is a seacoast town on New Hampshire’s short Atlantic shoreline. Hampton Beach draws the summer crowds, but most of the town is quiet neighborhoods, salt marshes and historic homes set back from the ocean.

Hampton scores 95 for retirement friendliness and 82 for quiet. With about 16,000 residents it’s one of the larger towns on the list, and Portsmouth and the Maine coast are a short drive away. New Hampshire also has no state income tax or sales tax.

Overall score: 77.0 · Population: 16,448 · State: New Hampshire · Best score: Retirement 95

3. South Palm Beach, Florida

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South Palm Beach is a small town on the barrier island between Lake Worth Beach and Lantana, on Florida’s Atlantic coast. It’s mostly oceanfront condos and low-key streets, a short drive from the shops and restaurants of Palm Beach County.

South Palm Beach scores 98 for retirement friendliness, one of the highest on this list, and 73 for vibrancy. It suits retirees who want a condo on the sand with everything they need a few minutes away.

Overall score: 79.0 · Population: 1,491 · State: Florida · Best score: Retirement 98

2. Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey

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Avon-by-the-Sea is a tiny Monmouth County borough on the Jersey Shore, wedged between Bradley Beach and Belmar. It’s known for its non-commercial boardwalk, Victorian houses and tree-lined streets that end at the ocean.

Avon scores 85 for walkability and 96 for culture, the best combination on this list. You can walk to the beach, the boardwalk and Main Street cafés without getting in the car.

Overall score: 79.0 · Population: 1,944 · State: New Jersey · Best score: Cultured 96

1. Surf City, New Jersey

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Surf City sits in the middle of Long Beach Island, the 18-mile barrier island off the Jersey Shore. It’s a small borough of beach blocks running from the Atlantic to Barnegat Bay, with no high-rises and a laid-back, family-run feel.

Surf City scores 93 for retirement friendliness, 88 for quiet and 94 for culture, and it tops our list. Summer brings the crowds, but the off-season is peaceful, and you can walk to the ocean from almost any street.

Overall score: 79.2 · Population: 1,298 · State: New Jersey · Best score: Cultured 94

The Full Ranking

Scores run from 1 to 100, and higher is better on every measure.

Source: CoreLogic neighborhood indexes (March 2025), rolled up from census tracts to municipalities; population from US Census Bureau 2024 estimates.