Author Topic: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?  (Read 3793 times)

The 585

  • Guest
Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« on: March 23, 2017, 06:26:23 PM »
Aiming for FI in the next ten years, where I would then ideally move to a coastal city to start my early retirement life. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations on BEST cities/states on the Atlantic coast for early retirement?

I'm a beach nut and would love to be in a mid-sized coastal city that is bike friendly, affordable, and tax-friendly. Also, not filled with old retirees--or a place that is dead in the winter. I like year-round livability and bustle. I initially thought Virginia Beach area because of the proximity to DC where I currently am, but there are many other coastal cities a bit further south that I'd never been to and would like to visit in the coming years. Wilmington NC? Charleston SC? Savannah GA? How about the Delaware beaches, although they seem old and sleepy on the offseason? Recommendations would be great, thanks!!

Ocinfo

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 313
Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2017, 06:32:27 PM »
Look at the space coast...Daytona beach down to Melbourne, FL. Has everything from retirees to college students and a few areas where they mix. No state income taxes and property is very reasonable as long as you don't need ocean front.

Edited: And hello to another DMV resident. I keep seeing more and more on here!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
« Last Edit: March 23, 2017, 06:34:21 PM by Ocinfo »

cl_noll

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 82
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Madtown, WI
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2017, 08:11:01 PM »
Somewhere at least 20' above sea level.

MsPeacock

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1571
  • Location: High COL
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2017, 08:24:37 PM »
Somewhere at least 20' above sea level.

That's what I was thinking. I love the beach too, but I don't trust that anything that isn't well above sea level would be there 20ish years from now. Hurricane and flood insurance is crazy expensive.

Otherwise - Bethany or Rehobeth?

trashmanz

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 338

CmFtns

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 583
  • Age: 33
  • Location: Melbourne, Fl
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2017, 09:01:57 PM »
Look at the space coast...Daytona beach down to Melbourne, FL. Has everything from retirees to college students and a few areas where they mix. No state income taxes and property is very reasonable as long as you don't need ocean front.

Edited: And hello to another DMV resident. I keep seeing more and more on here!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

space coast is definitely very affordable. There are lots of young engineers with all the tech companies as well as old people who retire down to these types of areas. I find it absolutely car dependent and not bike friendly. Also, a little boring... There are good beaches but I don't like the beach I guess because I have been around the coast all my life.

I plan to retire elsewhere... I want mountains

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3053
  • Location: Emmaus, PA
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2017, 04:21:53 AM »
Corpus Christi, Texas - inexpensive, has an airport, no state income tax (though property taxes in Texas are high). Not bike-friendly all the way through but I'm sure there are parts that are.

brian313313

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 199
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2017, 08:41:19 AM »
I go to Tybee Island a lot, the beach near Savannah GA. It's dead in winter so I don't think it meets your requirements.


Left

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1157
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2017, 08:47:44 AM »
Juneau Alaska? That counts as coastal right? lots of nature there but not on Atlantic, why on east coast only?

If I had to pick between Atlantic, I'd pick the Gulf coast though

myrtle beach would be my pick for anything on the Atlantic itself, well not the exact tourist area, but nearby geographic area

As a US citizen, you could pick a US territory like Guam, or even Micronesia to be near Asia. Not sure how "bustling" it is to you
« Last Edit: March 24, 2017, 08:50:57 AM by Left »

Johnny Aloha

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2017, 08:49:28 AM »
Charleston, SC.  Fantastic town.  Getting more bike friendly by the day, although still has a way to go.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22318
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2017, 08:56:36 AM »
St. Augustine, FL?

Northern San Diego County?

jwright

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 269
Re: Best coastal US cities for early retirement?
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2017, 09:08:46 AM »
I love living in Charleston SC, but there are some headaches.  Getting more crowded, congestive, and expensive by the day.  Latest statistics show us growing 3x faster than average population with 34 new people moving here per day.  Roads are awful; you can feel the difference when driving from NC to SC.    Active hurricane season means higher insurance than other areas, my parents live on the water and don't even have storm insurance because the premiums are out of control (no mortgage so no bank requirement to carry it). 

But we've got the beach, and there's always something going on.  Lots to see and do for cheap/free.  And there's definitely not a slow season.