Broward County
Broward County is bordered on the west by the Everglades and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. The County was formed by usurping portions of northern Dade county and the southern end of Palm Beach County. With today’s thriving metropolis one would never guess that Broward saw its first significant development just over 100 years ago.
When driving through Broward County you’ll find that in most areas the cities and towns seem to all run together into one suburban expanse. But despite the sprawl, the various cities and towns which make up the county do have some unique qualities.
If you’re interested in an oceanfront condo, check out Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. If gambling is your favorite hobby then consider retiring in Hollywood or Pompano Beach – each of those towns has a major casino. If you own a horse then the towns of Southwest Ranches and Davie are good options. If you want to live in a town where you can get by without a car, then check out Hollywood and their free shuttle. If safety is a top concern consider living in Weston or Parkland. Both of these cities are consistently rated in the top safest cities in Florida. But no matter where in Broward County you choose to retire you can be sure of one thing – you’ll enjoy year-round warm weather!
Photo Courtesy of: Florida’s Hollywood
Living in
Fort Lauderdale
Not only is Fort Lauderdale Broward County’s largest city, it’s also the most well known one. In 1960 the movie “Where the Boys Are” showcased Fort Lauderdale as the place for college students to let loose for spring break. And for many years that followed, the area of Fort Lauderdale beach known as the “Strip” was a pretty raunchy place to party. But after a particularly troublesome spring season in 1985, the city decided they wanted the spring breakers to leave and enacted new laws and other changes that ultimately resulted in Daytona Beach becoming Florida’s new spring break capital. Now Fort Lauderdale’s Strip is more upscale and is continuing to evolve.
But there is so much more to do in Fort Lauderdale than in the areas near the beach. With too many things to list, we’ll just mention a few. Stroll Las Olas Boulevard with its major art galleries, selection of restaurants and unique shops. Spend an evening on the Riverwalk, enjoying the views while dining and listening to music. Or simply enjoy a stroll in one of the city’s many parks.
Fort Lauderdale is a great place for boating and golfing alike. Fort Lauderale has four highly-rated golf courses within its borders but there are another 90 courses within a 20 minutes drive of the city! And for boaters, Fort Lauderdale has a massive network of canals that stretch west more than 30 miles past the city limits into the western reaches of Broward County.
If you are looking for an oceanfront condo in the city of Fort Lauderdale you’ll find that they are somewhat limited. This is because a large stretch of Fort Lauderdale’s beach is narrow and does not have room for development east of A1A. For oceanfront condos just steps north of Fort Lauderdale beach, check out Lauderdale-by-the-Sea below.
Living in
Deerfield Beach
Sitting at the very northeast corner of Broward County, the city of Deerfield Beach offers a clean beach that is a bit quieter than its neighboring towns to the south. This is a great place for people who like to take daily walks! Walking on the beach is so scenic and offers a breeze in Florida’s hot summer months but the soft sand can take it’s toll on you. Deerfield Beach has the perfect solution – a boardwalk (wide sidewalk) that follows along the sand for over a mile! And after your walk grab a bite to eat in one of the many great restaurants nearby.
Most tourists don’t have Deerfield Beach on their radar, which is great for the residents here. Even though the city isn’t a mecca for tourists (there are some), there is no shortage of things to do. Enjoy fishing on the 976 foot long pier. Walk amongst the exotic trees at Arboretum at Constitution Park. Play pickleball or visit the game room at the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex. Golf at one of Deerfield Beach’s 18 hole courses. And when family comes to visit be sure to take them to Quiet Waters Park which has something for everyone, including a water park, walking and biking trails, a playground, fishing, a marina, volleyball and basketball, and even cable-pulled water skiing!
Living in
Hollywood
Photo Courtesy of: City of Hollywood
Almost at the very southern end of Broward County lies the city of Hollywood, Florida. Like Deerfield Beach, Hollywood boasts a beachside boardwalk, only Hollywood’s is longer at a whopping 2 1/2 miles! However, unlike Deerfield Beach, Hollywood is pretty well-known to tourists and is a favorite wintering location for French Canadians. But Hollywood has come up with a brilliant way to keep the traffic congestion to a minimum – they operate a free electric shuttle that travels along the beach, throughout downtown and out to city hall. This isn’t a free bus service, this is an on-demand shuttle that you can flag down like a cab (or for a $1 fee you can use their app to call one).
So, when you live at the beach here, take the shuttle to Hollywood’s nearby historic downtown. Your dinner choices will include over 80 restaurants offering cuisine from all over the world. You’ll also find boutiques, art galleries, brew pubs, and even a small cinema that shows indie films. And the free shuttle also stops at one of the 5 golf courses within Hollywood’s city limits.
Hollywood is a good retirement choice for those that like to gamble. The massive, guitar-shaped Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is popular with residents and tourists alike. With over 3,000 slot machines, almost 200 table games, and a 24/7 high-stakes poker room, you won’t be bored.
Living in
Weston
Photo Courtesy of: City of Weston
Weston is a master-planned community that was incorporated as a city in 1996. Although a relatively new city, the first homes here were constructed in the mid 1980’s, so Weston’s various, distinctive neighborhoods are well established now. If you love golf and tennis, consider living in the Weston Hills neighborhood and joining the prestigious Club at Weston Hills.
Being the westernmost city in Broward County, Weston sits right on the edge of the current Everglades and on land that used to be part of the Everglades. The proximity to the Everglades is great for wildlife enthusiasts but if you’re deathly afraid of alligators, this may not be the best choice for your retirement. Because there are a lot of water features in Weston, people often find alligators in their yards here.
If it’s crime that you fear, you’ll be happy to know that Weston frequently makes it on various top 10 lists of the safest cities in Florida. For 2021 they are ranked #3 by Safewise, and currently Weston is ranked as the #1 safest city in Florida by Safehome.org.
Living in
Wilton Manors
Photo Courtesy of: City of Wilton Manors
Thirty years ago, Wilton Manors was an aging small town with not much to distinguish itself from the surrounding city of Fort Lauderdale. But then in the early 90’s the LGBT community started moving in and soon the town was transformed into a thriving gay village. Wilton Manors is one of the most active gay communities in Florida thanks, in part, to the Pride Center at Equality Park.
Wilton Manors is carved out of central Fort Lauderdale and is completely surrounded by a canal. If you like to kayak/canoe or boat, use the search button directly below to find out how much canal-front homes cost in the area. The canals in and around Wilton Manors lead out to the intercoastal waterway and eventually to the ocean.
Living in
Pompano Beach
Photo Courtesy of: Visit Florida
Pompano Beach, located directly between Fort Lauderdale Beach and Hillsboro Beach, is known for its warm waters that provide for great fishing. In fact, the town got its name from the popular game fish – the Florida pompano. The city of Pompano Beach has grand plans to revitalize the city including a downtown area that they are calling the “innovation district”.
If you like to gamble, Pompano Beach may be a good south Florida retirement location for you. Harrah’s Pompano Beach (formerly the Isle Casino Pompano Park) is located here.
Living in
Parkland
Photo Courtesy of: City of Parkland
Located in the northwest corner of Broward County, Parkland sits adjacent to the Everglades and Coral Springs. Parkland possess the distinction of having the highest median household income of any city in Broward County. In fact, Parkland is sometimes ranked as having the highest median household income in all of Florida!
Despite being incorporated in 1963, while the rest of Broward County was growing up around it, Parkland didn’t see a significant growth in population until the 1990’s. This was due largely to their strict zoning laws which were intended to keep “Parkland” a land of parks! But with a population now of over 30,000 and growing, Parkland seems to have caught up with its neighbors, but without losing its park-like atmosphere.
Living in
Coral Springs, Margate & Coconut Creek
Photo Courtesy of: City of Coral Springs
The cities of Coral Springs, Margate and Coconut Creek lie in the west half of Broward County south of Parkland. This area of Broward County offers pretty much anything you might want except a beach. Within the confines of these 3 adjacent cities you’ll find six 18-hole golf courses; a casino; endless shopping opportunities, including all 3 of the big wholesale clubs; beautiful parks including the popular Tradewinds Park & Stables; plenty of locally-owned as well as chain restaurants; the Coral Spring Center for the Arts; and two full-service hospitals.
If you are interested in moving to a city with lots of other retirees, you should note that of these three cities, Coral Springs has the least number of residents over 65 and the least number of 55+ communities. But Coral Springs does have an active senior center that offers classes where you can meet other retirees with similar interests.
Living in
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Photo Courtesy of: City of Lauderdale by the Sea
Located entirely on the barrier island directly north of Fort Lauderdale beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a small town of only 1.5 square miles. This is a true beach town with the motto of “Relax… You’re Here.” There’s a free shuttle that travels the length of the town from north to south, so if you plan to spend most of your days in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea there is no need to own a car.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s beaches are lined with oceanfront condos but across A1A on the west side of the island, along the canals and Intracoastal Waterway, you’ll mostly find single-family homes. Although the town isn’t an official retirement community it might as well be because the median age of the residents here is 62. The town houses approximately 6,500 permanent residents but that number nearly doubles in the winter. So, if you are thinking of making Lauderdale-by-the-Sea your winter home, you won’t be alone!
Living in
Southwest Ranches
“Temporary Photo”
Want to live a rural lifestyle but still be close to all the excitement in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area? If so, Southwest Ranches might be for you! But don’t expect rural prices, you won’t find anything under $500,000 here. This town might be described as “upscale rural” if there is such a thing.
A small community of under 8,000 residents, almost all of the homes in Southwest Ranches are on at least an acre of land. And if you’re a horse owner, there is no better place to live in Broward County. In addition to the town’s many equestrian trails and existing parks, including the horse-centric Sunshine Acres Equestrian Park, the town has purchased additional tracts of land that it plans to “develop” as funds allow. But in Southwest Ranches, “developing” doesn’t mean adding more homes and businesses, it means improving/restoring outdoor spaces so that the town’s rural lifestyle can be preserved and enjoyed.
Living in
Pembroke Pines & Miramar
Photo by: Aleksandr Kondratev
Miramar and Pembroke Pines are located in the southwest corner of Broward County and have a combined population of about 300,000 residents. Miramar was incorporated in 1955 and was established as a “bedroom community” for nearby Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Like Miami, Miramar is a very cosmopolitan city with nearly 40% of its residents being born in other countries.
Both of these cities offer a good selection of parks, including the popular C.B. Smith Park. C.B. Smith has everything from putt-putt golf to an incredible waterpark – a sure hit for families visiting with children. And the adults will appreciate a selection of golf courses and nature trails within the cities limits.
Although Pembroke Pines and Miramar are not on the beach they do have plenty of canals and lakes if you are looking for a home with a water view. But if you are thinking about retiring here and want to be around other retirees, be sure to search for homes in 55+ communities because the number of senior residents here is well under the Florida average.
Living in
Plantation, Sunrise & Davie
Photo Courtesy of: Visit Florida
Plantation, Sunrise and Davie are located in the southwestern portion of Broward County, north of Pembroke Pines. If you like to enjoy a wide range of activities, this area might be a good option for your retirement. In addition to the requisite golf courses, restaurants and shopping, within the borders of these three adjacent cities you’ll also find activities that you can’t find just anywhere.
Markham Park in the city of Sunrise has a wealth of activities all on its own. This 669 acre park offers an astronomical observatory for ameture astronomers , skeet & trap shooting, a rifle & pistol range, nature trails, a boat ramp, an obstacle course for radio controlled truck enthusiasts, and an airfield for radio controlled planes!
This area of Broward County also boasts miles of equestrian trails; public gyms, tennis courts & aquatic centers; disc golf courses; an active senior center; and the popular Flamingo Gardens wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden.
