Los Angeles Area 55+ Retirement Communities

The Los Angeles area is very popular for seniors looking for retirement communities. The area provides an abundance of golf courses, world class entertainment options, sandy beaches, and a warm sunny climate. 55+ retirement communities in the Los Angeles area are available at a variety of price points and amenities range from basic to luxurious.

Climate & Geography

The Los Angeles area has a Mediterranean climate defined by warm to hot weather all year long and is mostly dry. High temperatures in the summer can reach 90+ degrees while low temperatures in the winter are in the upper 40s. Residents can expect over 284 sunny days a year and 55+ adults who are tired of shoveling snow will be happy to learn that snowfall is very rare. 

The Los Angeles area sits in a basin surrounded by the Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Santa Susana, San Gabriel, and the San Bernardino Mountains on three sides and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The region is very prone to earthquakes due to its proximity to the San Andreas fault, the last major quake happened in 1994 and had a 6.7 magnitude.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

There are an inexhaustible number of entertainment options in the greater Los Angeles area, whether you prefer to spend your retirement enjoying golf, major league sporting events, the opera, museums, or family friendly attractions there is something for every 55+ active adult to enjoy. Several of the major Los Angeles area municipalities have unique attractions:

Long Beach 

• The Queen Mary – 1930s ocean line is now a museum ship and hotel
• Museum of Latin American Art
• Aquarium of the Pacific

Thousand Oaks

• Conejo Valley Botanic Garden
• Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa – nature park with hiking, biking, horseback riding trails and Native American cultural center
• Gardens of the World – collection of Japanese, French, Italian and English style gardens

Torrance

• Torrance Art Museum
• Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center – hiking and paved walking trails as well as wildlife viewing and an interpretive center
• Western Museum of Flight

City of Los Angeles

• Cultural venues include the Los Angeles County Art Museum, Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra, Los Angeles Opera and Pantages Theatre
• There are over 800 museums in LA including the Natural History Museum, Japanese American National Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Grammy Museum
• Family friendly fun attractions include Universal Studios Hollywood, La Brea Tarpits, California Science Center, Los Angeles Zoo, and Griffith Observatory

Southern California is world famous for its laid-back beach vibe and everyone has their own favorite beach, some are famous for people watching, surfing, or just sunbathing. Popular Los Angeles area public beaches include:

• Santa Monica State Beach
• Topanga Beach
• Redondo Beach
• Playa Del Rey Beach
• Venice Beach
• Manhattan Beach
• Hermosa Beach

Cost of Living & Taxes

The overall cost of living in the Los Angeles area is 51 percent higher than national averages. This is primarily due to the housing cost which is 132 percent more expensive than the U.S. average. 

California does not tax Social Security income or Railroad Retirement benefits, but all other retirement income is taxed. Residents over 65 may be eligible for several tax breaks, these residents may also qualify to defer their payment of property taxes. 

Health Care

There are 24 highly rated hospitals and medical centers in the Los Angeles area. U.S News & World Reports has ranked UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Keck Medical Center of USC the top three hospitals in the area. Two hospitals, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center made U.S. News & World Report’s top 20 hospitals in the United States list.