If retirement is just around the corner and you’re looking for one of the best places to retire, we at ICI Homes suggest St. Augustine, Florida.

Its combination of history, culture, and unbeatable northeast Florida location make St. Augustine a magnet for residents of all ages, and particularly active retirees — a fact confirmed in Southern Living magazine’s recent “The Best Places to Retire in the South.”

This compilation spotlights 12 towns throughout the southern United States and their unique attractions for retirees. St. Augustine is recognized as the “Best Beach Town” in Southern Living’s “The Best Places to Retire in the South” list, and we heartily second that!

Here’s more on why St. Augustine made the list, and where you can find new custom Florida homes by ICI Homes.

The methodology behind “The Best Places to Retire”

Southern Living staff teamed with the financial website Investopedia to come up with “The Best Places to Retire in the South.”

They began with the 41 towns on the magazine’s earlier 2023 South’s Best awards. The 12 finalists on the “The Best Places to Retire in the South” list were chosen after number-crunching from Investopedia that compared all 41 towns to national standards in many categories, using U.S. Census data from 2017-2021.

The comparative categories included home affordability, access to green spaces, healthcare, recreation, travel infrastructure, and important lifestyle factors such as dining, arts, culture and entertainment — all important topics for most people contemplating retirement.

A great retirement destination

The oldest continuously occupied city in the U.S. has acquired new residents since its 1565 founding by Spanish explorers. St. Augustine even celebrated Florida’s quincentennial in 2013. But lest you think it’s a stodgy old beach town, nothing could be further from the truth!

St. Augustine IS near pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches — its downtown is perched along the Intracoastal Waterway just across the famous Bridge of Lions from creamy sands and blue waves. And its combination of jaw-dropping history, outdoor recreational options and amazing cultural attractions means the nation’s oldest city is always evolving.

For retirees, St. Augustine is only 20 miles south of the metro Jacksonville area and its major airport and seaport. It’s also adjacent to Interstate 75, Florida’s north-south Atlantic coast traffic corridor. Golf is a major draw too, thanks to St. Augustine’s next-door proximity to Ponte Verde, home of the PGA Tour.

ICI Homes in St. Augustine

Interested in a new custom Florida home near St. Augustine? Per research for “The Best Places to Retire in the South” list, new homes in northeast Florida are a very good real estate value.

ICI Homes has you covered with our work in several St. Augustine-area master-planned communities. We’re preferred builders in SilverLeaf in St. Augustine, and Middlebourne in nearby St. Johns. Both are minutes from St. Augustine’s attractions and activities, and offer resident amenities like gated entrances, resort-style swimming pools, social spaces, tennis courts and neighborhood parks.

Ready for your St. Augustine lifestyle? Talk to ICI Homes here.