A Florida destination has a “slower pace” — but still boasts activities for retirees to enjoy, a new report finds.
Now, the small city of Sebring ranks among the nation’s top 50 places to retire, according to results published March 11.
To create the list of best retirement destinations, Travel + Leisure magazine partnered with financial website Investopedia. Using data from the U.S. government and other sources, it studied counties across the country. Each place was evaluated across four metrics that may appeal to older adults: cost of living, access to travel, access to health care and access to entertainment.
“Editors considered a range of population densities and states to ensure readers have a variety of options,” the magazine wrote in its report.
What makes Sebring ideal for retirement?
Sebring was the only place in the Sunshine State to earn a spot on the list, called “Destination: Retirement 2025.” The city of about 11,000 people is a roughly 85-mile drive south from Orlando.
“You won’t find bustling nightlife or too many attractions in Sebring, but don’t count this Florida town … out just yet,” Travel + Leisure wrote in its report. “In fact, it’s exactly this slower pace, paired with a low cost of living, that makes it one of the best places to retire in the Southeast.”
The magazine said residents can bask in warm weather while shopping downtown or attending events at the Sebring International Raceway. Meanwhile, Investopedia praised the city for being close to state parks and for having an “extra appealing” median housing cost of less than $800 a month.
“Sebring, located in Florida’s Highlands County, is an excellent option for retirees hoping to take advantage of Florida’s retirement-friendly tax policies without fighting off spring breakers or steep price tags to enjoy the outdoors or one of the many fine or casual dining restaurants,” the financial website wrote in its report.
The city, which also offers access to hospitals and activities on nearby lakefronts, has gotten a recent boost. Several of Sebring’s homes and businesses have been renovated on the HGTV show “Home Town Takeover,” according to the Visit Florida tourism website.
“Sebring’s history of hurricane damage and an excess of empty storefronts in the once bustling downtown shopping district have proven to be challenging obstacles, and, despite being home to one of the nation’s oldest raceways, spectators leave without patronizing any local businesses,” the TV show wrote on its website, adding that its hosts worked with local leaders on the revitalization project.
Nationwide, destinations in several states were named top places for retirees to live. The winners weren’t listed in ranked order, a Travel + Leisure spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
