Fort Lauderdale 55+ Retirement Communities

Fort Lauderdale is on the Atlantic Coast and is very popular with retirees due to its weather, cruise ports and numerous outdoor activities.

Climate & Geography

Fort Lauderdale is in a Tropical Rainforest Climate zone with hot and humid weather throughout most of the year. The area sees about 16 inches of rain per year, much of it falling during the month of August. Winter temperatures average from 64° to 73°. Summer in Fort Lauderdale is hot and humid with summer temperatures averaging 82° to 87° and 74% humidity. Ocean temperatures in the area range from 74° in January to 87° in August.

Fort Lauderdale has 7 miles of Atlantic Coast beaches and over 165 miles of canals and waterways within the city. The city is divided into two distinct parts as a small section of Fort Lauderdale is separated from the main part of the city by a canal that passes under a freeway.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Like many cities in Florida Fort Lauderdale has a variety of beaches for active adults to choose from. Fort Lauderdale also has a large variety of other entertainment options available, including:

Art & performances

• • Broward Center for the Performing Arts
  • National Geographic Fine Art Galleries
  • Old Dillard Art and Cultural Museum
  • Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

Historical sites and museums

• • Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
  • Stranahan House museum
  • Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum
  • Fort Lauderdale Fire & Safety Museum

Outdoor activities

• • Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
  • Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area
  • Snyder Park

Cost of Living & Taxes

Florida is a popular retirement spot partially because of the state’s tax structure. Florida has no income tax, or estate tax. There is a 5.5% corporate income tax and property taxes can be high. There are several exemptions for seniors and low-income residents that can reduce the property tax burden. Property taxes and sales taxes vary by location, the average property tax for Fort Lauderdale is $412 per one hundred thousand of assessed property value. Fort Lauderdale sales tax is 7% which includes the 6% sales tax plus a 1% Broward County tax.

Health Care

Fort Lauderdale has several high-ranking hospitals nearby, including two that are among the top 50 ranked in the nation by U.S. News & World Reports:

Cleveland Clinic Weston has 230 beds and is ranked as one of the top 5 hospitals in Florida as well as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for treatment in gastroenterology and GI surgery.

University of Miami Hospital and Clinics-UHealth Tower has 476 beds and is the number one ranked hospital in the U.S. for ophthalmology and is also nationally highly ranked for cancer treatment and neurology.