Melbourne, FL 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

Melbourne is one of the most affordable eastern beachside cities in Central Florida, otherwise known as the Space Coast for its close proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Retirees are flocking to Melbourne for its consistently warm weather, water recreation, and historic art community. 

Climate & Geography 

Melbourne is located on the eastern coast of central Florida, southeast of Orlando. Residents can expect weather similar to the rest of the state, in line with its humid subtropical climate: humid, wet, and hot summers with semi-frequent rain, and dry and warm winters with no snow or frost. The wet season causes Melbourne to have higher-than-average rainfall, but the city still experiences over 230 sunny days a year. 

The city sits on marshland with several inland lakes. The Indian River cuts through the edge of Melbourne, giving the city several different beaches on two bodies of water.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

Residents have plenty of opportunities for water recreation and sports because of Melbourne’s local lakes and coast. Sebastian Inlet State Park, Paradise Beach & Park, and Lake Washington are popular destinations for kayaking, boating, fishing, and swimming. River tours and airboat rides can be found throughout the city.

Melbourne also has a thriving downtown and arts district. Main Street Melbourne is the historic downtown area with local boutiques and restaurants, and Eau Gallie Arts District has many indoor and outdoor galleries, as well as comedy venues and Intracoastal Brewing Company.

Other attractive activities in Melbourne include the Melbourne Arts Festival, the Main Street Fall Festival, and six local golf courses.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

Melbourne is one of the most affordable coastal cities in Florida, with the overall cost of living far below Florida and the U.S. average. Houses cost less and other budget factors, like utilities, groceries, transportation, and health care, are all below the national average.

Florida does not tax income, making it desirable for retirees whose are budgeting around Social Security, pensions, IRAs, and other forms of retirement income. With a sales tax at 7 percent, Brevard County is very similar to the rest of the state. Property taxes are lower in the county, however, which is one of the reasons for such affordable housing.

Health Care

The Palm Bay and Melbourne area typically rank well in Gallup’s Well-Being Index. It has placed within the top 100 communities across the country for the past several years.

The area does not have any nationally ranked hospitals, but Melbourne is home to the No. 1 hospital in the metropolitan area, Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center. Other local hospitals include Melbourne Regional Medical Center, Kindred Hospital Melbourne, and the high performing Rockledge Regional Medical Center.