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Why 55+ Communities Are Growing in Popularity: Key Benefits & Lifestyle Perks
by Esta Ryder
2/13/2025
What is a 55+ Community?
Over the last several years, I’ve told my husband that I can’t wait 
to be 55 so we can live wherever we want. We have been to so many very nice 55+ communities that I would love to live in, but we’re not allowed, yet. Granted, there is the 80/20 policy that can allow for 20% of the individuals living in these communities to be under the age of 55 but because it is not required (and isn’t what this column is about), I won’t go into details about that here.
But first, some background. According to a quick Google search, the first 55+ community was a master-planned community established in 1954 on 320 acres in Youngstown, Arizona. These communities exist primarily to give adults (typically retired) a place to go without children around. Ouch, that sounds harsh! Many of these community residents have children or grandchildren they love deeply. This isn’t about not liking young people. So what is appealing for those looking for 55+ communities? From my experiences, I have found it to be some of the following reasons:
Quiet:
One of my favorite past clients would drive around the neighborhoods of homes he was interested in to look for swing sets. He loves kids and is very close to his family but at this particular stage in his life, he wanted to come home to quiet. Are all kids loud? Nope. Are all adults quiet? Nope. But the thought around these communities, right or wrong and accurate or inaccurate, is that they will tend to be more “peaceful and quiet” than one with potentially more younger people living there.
Friendship:
Whether it be personal clients or posts I see on Facebook, it is super common for me to come across parents looking for communities with children and families. They want Johnny to have childhood memories of playing with neighborhood kids- often mimicking their own childhood growing up. If there are no kids in the area, they aren’t interested in living there. For them, it is very important that their kids have other kids to hang out with at the pool, ride bikes with all day, etc.
The same can be said for adults. They are looking for friends who are more likely to have the same interests as they do. And if they are new to the area or have extra time on their hands, this is of utmost priority. Living in a community where you know that most people will be in a similar stage of life almost guarantees meeting someone you can get to know and spend time with. You don’t even have to leave your community to have things to do which brings me to my next point.
Amenities:
We have friends who live in a gorgeous 55+ community! Their amenities are incredible! The clubhouse looks like a mansion! The clubhouse has a library, full kitchen, weight room and large ballroom/multi-purpose room. The outside is just as fabulous with a large pool, hottub, bocce ball area, and walking path around a beautiful pond. I saw it and was instantly jealous- not because their neighborhood was out of my price range or there were no properties for sale- but because I wasn't old enough to live there. While not all 55+ communities have amenities, many do, and a lot of them are very nice. Even people not looking for these communities might choose to buy in them because of the amenities they have to offer.
As you can see, there are a multitude of reasons people can choose to live in a 55+ community. It might be for one of these reasons or for all. Maybe it is as simple as loving the floor plans of the homes in certain communities. Either way, if you are able to buy in a community like this but haven’t thought about it before, don’t rule it out until you explore your options. You might just find out that it is the perfect fit you never knew that you were looking for.
