Choosing a place to retire is not a game; it’s not easy, we know. Retirees consider or should consider various factors when selecting a place to live after retiring and starting to receive their pension or retirement benefits. Local economy, including the cost of living and accessibility to quality healthcare services tailored for seniors, is one of the fundamental aspects.
No retiree wants to travel tens or hundreds of miles to find a good hospital or clinic in case of emergency or treatment. Of course, the weather should also be important since many seek a pleasant year-round climate, away from extreme conditions like heavy snowfalls or scorching desert heat.
Safety and the tranquility of the environment are also top priorities because older adults are particularly vulnerable and should not be exposed to unsafe or potentially harmful environments. In addition to having recreational and cultural activities available, proximity to family and friends is crucial. They should have easy access, whether by land, air, or water, to shorten distances in case they want to visit for a weekend or due to an incident or accident.
The Top 5 Places for Retirement: Good Quality of Life and Affordable Housing
We have compiled the top 5 retiree-friendly cities in 2024, offering good services, medical infrastructures, affordable housing, pleasant environments, and favorable climates.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana, offers a low cost of living and quiet neighborhoods, making it a charming yet thriving city ideal for retirees. Its metropolitan area is not overly large, nestled in the heart of the Midwest, providing residents with urban amenities without the hustle and bustle of big cities.
Entertainment options and a rich local art scene make Fort Wayne attractive for retirees. Despite its efforts to embrace the future, Fort Wayne maintains deep-rooted traditions, with residents preserving the region’s history. Its metropolitan population is around 415,000 people, with an average annual salary of $50,303 and an unemployment rate of 7.7%. The average monthly rent is $839, and the median home price is $216,538.
Huntsville, Alabama
What about living in Huntsville, Alabama, which takes fourth place on our list? In the early 20th century, Huntsville was a quiet agricultural town that gained national recognition during the 1960s space race. The US government relocated a team of German rocket scientists to the area, opening a NASA center that would teach about the Saturn V rocket, which carried Apollo astronauts to the moon—a remarkable feat for the United States and humanity!
With this mix of agricultural history and space-age future, Huntsville has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with new constructions in the downtown area offering more affordable housing options, stores, restaurants, and apartments, perfect for attracting retirees. To the west of the city, an old cotton factory is now a lively arts center, and an abandoned high school has transformed into a fantastic hub of restaurants, craft breweries, and cafés.
Huntsville boasts pleasant temperatures, moderate rainfall, and a metropolitan population of around 483,000 people. The average annual salary is $61,140, with a monthly rent of $912 and a median home price of approximately $349,778. Don’t wait to add Huntsville, Alabama, to your retirement wishlist!
Huntington, West Virginia, and Ashland, Kentucky-Ohio (Tri-State Area)
Taking third place on our list is a tri-state area encompassing five counties and three states, including Boyd and Greenup counties in Kentucky, Lawrence County in Ohio, and Cabell and Wayne counties in West Virginia. This area includes Huntington, West Virginia, and Ashland, Kentucky-Ohio. Residents from all these counties have been working together progressively in recent years to improve the quality of life in this already peaceful and pleasant area.
They aim to attract new residents, both young and retired, with an abundance of outdoor activities, theaters, museums, and year-round open local shops. Huntington, West Virginia, has already seen progress, winning an award in 2017 as the best community in the United States for its urban revitalization plan. This tri-state region has a population of 361,000 people, an average annual salary of $45,520, and an unemployment rate of 8.3%.
The average monthly rent is $764, and the median home price is around $165,496, making the cost of living quite low in this tri-state area. Property taxes are low across the three states, but municipal taxes vary depending on each state. Many residents have found ways to benefit from this tax situation by living in one state, working in another, and shopping in yet another, depending on where taxes are most favorable.
Youngstown, Ohio
Taking second place on our list is Youngstown, Ohio, a charming and quiet city located halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Despite experiencing the collapse of the steel industry in the 1970s, Youngstown is now undergoing a cultural renaissance, combining rich historical traditions with the enthusiasm of younger generations bringing in new technologies and ventures to the area.
The city’s downtown, once struggling, now boasts new restaurants, bars, galleries, and local shops, offering services and goods for all ages, from young professionals to retirees. The good quality of life and tranquility make Youngstown, Ohio, an attractive place for retirees, with a metropolitan population of over 542,000 people, an average annual salary of $45,090, and an unemployment rate around 10%. The average monthly rent is $706, and the median home price is $137,546.
Hickory, North Carolina
How is it to live in one of the best places for retirees in the United States? A moderate climate, panoramic mountain views, a charming urban center with historical buildings, and much more await you in Hickory, North Carolina.
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area is known as the furniture capital for retirees and families, also becoming a destination for young professionals. The vibrant mix of vitality and experience across generations in Hickory, North Carolina, is unique and not seen in many places in the United States.
Hickory appears as the number one place to retire on a list by US News, but it also ranks as one of the most affordable and viable retirement destinations by Reader’s Digest. This vibrant and magical community, rich in history, has around 364,800 inhabitants, with an average annual salary of $44,470 and a moderate unemployment rate of 8.2%.
The average monthly rent is around $743, and the median home price is slightly higher at around $219,950. Regardless of where you live in the United States, you are likely familiar with the successful Hickory Manufacturing Company, one of the oldest and most successful furniture manufacturers in the country.
This past of woodworking craftsmanship blends with recent technological advancements, like Apple’s billion-dollar data center, offering cloud services to millions of users in the US and worldwide. For retirees, the environment is beautiful for walks, enjoying the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, and engaging in various recreational activities like birdwatching, skiing, and fishing at Lake Hickory, a 4,223-acre reservoir. Why wait to put Hickory, North Carolina, on your retirement wishlist?