100 Most Popular Active Adult Communities for 2014

by Bill Ness on June 23, 2014

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Jun 27, 2014, 09:32 ET

CHICAGO, June 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, the team at 55 Places is excited to present the 100 most popular active adult communities in America. Communities on this prestigious list won their positions based on the number of visitors to each community's page on 55Places.com over the past year.

Below are highlights of the top five most popular active adult communities in 2014, followed by a list recapping the remaining 95 most popular communities for 2014.

For the second year, The Villages in Central Florida holds the number one spot on our list of the 100 most popular active adult communities in America. (PRNewsFoto/55 Places)

1. The Villages – The Villages, FL

Once again The Villages wins the distinction of being the most popular active adult community in America by a landslide with more than twice the number of website visits in 2014 compared to its closest competitor. As one of the largest age-restricted communities in the world with over 56,000 households, The Villages is a self-sustaining town dedicated to active adult living. Residents enjoy a lifestyle unlike any other with more amenities per capita than any other city or active adult community in the country. There are a staggering 48 recreation centers, 35 golf courses, 50 swimming pools and countless other amenities designed to encourage and support a physically fit and socially active lifestyle. Since opening in 1978, The Villages has evolved into a unique retirement destination complete with over 100 miles of golf cart legal streets, free golf for life, over 200 retail shops, over 60 restaurants, 10 worship centers and even a hospital. The Villages truly is a retirement destination unlike any other.

2. On Top of the World – Ocala, FL

With approximately 10,000 homes, On Top of the World is one of the largest 55+ communities in the country located in an ideal destination for retirement in sunny Central Florida. This sprawling 55+ community opened in 1982 and is now known as one of the premiere communities to enjoy a vibrant active adult lifestyle. Over 200 organized clubs and special interest groups cater to nearly every interest imaginable while the impressive collection of amenities enhances the way of life for active residents. The community offers several clubhouses brimming with amenities indoors and out such as restaurants, fitness centers, swimming pools, tennis courts, three golf courses and an 800-seat cultural center hosting concerts and theater productions. Residents can also continue their education close to home at the Master the Possibilities Education Center offering several-hundred course options. For 2014, On Top of the World climbed the ranks from placing fifth last year to a strong second place on our list of the most popular active adult communities in America.

3. Sun City Hilton Head – Bluffton, SC

Holding steady in third place is Sun City Hilton Head, an award winning active adult community opened by Del Webb in 1995. With over 8,000 homes, Sun City Hilton Head is the largest 55+ community in South Carolina known for its world-class amenities and exciting lifestyle. A 45-acre town center and amenity complex is at the heart of the community where residents gather to enjoy the enviable collection of amenities. There are four swimming pools, two fitness centers, ten tennis courts, two restaurants and 54 holes of golf in addition to a grand social hall and performing arts center. Over 200 chartered clubs support a wide variety of special interests encouraging residents to enjoy favorite pastimes or learn something new. The picturesque location of Sun City Hilton Head is ideal for outdoor recreations with beautiful surroundings and a mild climate. Just 13 miles to the west is Hilton Head Island where residents often come to enjoy the day or a long weekend on the beautiful eastern coast.

4. Sun City Center – Sun City Center, FL

Breaking in to the top five this year is Sun City Center on Florida's Central Gulf Coast. This impressive 55+ community opened in 1961 with plans for 6,235 homes. Today over 11,000 residents enjoy the resort-style collection of amenities and exciting social lifestyle at Sun City Center. The community itself is a self-contained village boasting retail shops, grocery stores, worship centers and a hospital. The golf-cart permissible streets add to the Sun City Center appeal as does the community structure run solely by enthusiastic volunteers. The homes of Sun City Center are built within various enclaves, each offering its own clubhouse access and dedicated amenities. Each of the three separate amenity campuses offers extraordinary amenities. There are state-of-the-art fitness centers and swimming pools, golf courses and on-site dining, game rooms and activity studios in addition to a myriad of other luxury touches to support a fabulous active adult lifestyle. Nearly 200 special interest clubs cater to resident hobbies and countless special events and activities keep the social lifestyle exciting and vibrant.

5. Sun City – Sun City, AZ

The very first active adult community in the country continues to maintain its popularity even after 50 years. Since pioneering the trend for amenity filled and activity rich active adult living in 1960, Sun City has maintained its popularity for generations of retirees. Residents are drawn to Sun City for its low cost of living, fantastic amenities and fabulous lifestyle. Homes are very reasonably priced, association dues are affordable and property taxes are low. Living in an affordable community allows residents more time to enjoy the countless amenities including 7 recreation centers, 11 golf courses, 19 shopping areas, multiple worship centers, bowling alleys, fishing lakes, fitness centers, swimming pools and countless other amenities. Over 200 social clubs cater to a wide variety of special interests, encouraging residents to get involved, meet new people and make new friends. Sun City continues to hold strong among the top five most popular active adult communities in the country, down only slightly from its second place ranking in 2013.

6. Laguna Woods Village – Laguna Woods, CA

7. Sun City Carolina Lakes – Fort Mill, SC

8. Sun City Summerlin – Las Vegas, NV

9. Sun City Anthem – Henderson, NV

10. Oak Run – Ocala, FL

11. Kings Point – Sun City Center, FL
12. Sun City Huntley – Huntley, IL
13. Solivita – Kissimmee, FL
14. Carolina Preserve – Cary, NC
15. Stone Creek – Ocala, FL
16. Sun City Lincoln Hills – Lincoln, CA
17. Timber Pines – Spring Hill, FL
18. Spruce Creek Country Club – Summerfield, FL
19. Sun City Palm Desert – Palm Desert, CA
20.Sun City Texas – Georgetown, TX
21. Del Webb Charleston – Summerville, SC
22. Carillon – Plainfield, IL
23. Lely Resort – Naples, FL
24. Sun City West – Sun City West, AZ
25. Del Webb Ponte Vedra – Ponte Vedra, FL
26. Del Webb Naples – Ave Maria, FL
27. Frisco Lakes – Frisco, TX
28. Sun City Grand – Surprise, AZ
29. Robson Ranch – Denton, TX
30. PebbleCreek – Goodyear, AZ
31. Villages of Citrus Hills – Hernando, FL
32. Stonecrest – Summerfield, FL
33. Pelican Preserve – Fort Myers, FL
34. Kings Ridge – Clermont, FL
35. Rossmoor Village – Monroe Township, NJ
36. Plantation at Leesburg – Leesburg, FL
37. Valencia Lakes – Wimauma, FL
38. Concordia – Monroe Township, NJ
39. Sun City Peachtree – Griffin, GA
40. Four Seasons at Beaumont – Beaumont, CA
41. Sun City Festival – Buckeye, AZ
42. Sun City Shadow Hills – Indio, CA
43. Clearbrook – Monroe Township, NJ
44. Heritage Isle – Viera, FL
45. Hill Country Retreat – San Antonio, TX
46. Sweetwater – Jacksonville, FL
47. Rossmoor – Walnut Creek, CA
48. Sun Lakes – Sun Lakes, AZ
49. Lake Providence – Mount Juliet, TN
50. Encanterra – Queen Creek, AZ
51. Anthem Ranch – Broomfield, CO
52. Saddlebrooke – Tucson, AZ
53. Carillon Club – Naperville, IL
54. Sun City Roseville – Roseville, CA
55. Heritage Ranch – Fairview, TX
56. The Elms of Charleston – Charleston, SC
57. Sun Lakes Country Club – Banning, CA
58. Ocean Hills Country Club – Oceanside, CA
59. Lakeside Crossing – Conway, SC
60. Spruce Creek South – Summerfield, FL
61. Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club – San Antonio, FL
62. Palm Isles – Boynton Beach, FL
63. Southshore Falls – Apollo Beach, FL
64. Trilogy at Glen Ivy – Corona, CA
65. Casta Del Sol – Mission Viejo, CA
66. Four Seasons at Gold Hill – Fort Mill, SC
67. Sun City MacDonald Ranch – Henderson, NV
68. Greenbriar – Monroe Township, NJ
69. St. James Plantation – Southport, NC
70. Del Webb Orlando – Davenport, FL
71. Covered Bridge – Manalapan, NJ
72. Royal Highlands – Leesburg, FL
73. Robson Ranch – Eloy, AZ
74. Renaissance at Manchester – Manchester, NJ
75. Ocala Palms – Ocala, FL
76. Siena – Las Vegas, NV
77. The Colony – Murrieta CA
78. Windsor Gardens – Denver, CO
79. Del Webb Sweetgrass – Richmond, TX
80. Trilogy at Rio Vista – Rio Vista, CA
81. Village at Deaton Creek – Hoschton, GA
82. Oceana – Oceanside, CA
83. Canal Walk – Somerset, NJ
84. Valencia Falls – Delray Beach, FL
85. Heritage at Eagle Bend – Aurora, CO
86. Westlake Golf & Country Club – Jackson, NJ
87. Legacy at Leesburg – Leesburg, FL
88. SummerGlen – Ocala, FL
89. Trilogy at Vistancia – Peoria, AZ
90. Kings Isle – Port St. Lucie, FL
91. Seven Lakes – Fort Myers, FL
92. Carolina Arbors – Durham, NC
93. Trilogy at Power Ranch – Gilbert, AZ
94. Heritage Pines – Cary, NC
95. The Villages Golf & Country Club – San Jose, CA
96. Heritage Pines – Hudson, FL
97. Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch – Florence, AZ
98. Cresswind at Lake Lanier – Gainesville, GA
99. CantaMia – Goodyear, AZ
100. Lake Ashton – Lake Wales, FL