Few aspiring retirees have enough saved to buy a retirement home in Aspen, Colorado, or Jackson, Wyoming. Flagstaff, Arizona. But if you're willing to look beyond the most well-known ski resorts, there are mountain towns that offer scenic views and well-groomed slopes at far more affordable prices. Newsletter Archive | The Sunshine State is home to many charming small towns, and Cedar Key is one of the smallest and most charming. Altitude means an escape from hot summers, even in some otherwise warm states. Lower humidity. Undoubtedly, many of you have considered the Grand Canyon State for its retiree-friendly climate and beautiful natural scenery. The cost of living is 10% below the national average. 55places Mortgage is a joint venture between Mutual of Omaha Mortgage and 55places.com. Readers, where do you think Lisa and her husband should retire? Plus, you can choose among a host of retirement communities with ocean views. Through proprietary research studies, engaging articles and original photography and video, we examine topics related to community amenities, education, sustainability, transportation, housing and the economy. The city itself is at nearly 7,000, making it one of Americas highest cities. Cabins, hiking, and lots of great landscapeswith gorgeous foliage in the fallmake it a wonderful place to settle down. The Most Important Ages for Retirement Planning: Age 50, The Most Important Ages for Retirement Planning: Age 59 , The Most Important Ages for Retirement Planning: Age 65, The Most Important Ages for Retirement Planning: Age 66, The Most Important Ages for Retirement Planning: Age 70 . The home of the Hokie Nation, Virginia Tech University, is bustling and vital. Could you live in the mountains, or would you prefer lower altitudes or the coasts. Up in northern Arizona and not too far from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff almost became Americas movie capital. Named for American pioneer Daniel Boone (youll want to take visitors to Hickory Ridge Living History Museum in Daniel Boone Park andHorn in the West,the long-time seasonal outdoor drama that tells the story of Boones adventures), the population is 18,156 (it nearly doubles when you factor in students), the average home sale price is $220,700, job growth is higher than the U.S. average and education, tourism and retail are the top three employment industries. You also may want to be close enough to potential jobs, should you decide to seek some extra income. Great Places to Retire Early Near the Beach. Want to hop on the rails? All Rights Reserved. Mountains are all around it; in the Civil War it was the site of the critical Battle of Chattanooga due to its strategic location on the Tennessee River. And Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is one of the best. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Site Map | The state of Virginia is also known for being fairly tax-friendly, with breaks for senior homeowners, making it an ideal option for homebuyers on a budget. Regardless of which stage you're at in your retirement planning, it's important to save as much as you can in a tax-advantaged account like a workplace 401(k) plan or an IRA, which you can open at several banks. Cadence at Lansdowne is a brand new 55+ active adult community offering a vibrant lifestyle in Lansdowne, Virginia. The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Best Place to Live, What a Budget of $300,000 or Less Will Get You in 10 Cities Across the Country, 6 Affordable Islands You Can Actually Live On, 10 Best Cities for Antique & Flea Market Lovers, 10 People On What Its Really Like to Leave NYC for a Smaller City, Copyright 2010-2023 Livability - Journal Communications, Inc, 5 Gorgeous Mountain Towns You Can Actually Afford, Best Neighborhoods in Greater Idaho Falls, ID. Daytona Beach has a population of nearly 75,000 and 20% of people are age 65 and up. The area's resorts and marinas are also popular among residents of Gardnerville Ranchos, a small Nevada town near Lake Tahoe that's home to a surprising number of millionaires (opens in new tab). The citys Market Square Downtown District hosts an expansive list of restaurants, retailers, parks, and greenspaces. And Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is one of the best. Asheville, North Carolina is located in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the larger Appalachian range. Another popular mountain town in Arizona is Prescott. Current market conditions bring both opportunity and risk. To pinpoint one great retirement destination in each state, we weighed a number of factors: Rapacon joined Kiplinger in October 2007 as a reporter with Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and became an online editor for Kiplinger.com in June 2010. By Kyle Woodley Most of the other Rocky Mountain towns on this list post a much higher cost of living. Of course, living in this scenic city wouldnt be complete without taking advantage of Great Salt Lake, the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. The average household income for 65+ households in Alabama is $46,318, according the Census Bureau. By signing up, I agree to 55places.com privacy policy and terms of use. You could also look at Houlton (5,700 people), also in Aroostook County but further south. Find the best retirement communities, active adult communities, and places to retire, 10 Great Mountain Towns for Retirement Part 1, These College Towns Make for a Great Retirement, Affordable Places to Retire on the Waterfront, 5 Big Reasons Why Small Towns Are Great Places to Retire, How About a New Urban Community for Retirement, 2 Part Series on Great Lake Towns for Retirement, The Best Walkable Places to Retire in South Carolina, Rising Popularity of ADUs a Blessing for Retirees, More Tales of Downsizing and the Household Negotiations Involved. Medelln is renowned for its lushness, which is something the city aims to maintain by requiring new developments to invest in . See "How We Picked the Best Places for Retirement" at the end of the list for details on our data sources and methodology. Heres how it works. Some of the citys sights to see include Watson Lake and the Watson Woods as well as Lynx Lake Recreational Area. offers a double pleasure it is in the Berkshire Mountains and is home to prestigious Williams College. The overall cost of living is 19.8% above the national averagestill pricey to be sure, but much more affordable than Portland's living costs at 47.8% above average. Please enter a valid email address. And nearby is the tallest peak in Georgia,Brasstown Bald, which welcomes hikers, nature lovers and picnics too. Just as some people treasure a view of a lake or ocean, so do many others enjoy the thrill of big overlooks and distant mountains from every window and deck. Nearby, enjoy musical performances at the Tanglewood Music Center, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. And because the city's median income is $115,069, Portland has the fourth best home price to income ratio in colorado. Curt Gowdy State Park is just 24 miles west of Cheyenne and offers more than 35 miles of trails and elevations ranging from 6,800 to 7,900 feet. Classifieds | The Mile High City is an obvious choice for mountain lovers. 24 Kirkland Products Retirees Should Buy at Costco. Theres also world-class art at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCa, for short) in North Adams. Indeed, the Denver metro area is home to more than 24 health care facilities per 1,000 seniors, compared with just about 19 per 1,000 seniors in the U.S. 33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes. And rainy days are rare. 15 Best Small Towns in Colorado - Affordable Small Mountain Towns to Visit and Live In CO 1 Best Easy, Cheap Dinner Ideas for Your Family 2 42 Best Bedroom Paint Color Ideas for 2023 3 Early Spring Flowers Will Combat the Winter Blues 4 Amazon's Best Winter Fashion is on Sale Right Now 5 Dad Jokes To Keep the Whole Family Laughing The population is about 6,000. If the draw of nearby destinations likeYellowstone,Grand Teton National Parksor theCraters of the Moon National Monumentisnt enough to lure you to this small town in EasternIdaho, maybe the promise of a symphony, opera, museums, zoo and minor league baseball teamseal the deal. Advertise | But at least that's more affordable than capital city Honolulu, on Oahu, where living costs are a steep 101.1% above the national average. Older folks don't seem too interested in facing the Last Frontier in retirement. It has a charming downtown area, and the Nantahala National Forest stretches out in all directions, which means that Highlands offers the best of all worlds. Explorethevillage.com. This rapidly growing town in west central Montana is home to Montana State University - Bozeman and its 10,000 students. The city is so retiree-friendly, it's even home to Latitude Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffet-inspired 55-plus community. In reading coverage of this weeks NY Marathon, I saw that many of Americas top runners live and train in Flagstaff (AZ) because of its altitude and great places to run. Taos, NM - Average Home Cost: $401,864. By Dan Burrows The city and surrounding area provide many outstanding recreation activities in the adjacent Sandia Mountains, which you can get to from a city gondola. The Best Active Adult Communities for Boaters. Its location atop the Snake River Canyon provides for outdoor activities including boating, fishing, hiking, golf, whitewater rafting and skiing. The overall cost of living is 1.2% below the national average, according to Sperling's BestPlaces, making it much more affordable than Manchesterabout 50 miles southwhere living costs are 13.2% above average. Niche reports some of the most economical real estate for retirees in the area, with the median home value at $175,400 way under the $244,900 national average. A health savings account is a beneficial tool for retirement planning. So there is usually plenty of pristine land right outside your door where you can hike, ski, hunt, fish, kayak, camp etc. Spectacular home sites. This location allows for easy access to the Bradshaw Mountains, which are about an hour away from Prescott. 10 Myths That Could Sink Your Retirement. Beyond financials, the area has plenty to recommend itself. These great spots are surrounded by incredible views, great hiking trails, gorgeous fall foliage, and more restaurants, art galleries, museums, music venues, and parks than you'll know what to do with. Livability includes Ogden in its 2019 list of best places to live and a 2018 list of affordable mountain towns. Subscribe to our daily newsletter to get investing advice, rankings and stock market news. Winters here would be a touch warmer than Michigan and Maine, with average highs around freezing. When retirement calls, the mountains answer. As one of the 10 Cheapest States Where You'll Want to Retire (opens in new tab), the Heart of Dixie boasts many great spots for affordable living. How Important Is the 55+ Age Restriction to You? The cost of living is 10%. This year's list of the 25 Best Places to Retire highlights places with affordable homes, low taxes and high ratings for happiness and health care quality. Brigham Young University offers intellectual stimulation to complement the physical activity. Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks sit due south of Bozeman. Outdoor recreation is plentiful with miles of hiking and biking paths, nearby beaches where you can swim, kayak or paddleboard in the warmer months, and numerous skiing options in the area. Active Adult Communities | There are several shopping districts and malls, including El Paseo, which boasts one mile of shops . Most of Colorado is mountainous, but this town in the southwestern part of the state is different and more out of the way. Another reason Iron Mountain is more expensive: its near Pine Mountain Resort, which brings in golfers and skiers. Note this is Part 2 of Mountain Towns for Retirement, see Further Reading at end for 10 more. It has a population of 583,200that's just about six people per square mile. Southern California is a dream location for many active adult homebuyers for a variety of reasons such as warm weather and close proximity toSan Diego and Los Angeles. Beyond the University, you can find a world of outdoor recreation with ample opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, birding, whitewater rafting and more throughout the hills and valleys of Appalachia. There are many things to consider before selling your own home. The city's median home value is just $173,900 versus $262,900 in Nashville and $229,000 throughout the country. Seattle is nestled in the Northeastern region of the state near Olympic National Park and the Cascades Mountain Range. You have plenty of outdoor diversions, such as miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding; fishing and boating; and birding and other wildlife viewing. We want to buy a home on 10 wide-open acres and live on $50,000 a year where should we retire? We love small mountain towns, privacy, colder weather. Disadvantages Colder winters. One friend of ours thought he wanted to live in a great town in western Colorado, only to realize that the winter sun was hidden by tall peaks until mid morning and disappeared again in late afternoon. Topretirements has several friends who have retired to Whitefish, which they think is a magical place. There are many parks, a national forest, and the popular Shoshone Falls. Holly Hills has been rated as a rare "triple crown". Or you can enjoy more leisurely paths of the Huntsville Greenway system. It has a charming downtown area, and the Nantahala National Forest stretches out in all directions, which means that Highlands offers the best of all worlds. A north Georgia mountain town with an old soul, Blue Ridge is a fun town for retirees. You could even walk between the two along the Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail. It would be hard to find a more picturesque setting. Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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