Are you thinking about retirement? Is Delaware on your list of potential destinations? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Delaware may be one of the smallest states, but it offers much. Active retirees can enjoy the beautiful beaches and excellent weather while city-dwelling retirees will find everything they need in the state’s best cities.
Delaware also has favorable tax benefits, including no sales tax, tax-exempt Social Security benefits, and a high standard of living. To help you decide where to live in the First State, here are the best places to retire in Delaware. We’ll cover essential amenities, attractions, and retirement living options.
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Best Places to Retire in Delaware
Milton
Milton is one of the best places to retire in Delaware if you seek big-city amenities, small-town charm, and an affordable cost of living. This scenic town in Sussex County offers retirees many living options, a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, and all the essential amenities they need to thrive.
In Milton, you’ll find independent, assisted living, and nursing care retirement communities, multiple medical centers, several recreation centers, and countless shops, cafes, and restaurants. Meanwhile, notable attractions include Milton Theatre, Milton Memorial Park, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, and the Rookery Golf Course.
Better yet, Primehook Beach is less than 20 minutes away.
Dover
Dover, the state capital, is one of the best places to retire in Delaware if you love city life. In this vibrant city, you’ll find everything from historic landmarks and a fun-loving culture to essential amenities and retirement communities.
A significant draw to Dover is its Colonial architecture, which is on display at The First State Heritage Park. You’ll quickly fall in love with the Old State House, Legislative Hall, and John Bell House.
Other noteworthy attractions include the Air Mobility Command Museum, Biggs Museum of American Art, and Spence’s Bazaar. Regarding retirement, you can expect several living options and a cost of living below the national average.
Claymont
Retirees hoping for a more laid-back retirement should consider moving to Claymont, a small town on the Delaware River in New Castle County. This quaint town has much to like, starting with a friendly atmosphere and tight-knit community.
However, one of the biggest draws is how budget-friendly the town is. The cost of living in Claymont falls below the national average, so you can save more money to do the things you love.
Claymont’s indoor and outdoor attractions, open green space, and local landmarks are enough to occupy your time. Besides, major cities like Wilmington and Newark are nearby. Retirement living options in Claymont include assisted, independent, and nursing care.
Wilmington
In Wilmington, Delaware’s most populous city, you can spend your retirement wandering around the many parks, walking along the Delaware River, visiting historical sites, and drinking at the local wineries and breweries.
As you would expect from one of Delaware’s major cities, Wilmington has many retirement options and essential amenities. This includes several high-class medical centers, multiple recreation centers, plenty of shops, and various living options, including independent and assisted care.
Regarding attractions, you don’t want to miss Brandywine Zoo, Hagley Museum, Nemours Estate, and Bellevue State Park. It’s also worth noting that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is only 45 minutes away.
New Castle
Just a 15-minute drive from Wilmington is New Castle, a quiet and unique city best known for its historic downtown, picturesque cycling and biking trails, outdoor spaces, and natural attractions. This is one of the best places to retire in Delaware if you’re looking for a little bit of everything.
Enjoy the great outdoors at Battery Park, Deemer’s Beach, or along the Delaware River. Visit one of the many historical attractions, such as the New Castle Court House Museum and the Dutch House Museum, and participate in one of the many summer festivals.
When it comes to retirement, New Castle offers a relatively affordable cost of living, several living options, and access to essential amenities.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach, an Atlantic Coast town in East Delaware, makes a lot of sense if you dream of spending your golden years sitting by the beach. This gorgeous town is well known for its beautiful beaches, beachfront promenade, diverse restaurant scene, and vibrant arts community. It is one of the top beach choices in Delaware for families.
Along the boardwalk, you’ll find a wide range of shops, restaurants, and amusements to keep you entertained during your retirement. You’ll find a fascinating mix of modern and historic homes.
Besides the beachfront promenade, Rehoboth Beach also has a shopping center, theme park, country club, and multiple parks. Regarding amenities, there are medical centers, recreation centers, and several living options, including assisted, independent, and community living.
Newark
Newark is one of the best places to retire in Delaware if you want easy access to essential amenities but want to live somewhere more outdoorsy. This small city is known for its open green spaces, like Rittenhouse Park, and is only a short journey from various nature parks.
For example, White Clay Creek State Park and Middle Run Valley Natural Area are less than 15 minutes away. Here, active retirees can hike, cycle, and fish. A scenic walking path around Newark Reservoir also exists.
In Newark, you’ll also find many retirement living options, recreation centers, medical centers, and places to eat and drink. What more could we ask for?
Milford
If you decide to retire to Milford, a charming town in central Delaware, you’ll have easy access to the Mispillion River and open green spaces to enjoy leisurely walks. Another significant draw is the small community of approximately 12,000, making it one of the most relaxed and tight-knit in the state.
An added bonus is that Milford’s living cost falls below the national average. In Milford, retirees can choose between independent, retirement community, assisted, nursing care living, and more.
There are also plenty of essential amenities, such as medical centers, grocery stores, and recreation centers. Popular attractions include Milford Golf Club, Mispillion River Brewing, and the Riverwalk Farmers Market.
Hockessin
Hockessin is one of the best places to retire in Delaware if you’re looking for the best of every possible world. Located right on the Delaware-Pennsylvania border, this town allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of Wilmington and enjoy Delaware’s impressive natural scenery while still having easy access to essential amenities.
In Hockessin, you’ll find plenty of medical centers, grocery stores, and recreation centers. Meanwhile, the town has several retirement villages offering various living options.
In Hockessin, you can easily access the Mason Dixon Trail. There is also plenty to see in the town, too. You should also know that Hockessin’s living costs are below the national average.
Lewes
Lewes is a historic town on the Delaware Bay that is well known for its beautiful streets lined with colonial-era architecture, rich maritime heritage, and breathtaking waterfront parks. It’s an excellent place to retire if you want to live somewhere culturally enriching and serene.
You’ll spend your golden years in Lewes exploring Delaware’s scenic coastline, visiting historical attractions, and walking along the waterfront. Notable points of interest include Lewes Public Beach, Cape Henlopen State Park, Zwaanendael Museum, and Lewes Farmers Market.
As for retirement living, you can expect easy access to several medical centers, multiple recreation centers, and world-class retirement living communities.
Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Retire in Delaware
In this article, I’ve covered 10 of the best places to retire in Delaware. The First State offers retirees picturesque retirement destinations and bustling cities with many things to see and do.
On top of that, Delaware also offers a high standard of living and a relatively low cost of living. That said, can you see yourself retiring in Delaware?
If so, why don’t you narrow down the options and decide where’s best for you?
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Jack Bolton is a content writer and blogger from the UK. He has a strong passion for travel and has an endless bucket list that he’s making his way through!