These are the Best U.S. Cities for Snowbirds [2025]

Every year when the weather gets chilly, America sees a mass migration of snowbirds. No, not real birds — these snowbirds are the more than one million Americans and Canadians (generally retirees) who spend winter months in warmer climates in the southern U.S. These quasi-tourists can also be a huge boon to local economies.

That's why we wanted to determine the best cities in the U.S. for those who head south for the winter. Our team analyzed 180 different cities, evaluating them across nearly two dozen metrics that would be important to snowbirds: livability, affordability, temperature and climate, and culture and recreation.

Key findings

• Sebring, Florida, is the best city for snowbirds.
• Six of the top 10 best cities for snowbirds are located in Florida.
• Three other states (Alabama, Georgia, and Texas) have multiple cities that rank in the top 25.
• The Villages, Florida, has the highest percentage of people ages over 60 in the U.S. as well as the most golf courses per capita.

The best cities for snowbirds

1. Sebring, Florida

Located in Central Florida, Sebring earned the highest overall livability score of any snowbird city. A low violent crime rate and very high walkability are major contributing factors in that regard, along with the fact that 44.3% of the population is over the age of 60, the fourth-highest rate overall.

Additionally, of the 22 different Florida cities we looked at, Sebring is the most affordable, thanks in large part to a cost of living that is 17% lower than the national average and median monthly mortgage cost of just $1,288, among the 25 lowest among all snowbird cities.

2. Sebastian, Florida

Located near Vero Beach on Florida's east coast, Sebastian boasts the kind of pleasant winter weather that Florida is known for. Between November and March, temperatures range between 61 and 69 degrees, even with the nearby Atlantic Ocean bringing cooling breezes.

Beyond weather factors, Sebastian has plenty of recreational opportunities for snowbirds, boasting a robust 27.7 golf courses per 100,000 residents. The city also ranks in the top 10 when it comes to the number of shopping centers and retail stores per capita.

3. The Villages, Florida

Sometimes called "boomer paradise" and "Disney World for adults" (and located just an hour from the real Disney World), The Villages is one of America's premier retirement communities.

As the city was largely designed around making life fun and carefree for retirees, it is a perfect place for snowbirds looking for the same kind of lifestyle. The Villages boasts one of the five highest culture and recreation scores in the country, thanks in no small part to the fact that the city has 114.8 golf courses per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the country by a wide margin.

Additionally, The Villages has some of the nation's highest per capita rates for shopping centers, retail stores, movie theaters, and museums.

4. Homosassa Springs, Florida

Homosassa Springs is located near Florida's Gulf Coast and features Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, one of the best places in the state to see manatees and wildlife in general. Homosassa Springs ranks particularly well in the area of livability, with some of the nation's lowest crime rates per 100,000 people and the third-highest percentage of the population over the age of 60 (45.4%).

5. Naples, Florida

Naples, Florida, earned high marks in multiple categories, with the highest coming in the area of temperature/climate. Between the months of November and March, the average temperature in Naples is between 64 degrees (in January) and 71 degrees (in November), making it a pleasant place to be while the northern parts of the country are dealing with freezing temperatures.

Naples also has a bevy of recreational opportunities, with very high per capita rates for shopping centers and retail stores, as well as more than 41 golf courses per 100,000 people, one of the five highest rates in the country.

6. Brunswick, Georgia

The first non-Florida city in the top 10, Brunswick is located on Georgia's Atlantic coast and features a cooler climate than every other city ranked ahead of it.

Brunswick offers a robust and diverse selection of recreational options for snowbirds, ranking in the top 5 when it comes to the number of museums and performing arts centers per capita and landing in the top 10 for the number of shopping centers and retail stores per 100,000 people. Additionally, the golf courses in and around Brunswick have an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5, the second-highest overall score in that metric.

7. Hot Springs, Arkansas

The only city in Arkansas in the top 10, Hot Springs ranks seventh overall despite a significantly colder climate than every other city in the top 10. Key factors in that overall ranking are recreation and culture and affordability, areas where Hot Springs scored very high.

In fact, Hot Springs is more affordable than any other city in the top 10, thanks to some of the lowest rent and mortgage costs in the country and an overall cost of living that is more than 15% lower than the national average.

8. Savannah, Georgia

Located near the South Carolina border on Georgia's Atlantic coast, Savannah is a historic city that offers snowbirds a wide variety of recreational options.

Savannah's per capita rates when it comes to museums, restaurants, and shopping opportunities are all among the highest in the country. Savannah also has a high number of golf courses per 100,000 people, and those courses carry an average rating of 3.9 stars out of 5, one of the 20 highest ratings in the country.

9. Victoria, Texas

The only Texas city in the top 10, Victoria is located about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Adventurous snowbirds can drive from Victoria to the cities of Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi in less than two hours while dodging the colder weather up north.

10. Punta Gorda, Florida

Punta Gorda completes our top 10 cities, making the tail end of the list thanks in large part to climate and livability. The city features the lowest violent crime rate of any city in our rankings and the 15th-lowest property crime rate. Additionally, 50.1% of the city's population is over the age of 60, a rate that is second only to The Villages (65.5%).

Other notable snowbird cities

While Florida tends to be among the first places people think of when it comes to snowbirds, Sunshine State cities only make up a little more than 50% of the top 10, according to our analysis. Looking at the full top 25 reveals even more diversity of choice, as only four additional Florida cities crack that list.

Multiple cities located in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas take up spots between 11-25 in our rankings. While those cities tend to have lower scores than cities located in Florida when it comes to weather, they more than make up for slightly colder weather in other areas such as culture and recreation and affordability. In fact, Dothan, Alabama; Albany, Georgia; and Dalton, Georgia, are the three most affordable snowbird cities in the top 25, with Dothan's affordability score ranking as the fifth-best of all 180 cities we evaluated.

Cities where the largest and smallest percentage of people are over 60

Since many snowbirds tend to be older, one key indicator of a great city for snowbirds is looking at the percentage of a city's population that is over the age of 60.

Being able to relate to those around you helps make people more comfortable in their surroundings, and cities where a large segment of the population falls into a specific demographic tend to feature stores, restaurants, and more that cater to that population.

When looking specifically at the proportion of people over 60, the retirement hotbed of The Villages easily takes the top spot, as nearly two-thirds of all people living there (65.5%) are 60 or older. Even though more than half of the residents of Punta Gorda (50.1%) are over the age of 60, that rate is more than 15 points lower than The Villages, putting Punta Gorda in a distant second place.

Cities with the highest and lowest numbers of healthcare practitioners

As mentioned, snowbirds tend to be on the older end spectrum, and as people age, health issues can arise. For that reason, access to healthcare providers is an important consideration for many snowbirds.

On a per capita basis, two North Carolina cities — Durham and Greenville — offer residents and snowbirds the greatest selection of healthcare practitioners. Durham leads the way overall with more than 6,000 providers per 100,000 people, while Greenville has 5,300+ per 100,000. No other snowbird city has more than 4,625 providers per 100,000.

On the opposite side of things, Merced, California has just 1014 healthcare practitioners per 100,000 people, the lowest rate in the country and 1/6th the amount that Durham boasts.

Cities with the most and least golf courses per capita

When people think of snowbirding, one activity springs to mind for many: golf. Being able to enjoy a comfortable 18 holes down south while snow is on the ground up north is a big selling point for many snowbirds. For that reason, we wanted to see which snowbird cities have the most and least golf courses available relative to the population.

Once again, The Villages handily claims the top spot. GolfPass indicates there are 174 courses near The Villages, while the city and surrounding area have a population of around 150,000 people. That means there are 114.8 golf courses available for every 100,000 people, a rate that is nearly 40 courses per 100,000 higher than second place.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Miami, Florida, has just 63 courses available, according to GolfPass, with a population of more than 6 million people in Miami and surrounding areas. That is a rate of just 1.0 golf courses per 100,000 people, the lowest rate of any snowbird city.

A city-by-city breakdown of the 50 best places for snowbirds

Advice from our experts

Whether you're ready to retire now or just headed south for the winter, planning ahead can help you live the retirement of your dreams within your financial means. To help you explore the best place for you to escape the colder months, we asked some experts to share their tips on things potential snowbirds should think about before taking flight.

What should retirees take into consideration when planning for purchasing a second home?

Dr. Richard Buttimer, Ph.D.

Dean, Real Estate | University of North Carolina Charlotte, Belk College of Business

Lots of people live at their primary home — meaning, you'll have to outsource at a second home for two reasons. Firstly, you're not living there all the time. Secondly, most are buying a second home viewing it as a vacation property. You don't want to spend your vacation painting walls, cutting the grass, and taking care of maintenance. That's the biggest challenge to think about: how will you maintain the property?

Sara Stolberg Berkowicz, Ph.D.

Chair of the Department of Advisor Development and an assistant professor | College for Financial Planning

Cash flow is crucial to consider when planning for the purchase of a second home. If there aren't enough excess funds to support the anticipated outlays for mortgage payments, real estate taxes, association fees (if any), homeowners' insurance, and utilities, then debt will be incurred.

Dr. John L. Campbell, Ph.D., CPA

Department Head of Department of Accounting and professor of accounting and finance | University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

A second home can be a good idea but some common things to consider:

• Will it be strictly for you or will you rent it out? Some like the idea of keeping it exclusively for themselves. If so, make sure the total cost of ownership (i.e., insurance, taxes, repairs) fits well within your budget. If you will be renting it out, be wary of "rent projection estimates" and assuming that you will get all of that income. Furthermore, be prepared for more property damage and repair expenses. Finally, renting means you will have a rental property for tax purposes, which carries with it a number of things to plan for and consider.
• Should you make it your primary residence? Depending on the tax rates in different states, it may make sense to make the second home your primary residence. Follow the rules for doing that (a certain number of days must be spent living in the state each year).
• Does it come with furnishings? Some second homes at beach or mountain locations might be sold with furniture included. But be sure to specify that. Because having to furnish a second home will cost a lot and you do not want to be left unprepared for that expense.
• This is true for any home, but what is your exit strategy? Is this a place where you'll want to live during your final years? If so, you might look for something where that can happen, and maybe you want to customize it to certain needs (like a master bedroom on the first floor, etc). Likewise, is this a place you'd expect to give to your children? Then consider what kind of home would be optimal for that. Perhaps multilevel where there are multiple bedrooms. Finally, do I plan to eventually sell it to someone else? Then you will want to likely stick to floor plans that are general and can be more easily sold rather than custom solutions.

Dr. Matthew Spiegel, Ph.D.

Professor of Finance | Yale School of Management

Retired or not, the thing to remember about any home purchase is that it's primarily a consumption item, and not an investment. Overall, in the U.S., the return on housing has been both dismal and volatile over the long run. A paper of mine with William Goetzmann estimated the overall return has been close to the inflation rate in construction costs. Subtract from that upkeep and other costs (property taxes, insurance, etc.), and you have one awful investment. Buy a second house because you want to use it and will enjoy doing so. Just like you would with a car.

Dr. Andres Jauregui, Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Real Estate, and Business Law | Fresno State, Craig School of Business

I would say that the first thing to consider is location. Are you looking for a location within driving distance from your primary residence? Are you willing to make a longer trip to get to your second home? This decision will be also highly influenced by what you are looking for in the weather. Do you live in cold weather and want to vacation in warmer weather?

Then, you would also want to look into the availability of local amenities. When looking for a second home, you want to consider the types of restaurants available in the area, the availability of entertainment opportunities, access to convenience stores, sporting opportunities (tennis, pickleball, golf, etc.), as well as hospitals and health care facilities.

Once you are settled on a location, next is having a clear idea of what you are looking for in the house and your budget.

What are easy mistakes to make when purchasing a home in another state?

Dr. Richard Buttimer, Ph.D.

Dean, Real Estate | University of North Carolina Charlotte, Belk College of Business

Not having either an accountant or a financial advisor who understands the taxes of both states. A state like Florida doesn't have an income tax, and you're spending some fraction of the year there. How does this affect your tax liability in your primary state? Are you earning money while you're in Florida?

Renting [out] your property can also come with its own series of easy-to-make mistakes. Federal tax rules allow up to 14 days [per] year with no income tax on the income made from a rental property. But if you end up renting for 15 days, then you need to pay income tax on it. Renting a property can depreciate it as well. This gets very complicated very quickly.

Sara Stolberg Berkowicz, Ph.D.

Chair of the Department of Advisor Development and an assistant professor | College for Financial Planning

Many states assess real estate taxes, so it is important to find out the tax burden of the property. Some states require that property owners file income tax returns, and if the property is rented out then tax might be due on the rental income in both states, and it will cost more to prepare their tax returns.

Homeowners may be expected to maintain the property according to a particular standard; the homeowners' association will likely have that information. Speaking of homeowners' associations, they should be asked if there are any special assessments anticipated or in process to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Dr. John L. Campbell, Ph.D., CPA

Department Head of Department of Accounting and professor of accounting and finance | University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

When purchasing a home out of state, the common thing is to go on a house hunting trip and come to terms on an offer, then go home and manage the rest of the purchase (until closing) without another visit. This can be an issue if the home inspection raises concerns. In such a case, I would recommend that the buyer go and look at the concerns directly rather than relying on their real estate agent to assess the extent of the issues because even the best real estate agents have incentives to get the deal completed, perhaps overlooking an issue that can cost you thousands of dollars down the road.

Dr. Matthew Spiegel, Ph.D.

Professor of Finance | Yale School of Management

I am not sure people make mistakes that are any different when buying a house in another state relative to their own. If there is a mistake, I suspect it would be to overestimate the likely gains and underestimate the costs. In any case, prior to purchasing a second house that is far from your primary residence, make sure you will, in fact, use it for a significant number of days per year.

Dr. Andres Jauregui, Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Real Estate, and Business Law | Fresno State, Craig School of Business

An easy mistake when purchasing a home in another state is not having a good estimate of how much you will be paying in property taxes. This could be a significant annual expense that you are having to pay regardless of whether you are using the property or not.

Another easy mistake when purchasing a home in another state is not accurately determining how often you will be using the property. If your location selection in another state requires significant travel, as people get older, they will naturally tend to do less travel. So even though you purchased a second property with the intention of using it, over the years, less and less use will happen, which could also result in complications maintaining the place.

Lastly, not having an accurate estimate of maintenance costs through the years could significantly impact your finances.

Some responses may have been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.

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Methodology

FinanceBuzz collected data on 180 cities, most of which are south of the 38th parallel north, which runs across the country along the northern borders of states like Arizona, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Several cities north of that mark in more temperate states near that line such as Virginia, California, and Nevada were also included.

Data for four major categories related to snowbirding appeal were collected for each city. Those categories were livability, affordability, culture and recreation, and temperature and climate. Each of those categories was created using individual data points, listed below. Each data point was indexed using a 0-5 scale. Those scores were then weighted and added together to create a score of 0-25 for each category and added together to give each city an overall score on a 0-100 scale.

For individual data points, a weight of 1.00 is standard, with weights above 1.00 having a larger impact on a category's score and those below 1.00 having a lesser impact. The weights and sources for the individual metrics used in each category are as follows:

• Livability
• The number of healthcare practitioners per 100,000 people - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Weight: 1.00
• The property crime rate per 1,000 people - Neighborhood Scout - Weight: 1.00
• The violent crime rate per 1,000 people - Neighborhood Scout - Weight: 1.00
• The percentage of the population over the age of 60 - United States Census Bureau - Weight: 1.00
• How walkable a city is - Walk Score - Weight: 1.00
• Affordability
• The cost of living in a city - Sperling's Best Places - Weight: 1.50
• The average monthly cost for a 10x10 self-storage unit in each city - StorageCafe - Weight: 0.50
• The median monthly housing costs for a home with a mortgage in each city - United States Census Bureau - Weight: 1.50
• The median monthly rent in each city - United States Census Bureau - Weight: 1.50
• Culture/Recreation
• The average rating (0-5) for golf courses in each city - GolfPass - Weight: 0.50
• The number of golf courses per 100,000 people - GolfPass - Weight: 0.75
• The number of restaurants per 100,000 people - Liang, X., & Andris, C. Measuring McCities: Landscapes of Chain and Independent Restaurants in the United States - Weight: 1.00
• The number of shopping centers/malls per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.50
• The number of retail stores per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.75
• The number of movie theaters per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.25
• The number of performing arts centers per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.75
• The number of museums per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.50
• Temperature/Climate
• Winter climate comfort index - Sperling's Best Places - Weight: 1.50
• The average temperature in November (degrees fahrenheit) - Weather Spark - Weight: 0.70
• The average temperature in December (degrees fahrenheit) - Weather Spark - Weight: 0.70
• The average temperature in January (degrees fahrenheit) - Weather Spark - Weight: 0.70
• The average temperature in February (degrees fahrenheit) - Weather Spark - Weight: 0.70
• The average temperature in March (degrees fahrenheit) - Weather Spark - Weight: 0.70

In all cases where population was used to create a "per 100,000 people" calculation, population data came from the United States Census Bureau.

Note: Some locations featured in our top cities for snowbirds list may be affected by hurricanes or other weather events typical of these locations. Prospective snowbirds should keep a close eye on hazards associated with these types of events, and follow rebuilding efforts in these cities for more information.

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