7 Great Places to Retire in Florida

Every day Florida's population swells by more than 1,000 people, many of them retirees relocating for the second halves of their lives. There's little mystery why: Even in the coldest months of the year, the average daily high is at least 70 degrees, and the temperature rarely dips below 50 in the Sunshine State.

Florida is also one of the most tax-friendly states in the country for retirees. There's no state income tax, and permanent residents are eligible for a homestead exemption of up to $50,000, which lowers their real estate taxes. Seniors may qualify for an additional exemption.

But Florida is a big, diverse state, too, with plenty of pleasant cities and towns on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, or inland (central Florida has lots of lakes, and parts are even hilly). Worried about hurricanes? Hurricane risk on Florida's west coast is less than on the east coast. Here are seven great