Summerfield, FL 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

Summerfield is an unincorporated township in Central Florida. A suburb of Ocala, it is a mainly residential area with a focus on outdoor recreation. Its year-round warmth, affordable housing, and strong sense of community, as well as its proximity to the amenities of Ocala, make it an attractive destination for retirees.

Climate & Geography 

Located 16 miles southeast of Ocala, Summerfield experiences a similar climate with long, humid summers and dry, mild winters. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer, the area’s wet season. The region is too far inland to receive regulation from either the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, so summer temperatures are often the highest in the state.

Summerfield and its surrounding areas are generally composed of rolling hills. Lake Weir is to the east, while the Ocala National Forest is just further east of Lake Weir. The Gulf of Mexico is just under an hour away to the west.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

Summerfield is a mainly residential, suburban community. Much of its recreation is in the surrounding area, including Lake Weir, which has nearly 6,000 acres of boating, water skiing, and freshwater fishing. The Ocala National Forest has several trails, natural pools, and canoe runs.

Residents looking for local shopping need only travel a few miles. Spanish Springs is a town center in Lady Lake with restaurants, shops, and nightly entertainment. Nearby Belleview also hosts the Market of Marion, a weekly farmers market. 

Wine lovers can sample the local offerings at the Dragon Flower Winery. Those looking for even more breweries and wineries, as well as more shopping and restaurants can head to Ocala, just 30 minutes away.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

The cost of living in Summerfield is below the national and state averages. Almost every factor, including housing, transportation, health care, and groceries are below average. Utilities match the national average. 

Florida is very tax friendly for retirees because there is no state income tax. In addition, property taxes are fairly low, and Summerfield’s combined sales tax rate of 7 percent is close to the national average.

Health Care

The Ocala metro area scores highly in Gallup’s Well-Being Index, most recently ranking in the top 25 communities overall. More specifically, it ranked No. 5 in the community index, and No. 3 in the social index.

Although there are no nationally ranked hospitals in Summerfield, the nearest high performing hospital, according to U.S. News, is The Villages Regional Hospital located in The Villages. Ocala has two more high performing hospitals, Munroe Regional Medical Center and Ocala Regional Medical Center. The Leesburg Regional Medical Center 17 miles away in Leesburg is also high performing and the No. 3 hospital in the greater Orlando area.