55+ Communities in Lakewood Ranch Compared

This guide compares the age-restricted villages in Lakewood Ranch, Florida (Manatee and Sarasota counties). Prices and fees below come from the developer’s village pages as of October 2026 and change often, so confirm them with each builder.

Which 55+ communities are in Lakewood Ranch?

The developer lists two age-restricted villages with new homes for sale in 2026: Del Webb Catalina and Cresswind Lakewood Ranch. A third, the original Del Webb Lakewood Ranch, sold out by 2023 and now sells only as resale homes.

Community	Builder	Homes	Price range (developer listing)	Monthly HOA	Signature amenities
Del Webb Catalina	Del Webb (PulteGroup)	About 1,300	Villas from the $350s; single-family $400s to $1M-plus	$335 to $409	15-acre amenity campus on a 70-acre lake, 12 pickleball courts (8 covered), clubhouse with wellness center and spa, café and restaurant, golf simulator, 12 miles of trails
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch	Kolter Homes	649, gated	Single-family from the high $400s to $1M-plus	$429 (maintenance included)	Resident-only clubhouse, SmartFIT training center, resort pool, tennis, pickleball and bocce, arts and crafts room, dog park, event lawn
Del Webb Lakewood Ranch	Del Webb (PulteGroup)	Sold out	Resale only	Ask the HOA	Clubhouse and amenities for residents

Both selling villages have an on-site lifestyle director who runs classes, clubs, trips and events, according to the developer.

What is Del Webb Catalina like?

Del Webb Catalina is the larger and newer of the two, built around a 15-acre amenity campus on the edge of a 70-acre lake. PulteGroup bought 724 acres for the village in November 2023, east of Bourneside Boulevard between 44th Avenue East and Rangeland Parkway, in Manatee County.

Homes range from about 1,448 to 3,970-plus square feet, with attached villas and single-family homes. The developer lists 101 acres of preserve and conservation land in the village. Pickleball players are a clear target audience: the developer lists 12 courts, 8 of them covered.

Good fit if you want a newer home, a big social calendar and the option of a lower-priced villa.

What is Cresswind Lakewood Ranch like?

Cresswind is a gated, 649-home village by Kolter Homes, with a fitness-focused clubhouse and a smaller, quieter feel than Catalina. Sales began in fall 2019 on about 250 acres north of State Road 70 and east of Uihlein Road, in Manatee County, and its sales center address is in ZIP 34211.

Homes run about 1,524 to 3,574 square feet, according to the developer. The lifestyle program is built around fitness, relationships, education and entertainment, with a full calendar of resident clubs. The $429 monthly HOA fee includes maintenance, according to the developer.

Good fit if you want a gate, a single-family home and a tight-knit community of a few hundred homes.

Should I consider an all-ages village instead?

Many retirees here choose all-ages villages, because they want golf, a specific location or neighbors of every age. Lakewood Ranch’s average resident age is 49, according to the developer, so most villages mix families, working adults and retirees.

Several all-ages villages also have lifestyle directors, including Esplanade at Azario, Palm Grove, Shellstone at Waterside, Star Farms, Wild Blue at Waterside and Windward. Golfers often look at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, a private club with 72 holes on four courses, three clubhouses and nationwide reciprocal play through its owner, Heritage Golf Group. See our golf guide and every village compared.

What senior living options are there in Lakewood Ranch?

The developer lists six senior living communities, ranging from independent living to memory care, plus a continuing care community on the way.

Community	Type
Cypress Springs	Independent living
The Windsor at Lakewood Ranch	Independent living, assisted living and respite care
Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch	Independent living, assisted living and memory care
The Summit of Lakewood Ranch	Assisted living, memory care and respite care
Windsor Reflections at Lakewood Ranch	Memory care
Emerson Lakes by Erickson Senior Living	Continuing care retirement community (in development)

Source: Lakewood Ranch senior living page. Tour several and ask about pricing, contracts and licensing before you decide.

What about healthcare for retirees?

Hospital and emergency care are close by: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is in the community, and Sarasota Memorial opened a freestanding ER on University Parkway in 2025. The developer’s fact sheet lists Lakewood Ranch Medical Center at 180 beds, with a new 60-bed tower opened in 2026. Sarasota Memorial’s ER at Lakewood Ranch, at 7250 University Parkway, has 21 treatment rooms plus on-site lab, CT and MRI imaging.

Our healthcare guide covers hospitals, urgent care, finding a primary care doctor and Medicare help.

What clubs and activities are there for retirees?

Beyond each village’s own clubs, Lakewood Ranch Community Activities runs more than 50 clubs and weekly activities open to residents. Categories include arts and music, book clubs, games, hobbies, language and culture, outdoors, social groups and sports. The 150-plus miles of trails and 10 community parks help too. See our parks and trails guide and our guide to clubs and ways to meet people.

What tax breaks do retirees get in Lakewood Ranch?

Florida does not impose a personal income tax, so Social Security, pensions and retirement account withdrawals are not taxed by the state. Property tax is the main state and local tax you will feel. A few points for retirees:

• Homestead exemption. It can lower a home’s taxable value by as much as $50,000, according to the Florida Department of Revenue. You must own and live in the home as your permanent residence on January 1, and the application deadline is March 1.
• Save Our Homes. Once homesteaded, your assessed value can rise no more than 3% a year or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. The Sarasota County Property Appraiser lists the 2026 cap at 2.7%.
• Senior exemption. Owners 65 and older with limited household income may get an extra exemption. In Sarasota County, the 2026 income limit is $38,686, and the unincorporated county exemption is $5,000. Manatee County also offers a low-income senior exemption ($25,000 off county millage). Check your county property appraiser’s site for current amounts.
• District assessments and HOA dues still apply on top of property tax, and exemptions do not reduce them.

Federal taxes still apply, and moving from another state can create a part-year return there. Our retiree tax checklist and Florida tax checklist for movers walk through the details, and our homestead exemption guide explains the steps for each county. This is general information, so talk to a tax professional about your own situation; the CPA hub explains when that makes sense.

How do I choose between 55+ communities?

Visit each village at least twice, once on a weekday and once during an event, and ask for the full annual cost in writing. Questions to ask:

1. What are the HOA fee and the district assessment for this exact lot?
2. What does the HOA fee include: lawn care, irrigation, cable, internet, exterior maintenance?
3. How many homes are left to build, and what is planned next door?
4. What are the age rules for residents, guests and grandchildren?
5. How far is the nearest hospital and urgent care?

For the bigger picture, read our complete guide to retiring in Lakewood Ranch, the cost of living breakdown and the real estate hub.