Across the country, active adults homebuyers can find small communities with fewer than 200 homes all the way to larger-than-life developments with tens of thousands of residences. For some active adult homebuyers, a mid-sized community with 200 to 500 homes feels just right.
We narrowed down our 55 Best 55+ Communities list to focus on the best mid-sized 55+ communities. All of the communities on this list are age-restricted and have 200 to 500 homes. Some of the top communities on the list can be found in Florida, Arizona, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
Keep reading to discover the 25 best mid-sized 55+ communities across the nation.
1. Harmony Reserve – Vero Beach, FL
Mid $200s – Low $300s
The best mid-sized 55+ community for active adults who want to retire in Florida is Harmony Reserve in Vero Beach, located in the heart of the Treasure Coast Area. This gated age-restricted community will include 397 single-family and attached homes upon completion, so interested buyers can explore both new and resale homes.
The world-class amenities at Harmony Reserve feature a 15,000-square-foot clubhouse with a state-of-the-art fitness center and an outdoor pool. A lifestyle director coordinates a full social calendar of events, gatherings, and clubs. And with the scenic shores of the Atlantic Coast less than ten miles away, residents have ample opportunities for outdoor recreation to support an active physical and social lifestyle.
Request more information about Harmony Reserve.
2. Del Webb Florham Park – Florham Park, NJ
High $400s – High $700s
As the first New Jersey community on this list, Del Webb Florham Park is a 55+ community in Morris County that provides resort-style amenities, low-maintenance homes, and a tight-knit neighborhood in a desirable location. Renowned builder Del Webb began construction of the community in 2018 with plans to build 242 single-family, attached, and condominium homes.
In addition to a range of home styles, residents will have access to a 16,000-square-foot clubhouse with plenty of multipurpose gathering spaces. The lifestyle director will organize activities such as art classes, group fitness, and community events. The location of Del Webb Florham Park will put residents within 20 miles of Newark and 30 miles of New York City.
Request more information about Del Webb Florham Park.
3. Pine Ridge at Fort Myers – Fort Myers, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100s
The location of Pine Ridge at Fort Myers connects active adults to some of the best recreation and entertainment that Southwest Florida has to offer. This 55+ community features 462 single-family, attached, and condominium homes in a neighborhood with an active social calendar. Thanks to a lifestyle director, residents can choose from an abundance of activities, clubs, and social events, such as potlucks, pool parties, movie nights, summer sports leagues, and seasonal gatherings.
With so many activities to choose from, there’s always something happening at the community clubhouse, which serves as a hub for the neighborhood. The amenities also feature an outdoor pool, athletic courts, and walking and biking trails. Those who want to explore the surrounding area can visit Fort Myers within 20 minutes and the Gulf Coast within 40 minutes.
Request more information about Pine Ridge at Fort Myers.
4. The Springs at Santa Rita – Green Valley, AZ
Mid $100s – Mid $200s
For its popularity, lifestyle, and affordability, The Springs at Santa Rita in Green Valley offers an ideal option for active adults who want to retire in a mid-sized 55+ community in Southern Arizona. Because the gated 55+ community belongs to Green Valley Recreation, residents have access to 13 recreation centers and a network of resort-style amenities and lifestyle activities throughout the area. Active adults can enjoy all of the benefits of a large 55+ community while living in a tight-knit neighborhood.
The Springs at Santa Rita includes 442 single-family and attached homes ideal for those who want to downsize into a maintenance-free lifestyle. The attached homes range from approximately 850 to 1,300 square feet with one or two bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, and attached garages. The single-family homes range from 1,100 to 1,600 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two or two-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached garages.
Request more information about The Springs at Santa Rita.
5. Woodfield – Vero Beach, FL
High $100s – Mid $300s
The town of Vero Beach has earned a well-established reputation as a tranquil, coastal vacation destination, and we return to the city to take a closer look at another 55+ community in the area. The gated 55+ community Woodfield consists of 434 single-family and attached homes built by Centex and Lennar Homes between 2006 and 2009. The Mediterranean-style homes offer open concept floor plans, first-floor living, and a tight-knit 55+ community.
At Woodfield, residents can easily get to know each other and explore the surrounding area, since a full-time lifestyle director organizes social events and plans day trips for the community. Some of the most popular activities include fitness classes, musical groups, cards and games, arts and crafts, and singles club. At the 16,000-square-foot clubhouse, the amenities range from a fitness center to a movie theatre to an outdoor resort-style pool.
Request more information about Woodfield.
6. Traditions of America at East Petersburg – East Petersburg, PA
High $200s – Mid $300s
Traditions of America at East Petersburg is a new 55+ community coming soon to Lancaster County in Central Pennsylvania. Upon completion, this up-and-coming age-restricted community will include approximately 247 single-family and attached homes designed for maintenance-free living. The convenient location, which offers easy access to Routes 30, 283, and 222, will surround residents with world-class golfing, shopping, and dining.
The amenities will feature a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, yoga studio, card room, club room, coffee lounge, sports bar, wine cellar, and golf simulator. Residents can also enjoy a heated outdoor pool, patio, and fire pit. Active adults searching for brand new homes for sale in East Petersburg can find plenty of options at Traditions of America at East Petersburg.
Request more information about Traditions of America at East Petersburg.
7. Imagery – Mount Holly, NC
Mid $300s – Low $600s
With spacious floor plans, abundant amenities, and a lakefront location, Imagery in Mount Holly is a mid-sized 55+ community for active adults who want to retire in North Carolina. Builder Lennar Homes began construction of this 55+ community along Mountain Island Lake in 2017 with plans to build 483 single-family homes upon completion. The desirable amenities feature a clubhouse with a fitness center, a pottery studio, arts and crafts rooms, and an outdoor pool.
Interested homebuyers can browse three home model collections to find the floor plan that best suits their needs and preferences. The ranch-style single-family homes range from 1,436 to 3,292 square feet with two to four bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two- or three-car garages. Many floor plans offer optional second-story lofts and bonus spaces.
Request more information about Imagery.
8. Brookshire – Manheim, PA
High $100s – Mid $200s
Returning to Central Pennsylvania, the 55+ community Brookshire in Manheim consists of 230 single-family and attached homes with all of the affordances of a mid-sized age-restricted community. Thanks to a homeowners’ association (HOA) that takes care of lawn care and snow removal, residents can enjoy a year-round low-maintenance lifestyle that gives them more time to use the amenities and gather with neighbors and friends.
The amenities at the Brookshire Community Center include a coffee shop, a library, an exercise room, a hobby and game room, and multipurpose gathering spaces. The community center hosts a full social calendar that features movie nights, dances, holiday get-togethers, and many arts and crafts clubs. Outside, residents can enjoy bocce ball courts, a shuffleboard court, walking and biking trails, and a fishing lake.
Request more information about Brookshire.
9. Whittingham – Monroe, NJ
Low $100s – High $300s
Residents of Whittingham, a 55+ community with 413 low-maintenance single-family, attached, and condominium homes, enjoy an impressive array of amenities, an abundance of lifestyle activities, and affordable homes ideal for downsizing. These features and many more all make this gated 55+ community one of the best mid-sized neighborhoods in Middlesex County.
The amenities feature a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse with a restaurant, indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor walking track, and plenty of arts and crafts studios. Active adults can also take advantage of a 9-hole golf course, a community garden, and R.V. parking. A lifestyle director arranges weekly events, activities, and clubs. The sought-after location means that residents can reach Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore within 30 minutes, and New York City and Philadelphia within one hour.
Request more information about Whittingham.
10. The Villages of Green Valley – Green Valley, AZ
Low $100s – Mid $200s
As another 55+ community that belongs to Green Valley Recreation, The Villages of Green Valley provides residents with an abundance of world-class amenities. The community offers its own clubhouse, fitness center, and outdoor pool, and residents also have access to 12 additional clubhouses, eight golf courses, 12 swimming pools, and so much more throughout GVR.
The well-established Villages of Green Valley community consists of 475 single-family and attached homes. The single-family homes range from 745 to 2,500 square feet, while the attached homes range from 1,100 to 1,615 square feet, with features that include open concept floor plans, vaulted ceilings, and covered patios.
Request more information about The Villages of Green Valley.
11. The Elms of Charleston – Charleston, SC
12. Independence – Millsboro, DE
13. Snowden Overlook – Columbia, MD
14. Tomoka Heights – Lake Placid, FL
15. Continental Vistas – Green Valley, AZ
16. Villages on the Green – Clearwater, FL
17. Del Webb at Traditions – Wake Forest, NC
18. Desert Hills 4 – Green Valley, AZ
19. Sunrise Pointe – Green Valley, AZ
20. Sawyer’s Ranch – Plymouth, MA
21. Carroll Vista – Taneytown, MD
22. The Ponds at Bayberry – Middletown, DE
23. Legends at Santa Rita Springs – Green Valley, AZ
24. Greens at Santa Rita Springs – Green Valley, AZ
25. LakeRidge Falls – Sarasota, FL
Methodology
The data for “The 25 Best Mid-Sized 55+ Communities” is pulled from our “55 Best 55+ Communities” list. To get the list of the best 55+ communities, we first identified over 2000 active adult communities with an age restriction. We then created three different scoring categories to determine which was the best.
The Popularity Score looks at overall MLS sales in the last year as well as how many people searched for the community across the web. The Lifestyle Score is drawn from the number of amenities, the number of social clubs and activities within the community, and the different types of homes available. The Financial Score takes into account the cost of living in the nearest city, the state property tax, the state income tax, and the local sales taxes.
We then scored and weighed all the data from each category to finalize the top 55 communities. The communities listed in “The 25 Best Mid-Sized 55+ Communities” have between 200 and 500 homes to qualify as “mid-sized.”
