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With its strong community and pleasant winter climate, Cape Coral ranks as the best city for snowbirds in 2025. Not sure if Florida is right for you?
From Texas to Georgia, Snowbirds all over the U.S. are searching for the best destinations — whether they prioritize mild climates, affordable living, or amenities designed for active retirees.
Luckily, if you’re looking to fly South this winter, several great options exist.
Key Insights
Cape Coral, FL, ranks as the best city for snowbirds, offering the highest population aged 60+ and the second-highest number of golf courses per capita.
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Florida offers many of the most locations for snowbirds, with four of the top ten cities located within its borders.
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El Paso, TX, stands out for its exceptional weather, ranking #1 for the average share of clear days between November and March.
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Augusta, GA, earns high marks for both affordability and community, offering the lowest violent and property crime rates on our list.
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Alabama’s Montgomery and Mobile offer the most affordable housing for snowbirds.
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To find 2025’s best snowbird destinations, Retirement Living experts evaluated U.S. cities on affordability, climate, community, safety, and recreational options.
Discover the top-ranked cities and what makes each one a perfect winter retreat.
Top 10 Cities for Snowbirds
The combination of warm climates and safe communities earned the following cities a top 10 spot on our list. They all offer mild winter temperatures, abundant sunny days, and amenities that cater to older adults.
However, what sets these cities apart is their unique advantages in each category.
Florida cities like Cape Coral and Port St. Lucie offer unmatched safety and recreation, while El Paso, Texas, provides the best weather for those seeking sunny days and low humidity. Meanwhile, Alabama’s cities are some of the most affordable on our list.
Read on to learn which cities made the top ten and why.
1. Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral, Florida, is the best city for snowbirds in 2025, with the highest community score on our list. Its highest percentage of residents above 60 years old (32.42%), second-highest number of golf courses per 1,000 people, and second- and third-lowest violent and property crime rates, respectively, earned it the number one spot.
This Florida gem also earned the sixth-highest climate score due to its sixth-highest average temperatures (67.2°F) and seventh-highest percentage of clear days between November and March (64.2%, or 96 clear days).
2. El Paso, Texas
This border city ranked as the second best place to move for snowbirds, with respectable scores in all three categories. El Paso stands out for its pleasant winter climate, ranking eighth overall and first for low humidity and the average number of clear days (101 total).
El Paso also ranks 13th for affordability and 12th for community, with its most notable accomplishment in either category being the eighth lowest property crime rate per 1,000 residents.
3. Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the sixth most affordable city on our list. It offers the fifth-lowest median rent ($1,259) and the seventh-lowest median home sale price ($225,357), making it ideal for snowbirds looking for an affordable winter destination.
Laredo also offers a moderately comfortable climate, ranking 12th on our list. There are an average of 90 clear days here, and the average temperature is 62.4°F between November and March.
4. Port St. Lucie, Florida
High scores in the community category pushed Port St. Lucie to fourth on our list. This city has the most golf courses per 1,000 people, the third-highest share of residents 60 or older, and the second-lowest property crime rates, making it a safe and fun destination for snowbirds.
Being just across the peninsula from Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie also earned the seventh-highest climate score on our list. 62.8% of days (94 days) are clear here, with an average temperature of 66.8°F between November and March.
5. Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia, has the fourth-highest community score on our list, primarily due to its lowest violent and property crime rate per 1,000 people. If safety is one of your top concerns, there’s no better destination for snowbirds.
Augusta is also affordable, ranking 10th on our list. Its median rent is the eighth lowest ($1,288), and its median home sale price is the 13th lowest ($246,464).
6. Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas, is the sixth-best city for snowbirds, primarily because of its warm climate and affordability. At $238,572, its median home sale price is the 11th lowest on our list. Brownsville also ranked ninth and 13th for average temperatures and the share of clear days between November and March, respectively.
7. Hialeah, Florida
With the second-highest climate score and fifth-highest community score, a lack of affordability is the only thing holding Hialeah, FL, back from ranking higher on our list. This city offers the fourth-highest average temperatures (70.4°F) and the third-highest share of clear days (99 days total) between November and March.
Community is also a major factor in boosting Hialeah’s score, with low property and violent crime rates complimented by having the sixth-highest share of residents 60+ years old.
8. Mobile, Alabama
If you can handle cooler, humid days, Mobile is one of the most affordable destinations for snowbirds. It offers the seventh-lowest median rent prices ($1,280) and the fifth-lowest median home sale prices ($201,213). You’ll also be surrounded by many of your peers, with nearly 25% of the population being 60+ years old.
9. Montgomery, Alabama
Despite cooler inland temperatures, having the best affordability score helps boost Montgomery to its ninth-place ranking. The median home sale price here is only $185,864 — the second-lowest on our list, while the median rent is the fourth-lowest ($1,242). Montgomery also offers a solid community for snowbirds, with 22.69% of the population being 60 or older and the 11th most golf courses per 1,000 residents.
10. St. Petersburg, Florida
A combination of climate and community place St. Petersburg as the 10th best city for snowbirds. 30.27% of the population are 60 or older, and they can indulge in several golf courses (the 8th highest number per 1,000 residents). The climate is also pleasant, with average temperatures of 65.8°F between November and March.
See Where Your Snowbird City Ranked
The table below ranks the best cities for snowbirds across three key categories: affordability, climate, and community. While our analysis weighted each category equally, we encourage you to consider what you care about most while using this data to pick your perfect migration destination.
Methodology
To determine the best cities for snowbirds in 2025, the Retirement Living Research Team compared all U.S. cities across three weighted categories totaling 100 points.
- Affordability (30 points): We assessed affordability through median rent and home sale prices. Housing data was sourced from Zillow.
- Climate (35 points): Cities were scored based on average temperatures, clear days, and humidity levels from November to March. Our climate data comes from Weather Spark.
- Community (35 points): The community score is based on violent and property crime data from NeighborhoodScout, senior population percentages from the U.S. Census Bureau, and golf course availability data from County Business Patterns.
Fair Use Statement
We love it when people share our findings. If you do, please credit our research by linking back to our original article.
Sources
Retirement Living writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts, and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- “Housing Data.” Zillow. Evaluated Dec. 20, 2024.
Link here - “The Weather Year Round Anywhere on Earth.” Weather Spark. Evaluated Dec. 20, 2024.
Link here - “Custom Analytics to Invest, Appraise, or Finance Real Estate.” Neighborhood Scout. Evaluated Dec. 20, 2024.
Link here - “Age and Sex.” United States Census Bureau. Evaluated Dec. 20, 2024.
Link here - “County Business Patterns.” United States Census Bureau. Evaluated Dec. 20, 2024.
Link here