San Clemente, CA 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

San Clemente is a coastal city in Orange County, California. Centrally located between Los Angeles and San Diego, San Clemente offers retirees peaceful beaches, numerous surfing and swimming opportunities, and scenic trails. In addition, the city's abundant shopping, weekly farmers market, and local breweries make it popular among active adults.

Climate & Geography

Located in Southern California, San Clemente has a Mediterranean climate with 281 sunny days per year. Temperatures are pleasant all year, ranging in the 50s to 70s. There is also little rainfall, averaging only 13 inches throughout the year.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

With miles of beaches, much of San Clemente's outdoor recreation is based around the water. San Clemente State Beach, San Clemente Pier, T-Street Beach, and Trestles Beach are some of the most popular destinations for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing. The San Clemente Beach Trail offers scenic hiking trails with views of the water.

For shopping and entertainment, the San Clemente Downtown District has small local boutiques, and the Outlets at San Clemente offers brand-name and designer shops. Retirees also enjoy numerous breweries and distilleries, antique stores, and a weekly farmers market.

The entertainment, culture, and sporting events of Los Angeles and San Diego are both an hour away.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The overall cost of living in San Clemente is nearly double the national average. This is primarily due to very high housing costs.

California does not tax Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, but all other forms of retirement income are fully taxed at rates ranging from 1 percent to 13 percent. Property taxes in the state are below average while sales taxes are higher than average.

Health Care

According to Gallup's Well-Being Index, California ranks in the top 14 states.

Though there are no hospitals in San Clemente, there are two hospitals within 15 miles that are nationally ranked by U.S. News. They are Mission Hospital-Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach and MemorialCare Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. Further away, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and Hoag Orthopedic Institute are also nationally ranked.