Why Seniors Should Choose to Move to Flagler County Florida and Palm Coast

There are many, many reasons those seniors looking to get near a beach on the East Coast of Florida should choose Flagler County and Palm Coast. 

Cost of Living in Flagler County

Most importantly is the low cost of living. The average home price in February of 2024 was only $359,000. According to Redfin, Palm Coast had an average home sale of only $330,000 which is down 7% from 2023. That is the third lowest average among coastal towns, right behind Duval and Brevard. The millage rate of only 14.64 is the third lowest behind Monroe and St Johns counties. Flagler county is the smallest coastal county by land area so getting around costs less since shops and doctors offices are closer. You will use less gas and put fewer miles on your cars so you can keep them longer.

Lack of Traffic is my second reason for moving to Palm Coast. Yes, there are times and places where there is some traffic, but compared to other cities along the east coast of Florida, Flagler is a snap to get around.

The low population of only approximately 116,000 residents contributes to low traffic. Flagler is the second smallest county along the coast behind only Nassau.

The Active Outdoor lifestyle.

Some of my fondest memories as a child are fishing at the Flagler Beach Pier and in my grandmother’s backyard on the canal leading to the inter-coastal. There is also a nice walkway under the 100 Bridge to fish. Whiting, sheephead, redfish and snook were wildly plentiful. There were clouds of catfish as well in the ocean. Nowadays, the pier is temporarily closed for repairs, but you can still catch all the fish you want to eat right in the surf. If you have a small boat, you can fish a new spot every day for months without getting bored. There are also 14 main lakes and many small ponds that have an abundance of bass for your fishing outings.

You can play all day at Flagler’s 18 miles of beaches. Most times they are very uncrowded and of course they are free to enjoy and free to park. My favorite way to pass time is to watch the surfers at the pier. They totally disregard rules for how close to get to the pier. A long walk on the beach (over 2 miles) is almost meditative and great for your overall health.

If you love pickleball the way I do, then you will be happy about the 12 new pickleball courts at the Southern Recreation Center and you can always find some fun play and nice people at the Hammock Community Center. If tennis is your hobby, then head over to the clay courts at the Palm Coast Tennis Center. You can also get hard court action at Belle Terre Park.

Biking in Flagler is great. There are 4 major bike trails cyclists can enjoy. First, A1A bicycle path is a 19.5 mile trail either on or near the beach. Second, the Lehigh Trail is 6.5 mile paved path for Palm Coast to Flagler Beach. Third, Graham Swamp trail is a 6.5 mile ride more suited for experienced riders using a mountain bike. Finally, Mala Compra Greenway is another 6.5 mile trail through Palm Coast.

For those who love bird watching, there are over 200 identified species of birds that frequent Flagler county and 6 Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trails.

Some of my favorite parks are Washington Oaks Gardens with over 425 acres of natural beauty, Bulow Plantation Ruins which showcases a real Sugar Plantation and over 150 acres, and finally Princess Place Preserve with 1500 acres on the Matanzas River.

Marineland, although not a major attraction anymore, is where you can swim with the dolphins and learn about conservation methods and rescue efforts for marine life at the Northern tip of Flagler county. When I was a kid, Flagler residents got in FREE and my grandmother would take us there at least once every summer. The dolphins could jump so high and the electric eel was my favorite exhibit.

The weather

Throw away your heavy coats and snow shovels if you plan to move to Palm Coast. Make sure you have an assortment of shorts, bathing suits and hats.

The average high in January is 65 and the average low is only 45. My personal favorite months are March and October because you will not need air conditioning or heat on most nights. October’s daily average high temperature is 81 and the average low is only 66. If you do not like the heat, you will not like living anywhere in Florida especially in the summer. What compounds the negative effects of the heat is the average high humidity of over 80. The average rainfall is 46 inches per year. In the Summer it will rain almost every day in the afternoon, but most days are filled with sunshine.

Culture

There are two public libraries in Flagler county for your reading pleasure and research needs.

There are two main museums. First, the Florida Agricultural Museum where you can find historic farming related buildings and even ride horses on 460 acres, including a dairy barn you can rent for weddings and special events. Second, the Flagler Beach Historical Museum which has a self guided walking tour of the town and exhibits that feature German submarines and local surfing legends.

The Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center at Flagler Auditorium is a 1,000 seat venue that has many local and national shows throughout the year.

Transportation

Palm Coast is right between the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX, 1 hour and 42 minutes away) and two airports serving Central Florida. Orlando International (MCO, 1 hour and 41 minutes away) and Sanford-Orlando International (SFB, only 1 hour and 16 minutes away). Make sure you are going to the right airport when planning since the names are almost exactly the same. There is a bus system in Flagler county but is not as useful as many big city examples. There are Amtrak Silver Service train stops in nearby towns of Palatka and Deland, which can take you South to Miami or North all the way to New York. There is also AutoTrain which goes from Sanford to Northern Virginia.

Dining 

I will just create controversy if I call out certain restaurants. I like getting take out from the variety of restaurants near the Flagler Beach Pier and then getting ice cream for dessert. I will tell you that Firehouse Subs was started by two brothers from my high school in Jacksonville and the local franchises are owned by a friend of 45 years – David Hause, who is a great operator and very involved in the community.

Day Tripping

I like coming to Flagler because Interstate 95 is closest to the beach at 100 in Flagler Beach and it is so easy to get around once you arrive. You park your car and everything is within walking distance. If you ever want a great place to watch the fireworks on July 4th, come to Flagler Beach. When I was a kid I won the bubble gum blowing contest and almost won the greased pig contest that was held right on the beach next to the Pier.

As you might have figured out, Flagler is my happy place and a great place to live, play and raise a family. So join us.

Check out our other article on Senior Living. It’s GoodToKnow!