Images of young, frolicking beachgoers come to mind for many people at the mention of Florida, but then there’s the hidden gem of Englewood. Nestled in the southern part of Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast, Englewood offers waterfront retirement living that won’t drain your savings. It’s home to about 20,000 year-round residents, not including winter visitors, and is among Investopedia’s top 100 places to retire in the US.

Some of Englewood’s residents live in Sarasota County, and others live in Charlotte County. The town is unincorporated and uniquely stretches over two counties. The area was a lemon grove until 1894 and 1895, when the area succumbed to unusually cold winters that killed the trees. The area turned residential, and it’s now a quiet, friendly, laid-back community that you might want to consider calling your retirement home.

Englewood Is Financially Friendly

The median cost of a residential home in Englewood was $375,000 in 2025, according to one report. Zillow cites an average price of $317,485 through the end of December 2025. The median cost is more than $550,000 in Sarasota.

A one-bedroom apartment will run you about $1,673 a month if you choose to rent rather than purchase a residence. And that might be worth considering because most mortgage lenders require that Florida homeowners carry windstorm coverage on their home insurance policies, which can add to that expense.

Of course, you’ll also have to stock your kitchen with food, and groceries run about 7% more here than the national average. Englewood’s cost of living overall is about 5% more than the national average, and utilities will also cost you about 5% more. But none of these numbers is flinch-producing.

Englewood’s Great Outdoors

Englewood boasts 257 sunny days a year, so you’ll wake up to sunshine on about 70% of your mornings here. Winter days tend to be dry and sunny, with temperatures averaging in the 70s. Of course, you can expect those temperatures to nudge 90 in the summer months, at least, and the days will turn muggy. Afternoon thunderstorms aren’t uncommon, and hurricane season runs from June through November, so there’s always a chance for a colossal storm during those months.

You’ll have two beaches on which to get comfortable or stroll while enjoying the weather. Englewood Beach is almost tourist-free and provides ample, easy parking. Manasota Key is more remote, located on the other side of the bridge, where mostly only locals know where to find it.

You might also take advantage of the balmy weather by spending an afternoon looking for prehistoric shark teeth along Blind Pass Beach, located on Englewood’s Manasota Key. And yes, you might actually find some. They’re known to wash up here and can occasionally be spotted along the waterline.

The Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center offers numerous shoreline trails across its 200-plus acres if you’d prefer to spot a bald eagle or two rather than look for old teeth.

The Englewood Community

Englewood provides some enjoyable indoor activities and outdoor entertainment, too, and historic Dearborn Street is the place to go.

If cars are your thing, hundreds of automobiles roll down Dearborn Street on the first Saturday of every month in the Cruisin’ on Dearborn car show, drawing crowds in the thousands.

Then there’s the Englewood Farmers Market on Thursdays from October through May. This also takes place on Dearborn Street, at Pioneer Plaza. Local farmers offer fresh Florida produce, and fishermen provide wild-caught seafood. That’s not even to mention baked goods.

Old Englewood Village is located on Dearborn Street as well. It’s home to numerous wine and coffee shops, restaurants, and some art galleries. Then there’s the Lemon Bay Playhouse offering numerous shows, many of them comedies. Production season runs from September through June. 

Everyday Life and Getting Around Town

Englewood is tucked away from the throb of city life, but city life isn’t at the other end of a long, intimidating drive. Venice is just 12 miles away, and Englewood is 17 miles from Port Charlotte, although you’ll have to drive 30 miles to visit Sarasota.

You’ll most likely want to have your own wheels because Englewood’s public transportation options are somewhat limited. Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) does offer local bus service and Dial-a-Ride Services, but the town doesn’t offer much in the way of big-city options.

Of course, you can always ride a bike. Several Englewood companies rent bicycles, so you won’t have to buy one if you occasionally want to get around a little faster than your feet can carry you. And the weather here should accommodate a pleasant ride.

Englewood is home to a Publix and a Walmart, so you won’t have to travel to do your everyday shopping. Target and Best Buy are located in Venice and Sarasota, respectively. Most of Englewood’s businesses are homegrown and locally owned.

Healthcare Services in Englewood

Health concerns can become more common in your retirement years, so the availability of quality services is important. HCA Florida Englewood Hospital is local, and Sarasota abounds with care facilities for specialized needs. There are 22 hospitals and care centers within 50 miles of Englewood, but you can do far worse than HCA Florida Englewood, which has won the Patient Safety Excellence Award and was named to America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention in 2024.

What will this cost you? Englewood’s healthcare costs run about 3% above the national average, but that’s not prohibitive. A visit to the doctor will run you about $142. That figure doesn’t include consideration of insurance.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs stands by to help out in a pinch or crisis as well. It offers the Older Americans Act Program, which provides preventive health services, and the Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) program to help with medical supplies and emergency alert response services.

The Bottom Line

There are far worse places to retire than Englewood, Florida. It offers a variety of enjoyable ways to spend your newfound free time, from a monthly car show to quiet, almost tourist-free beaches. Englewood is a small town, but nearby to Venice and Port Charlotte if you want to take in a little city life once in a while. Best of all, living here is affordable.