Are you dreaming of the most affordable and happiest place to retire- but are unsure where to look?
I was. While I personally like where I live in Southern California, it is a very expensive area. I always hold the thought that I may have to relocate to a cheaper location at some future point.
To even think about a move, I first prioritized what my most important life considerations are. My budget, the weather, proximity to family, medical needs and access to care are some.
Then I started to research which are the best places for retirees. Where in the US can retirees get the most affordability, best climate, lowest crime rates, work options, and optimum livability?
“Florida: Senior Citizen Discounts Available“
Some states rank high for retirement. The big one is Florida. Great Florida retirement cities include Jacksonville, The Villages senior community, Pensacola or Naples. Daytona Beach residents praise their affordable city for its overall resident happiness. College town Gainesville gets kudos from retirees also- it has all the activities and educational options a college town can offer. The city of Ocala is noteworthy for great affordability and health care options. (You might even run into actor John Travolta at some local store as he is an Ocala resident). If you do not mind tourism and its impact on traffic, Orlando offers vibrant activities but is affordable with good medical care too. Nearby Orlando airport is a plus with easy travel access for you and visitors.
FL gets such high rankings due to its affordability and health care availability. It has no state income tax or tax on retirement income or social security benefits. Home prices are less than the national average, maybe why 19% of all seniors in the US currently live in Florida. Along with affordability, warm Florida meets my good weather criterion for sure.
On the downside, I have heard (facetiously) that the state bird of Florida is actually a bug. Quite a variety of bugs are a permanent part of Florida life. Annoying mosquitos particularly love Florida humidity and are year-round residents. So any folk that know they are “mosquito magnets” (like me!) should factor that into any decision to move there. Hurricanes and alligators are additional Florida facts of life that might be on the con list for some retirees.
“Arizona: Where Summer Spends the Winter, and Hell Spends the Summer“
Arizona is a state frequently mentioned as a retirement destination. T-shirts emblazoned with “At least it’s a dry heat!” above a skeleton sprawled in the desert, are a funny but accurate reflection on extreme AZ weather though.
Arizona offers some perks to the budget. It exempts Social Security benefits from state income taxes, plus some income from federal and AZ retirement plans. Military retirement income is tax free too. Until recently AZ had many more affordable housing options. However, median housing costs have risen. Unfortunately Arizona housing is now about 20% higher than the national median. Even so, Sun City, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Prescott, Mesa, Prescott, and Tucson are traditionally some good retirement places.
“New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets”
New Mexico is a recent newcomer as a popular retirement locale. NM has attractive lower living costs and a warm climate (not Arizona extreme, but 4 seasons, with some snow). Crime is a problem is some areas though, and healthcare costs are high. Placitas, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Taos, and Santa Fe boast substantial populations of those over 65.
“Virginia Is For Lovers”
Virginia is for lovers, their tourism motto claims, but VA is apparently for retirees too- in cities such as Roanoke or Virginia Beach. Virginia is tax-friendly for retirees. There is no tax on SS, and retirees can deduct up to $12,000 in pension incomes. VA has good hospitals and healthcare, and low crime. But living costs are high and traffic is not so hot.
Retirement locations in more clement weather spots are also found in southern states such as North Carolina- Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Asheville, and Raleigh Durham cities are ranked well.
“Pennsylvania: Land of 10,000 Potholes”
Potholes are a given, in a state that can receive over 100 inches of snowfall annually. It was a shock to me that snowy Pennsylvania has great kudos for retirees (that do not mind the cold weather). Being a former Midwesterner, I have no poetic illusions about the down side of the fours seasons, especially winter.
Weather aside, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Scranton, Philadelphia and York pop up as good for retirees. In fact, some list Lancaster PA as the number one best place to retire. Harrisburg, PA comes in 2nd best. They are considered affordable compared with other major metro areas. Other living costs are about equal to the national averages but these cities additionally ranked high for health care. Pennsylvania weather is just a major deterrent for me in these places, my arthritis twinges just considering some of them.
“The Search Goes On…”
Anyway my research continues. Aspiring to retire in the best spot has lots of options. Plus I do want to investigate the greatest retirement spots in the world too. More research on that another time…
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