You’ll find an impressive list of 55+ communities in Charleston, SC to meet a growing demand from home buyers. Ranked as a top place to retire by AARP, Charleston appeals to retirees for many reasons. The history and culture of this 300 year-old port city are unmatched in the South, and each year brings an array of festivals and other events ranging from the arts to professional tennis, wildlife, food, and wine. Three beaches are open to the public, and a mild climate allows residents to enjoy the outdoors year-round. Twenty-two public and private golf courses can be found throughout the tri-county area. Charleston boasts a wide range of medical and specialist centers including the Medical University of South Carolina. Plus, South Carolina’s relatively low property and income taxes combine with Charleston’s moderate cost of living to help make your retirement income last longer.
We’ve worked with numerous retirees (and soon-to-be retired buyers) from around the country to find the perfect home in their budget. We also know the 55+ new construction options if you want to build a home from the ground up and be able to select the colors and finishes. We’ve included below the 55 and over communities in Charleston (most are located in Summerville).
Del Webb has a subsection that is part of the 4,000 acre Nexton development. This mixed use community combines residential and commercial spaces just off I-26 in Summerville. Del Webb Nexton is conveniently located just 5 minutes from the shopping, restaurants, and movie theater in Summerville. Historic Downtown Summerville is about a 10 minute drive, and Downtown Charleston is about 30 minutes. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, an impressive fitness center, and many clubs and other social groups for residents to join.
Floor plans at Del Webb Nexton include houses and townhouses and range from 2 to 5 bedrooms with square footages from 1,260 to 3,100. Also, keep in mind that the builders Saussy Burbank and Pulte are also working here (so it's not exclusively the Del Webb builder). Whether downsizing or accommodating guests/family in town, buyers can tailor their home to match their needs!
Location is one of the biggest draws of Horizons at Carnes Crossroads. As the name suggests, this community sits at a true crossroads - giving residents multiple routes to get around instead of relying solely on the interstate. Ideally, you hardly need to leave the neighborhood since everyday essentials are close by, with multiple grocery stores, delis, sports bars, and activities for all ages. Many of these destinations are even accessible by golf cart, which is a great added perk. The surrounding area offers abundant shopping and dining options, along with convenient access to Roper St. Francis Hospital.
Homes feature hardi plank exteriors, an appealing upgrade considering that many other 55+ communities such as Summers Corner use vinyl siding. Within Horizons, Lennar is the exclusive builder. As an agrihood community, Horizons at Carnes Crossroads includes community gardens and a working farm, adding charm and lifestyle benefits. Lennar has already built a new amenity center with a pool for Carnes Crossroads. Horizons residents enjoy access to the two amenity centers outside their gated section, plus the highly anticipated Horizons-exclusive amenity center that is still to be built.
Since almost all of Charleston’s 55+ communities are located in Summerville, this new community by Del Webb is getting a lot of attention. Here residents can enjoy the Mt. Pleasant lifestyle, upscale shopping and restaurants, marsh settings, and close proximity to the beaches and Downtown Charleston. Del Webb Point Hope is in Cainhoy on the outskirts of Mt. Pleasant which gives buyers more affordable options compared to Mt. Pleasant without feeling like they’re too far removed from Charleston. Planned amenities include a 22,000 sq ft club house, bocce ball and pickle ball courts, and an indoor/outdoor pool. This community is still so new that homes are not yet listed in the MLS, so contact us for more info or to schedule an appointment!
This gated subsection built by Lennar is the only age restricted subsection within the highly popular Summers Corner development. When comparing 55+ communities in Charleston, Horizons (pictured) tends to be one of the most affordable. Summers Corner is one of Summerville’s largest neighborhoods, with over 6,000 acres and plentiful parks and green spaces. Entertainment options include the adjacent Summers Corner Performing Arts Center, the farmer’s market or restaurants located within the neighborhood, and kayaking on the 95 acre lake.
Cane Bay Plantation features two 55+ communities. The focal point at Four Seasons at the Lakes is a 300-acre lake system with an 8-mile blue way. You’ll find both new construction homes and resales, and the neighborhood will have about 800 homes when it’s finished. Amenities include an indoor pool, 2 outdoor pools with zero entry, a 20,000 square foot club house, fitness center, hiking trails. Outdoor amphitheater, boat storage, fishing, and kayaking. Courts for tennis, bocce, and pickleball are also available. Four Seasons at the Lakes is a gated community with slightly larger homes ranging from 1,320 to 3,500 square feet.
Del Webb started this gated community in 2007 and has since built 1,000 homes. There is no new construction currently taking place (so all of these listings below are resales).
Made up of 360 acres, Del Webb has included the most sought after amenities for a 55 plus community: a heated indoor swimming pool (pictured), a separate heated outdoor pool, fitness center, dog park, a 20,000 square foot clubhouse with recreation area, arts and crafts room, and social clubs. You’ll also find tennis, bocce, and pickleball courts. Del Webb is located within Cane Bay and is 25 miles northwest of Charleston in the small, historic town of Summerville. Charleston’s International Airport is only 20 minutes away.
The Ponds is one of Summerville’s most popular neighborhoods, and you’ll find 2 sections dedicated to buyers aged 55 or better: Cresswind and Carillon. Cresswind tends to be the top choice since these homes are newer. Homeowners can enjoy the 1,100 acre preserve and 21 miles of nature trails within The Ponds. Few communities in Charleston have designated this type of space for preservation, so these unspoiled woodlands are unique. The Ponds hosts concerts at its amphitheater overlooking the lake and boasts impressive amenities such as a saltwater pool, 4,000 foot Farmhouse with hobby and game rooms, muscadine field, and fishing lakes. Carillon and Cresswind residents can access the amenities at The Ponds that are open to all residents, so know that these amenities will be shared with non-retirees. Some buyers enjoy this appeal since it gives them the retirement feel within their section but doesn’t separate them completely from residents aged 55+. However, other buyers looking for true 55 and over communities find the mixed amenities a drawback for Carillon.
Cresswind offers resales dating back to 2015 in addition to homes that are brand new construction. When it’s completed, Cresswind at The Ponds will have 600 homes (making it a sizable age restricted community). Carillon offers 56 pre-owned homes in a gated section which offers a smaller, more intimate setting.
Liberty Cottages in Mt. Pleasant is the priciest active retirement community in this list since real estate in this Charleston suburb is much higher compared to the inland towns like Summerville. Liberty Cottages was designed to give retirees a low maintenance lifestyle where they can still have the freedom of living in a house with as-needed services. An exclusive agreement with the Somerby assisted living center (located nearby in Mount Pleasant) provides residents with optional care options such as priority admission access, transportation, laundry, in-home physician care, housekeeping, transportation services, and more. This subsection of Park West offers only 43 single family home sites. Two story floor plans have a ground floor master suite with the main living area, and the second floor is made up of guest rooms and storage. Sizes range from 2,700 to 3,100 sq ft. Residents in Liberty Cottages can access all of the amenities at Park West including walking trails, tennis courts, and 2 pools (1 is designated for adults only).
If you’re looking for active retirement communities that are smaller and more intimate than the large scale Del Webbs, Marrington at Cobblestone is a good option to consider. With 98 homes and 21 acres bordered by woodlands and wetlands, Marrington at Cobblestone might be a good fit. You’ll find only resales here which is helpful for buyers wanting a quick close. Floor plans for these single family and attached homes range from 1,170 to 2000 sq ft, and some homes come with 1-2.5 car garages. Amenities include an outdoor pool with sun deck and a club house that has been designed as a social center of the neighborhood. It offers a fitness center, a catering kitchen, and a flex room that can be used for social events and club meetings.
With only 109 homes, Pines at Gahagan is another more intimately scaled 55+ active lifestyle community in Summerville. This gated neighborhood was established in 2006, and you’ll find only resales here. Buyers tend to like the central location in Summerville and also the homes’ brick exteriors (pictured). These one story layouts have been designed with no stairs and wide doorways for easy access throughout.
Pines at Gahagan offers resort style amenities including an outdoor pool and a 4,700 foot club house offering fitness center with lockers, catering kitchen, juice bar, and flex room for events. After the builder finished its final phase, Pines at Gahagan even turned the builder spaces into a library, craft room, and billiards hall!
Active adults looking for an affordable home closer in to historic Charleston should certainly consider the Elms of Charleston. Two hundred acres and over 300 homes put this age restricted community in between the smaller neighborhoods like Pines at Gahagan and Marrington and large scale developments like Cane Bay. Most residences in Elms of Charleston range from 832 to 2,096 feet. Resale homes date back to 1987, and you’ll also find newer options. A full time Activities Director oversees trips and social events, and an 8,000 sq ft club house boasts a variety of activities. You’ll find a fitness room, lounge, pool table, library, 3 shuffleboard courts, lawn croquet, tennis court, and an outdoor pool.
If you’re interested in learning how to eliminate your monthly mortgage payments, ask us about reverse mortgages!
$297,570
MLS® #25031900
Carnes Crossroads
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2½ BA, 1614 SQ FT, 0.15 ACRES
Built in 2025
House
Home is Move In Ready - Welcome to Horizons, an exclusive 55+ gated active adult community situated in the highl…
$300,999
MLS® #25025321
Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2 BA, 1510 SQ FT, 0.12 ACRES
Built in 2009
House
***Ask about the possibility of receiving 1% reduction in interest rate and free refi.*** Located in the sought-…
$346,500
MLS® #26010094
Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2 BA, 1435 SQ FT, 0.11 ACRES
Built in 2026
House
Discover HORIZONS, a place where you can wake up with countless opportunities but no commitments. Where new frie…
$349,400
MLS® #25030493
Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1508 SQ FT, 0.01 ACRES
Built in 2014
House
BRING OFFERS! SELLER OFFERING $5000 CREDIT TOWARDS OUTDOOR SPACE. This beautifully maintained Gray Myst model o…
$357,225
MLS® #26005350
Carnes Crossroads
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2 BA, 1435 SQ FT, 0.14 ACRES
Built in 2026
House
Welcome to Horizons, an exclusive 55+ gated Active Adult community situated in the highly desirable Carnes Cross…
$358,500
MLS® #26008479
Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1507 SQ FT, 0.11 ACRES
Built in 2026
House
Discover HORIZONS, a place where you can wake up with countless opportunities but no commitments. Where new frie…
$363,125
MLS® #26006818
Carnes Crossroads
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2 BA, 1435 SQ FT, 0.14 ACRES
Built in 2026
House
Welcome to Horizons, an exclusive 55+ gated active adult community situated in the highly desirable Carnes Cross…
$367,100
MLS® #26009487
Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1558 SQ FT, 0.11 ACRES
Built in 2026
House
Discover HORIZONS, an active adult community for those 50 and better! A place where you can wake up with countle…
$369,000
MLS® #26009090
Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1760 SQ FT, 0.18 ACRES
Built in 2009
House
Unlock Incredible Value in Del Webb at Cane Bay-Looking for the perfect entry point into Summerville's premier 5…
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