16 Best Retirement Cities That Outshine Florida

Written By Jill Taylor

We applaud Florida for its awesome tax benefits granted to senior retirees. But there are many other states in the US with even more perks for you to be happy with. This is why we’ve compiled 16 cities outside of Florida that are great for you to retire to.

Chatham

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Chatham is a small town with vast, beautiful coastlines and quiet neighborhoods that are perfect for a calm, stress-free lifestyle. It has been a favorite spot for retirees over the years, but at $44,400, it also has a slightly higher cost of living than the national average.

El Dorado, Arkansas

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As a retiree looking for the best place to save money, look no further than El Dorado. Not only is the cost of living here lower than the national average, but houses here cost only about $120,000—almost $300,000 less than most in the US. There’s a thriving population of families here who are liberal and friendly too!

Killeen, Texas

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Killeen is so much of an attraction for retirees that individuals aged 60 and over make up 16% of its population. Living in this city in Bell County means you don’t have to pay any state tax, and you enjoy one of the most secure environments thanks to the nearby Fort Hood military base.

Louisville, Kentucky

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If you’re looking for a large city with a lot of cultural diversity and attractions to explore, Louisville is there for you. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and has enough leisure activities for an event-filled retirement life. You also have lower costs of living and housing than national averages to go with it.

Waterville, Maine

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Another beautiful city with a lot of outdoor attractions is Waterville. Here, you get to enjoy a serene, peaceful environment and easily explore your interests in arts, sports, and music. Crime rates here are very low, medical facilities are always only a few miles away, and it’s one of the most affordable places to live in Maine. US News also reports that it is great.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

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You can join Santa Fe’s 87,000 residents aged 65 and older (24% of the population) to enjoy its amazing climate, art galleries, museums, and eye-catching architecture. What’s even more awesome here is that you also enjoy healthcare costs that are 25% lower than the national average.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

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Home to the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg is a micropolitan area deemed a Certified Retirement Community within the state. It offers the perfect restaurant, dining, and shopping experience for your later years and also has a lower-than-average cost of living.

Morgantown, West Virginia

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Morgantown is a dense, beautiful suburban town in West Virginia that has a low crime rate and an immersive cultural scene that’ll leave you delighted. The Morgantown government also takes pride in its ranking as one of AARP’s “Top 10 Places to Retire Under $100 a Day,” but take note that the winters here could get pretty cold.

Manchester, Vermont

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Vermont’s Manchester is a refined town that comes with amazing picturesque greenery, waterfalls, multicultural cuisines, and a thriving art scene to go with it. However, although it’s not as expensive as Chatham, the cost of living here is higher than the national average, at $42,700.

Springfield, Missouri

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If you’re looking for a place where you can have a safe and comfortable active retirement, this town in southwest Missouri proves to be great. There are multiple family and community centers, arts centers, parks, zoos, and museums to hang out at here. And what’s more, you also enjoy a housing market that’s less expensive than the national average.

Collierville, Tennessee

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Unlike places like Memphis, Collierville is considered one of the safest cities in Tennessee, with some of the friendliest residents to live among. The city has well-funded police and fire departments but is a bit on the pricy side when it comes to its cost of housing. The Collierville government puts its cost of living at an index lower than the national average, however.

Huntsville, Alabama

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The quality of living in Huntsville is amazing, as this Madison County city offers parks and trails for you to get active, as well as art museums and space travel centers to relax at. Huntsville’s cost of living is also lower than the national average, and a couple of neighborhoods deemed great for retirees are Willowbrook Estates and Meridianville.

Mason, Ohio

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This city in southwest Ohio is great if you want to live in a sparsely-populated suburban area. Crime is the last thing to worry about here, and the shops, restaurants, and entertainment options are so attractive that they make Mason a favorite spot for holiday-goers, too!

Harrisburg

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Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania, and despite this, the cost of living here remains below the national average. But this isn’t even the best part. The city is only a few hours’ drive to larger cities like NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, and it’s so enticing that CNBC calls it the best place to retire in 2024.

Milton, Delaware

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Milton is another city that’s close to the beach and offers amazing perks in terms of affordability. The neighborhoods here are quiet, crime rates are low, and it’s a small town where you can get everything you need within short distances. Milton is only perfect for seniors who don’t need to go out much.

Newport, Rhode Island

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At Newport, you enjoy walkability, beautiful scenery, and multicultural displays to keep you both physically and mentally stimulated. It’s more suited for the more affluent retirees who don’t mind spending more to have access to better healthcare, safer water-related activities, and an overall better quality of life.

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