A new type of snowbird — the remote worker — has joined the flock of folks heading south each winter.
While retirees from the northern U.S. and Canada still make up the bulk of snowbirds, younger professionals who can work from anywhere now join them, according to StorageCafe, a national storage space marketplace.
Regardless of age, most snowbirds want to find a warm climate where the sun is also gentle on their wallets. Recently, StorageCafe ranked 215 U.S. cities in 11 states based on factors that make them perfect nests for snowbirds, such as:
- October to March average temperatures
- Rainfall
- Number of restaurants
- Beaches within a 10-mile radius
- Park space per capita
- Golf courses per capita
- The cost of renting an apartment or buying a home
- Availability of RV parks
- Safety
- Health care-related factors
- Self-storage prices
Here are the cities that topped the list.
10. Clermont, Florida
Population: 47,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 24%
Clermont is not on Florida’s coast — it’s inland, close to Orlando and that city’s world-class attractions — but water lovers can still have fun on Lake Minneola or Lake Minnehaha.
You can also enjoy views of the countryside in the 22-story Florida Citrus Tower, one of the state’s oldest roadside attractions.
9. Fort Myers, Florida
Population: 96,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 22%
Snowbirds who are history buffs will enjoy touring the Fort Myers winter homes of inventor Thomas Edison and carmaker Henry Ford.
Nature lovers can get the most out of Florida’s beautiful weather during a stroll through the 2,200 acres of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.
8. Tarpon Springs, Florida
Population: 26,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 29%
Tarpon Springs is known as the “sponge capital of the world,” because harvesting sponges from the Gulf of Mexico once was a prime driver of the local economy.
Today, snowbirds are likely to enjoy the area’s downtown, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, its white sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets over the Gulf.
7. Apache Junction, Arizona
Population: 40,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 33%
Located in the eastern area of Phoenix, Apache Junction long has attracted treasure seekers in search of a legendary cache of gold said to have been buried by two 19th-century men in the surrounding mountains.
Snowbirds living in the 21st century are less likely to be interested in searching for gold and more likely to explore the area’s hiking and biking trails.
6. Mission, Texas
Population: 87,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 13%
Located 250 miles south of San Antonio in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, Mission is home both the National Butterfly Center and World Birding Center.
Winter temperatures here average a nearly perfect 72 degrees, so snowbirds can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities, from kayaking to golf.
5. Lake Wales, Florida
Population: 17,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 27%
Snowbirds seeking Old Florida can still find it in Lake Wales. The area is perhaps most famous for the gardens of Historic Bok Sanctuary, where 60 carillon bells ring out every day from the art deco and neo-Gothic Singing Tower.
Art lovers will enjoy the Lake Wales Art Center and the murals in the downtown area.
4. Naples, Florida
Population: 20,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 53%
Foodies love Naples for its more than 700 restaurants, and the area is renowned for its high-end shopping.
But snowbirds also will find plenty of outdoor activities on this piece of southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast, from beautiful sunsets on the beach to a stroll through Naples Botanical Gardens.
3. Fort Pierce, Florida
Population: 48,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 19%
Military buffs might enjoy spending time in Fort Pierce, which is home to the National Navy SEAL Museum.
Early rising snowbirds can enjoy sunrises over the Atlantic Ocean that earned the city its nickname, Sunrise City. They also can also find entertainment at the Sunrise Theatre and enjoy nature at the Heathcote Botanical Garden.
2. Vero Beach, Florida
Population: 17,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 29%
Vero Beach, part of southeast Florida’s Treasure Coast, includes 26 miles of beaches of its own. Things are a bit quieter here than in nearby West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Snowbirds seeking a serene experience can grab a kayak and paddle down the Indian River Lagoon.
1. Venice, Florida
Population: 27,000 as of 2022
Share of population that is 65 or older: 61%
Snowbirds looking for an unusual type of treasure flock to Venice Beach: The town is world-famous for being a great place to find fossilized prehistoric shark teeth.
If you are more interested in aquatic life that still roams the waters, grab a rod and reel and fish from the 700-foot Venice Fishing Pier.
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