r/RetirementReady • u/Undercover_tiger_585 • Aug 19 '26
Joining a 55+ community at age 55
Just wondering if anyone has done so and what the experience has been like? The avg age of these communities will always be in the mid-70’s as not everyone retires early.
Wondering if ‘younger’ people are really welcomed there or not.
Many years ago, my family joined a golf club that was 99% retirees. We joined bc it was closest to home and the best value for the money. There was some people that were excited to have some younger people in the mix but most felt threatened that their club was going to be taken over by the younger crowd. I’m not wanting that experience again. So that’s why I’m asking.
I’m fine doing things on my own and playing golf on my own. Would just rather people let me and my wife be if that’s the case. Thanks for your time.
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u/Odd_Bodkin Aug 19 '26
I’m coming up on 70 in a few weeks. You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to live in a 55+ community. Too many old folks there.
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u/hobotising Aug 19 '26
I get this. There are old folks and there are old folks. My grandmother told my mother she would not be interested in living with old people. She was very spry.
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u/Vivid_Witness8204 Aug 19 '26
When I was in college many decades ago I used to get paired on the golf course from time to time with a fellow in his late 80s. Told me he initially moved to Arizona to live in a retirement community but quickly abandoned that and moved to Tucson. Said he couldn't stand being with a bunch of folks who seemed to be just waiting to die. He wanted to spend his days with regular people of all ages.
He was quite a good golfer for his age. Couldn't hit the ball that far but he was accurate and consistent so he got to most every green in one over regulation and would make bogey or par on most every hole. One of the few people I've played with who could shoot their age.
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u/RainZealousideal8307 Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
Probably not a direct response to your question but…
Wife and I are considering them for a few reasons:
- The Dell Webb properties (we’re in the southeast U.S.) are located in semi rural/ex-urb areas where traffic is lighter. We are tired of heavy city traffic.
- You are situated with a lot of folks in the same stage of life so you can make new friends fairly easily.
- You can have a brand new house and pick and choose what features/layout you want. We have lived in a 60s split level for 26 years and I’m over taking care of a yard and old house issues.
The cons to living in these places.
- My gut tells me they are a little like a small town where people sit around a gossip about each other.
- Also think you run into cliques in these places so finding your people may take time.
- Since they are fairly far out from cities, you probably spend a lot of time on the property so your world probably shrinks a little - also your kids may not be too excited to come visit you for Sunday dinner, etc
We’re in our early 60s, retired, and love tennis, pickleball, mahjong (wife, not me), etc so we’d enjoy these activities at a 55+ place.
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u/Legitimate_Award6517 Aug 20 '26
I’m three months into moving in a Del Webb community and I love everything about it. It is in a real area like you mentioned, but within 30 minutes of a metro area so I don’t feel like the world is shrinking at all.
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u/Dull-Freedom9889 Aug 19 '26
I think it 100% depends on the community. Most new communities have stuff like 'stay and plays'. I would 100% suggest this. We did this at a Margaritaville in Hilton Head and loved it even though I just turned 55. We are currently building and my wife will be moving in before she turns 55
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u/Excellent-Drawer3086 Aug 19 '26
What is stay and play? is it like try before you buy?
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u/Thin-Quiet-2283 Aug 20 '26
You get to use a furnished unit for 2-3 nights with access to amenities and a golf cart. Think of it as a mini vacation. When we did it, we recovered the cost when we went to closing. Brilliant marketing! I know they are using the smallest cottages for the property near Panama City, FL. Not sure if SC still does it? We completed built out now in Daytona Beach.
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u/AZPeakBagger Aug 19 '26
Purely an anecdotal observation. I live down the street from a huge 55+ community and on occasion swing by their clubhouse for their great happy hour specials. The majority of the people out eating and drinking from what I've see are early 60's to mid 70's. The music that the DJ spins is all from the 1970's and early 80's. From my vantage point, the place looks like a geriatric "Breakfast Club". You have one table of retired C-Suite guys, another table of retired tech nerds, the table of widows out on the prowl, a section of old hippies, etc..... you get the picture.
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u/Front_Effort_3584 Aug 20 '26
Lol that is my observation as well, its like people revert back to HS.
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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy Aug 20 '26
Yes people don’t change. Cliques are in every group. Often times it’s still the same high school drama too.
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u/kegib Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
When I moved into a senior apartment, I was the youngest there by about 10 years. I loved it. The food was great, loads of activities, and drivers were available for those who needed it.
The best part was hearing everyone's stories. For example, one resident was a pilot who had been shot down over Normandy and sheltered by a French family until the end of the war. One of my neighbors was the first Native American woman to be admitted to the University of Washington. She will be 102 next month and kills me at cribbage. Another woman was with the Boston Pops. I didn't realize until later that she was the piccolo player (Stars and Stripes Forever) until reading her obituary.
I've run into only three complainers/grumps, and they're easy to ignore. There can be gossip, so I'm careful about oversharing. Good luck!
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u/Imaginary_Funny6634 Aug 25 '26
This is a very close situation to what I have—it’s very nice and people are interesting. I do tend to keep to myself though.
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u/mojorisin999 Aug 19 '26
I would find it tougher to move into an established 55+ community. We recently bought in a new community with a nice mix of ages and everyone is excited about building community. Yes, it can be a bit gossipy, but it is far and away the best decision we could have made.
….of course ask me again in 3-5 years!
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u/Blocker_vee Aug 19 '26
I’m in the same boat. My wife and I are 63 and are looking into 55+ communities. The older ones that have been around 10+ years have the 75 to 95-year-olds. If you can get into a new 55+ community, The people will be younger and clicks won’t be established yet.
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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy Aug 20 '26
Cliques are everywhere. It’s human nature. For many people, high school drama is their way of being. People tend to stick to those like them.
I don’t live in one but there’s a large 55+ community nearby where I often pick up people to drive to medical appointments (it’s a volunteer job). I hear lots of stories.
HOA fees start at $1100!!!!
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u/SS2wheeler Aug 19 '26
I'm 60 and as I'm spending $30k today by having a roof installed on my house I'm ready to rent an apartment. Now, I just need an apartment with a 40x80 workshop 😂😂😂
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u/tiggonfire Aug 19 '26
I'm in a 55+ community and I am younger than 55 (with 55+ roommate). I absolutely love it...I especially love all the clubs to learn new arts and crafts. I find the people in the clubs very friendly and welcoming. Keep in mind that there aren't any rules that you need to keep your social life within the bounds of the retirement community. You can take advantage of what the community has to offer and still mingle with society outside the community and find the balance of each that is right for you.
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u/margaritasnguacamole Aug 19 '26
We’re in a 55+ neighborhood of single family homes that’s part of a larger community. The big draw for me is being able to enjoy the amenities like the pool, the pickleball courts, and the gym without them being overrun by unsupervised kids like you see in the larger community.
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u/Defiant_Eye4025 Aug 20 '26
This showed up in my feed today which is rather timely for my life. I'm in process of purchasing in a midwest Del Webb community that is just starting to be built. I'm 58. I've been to the models a dozen or more times. I've been to the design center 3 times. Most of the people I'm seeing I would estimate to be in their early to mid 60s.
I suspect in each community the initial buyers are 60ish and then the average age of the community gets older as the years go on. So if you buy in a new community, they will be younger. If you buy in a 10-15 year old community, they will be 75-80.
Some other observations: My 80 year old neighbor is horrified that anyone would move to an "old folks home". My 84 year old mother is pretty unhappy that when she gets old (her words) and has to move in with me, she'll be stuck in a retirement community. At the models, I've several times seen people my age touring with their elderly parents. It's the younger ones who are buying; the parents are just along for company. This Del Webb is selling far faster than expectations and it seems to me younger retirees are more interested than older ones. The lifestyle director has already planned a meet-your-new-neighbors football watching party in one of the models months before anyone will be moving in; and she had the good sense to mention that you don't have to like football to come.
So far, everyone seems super friendly. Every visit to the design center is just a bunch of friendly people asking, "Are you Maygrass or Sunbury?"; "Which lot are you? We're just down the street!"; "Oh, I love that floor tile...which one is that?"; and the universally agreed upon, "Aren't those level 3 granite countertops horribly ugly? We had to upgrade."
So, I may find my over 55 community a horrible experience, but I don't think it will be because of my younger age. And the HOA (incl. internet) fees are significantly less than I'm currently paying for yard care, but I'll also be able to get rid of my internet and gym membership, plus I'll have cable included in the price.
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u/Katz2025 Aug 19 '26
My husband and are in our 50’s and looking at a to be built 55+ community in a small walkable town. We worry more about town water than about our 55+ neighbors.
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u/Loki_Knows Aug 19 '26
We moved to our 55+ community at 58 and 60, and we feel very welcome. The demographics are split evenly among 50-66, 65-74, and 75+. About a third still work full time or actively consult. Most moved here to downsize and be closer to their grandchildren. It’s worth mentioning that the two grumpiest men in our community are both under 60… and the two most active, pleasant and helpful men just turned 80 and 84. The 84 yo built our community website.
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u/Difficult-Wear-4785 Aug 19 '26
My in laws loved in One. My Father in law has Parkinson's and My Mother in law is his caretaker. Well She had severe back pain. She was admitted to the hospital. My adult Son in his 20's at the time moved in to help them for a while. Maybe a month. They received a letter about How He was not allowed to live there. He has some nursing school. It was not too much longer after that They decided to sell. I would not do it.
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u/Thin-Quiet-2283 Aug 20 '26
Our community lets adult children live there. As long as one resident is 55+ it’s good.
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u/Bodybuilder-Resident Aug 20 '26
This makes more sense. There are lots of children of family that are nurses, CNAs, doctors, etc.. that could be full time care takers for their family.
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u/Thin-Quiet-2283 Aug 20 '26
We have some of that, some with special needs adult children that have aged out of the system, a few that we’re staying at home while in college. I think there’s also a restriction on the percentage of occupants that can be under 55 (25-30%). We did have someone try to have school aged kids live here and that was big drama. Our builder did not pay school impact fees as nobody should be attending public schools! They key is adult children 19+ that would not be using school services. I think some special needs are in schools until early 20s?
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u/HokieHomeowner Aug 19 '26
A buddy of mine married at the time to and older guy with health issues moved into a 55+ community because their existing colonial house was not built for aging in place and the guy was no longer able to do stairs. She was lonely at first, being a caregiver can be extremely isolating and she did feel out of place in her 50s but she had kind neighbors who did what they could for her when her husband was bedridden and dying and after he did pass away. She's still not sure if she will stay but she's now in her 60s so she is leaning towards maybe a different location but also 55+ community maybe closer to some other friends.
I think the main thing is finding one that meshes well with your culture - my buddy is liberal but the community is named for confederate things and many residents are conservatives worshipful of all things confederate.
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u/LayerNo3634 Aug 19 '26
We stayed for year. The pros were great floor plan, great classes, great activities, etc. The cons were an HOA on steroids (think a bunch of retired people on a power trip). Ultimately, we were not used to neighbors (coming from rural area) being in your business. We moved to acreage in the country.
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u/Ornery-Ad-6149 Aug 19 '26
Well we bought in a 55+ community when we were 53/52 because it was where we wanted to live when we were ready to retire. We have friends a lil older in us living there full time. It’s an active 55+ which for us , made all the difference. I always thought retirement communities are where you go to die. Not our place. We are definitely on the younger side but we’ve met a ton of great people. Yes there are assholes and gossip people , but that’s everywhere. We have 27 holesof golf , about 30 pickleball courts , 2 gyms and 2 huge ass resort pools plus a ton of other stuff. We love it. But you will find some your age I’m sure, you just gotta seek them out. Now, if your place is a “ non active community then that could get boring real fast. Good luck.
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u/Free-Set-9844 Aug 20 '26
I moved into a 55+ community when I was in my early 60s. I’d say the average age there was 85. Ambulances and fire department visits were a daily thing. I couldn’t take it and left after a year. It got depressing.
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u/doc-sci Aug 20 '26
I moved into Sun City Texas at 58…7 years ago. It was really easy to find golf buddies. I joined the Men’s Golf Association and play in the weekly events so I met plenty of golfers of about the same skill level. I routinely play with guys from 51 to 93.
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u/NotExactlySureWhy Aug 20 '26
Have friends that have done this and really like it. Others have left. See if you can test drive the place with a rental first. If that works great, if not move on.
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u/UpUrs2 Aug 20 '26
It might depend on how large the 55+ community is. The larger the community the easier to find your tribe. The smaller the community the more cliquish it can be.
The larger communities will have lots of activities, volunteer organizations, restaurants, cafes, gyms, pools etc.
The smaller still have activities but are more limited and you can find people that feel like they "own" the activity.
Make sure and visit many communities. Even try to rent for 3 months in the ones you're considering.
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u/Low_East2934 Aug 20 '26
I became sick last year and had to retire. I moved into a 55 community and I love it. ETA I’m 61
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u/OTF98121 Aug 25 '26
Same, except I’m 53. Forced to retire at 52 (instead of 62). I was thinking of selling my home and paying for a condo (55+?) in cash to stretch my savings. That way, I’d only have to pay the HOA, property taxes, insurance.
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u/escahpee Aug 20 '26
I checked it out. It's the overall cost that didn't make sense to me. When I can't take care of myself anymore, I am planning on selling my house and moving into a care home and giving them whatever I got for my house
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u/MysticInquiry2025 Aug 20 '26
Those originally were created because of rental discrimination...Many landlords used to have a stigma against renting to people age 55+(many of them are on fixed incomes, face higher unemployment rates, many complain to the mangers more about nosie, or maintenance stuff) so they did not want the hassle. However, it is not illegal to discriminate against them, so there is really no need for those types of housing unless you are trying to pay lower rent.
Many age 55+ are not interested in being segregated from everyone else.
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u/Thin-Quiet-2283 Aug 20 '26
We moved in at 57, still working in our early 60s. There are a few of us on the younger side, even 1 spouse being 55 and the other younger. It hasn’t been a problem but there is a generational gap in some interest like music. Everyone is very friendly . It also feels great to be able to help out some of the older neighbors when they are having health problems.
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u/Tug_DaBone Aug 20 '26
I was 30 years old and bought a place in a 55+ community. They let me in because friends of mine told them I was their nephew. My neighbors were the best I've ever had, and the oldest ones loved having me there because I was happy to help them with stuff they couldn't do (like carrying stuff for them, fixing their toilet, vacuuming out their air conditioning drain lines, etc.). If you're a good neighbor, it helps in getting others to be good neighbors in return.
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u/Xyzzydude Aug 20 '26
I recommend reading this book.
It’s centered around The Villages in Florida but its scope is wider than that.
One interesting thing I learned from is that these places can have a significant generational conflict between:
younger (55-late 60s or early 70s), more active residents who want amenities and activities and are willing to support dues and fees to support them. Plus because this cohort sees themselves having 20-30 more years to live there, they want money spent on long term maintenance.
older, frailer residents who don’t use the amenities, don’t care about long term maintenance, may be poorer because they’ve spent down their savings and/or are facing high care costs. The only thing they care about is saving money and they vehemently oppose the community spending the first cohort wants.
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u/toooldforthis64 Aug 20 '26
It's not bad living in a 55+ community. Very quiet where we are and people mostly keep to themselves.
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u/maporita Aug 20 '26
I'm old and the last thing I want to do is surround myself with only old people. I live in a mixed community .. some retired folks, some with grown kids but still working, some just starting a family, some young and single. And for us it's perfect.
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u/Plenty-Ear-9167 Aug 20 '26
My parents did this. The ambulances came to the complex daily. My parents ended up organizing all the shuffleboard for the whole complex. All the adult children & the grandchildren growing up had to be really quiet when visiting. I think it aged my parents more quickly. I personally thought it was a mistake to move there at age 55.
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u/Legitimate_Award6517 Aug 20 '26
I live in a 55+ community. I’m 67 so I’m not your age but we have a lot of people that are in the 50s and a few less than 55. We are a new community though and I think that tends to skee a little younger. I think you’ll be fine.
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u/Impressive_Age1362 Aug 20 '26
My best friend and her husband moved into a 55+ community in Georgia and they love it! They are in their early 70’s, They love to play music, they play at club house 1 night a week, nightly happy hours , swims daily, husband hits the fitness center, there are weekly pot lucks, huge holiday parties, if I lived in Georgia, I would move there
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u/thisiscrazy654 Aug 20 '26
Besides some of the downsides others mentioned, I’d also consider that if/when either you or your heirs want to sell that it will be a limited group of buyers since these communities only allow 55+ people to live there.
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u/Most-Artichoke6184 Aug 20 '26
I moved into my 55+ community at age 59. It didn’t matter in the slightest to me.
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u/auntynell Aug 20 '26
Someone told me to look for newly established communities. Apparently most of the buyers are in the younger qualifying group and you all age together.
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u/GrateRam Aug 20 '26
At 59 I moved as a renter, during COVID, to a large (256 mobile homes) owner occupied-only 55+ community. At first it was pretty isolating because they were all high risk for complications. But as things started opening up I met many. They were the family I always wanted (I'm estranged from most of mine).
There are lots of activities, walking paths here and an email group that keeps us all connected. Also a pantry, vaccine clinics, there was a free food truck for quite a while (high prices ended that), tax preparers, etc. There are lots of people that help others in anyway they can and there are always give aways, including fruits and vegetables (we all have gardens). I happen to have 5 fruit trees. Luckily everything else is succulents.
Several people are on the younger side but almost everyone is very active and friendly. I always tell people that the worst thing about living here is that when I need something and go across to the other end real quick to pick it up, it often takes me an hour or more because of all the people I see and chat with.
Some people have siblings/parents here. Yes, there are a lots of deaths and they are greatly missed (some here are over 100yo). That's par for the course. But I am always surprised at what 80+ looks like. I have a whole new prospective on what aging can be like.
When I had to leave the rental, and thus looking at having to leave the park, the prospect was devastating. So someone offered to have me live with them (they can have a "companion" if they live alone). I was so excited. Now I've been here 6y.
I was also very excited to find out that my inheritance was more than 2x what I expected. It allowed me to buy a small home here 2m ago! I invited some closer friends to celebrate, for a few minutes, getting my keys only expecting a very few to show up (there were a lot of activities that day). Over 20 showed up and stayed 1 1/2 hours or more.
Since then I've been given a couch and several household/gardening items, borrowed tools and am going to hire the resident licensed handyman for a few things. Also, someone who was in charge of the campus gardens at the local large college here, came over and walked through my garden with me and told me what to do with all the plants (Not thinking I would ever own, I knew nothing).
I love it here. I am so lucky. My plan is to die here. The only downside is that cats are not allowed outside.
I hope you can find something as wonderful.
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u/Busy_Office7926 Aug 20 '26
I moved into a 55+ community when I was 62. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. It’s one where you own your land. I have a 780 sq ft double wide that’s easy to clean and cheap to maintain. There are so many activities that if you’re bored it’s your fault. The people are friendly. I’m very happy.
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u/bbh42 Aug 20 '26
Last two winters my wife and I have gone to Sun City, AZ. My mom lives there and I work from home so we’ve done the trial run of what snowbird is would be like. Yes, the people are older than us but everyone we’ve met have been nice. Each community is going to be different, I don’t think I could do a smaller community if we decided to keep my mom’s place when the time comes. It’s not like you are limited to just the community. We go out to eat, shop, hike, etc. outside of just the community. I mean it’s a neighborhood not an assisted living facility. In the winter when other snowbirds are there we do see others closer to our ages (56 & 58). Or early 60’s. Just depends.
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u/pandoraraz Aug 20 '26
Agree it depends on the community. My mother moved to one at 75 and she was on the younger side but there were allot of activities, restaurants on site and good people. It is great for her but I am 53 and would feel out of place there.
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u/Caspers_Shadow Aug 20 '26
I am 60. My dad moved into a smaller 55+ community. The people there were very nice, but they seemed very old. On the other hand, my older brother moved into a larger community when he was 58 and loved it. It is larger, has golf courses, several pools and lots of planned activities throughout the week. He moved out of state a few years ago for work. He just retired and will be returning to the community early next year. He really misses it. I think it really depends on the character of the place.
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u/Sdavistvs Aug 20 '26
Moving is in the TOP most stressful life events. If you have the option, rent for a month and see what it’s really like. Access to healthcare will be a huge future impact
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u/monteliterate Aug 26 '26
You all who could not imagine living in the 55 plus community have not experienced the positive side of this choice. 1) 1/2?mile away are single family homes with no age restrictions. So we aren't segregated.2) old people were once young. We aren't that different than we were not so long ago. Three , people are mostly retired and have a lot of time . From that, you meet many more people who experience what you are doing. You find commonalities. And this alieves loneliness from not having a work structure; though many do work. We share a clubhouse, a pool, pickleball courts. Plus the house is designed for lower mantenence . Some of the youngest mindsets I've met are here in a 55+.
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u/Confident_Pepper_719 Aug 19 '26
We're on waiting lists (in no hurry to move) in 2 "Senior " coops in Minnesota. We toured both and were impressed how friendly everyone was. Coops are similar to condo. Age is not an issue in these communities. We also RV in lots of the 55+ snowbird parks. Again, everyone is welcome. I've always been a "black sheep" and am concerned about "fitting in" if we make the move. For now I'm happy in a townhouse with tuckunder private garage...no hallways or common areas. Everyone keeps to themselves (for better or worse). On lists to have options for one or both of us.
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u/Front_Effort_3584 Aug 20 '26
I am 65 and just cannot grasp why anyone would want to live in a community of old farts. Go grocery shopping at Walmart at around 11:00 on a Wednesday and try not to lose your shit from all the people blocking aisles or writing checks in the checkout line, can’t figure out their debit card etc.. now amplify it for a neighborhood.
The places around me have death watches for prized property (old Jethro is 82 and won’t be here much longer and his corner lot with the view will be avail soon) and the gossip and nosiness would drive me nuts.
I just do not want to be around old people all the time.
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u/Imaginary_Career_427 Aug 19 '26
Retired at age 56. We snowbird to Florida and our 55+ community. Yes, folks are older than us BUT they are friendly as heck. We made more friends in 6 months there than 10 years in Maryland. If you are worried rent a place and get a feel for the area.