Chances are you haven’t considered Delaware as a retirement destination—but, maybe you should. U.S. News and World Report recently named Delaware as one of the ten most affordable places to retire on the water. And, it’s closer than you think. When compared to southern retirement hot spots, Delaware is a relatively short drive from the major metropolitan areas of New York, Philadelphia and D.C.

Delaware, “The First State,” might quickly become the first state on your list when you consider all the natural amenities that Delaware offers. Here, retirees enjoy a relaxed quality of life near the coast. In such a small area, Delaware offers a wide composition of forests, marshland, ocean and bay beaches, rivers and freshwater ponds. Resort towns exuding charm and personality dot the shoreline.

One of these brimming communities is Lewes, DE, the first town in the first state. Situated where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Lewes offers a balance of history and relaxation. On the eastern shore, another nearby beach town is Rehoboth Beach, an acclaimed beach community that hosts a vast number of retirees. Near these beach towns, affordable planned communities have popped up all around. For example, in Lewes, Nassau Grove, a K. Hovnanian community features low-maintenance, single-family homes with full basements from the upper $200s in a resort-style community.

While weather is an obvious consideration in choosing a retirement destination, the moderate temperatures in Delaware (average summer highs in the mid 80s & winter highs around 47) make the Delaware coast a comfortable option for those not interested in the heat of the Deep South.

Perhaps the best benefits of a Delaware retirement are its tax advantages—some of the lowest real estate taxes in the country. Other tax benefits include: no sales tax, no inheritance tax for most residents, no personal property taxes, no local taxes (except for Wilmington, DE), no state tax on social security benefits; and an age-dependent exclusion amount on pension benefits.

With lower taxes and a low cost of living, a moderate four-season climate and great natural amenities, Delaware could just be the place you’ve been searching for.