55+ Communities in Charleston and Summerville

55 plus communities charleston sc

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 in case you want to build a home from the ground up and be able to select all the colors and finishes. We’ve included below the 55 and over communities in Charleston (most are located in Summerville).

Del Webb Nexton: Summerville

del webb nexton 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 you’re looking to downsize or to accommodate guests/family in town, buyers can tailor their home to match their needs!

Del Webb at Cane Bay: Summerville

del webb summerville sc

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 Plantation and is 25 miles northwest of Charleston in the small, historic town of Summerville. Charleston’s International Airport is only 20 minutes away. Del Webb homes for sale range from 1,100 to 2,700 square feet. Floor plans offer 1-4 bedrooms, 1.5-4 baths, and attached garages.

Horizons at Summers Corner: Summerville

horizons at summers corner 55 plus near charleston

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. Since this is the newest community in this list, know that amenities are not completed yet.

Four Seasons at the Lakes of Cane Bay: Summerville

Also located within Cane Bay is a second 55+ community called Four Seasons at the Lakes. The focal point here is a 300-acre lake system that features 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. Floor plans have 2-4 bedrooms, 2-3 baths, and 1-2 car garages.

Marrington at Cobblestone: Summerville

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 and move in date. Floor plans for these single family and attached homes range from 1,170 to 2000 sq ft, 2-3 beds, and 2-3 baths. 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.

Liberty Cottages at Park West: Mount Pleasant

Liberty Cottages is Mt. Pleasant’s only active retirement community, and it's the most expensive since real estate in this Charleston suburb is much pricier 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).

Pines at Gahagan: Summerville

pines at gahagan summerville

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 (shown right). These one story layouts have been designed with no stairs and wide doorways for easy access throughout. You’ll find 2-3 bedroom residences ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 sq ft.

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!

Elms of Charleston: North Charleston

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 of the residences in Elms of Charleston have 2-3 bedrooms and 2 full baths and range from 832 to 2,096 feet. Resale homes date back to 1987, and you’ll also find newly constructed houses. The most affordable options are attached with a single story townhouse setup. 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.

Carillon at The Ponds: Summerville

amenities for cresswind at the ponds summerville

The Ponds is one of Summerville’s most popular neighborhoods, and you’ll find 2 sections dedicated to buyers aged 55 or better. The first is Carillon, and it boasts 56 pre-owned homes in a gated section. 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 quite 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 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 with Carillon neighbors 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 at The Ponds: Summerville

Cresswind is the second subsection of The Ponds dedicated to residents aged 55 plus. Cresswind buyers also have access to all of the amenities stated above. Here, you’ll find 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). Homes range from 1,454 to more than 2,500 square feet and have at least 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2 car garage that’s attached. Historic Charleston is about a 30 minute drive, and the International Airport is about 20 minutes.

If you’re interested in learning how to eliminate your monthly mortgage payments, ask us about reverse mortgages!

Charleston Homes for Sale in 55+ Communities

Price, Low to High
39 Properties Found.
Page 1 of 5
Photo of Listing #24005780

1130 Glorious Way

$305,465
MLS® #24005780

Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1305 SQ FT, 0.11 ACRES
Built in 2024
House

Welcome to Horizons, an exclusive 55+ gated active adult community situated in the highly desirable Summers Corn…

1128 Glorious Way

$317,030
MLS® #24003633

Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2 BA, 1429 SQ FT, 0.11 ACRES
Built in 2024
House

Welcome to Horizons, a gated, 55+ active adult community situated in the highly desirable Summers Corner develop…

1255 Darling Street

$348,735
MLS® #24002076

Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
4 BR, 3 BA, 2017 SQ FT, 0.14 ACRES
Built in 2024
House

Welcome to Horizons, a gated, 55+ active adult community situated in the highly desirable Summers Corner develop…

1126 Glorious Way

$352,575
MLS® #24003638

Summers Corner
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1558 SQ FT, 0.11 ACRES
Built in 2024
House

Welcome to Horizons, a gated, 55+ active adult community situated in the highly desirable Summers Corner develop…

199 Sea Lavender Lane

$354,900
MLS® #23028455

Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1414 SQ FT, 0.15 ACRES
Built in 2010
House

Welcome to your dream retirement home in the highly sought-after Cane Bay Del Webb 55+ gated community in Summer…

237 Sea Lavender Lane

$375,000
MLS® #24004270

Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
3 BR, 2 BA, 1550 SQ FT, 0.15 ACRES
Built in 2010
House

Come and get this peaceful paradise on a Cul-de-Sac lot that backs up to a wooded area in the Del Webb community…

545 Eastern Isle Avenue

$379,900
MLS® #23026653

Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1770 SQ FT, 0.17 ACRES
Built in 2016
House

Well-maintained, and boasting sought-after upgrades like a sunroom, screened-in porch, newly installed laminate …

Photo of Listing #24004663

350 Oyster Bay Drive

$389,000
MLS® #24004663

Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1760 SQ FT, 0.15 ACRES
Built in 2009
House

Well-maintained home featuring 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, an office, and sunroom in the award-winning Del Webb Cane Ba…

542 Sea Foam Street

$395,000
MLS® #24002285

Cane Bay Plantation
Summerville, SC
2 BR, 2 BA, 1436 SQ FT, 0.12 ACRES
Built in 2015
House

Popular Taft Street floor plan situated on a rare and highly-desirable lot backing up to woods and a lagoon and …

The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker ReciprocitySM Program of the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Carolina One Real Estate are marked with the Broker ReciprocitySM logo or the Broker ReciprocitySM thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.

The broker providing these data believes them to be correct, but advises interested parties to confirm them before relying on them in a purchase decision.

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