With thousands of age-restricted communities throughout the country to consider, starting your home search might feel a bit overwhelming. But if you’re seeking a community that offers the most value for your money, we’ve determined the top 25 communities that offer attractive home prices, resort-style amenities, and picturesque locations. Your next home might just be your most savvy purchase yet.
Here are the 25 best value communities of 2021.
1. On Top Of The World – Ocala, FL
Low $100s – Mid $500s
The community offering the best value to active adult homebuyers this year hardly needs an introduction. On Top Of The World is a chart-topping favorite at 55places.com; it’s the most popular community of 2021, one of the best 55+ communities in the country, and the second best-selling community of this year.
Located in the heart of Central Florida, On Top of the World will have 10,000 homes upon completion, making it one of the largest communities in the state. This community is well-known for its attractive homes, world-class amenities, and low-maintenance lifestyle. Homebuyers can choose from single-family homes and attached villas that range from 1,000 to over 3,000 square feet. Current prices range from the mid $100s to the high $400s.
Request more information about On Top Of The World.
2. Laguna Woods Village – Laguna Woods, CA
Mid $100s – Mid $1Ms
Laguna Woods Village is also a noteworthy community on this list. It recently earned the No. 1 spot on our list of The 55 Best 55+ Communities of 2021. Laguna Woods Village in California has seven clubhouses, 36 holes of golf, five swimming pools, an equestrian center, and over 250 clubs. Developed from 1964 to 1985, this community consists of 12,736 condo, attached, and single-family homes. Current prices range from the high $100s to the high $700s. Also, Laguna Woods Village is only 10 minutes from the beach.
Request more information about Laguna Woods Village.
3. The Villages – The Villages, FL
Mid $100s – High $1Ms
The Villages is another community that needs no introduction. Spanning three counties, three zip codes, and over 20,000 acres, this massive development will eventually have 70,000 homes. Current prices range from the high $100s to over $1.1 million. The community offers over 100 miles of golf cart legal streets as well as on-site retail establishments, restaurants, banks, post offices, health care centers, and numerous amenities.
Request more information about The Villages.
4. Sun City – Sun City, AZ
Below $100k – High $800s
The community that started it all in 1960 still offers active adult homebuyers the best value for their dollar today. Sun City in Arizona was the first 55+ community in the country, and it now has over 27,000 homes, 11 golf courses, and a wide variety of amenities and social clubs. Renowned for its low property taxes and minimal association fees, Sun City is 16 miles northwest of Downtown Phoenix.
Request more information about Sun City.
5. Solivita – Kissimmee, FL
Mid $100s – Low $600s
A 4,300-acre master-planned community in Kissimmee, Solivita is a gated community with over 150,000 square feet of amenities as well as greenspaces, lakes, and waterways. Homebuyers have 20 home collections and a variety of models to choose from. Construction began in 2000, and Solivita plans to offer 5,900 homes across its various neighborhoods. Current prices range from the high $100s to the low $600s.
Request more information about Solivita.
6. Sun City West – Sun City West, AZ
Low $100s – High $600s
Built from 1978 to 1997, Sun City West has 16,900 attached and single-family homes in over 140 models. The single-family homes offer 800 to over 4,600 square feet, while the attached homes offer from 760 to 1,880 square feet. Current prices range from the low $200s to the mid $600s. Residents have access to a wide selection of amenities, including four recreation centers, seven golf courses, and nine restaurants.
Request more information about Sun City West.
7. Green Valley Recreation – Green Valley, AZ
Below $100k – Low $1Ms
Green Valley Recreation (GVR) is not a single active adult neighborhood, but it deserves some attention nonetheless for the value it offers retirees. GVR is a conglomerate of 55+ neighborhoods located just south of Tucson, and with a small annual fee, homeowners in the area have access to GVR amenities and clubhouses regardless of which community they reside. Current home prices range from below $100s to $1.2 million.
Request more information about Green Valley Recreation.
8. Sun City Hilton Head – Bluffton, SC
Low $200s – Mid $1Ms
The largest age-restricted community in South Carolina, Sun City Hilton Head has 9,000 homes, world-class amenities, and 54 holes of golf. Nestled in the semi-tropical Lowcountry, this community offers both new construction and resale homes for sale. The attached homes come in a total of 10 floor plans, and the single-family homes are offered in 19 distinct collections with dozens of floor plans. Current prices range from the mid $200s to $1.5 million.
Request more information about Sun City Hilton Head.
9. Kings Point – Sun City Center, FL
Below $100k – Low $300s
Kings Point is a gated neighborhood with two private clubhouses, golf courses, and a wide variety of social activities. Also, this active adult community is conveniently located near world-renowned beaches, the culture of Tampa, and the many attractions of Orlando. Kings Point offers attached villa condos arranged in duplex configurations, and current prices range from below $100k to the low $300s.
Request more information about Kings Point.
10. Fairfield Glade – Crossville, TN
Below $100k – High $900s
Our first community in Tennessee that offers active adults some excellent homebuying value, Fairfield Glade has resort-style amenities, a full activities calendar, and both new and resale homes in a selection of styles. Started in 1970, this community consists of 4,000 residences at present. Current home prices range from below $100k to the high $900s. Also, an hour-and-a-half drive will bring residents to the big-city attractions of both Nashville and Chatanooga.
Request more information about Fairfield Glade.
11. Rossmoor – Walnut Creek, CA
Mid $200s – Low $2Ms
Rossmoor is located in the California Bay Area and offers co-ops, single-family homes, and condominiums for sale. Current prices range from the mid $200s to the low $2Ms. On-site community amenities include 27 holes of golf, five clubhouses, swimming pools, tennis courts, and miles of hiking trails.
Request more information about Rossmoor.
12. Tellico Village – Loudon, TN
High $100s – High $2Ms
Tellico Village offers low-maintenance attached and single-family homes with views of the Smoky Mountains, Tellico Lake, or rolling golf course hills. Current home prices range from the high $100s to $2.8 million. Residents have access to three recreation centers, three golf courses, and a private country club.
Request more information about Tellico Village.
13. Sun City Center – Sun City Center, FL
Below $100k – Mid $500s
Sun City Center offers exceptional value for its resale homes, resort-style amenities, and roughly 200 clubs and interest groups. Current home prices range from below $100k to the low $500s. The community’s proximity to Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico makes it the perfect spot for homebuyers seeking a coastal retirement.
Request more information about Sun City Center.
14. Sun City Grand – Surprise, AZ
High $100s – High $900s
Sun City Grand is a 45+ community with plenty of amenities, social activities, and golf courses. With villas, condos, and single-family homes for sale, homebuyers have a variety of floor plans to choose from. Homeowners are also near all the shopping, dining, and entertainment of Phoenix.
Request more information about Sun City Grand.
15. Leisure World Seal Beach – Seal Beach, CA
Mid $100s – High $500s
Leisure World Seal Beach offers homeowners plenty of on-site social activities and attractive amenities, including six clubhouses with 19 meeting rooms and 12 fully equipped kitchens. The community’s 6,600 homes come in the form of low-maintenance co-op units and condos. Current prices range from the high $100s to the low $500s.
Request more information about Leisure World Seal Beach.
16. Sun City Summerlin – Las Vegas, NV
High $200s – Mid $1Ms
Sun City Summerlin is nestled within the Spring Mountain Range with 7,779 attached and single-family homes. Current prices range from the low $300s to the high $900s. Residents also have access to plenty of amenities, including four clubhouses, three golf courses, and three restaurants.
Request more information about Sun City Summerlin.
17. Sun City Anthem – Henderson, NV
High $300s – Mid $1Ms
Sun City Anthem has three clubhouses, two 18-hole golf courses, over 50 clubs and interest groups, and a variety of condo, attached, and single-family homes. Current home prices range from the high $300s to the $1.1 million. The community’s ideal location offers views of the Las Vegas Strip and a retreat from the hotter temperatures in the valley.
Request more information about Sun City Anthem.
18. Oak Run – Ocala, FL
Low $100s – Mid $300s
A popular community in Ocala, Oak Run offers an expansive list of amenities that includes five clubhouses, a fitness center, and the Royal Oaks Golf Club. Homes in this community are available in more than 20 single-family and duplex floor plans. Plus, homeowners in Oak Run are just 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and 90 minutes from Orlando and Tampa.
Request more information about Oak Run.
19. Latitude Margaritaville – Daytona Beach, FL
Mid $200s – Low $500s
Latitude Margaritaville is a 55+ active adult community inspired by the music of Jimmy Buffett. The epicenter of all activity in the community is the Town Square where residents have access to the Fins Up! Fitness Center, The Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant, and live entertainment. Current homes for sale in this community range from the low $300s to the low $500s.
Request more information about Latitude Margaritaville.
20. Sun City Texas – Georgetown, TX
High $300s – Low $1Ms
Sun City Texas offers the charm of small-town living just a short drive from the culture and entertainment of Austin. Offering warm weather, a low cost of living, and attractive homes for sale in the Texas Hill Country, this community offers great homebuying value for active adults in the Lone Star State. Current prices range from the mid $300s to the high $700s.
Request more information about Sun City Texas.
21. Pelican Preserve – Fort Myers, FL
Mid $100s – High $500s
Pelican Preserve is a 1,100-acre golf course community surrounded by nature and within 15 miles of Downtown Fort Myers. The 2,500 residences include condos, carriage homes, attached villas, and single-family homes. Current prices range from the mid $300s to the mid $600s. Homeowners can take advantage of the wide selection of amenities, including a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a fitness center.
Request more information about Pelican Preserve.
22. Savannah Lakes Village – McCormick, SC
High $200s – Low $1Ms
Savannah Lakes Village is a resort-style community that offers new and resale attached, condo, and single-family homes. Current prices range from the high $200s to the mid $600s. The resort-like amenities center on the 23,000-square-foot recreation center with multipurpose rooms, a ballroom, and a fitness center complete with an indoor pool.
Request more information about Savannah Lakes Village.
23. Sun City Carolina Lakes – Indian Land, SC
Mid $200s – Mid $600s
Sun City Carolina Lakes has 3,160 homes spread across 1,512 acres of scenic South Carolina landscape. Residents enjoy having access to two large clubhouses, an 18-hole golf course, and more than 100 active clubs. Single-family homes, villa townhomes, and carriage homes are available on a resale basis, and current home prices range from the low $400s to the mid $500s.
Request more information about Sun City Carolina Lakes.
24. Leisure World Of Maryland – Silver Spring, MD
Below $100k – Low $600s
Leisure World Of Maryland is a gated 55+ community with two clubhouses, a golf course, and plenty of social activities. The 5,600 properties in this community are low-maintenance condos, attached homes, and single-family homes. Current prices range from the mid $100s to the low $600s.
Request more information about Leisure World Of Maryland.
25. Sun City Palm Desert – Palm Desert, CA
Mid $300s – High $1Ms
Sun City Palm Desert offers a resort-style retirement in Palm Desert. With 4,949 homes, this community has plenty of resale attached and single-family homes for sale. Current prices range from the low $300s to the low $800s.
Request more information about Sun City Palm Desert.
Methodology
To determine which of the 3,800+ communities across the country provide the best value to active adults we answered the following questions:
-
Which communities have the lowest home prices?
-
Where can you get the most square footage for your buck?
-
Does the community have attractive amenities and lifestyle groups?
-
Are taxes low in the area?
After pulling from several data sources including National Real Estate Data from the MLS, the Census Bureau, the Tax Foundation, and hand-curated data from 55places, the final list was weighed and scaled with the active adult lifestyle in mind.
