When most people think of places to retire, they think of Florida and Arizona – the two most popular destinations for retirees thanks to a low cost of living and warm, sunny weather. Of course, not everyone wants to spend their golden years in the oppressive humidity without changing seasons.
New England is a popular retirement destination for active adults who enjoy the outdoors and beautiful scenery. Autumn brings crisp weather and gorgeous fall foliage, while summers are pleasant without getting too intense. One of the best places to retire in New England is Cape Cod.
Retiring on Cape Cod means year-round access to some of the best beaches in the country including the Cape Cod National Seashore, sailing, fishing, whale watching, and world-class golfing. Living on Cape Cod also comes with access to excellent healthcare, museums, historic attractions, shopping, and recreation.
Here’s a look at the best place to retire on Cape Cod for the lifestyle you’re looking for and the top Cape Cod retirement communities.
Cape Cod Retirement – Best Cape Cod Towns for Retirement
Ready to explore Cape Cod senior living options? Here are the best towns on Cape Cod for active adults.
- Mashpee: This charming community offers freshwater and saltwater Nantucket Sound beaches with a more rural setting. You’ll find plenty of shopping with recreation in nearby Falmouth and Hyannis.
- Bourne: This is the closest town to the “mainland.” One of the most expensive Cape Cod towns, it’s also home to excellent harbors and inlets with boating, fishing, and swimming.
- Falmouth: This lively Cape Cod town is busy year-round. You can take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, soak up the sun on Chapoquoit Beach, and shop along the charming Main Street.
- Hyannis: The village of Hyannis is the main business district of the Town of Barnstable and the center of all the action.
Harwich: This is a great place to retire if you want to be close to the beaches and Cape Cod National Seashore. - Brewster: This town has some of the Cape’s best beaches and state parks like Nickerson State Park and Long Pond with kayaking, fishing, and swimming. The median age in Brewster is almost 55.
- Yarmouth: This is one of the most affordable Cape Cod towns and home to some of the top resorts and attractions. The village of Yarmouth Port is most popular with retirees as it’s closest to the golf courses and beaches with fewer crowds.
Everleigh Cape Cod – Resort-Style Senior Living & the First Luxury Cape Cod Retirement Community
- Location: Hyannis, MA
- Homes: 1-2 bedroom apartments up to 1,300 SQ FT
- Lifestyle: Independent living
- Address: Everleigh Cape Cod, 265 Communication Way, Barnstable, MA 02601
- Phone: (508) 425-3885
Everleigh is designed for older adults who aren’t ready to slow down. If you’re ready to live life to its fullest, you’ll fall in love with one of the best retirement communities Cape Cod has to offer.
The Everleigh is one of the only Cape Cod active retirement communities with resort-style living and luxury amenities. On-site amenities and upscale features include:
Designer finishes, gourmet kitchens, spa-inspired bathrooms, and private balconies
Social hours, cultural events, outings, culinary experiences, and fitness classes
Pub lounge, modern fitness center, great room, resident lounge, café, yoga studio, game room, billiards, theater room & art studio
Dog park with dog wash station
Resort-style pool and sun deck, outdoor kitchen, meditation garden, bocce ball court, horse shoe pits & pickleball
Paid concierge services such as transportation, housekeeping, additional dining options, and salon/spa services
See a sample Everleigh activities calendar to see what will keep you busy. From movie night and mimosa bars to games night, pickleball, and nature walks, there’s always something fun to do and new people to meet.
As one of the best retirement communities on Cape Cod, you’re ideally located for ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, the Hyannis Golf Course, whale watching cruises, and the best Cape Cod beaches in Yarmouth and Hyannis.
Prices range from $2,500 to $4,000 per month for one- to two-bedroom apartments that feature up to 1,300 square feet of living space!
Cape Cod Senior Residences – Affordable Cape Cod 55 Plus Community with Social Programs & Great Services
- Location: Bourne, MA
- Homes: One- and two-bedroom apartments
- Lifestyle: Independent & assisted living
- Address: Cape Cod Senior Residences, 100 Dr Julius Kelley Ln, Bourne, MA 02559
- Phone: (508) 564-4474
Cape Cod Senior Residences is one of the few affordable Cape Cod over 55 communities with income restrictions. The community was developed in 2005 through a public-private venture between the nonprofit Housing Assistance Corporation of Hyannis (HAC), the Barnstable County Commissioners, and Realty Resources Chartered of Maine.
The 100% affordable Cape Cod senior living community is open to adults 65 and older with income at or below 60% of the area median income. There is no application fee or entrance fee, unlike most retirement communities.
The community boasts plenty of outdoor space with a second floor screened porch, a landscaped courtyard patio, backyard gardens, and walking paths. There are daily enrichment activities, restaurant-style dining with locally sourced food, and several floor plan options to choose from.
Southport on Cape Cod – One of the Best Over 55 Communities on Cape Cod with a Private Golf Course & More
- Location: Mashpee, MA
- Homes: 2-bedroom homes for sale up to 1,950 SQ FT
- Lifestyle: Independent living in an age-restricted community
- Address: Southport on Cape Cod, 100 Old Barnstable Rd, Mashpee, MA 02649
- Phone: (508) 539-1110
Southport is one of the best over 55 communities in Massachusetts and a great choice for Cape Cod retirement. The Southport Mashpee community is an award-winning new home development with world-class amenities and a huge array of floor plans.
Southport Mashpee, MA is one of a few Cape Cod 55 plus communities with golf courses, but Southport offers its own private golf course to residents with no greens or membership fees. Residents also enjoy a 32,000-square-foot Village Center complete with indoor and outdoor pools, a Grand Ballroom, fitness center, and tennis courts. With amenities like the woodworking shop and sports lounge to the library, salon, walking trails, and card room, there’s always something going on in the community.
Southport Mashpee has been named one of the 100 Best Master-Planned Communities in America by Where to Retire magazine. Southport Mashpee HOA fees are about $550 due to the many amenities the community offers.
Atria Woodbriar Place – Amenity-Packed Cape Cod Retirement Community on Jones Pond
- Location: Falmouth, MA
- Homes: Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments starting at $3,700 per month
- Lifestyle: Independent & assisted living
- Address: Atria Woodbriar Place, 389 Gifford St, Falmouth, MA 02540
- Phone: (508) 495-5500
Atria Woodbriar is comprised of two separate communities: Woodbriar Place with independent and assisted living and Woodbriar Park with assisted living and memory care. Residents enjoy world-class amenities and a range of living options.
Atria Woodbriar Place offers table service at its large restaurant-style dining room overlooking Jones Pond, outdoor patio dining, and a casual café. Stay active with the heated indoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, walking paths, and packed activities calendar with social events, outings, and more. Catch up with friends at the on-site movie theater and spa and salon!
The adjacent Atria Woodbriar Park offers assisted living in Hyannis, MA.
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Maplewood at Brewster – Secluded Cape Cod Retirement Community
- Location: Brewster, MA
- Homes: Studio and one-bedroom apartments
- Lifestyle: Independent living, assisted living & memory care
- Address: Maplewood at Brewster, 820 Harwich Rd, Brewster, MA 02631
- Phone: (774) 215-2540
Maplewood Senior Living operates some of the best retirement communities in New England, including several on Cape Cod. Maplewood at Brewster is the perfect choice for retiring on Cape Cod if you’re looking for a coastal location and full-service senior living.
Enjoy hobbies and stay social with a packed calendar of activities, wellness programs, and fun events. Engage with nature with resort-style patios and gardens on the manicured grounds. Stay healthy with seasonal, locally sourced meals and fitness programs. Explore the area with complimentary transportation.
This Cape Cod 55+ community offers several floor plans with the option for assisted living and memory care, all of which are connected to the art studio, pool, dining area, and wellness center.
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Keystone Place at Buzzards Bay – All-Inclusive Senior Living in Cape Cod’s Charming Buzzards Bay Community
- Location: Buzzards Bay, MA
- Homes: One- and two-bedroom apartments starting at $4,650 per month
- Lifestyle: Independent living, assisted living & memory care
- Address: Keystone Place at Buzzards Bay, 218 Main St, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
- Phone: (774) 241-8411
Enjoy Cape Cod retirement at its finest at Keystone Place in the heart of Buzzards Bay, Bourne, MA. One of the best Cape Cod 55 plus communities, you’ll be just blocks from the Cape Cod Canal and the Cape Cod Bridge for easy access to the “mainland,” Boston, and Providence.
The retirement community has an all-inclusive monthly payment that covers all utilities, basic cable, household maintenance, and nutritious meals. Residents love the warm environment with private residences and plenty of ways to stay active from regular social events and activities to nearby shopping, beaches, and recreation.
Harbor Point at Centerville – First Assisted Living Cape Cod Facility Specializing in Memory Care
- Location: Centerville, MA
- Homes: Studio apartments
- Lifestyle: Assisted living & memory care
- Address: Harbor Point at Centerville, 22 Richardson Rd, Centerville, MA 02632
- Phone: (508) 532-2230
For more than 23 years, Harbor Point at Centerville has been the only dedicated memory care facility in the mid-Cape. Built exclusively for older adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia, residents enjoy a secure neighborhood setting, patio areas with garden beds, and therapeutic activities like gardening, art, music, and cooking. Their award-winning programs are designed to stimulate cognition, promote comfort, and support nutrition.
For couples or seniors with mild memory loss, transitioning to Cape Cod senior housing with memory support may be a good choice to plan for the future and enjoy as much independence as possible.
Heritage at Falmouth – Independent & Assisted Living on Cape Cod on the Falmouth Hospital Campus
- Location: Falmouth, MA
- Homes: Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments
- Lifestyle: Independent & assisted living
- Address: Heritage at Falmouth, 140 Ter Heun Dr, Falmouth, MA 02540
- Phone: (506) 495-1518
Heritage at Falmouth is a small 56-unit facility part of the Cape Cod Healthcare community. Located on the Falmouth Hospital Campus, it’s one of the best Cape Cod retirement communities for older adults who need a little assistance and want the security of medical facilities nearby.
Residents enjoy quiet, private apartments on a large, landscaped campus next to Bebee Woods. The community holds regular events like evening cookouts and parties with social clubs, a three-season porch, a library, resident lounges, and more.
The Villages at Brookside – One of the Best Golf Communities on Cape Cod for Seniors
Location: Bourne, MA
Homes: Townhomes/condos for sale
Lifestyle: Independent living, not age-restricted
One of the many perks of Cape Cod senior living is the world-class golf and attractive golf communities. The Villages at Brookside is one of the best Cape Cod active retirement communities if you’re looking for independent living and want to buy, not rent. The gated community is located next to the Brookside Club, one of the best public Cape Cod golf courses on the Upper Cape.
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The Villages at Brookside is a townhome community with 232 units built in 2002 to 2003. Located in Bourne, it’s not an age-restricted community but still popular with seniors thanks to first-floor owner’s suites, golf course views, and great amenities. You’ll be minutes from restaurants, the Bourne Bridge, and Bourne beaches!
Two-bedroom units usually sell in the $700s with HOA fees around $600 per month.
Map of Cape Cod Retirement Communities
Does Cape Cod retirement sound ideal? If you’re ready to downsize, move into one of these exciting 55+ communities, or relocate within the area, Vanguard Moving Services is here to help. Give us a call for a free, affordable estimate on full-service senior moves.
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