{"id":92604,"date":"2025-12-22T16:29:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T16:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/92604\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T16:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T16:29:11","slug":"the-best-place-in-america-to-retire-car-free-is-a-chic-vibrant-florida-island-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/92604\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Place In America To Retire Car-Free Is A Chic, Vibrant Florida ‘Island City’"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to get around Florida without a vehicle, and there aren’t many cities that can accommodate a car-free lifestyle \u2014 especially in the sweltering heat of summer when you’re practically begging to be near an A\/C vent. However, there’s one city that proves to be a walkable, charming town with an inviting neighborhood vibe. Wilton Manors, just 11 minutes north of downtown Fort Lauderdale \u2014 also known as the “Venice of America”<\/a> \u2014 has cultural flair, artsy streets, and a welcoming community for all ages. In fact, GoBankingRates<\/a> just named the “Island City” the best place to retire without a car.<\/p>\n

The study gathered information from cities around the U.S. that have more than 20% of people who are 65+ living there, using the U.S. Census Bureau from 2024. Researchers factored in median housing costs, transportation-related bills, average mortgage, and walkability index. They sourced information from organizations, like Zillow, and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n

Out of 20, the city scored a 17 for being the most walkable, and it was also considered the most livable in the Sunshine State<\/a>. It’s no wonder many snowbirds flock and, eventually, move here in their later years.<\/p>\n

Read more: Islands Around The World That Are The Most Dangerous<\/a><\/p>\n

What you can expect in Wilton Manors\"A<\/p>\n

A Wilton Manors city limits sign – Serenethos\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

In Wilton Manors, locals avoid toll fees and increasing gas pump prices to walk or bike around\u00a0vibrantly painted buildings<\/a> and colorful street art. The murals around town reflect an inclusive nature of the city, which is just minutes away from the “hottest U.S. gay beach.”<\/a>\u00a0The city is prime for a mature audience, because it has\u00a0senior programs<\/a> for exercising, mental stimulation, and camaraderie. On social media, there are Facebook groups where retirees can find other active people their age who are also looking to make new friends.<\/p>\n

The average cost of living in Wilton Manors is low, as GoBankingRates<\/a> finds it’s only $73,000 per year; whereas, the national average was $77,000 in 2023 (via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>). With Florida’s “no state income tax” law, the area is quite affordable. There are also a great deal of senior living care facilities, some of them providing transportation services, giving retirees multiple options to find the most suitable situation without having to own a car.<\/p>\n

Around the city, you’ll find staple restaurants, like Rosie’s Bar & Grill\u00a0or Milk Money Bar & Kitchen,\u00a0both\u00a0serving up traditional American eats and\u00a0rated nearly 4.5 stars or higher on Google<\/a> reviews. The town also hosts one of the largest Pride festivals<\/a> in the state for over 25 years. With outdoor recreation, mouthwatering meals, and budget-friendly living, Wilton Manors is like a hidden celebration for those looking to retire with ease and efficiency.<\/p>\n

Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter<\/a> and add us as a preferred search source<\/a> for access to the world’s best-kept travel secrets.<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It’s hard to get around Florida without a vehicle, and there aren’t many cities that can accommodate a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":92605,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[28,249,251,250,49572],"class_list":{"0":"post-92604","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fort-lauderdale","8":"tag-florida","9":"tag-fort-lauderdale","10":"tag-fort-lauderdale-headlines","11":"tag-fort-lauderdale-news","12":"tag-wilton-manors"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92604\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}