Still struggling to find the perfect place to retire? Here's a guide. We have compiled a list of the best cities in 21 senior-friendly states for you, based on all factors that retirees care about, including home prices, cost of living, quality of life, and so on. Click through to see where your future home should be.
21. Jacksonville, Florida
Median Home Price: $165,000
Jacksonville is Florida's largest city, and its median home price is an affordable $165,000. The seaside city provides countless relaxing attractions for seniors to visit, such as Jacksonville Landing, Jacksonville Riverwalks, Jacksonville Maritime Museum, and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
20. Alton, Illinois
Median Home Price: $60,000
Alton is a Mississippi river city that ranks high on the Milken Institute list of best places for successful aging for the following reasons. Its median home price is just $60,000, and you don't need to pay state income tax on Social Security earnings. Moreover, the physicians per capita are around the national average.
19. Brattleboro, Vermont
Median Home Price: $202,000
Brattleboro is situated just 100 miles northwest of Boston and the Connecticut River runs through it. The advantageous location enables the elderly residents to lead a generally peaceful life, but still have the opportunity of an easy getaway to the nearby big city from time to time.
18. Lafayette, Louisiana
Median Home Price: $163,000
Lafayette's economy is centered on the health care and service industries, so you can conveniently reach out to professional medical institutions if you retire there. The exotic city also has a well-developed tourism industry fueled by numerous attractions centered around the Cajun and Creole cultures, and they're waiting for you to explore them.
17. Homer, Alaska
Median Home Price: $280,000
Homer lies along Alaska's southern coast and is blessed with a surprisingly mild climate and good air quality. Besides its privileged natural environment, the city also offers you a carefree retired life with a low serious crime rate and a high number of physicians per capita.
16. Henderson, Nevada
Median Home Price: $314,000
Henderson is absolutely the best choice for those who want to retire in Nevada. The city boasts more than 300 days of sunshine every year, so seniors can always enjoy admiring the local natural landscape and partaking in outdoor recreation, even in the winter.
15. Ogden, Utah
Median Home Price: $194,000
Ogden is listed as one of five happiest places to retire to in the US. If you aim to find an escape from the bustling and hustling metropolises, Ogden is a great option, where you will rejoice in the serene mountain scenery and try various outdoor activities to maintain an active lifestyle after retirement.
14. Fargo, North Dakota
Median Home Price: $225,000
Fargo has long been a cultural, commerce, manufacturing, and health care hub for southeastern North Dakota, making it the top place for retirees to live their lives to the fullest in the state. Furthermore, three surrounding universities provide retirees with a rich cultural scene.
13. Athens, Georgia
Median Home Price: $171,000
Athens is also a competitive city for seniors because of its tranquility and rich culture. Your retirement will be immersed in the thriving art, music, and intellectual cultures that are generated from The University of Georgia. You can comfortably lead an ideal life with a home price of just $171,000 on average.
12. Sandusky, Ohio
Median Home Price: $69,000
Nestling on the shores of Lake Erie, Sandusky has good air quality, a low crime rate, and is quite walkable, so it's a pretty perfect place for seniors to enjoy outdoor activities. Living in Sandusky is also affordable without any state estate/inheritance tax and state income tax on Social Security earnings.
11. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Median Home Price: $152,000
For art lovers, Grand Rapids is definitely the best place to spend your retirement years. You will be overwhelmed by a number of festivals all year around and the ubiquitous theaters and stages, including the Civic Theatre, DeVos Hall, and the historic Wealthy Theatre.
10. Asheville, North Carolina
Median Home Price: $275,000
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountain range, Asheville boasts a picturesque landscape, agreeable climate, and fresh air. The mountain town's cultural and art scenes are also quite active, so senior residents can find countless activities to spend their work-free days.
9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Median Home Price: $145,000
Pittsburgh blends the best of small-town friendliness with big-city conveniences. Its welcoming atmosphere is epitomised by the locals' hospitality and some notably tax-friendly advantages for retirees. Additionally, the residents can access the superior health care of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
8. San Antonio, Texas
Median Home Price: $168,000
San Antonio is a popular destination for retirees due to its varied attractions. You will never be bored visiting the historical Spanish missions, Alamo, River Walk, and Tower of the Americas if you live there. What locals expect most is the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the country's largest.
7. Edmond, Oklahoma
Median Home Price: $222,000
Retiring in Edmond is a financially smart move because its cost of living mirrors the national average and there's no state estate/inheritance tax or state income tax on Social Security earnings. Moreover, good air quality and a low serious crime rate ensure your well-being after retirement.
6. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Median Home Price: $184,000
Over the past decades, Sioux Falls has transformed itself into a service-oriented economy, and the booming healthcare industry facilitates a healthy retirement for senior residents. The city is also an economical place to retire due to its low cost of living and affordable home prices.
5. Roanoke, Virginia
Median Home Price: $148,000
Roanoke is one of the best scenic places to retire in the US according to a Forbes's ranking. It's quite cost efficient to retire in the city, where you can enjoy a life surrounded by the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains and benefit from a relatively low cost of living.
4. Wenatchee, Washington
Median Home Price: $278,000
Wenatchee sits at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers near the foothills of the Cascade Range. The well-located city offers seniors not only an appealing outdoor environment but also an abundance of outdoor recreational activities such as fishing, camping, golfing, and so on.
3. Huntington, West Virginia
Median Home Price: $80,000
Huntington is a perfect city to enjoy your work-free days with its sun-soaked beaches, world-class dining experiences and diverse scenic areas. Most visitors will be captivated by the harmonious coexistence of the historical museums and the modern outdoor attractions.
2. Madison, Wisconsin
Median Home Price: $252,000
If you want a healthy retirement, Madison won't fail you. The city has a low smoking rate and many avenues for physical activity. Plus, you can have fun by partaking in ice boating, ice skating, and ice hockey during the winter there. The city of 243,344 people has 11 accredited hospitals, which fully satisfy the residents' medical needs.
1. Casper, Wyoming
Median Home Price: $201,000
Casper can be your ideal destination If you're looking for a small town with a slow pace of life and a low cost of living. In fact, the city has the most retirement communities in Wyoming, which means you can be involved in a host of social activities and make many new friends of your generation.
Source: buzzaura.com