Marion County, Florida

It suits buyers who want space, a slower pace, and easy access to nature — think horse farms, the springs, and small-town cores in Ocala and Belleview. With 1,159 active 55+ listings it's especially popular with retirees, but the mix of farms, new construction, and starter homes works for families and first-time buyers too.

Not by Florida standards — the median list price is $298,398, and homes run about $232 per square foot. There are 226 listings above $1 million for luxury and estate buyers, but you can also browse by price and find plenty of options well under the median.

The typical home lists around $298,398 for about 1,688 square feet, though the full range runs from roughly $32,700 to $25.7 million. Single-family homes dominate with 3,789 active listings, and there are also 259 manufactured homes, 154 villas, and 137 farms for different budgets and lifestyles.

There are 4,604 active listings and homes are taking a median of 44 days to go under contract, which gives buyers time to compare without rushing. With 1,202 new-construction listings adding inventory, it's worth tracking the just reduced homes for negotiating room.

The median HOA fee is about $197 per month, common in the 929 gated communities and 55+ neighborhoods, while many farms and rural homes carry no HOA at all. Median property tax runs around $2,499 per year, and typical rent is about $1,900 per month if you're weighing renting against buying.