3 Best Gulf Coast Retirement Towns That Aren’t in Florida

Everyone talks about retiring in Florida. The sunshine, the beaches, the palm trees. It all sounds great on paper.
But what people don’t always talk about are the trade-offs. Higher taxes. Rising insurance costs. Overcrowded roads. And communities that can start to feel more like theme parks than places people actually live day to day.

In this video, we look at three often-overlooked retirement towns along Alabama’s Gulf Coast that offer the same coastal lifestyle without the Florida chaos or the Naples-level price tag.
And we don’t gloss over the hard parts. We talk honestly about taxes, insurance, healthcare access, traffic, and what daily life really feels like. Not the highlight reel. Just the real stuff you’d want to know before making a move.

Give us a call anytime — we’re here to help.
Tony & Jessica Martinez, Your Real Estate Fam Realtors® @ eXp Realty
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CHAPTERS:
2:58 – Gulf Shores Overview
3:07 – Gulf Shores Logistics & Healthcare
4:26 – Food, Lifestyle & Daily Living in Gulf Shores
5:01 – Gulf Shores Real Estate Options
5:06 – East Beach Condos (High-Rise Living)
6:21 – Inland Gulf Shores (Affordability & Golf Cart Communities)

7:23 – Orange Beach Overview
7:35 – Orange Beach Logistics & Healthcare
7:39 – Perdido Beach Blvd vs Canal Road
8:10 – Food, Boating & Live Music Scene
8:48 – Orange Beach Real Estate Options
8:59 – Perdido Beach Blvd Condos
10:02 – Canal Road Neighborhoods
11:19 – The Wharf District & Entertainment Living

12:40 – Why Dauphin Island Is Different
13:03 – Dauphin Island Logistics & Healthcare Reality
14:05 – Island Lifestyle & Pace of Life
14:41 – Dauphin Island Real Estate Options
14:47 – Bienville Boulevard (Gulf-Front Homes)
15:44 – Bay-Side Living (Indian Bay & Quiet Waters)
16:41 – Audubon Place & Newer Fortified Homes