DeLand is one of the most affordable places to live in Florida, and you're about to see why.
Located roughly halfway between Daytona Beach and Orlando, DeLand's location is a definite plus for retirees, but so is the cost of living.
From home prices to insurance costs and beyond, DeLand gives retirees plenty of ways to make sure their nest egg lasts over the long haul.
Let's take a closer look at what makes DeLand so affordable.
Home Prices
One of the first things you'll probably do just before you move to Florida is to buy a house, so home price is a huge determining factor of whether you can afford to live someplace.
According to data from FloridaRealtors.org, the average sales price for a home in Florida in 2024 was $549,363. That was up from $527,324 in 2023.
You might be shocked just how far below the state average home prices are in DeLand.
How about nearly $150k below?
The average price in 2023 was $363,304 and in 2024 it was $379,941.
Property Taxes
The next big expense you'll have while living the Florida retirement dream will be your property taxes.
Volusia County has a property tax rate of just above 19 mils per thousand.
I go over the entire Florida property tax formula in my book, but to keep things simple here, this means that for every $1,000 of assessed value, you'll be paying about $19.
So let's say your home is assessed for $300,000 the math would be 300 x $19 = $5,700 per year, or about $475 a month.
If you are planning to live here full-time or at least long enough to claim residency, you should know that Florida has some pretty generous homestead exemptions that can reduce your property taxes and keep yearly increases in check.
Again, that's a topic for another day, but you can read more about it in The Florida Retirement Handbook.
Homeowners Insurance
Cities like DeLand that are a little further from the coast are not only safer from the effects of hurricanes and other tropical weather, but residents there also pay lower insurance rates than in Florida's coastal cities.
Other Costs
The website BestPlaces.net is one of my favorite go-to resources for in-depth data about various cities, and they've looked at the overall cost of living in DeLand to include other costs like healthcare, groceries, transportation, utilities, and other necessities.
They found that overall DeLand is about 8% less expensive than the state average cost of living, and about 5% less than the national average cost of living.
Believe me, it's tough to find too many other parts of Florida with a similar or lower cost of living, that you'd actually want to retire in.
Where to Retire in DeLand
Explore DeLand’s newest 55+ community, offering Cresswind’s national award-winning active adult lifestyle and new, Move-In Ready homes from the $300s. Cresswind DeLand offers a lakefront location just minutes from charming downtown DeLand in Central Florida.
In addition to Lake Winnemissett access for catch-and-release fishing, Cresswind offers an award-winning, 55+ lifestyle. A future resident-only clubhouse will serve as the central hub, featuring a fitness center, resort-style pool, pickleball courts, art studio, event spaces and indoor/outdoor gathering spots to unwind and connect with neighbors.
Cresswind features a new collection of floorplans designed specifically for active adults.
You can request more information from the developer right here:
