St. Petersburg, FL 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview

St. Petersburg is an attractive retirement destination for active adults seeking plenty of art, dining options, and natural areas. In addition, St. Petersburg is less than an hour from the entertainment of Tampa and Clearwater. With the warm weather of Florida and a vibrant local art scene, St. Petersburg is popular among active adults.

Climate & Geography

St. Petersburg is on the Gulf Coast and a part of the Tampa Bay area. Due to the city’s close proximity to the ocean, St. Petersburg experiences extreme seasonal variation when it comes to humidity. Summers are hot and very humid while winters are mild to cool. 

St. Petersburg resides on low-lying land alongside various bays and bayous.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

St. Petersburg is home to seven different art districts, each one with distinctive styles: Waterfront Museum District, Central Arts District, Grand Central District, Edge District, Warehouse Arts District, Deuces Live District, and M.L. King North District. The popular Salvador Dalí Museum is also located in St. Petersburg, and the Duncan McClellan Gallery showcases international glass artists and features outdoor sculpture gardens.

For nature lovers, St. Petersburg is rich with parks, trails, and marinas. In total, St. Petersburg has 2,400 acres of greenspaces throughout 150 parks, 77 athletic fields, and more. Sunken Gardens, one of the more popular outdoor areas in town, is a historic botanic garden that houses more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers. 

With an expansive waterfront area, the city has five beaches for Floridians to enjoy. Residents can also visit nearby Tampa, just a short drive away.

Cost of Living & Taxes

St. Petersburg’s cost of living is lower than Florida’s average but slightly higher than the national average. 

Florida is one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees. In addition to having no state income tax, retirees can qualify for an additional homestead exemption to help alleviate property taxes.

Health Care

The Tampa metro area ranks in the top 100 communities in Gallup’s Well-Being Index.

There are several hospitals in the St. Petersburg area that are rated high performing by U.S. News, including St. Anthony’s Hospital, Northside Hospital-St. Petersburg, and Largo Medical Center. Nearby Tampa General Hospital is high performing and the No. 1 hospital in the region.