Best small towns for retirees in every state
Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock
Best small towns for retirees in every state
Many Americans who have bid farewell to the workforce or are thinking about it are turning to places that offer affordability, a strong economy, quality health care options, less traffic, and overall, more comfort. Neighborhoods outside major cities and metropolitan areas have grown in popularity among retirees, with 26% moving to smaller towns, but the overall number of people moving for retirement is down.
In 2021, American retirement relocations dropped significantly—approximately 43% less than the previous year, its lowest number of retiree relocations in five years. The Economic Research Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis suggests this was a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, soaring home prices, and retirees not having enough savings.
In seeking to help prospective retirees, Stacker referenced Niche’s 2021 Best Places to Retire study, released in August 2021, to list 50 small towns that offer the best retirement. The focus was on towns with a population of less than 40,000.
Whether you’re looking to relocate or just curious to see if your city of residence is mentioned, read on to see which American small towns are the best retirement spots.
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Chris Watson // Wikimedia Commons
Alabama: Orange Beach
– Population: 6,019 (19% age 55-64 and 34% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 70% of the population
– Renters: 30% of the population
– Median household income: $81,883
Brian A. Ridder // Wikimedia Commons
Alaska: Soldotna
– Population: 4,649 (13% age 55-64 and 20% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 51% of the population
– Renters: 49% of the population
– Median household income: $60,491
James Brooks // Wikimedia Commons
Arizona: Green Valley
– Population: 20,902 (14% age 55-64 and 80% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 85% of the population
– Renters: 15% of the population
– Median household income: $49,147
shuttersv // Shutterstock
Arkansas: Bella Vista
– Population: 28,539 (14% age 55-64 and 33% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 87% of the population
– Renters: 13% of the population
– Median household income: $67,550
MiNiProduction // Shutterstock
California: Del Monte Forest
– Population: 4,105 (16% age 55-64 and 40% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 82% of the population
– Renters: 18% of the population
– Median household income: $147,500
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Jeffrey Beall // Shutterstock
Colorado: Holly Hills
– Population: 2,835 (15% age 55-64 and 21% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 97% of the population
– Renters: 3% of the population
– Median household income: $132,955
Paul Latham // Shutterstock
Connecticut: Mystic
– Population: 4,249 (17% age 55-64 and 32% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 68% of the population
– Renters: 32% of the population
– Median household income: $94,102
Ron Shawley // Wikimedia Commons
Delaware: Rehoboth Beach
– Population: 1,400 (24% age 55-64 and 48% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 82% of the population
– Renters: 18% of the population
– Median household income: $114,583
FloridaStock // Shutterstock
Florida: Pelican Bay
– Population: 6,140 (13% age 55-64 and 83% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 95% of the population
– Renters: 5% of the population
– Median household income: $141,856
Diana Daley // Shutterstock
Georgia: Dutch Island
– Population: 1,162 (17% age 55-64 and 28% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 100% of the population
– Renters: 0% of the population
– Median household income: $170,417
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Elena_Suvorova // Shutterstock
Hawaii: Wailea
– Population: 6,218 (23% age 55-64 and 25% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 60% of the population
– Renters: 40% of the population
– Median household income: $81,932
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons
Idaho: Weiser
– Population: 5,323 (14% age 55-64 and 20% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 62% of the population
– Renters: 38% of the population
– Median household income: $36,610
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
Illinois: Leland Grove
– Population: 1,406 (17% age 55-64 and 34% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 95% of the population
– Renters: 5% of the population
– Median household income: $108,947
ONUnicorn // Wikimedia Commons
Indiana: Meridian Hills
– Population: 1,741 (15% age 55-64 and 18% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 98% of the population
– Renters: 2% of the population
– Median household income: $186,750
Billwhittaker // Wikimedia Commons
Iowa: Clear Lake
– Population: 7,597 (18% age 55-64 and 25% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 72% of the population
– Renters: 28% of the population
– Median household income: $57,841
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Weldon Schloneger // Shutterstock
Kansas: North Newton
– Population: 1,778 (10% age 55-64 and 30% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 57% of the population
– Renters: 43% of the population
– Median household income: $67,188
John Knouse // Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky: Windy Hills
– Population: 2,433 (19% age 55-64 and 33% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 94% of the population
– Renters: 6% of the population
– Median household income: $95,588
H.dryad // Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: Westminster
– Population: 2,760 (11% age 55-64 and 22% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 71% of the population
– Renters: 29% of the population
– Median household income: $88,778
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
Maine: Belfast
– Population: 6,688 (17% age 55-64 and 26% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 63% of the population
– Renters: 37% of the population
– Median household income: $62,857
Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock
Maryland: Chevy Chase
– Population: 9,622 (15% age 55-64 and 23% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 78% of the population
– Renters: 22% of the population
– Median household income: $181,929
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J.A. Johnson // Shutterstock
Massachusetts: Chatham
– Population: 6,019 (18% age 55-64 and 45% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 84% of the population
– Renters: 16% of the population
– Median household income: $83,839
Traveler100 // Wikimedia Commons
Michigan: Bingham Farms
– Population: 1,129 (16% age 55-64 and 48% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 89% of the population
– Renters: 11% of the population
– Median household income: $131,071
Dan Thornberg // Shutterstock
Minnesota: Jackson
– Population: 3,219 (18% age 55-64 and 24% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 75% of the population
– Renters: 25% of the population
– Median household income: $50,972
Aaron Manning // Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi: Hide-A-Way Lake
– Population: 2,392 (17% age 55-64 and 28% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 87% of the population
– Renters: 13% of the population
– Median household income: $100,300
Amy Kerkemeyer // Shutterstock
Missouri: Town and Country
– Population: 11,077 (15% age 55-64 and 30% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 85% of the population
– Renters: 15% of the population
– Median household income: $192,983
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5of7 // Wikimedia Commons
Montana: Conrad
– Population: 2,633 (15% age 55-64 and 21% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 73% of the population
– Renters: 27% of the population
– Median household income: $48,636
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska: Central City
– Population: 2,903 (10% age 55-64 and 25% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 60% of the population
– Renters: 40% of the population
– Median household income: $48,447
Steve Lagreca // Shutterstock
Nevada: Mesquite
– Population: 18,446 (15% age 55-64 and 41% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 73% of the population
– Renters: 27% of the population
– Median household income: $55,542
M.Bailey // Shutterstock
New Hampshire: Peterborough
– Population: 6,604 (18% age 55-64 and 27% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 67% of the population
– Renters: 33% of the population
– Median household income: $87,557
Andrew F. Kazmierski // Shutterstock
New Jersey: Surf City
– Population: 1,271 (23% age 55-64 and 50% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 86% of the population
– Renters: 14% of the population
– Median household income: $90,313
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Karl Cox // Shutterstock
New Mexico: Sandia Heights
– Population: 3,571 (17% age 55-64 and 44% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 97% of the population
– Renters: 3% of the population
– Median household income: $107,104
Eric Salard // Wikimedia Commons
New York: Lake Success
– Population: 3,119 (12% age 55-64 and 31% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 100% of the population
– Renters: 0% of the population
– Median household income: $177,500
James Willamor // Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina: Pine Knoll Shores
– Population: 1,343 (22% age 55-64 and 47% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 89% of the population
– Renters: 11% of the population
– Median household income: $75,313
Tim Samuelson // Shutterstock
North Dakota: Rugby
– Population: 2,724 (15% age 55-64 and 29% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 71% of the population
– Renters: 29% of the population
– Median household income: $46,552
arthurgphotography // Shutterstock
Ohio: Bellbrook
– Population: 7,212 (16% age 55-64 and 19% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 81% of the population
– Renters: 19% of the population
– Median household income: $84,130
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4kclips // Shutterstock
Oklahoma: The Village
– Population: 9,452 (11% age 55-64 and 18% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 67% of the population
– Renters: 33% of the population
– Median household income: $58,947
Cary Bass // Wikimedia Commons
Oregon: Harbor
– Population: 1,958 (15% age 55-64 and 71% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 84% of the population
– Renters: 16% of the population
– Median household income: $30,791
ifly6 // Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania: Penn Wynne
– Population: 5,932 (15% age 55-64 and 26% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 87% of the population
– Renters: 13% of the population
– Median household income: $123,854
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
Rhode Island: Jamestown
– Population: 5,494 (19% age 55-64 and 26% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 83% of the population
– Renters: 17% of the population
– Median household income: $111,110
bsankow // Shutterstock
South Carolina: Garden City
– Population: 10,669 (20% age 55-64 and 40% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 79% of the population
– Renters: 21% of the population
– Median household income: $44,862
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Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock
South Dakota: Hot Springs
– Population: 3,509 (17% age 55-64 and 28% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 68% of the population
– Renters: 32% of the population
– Median household income: $46,071
Melinda Fawver // Shutterstock
Tennessee: Farragut
– Population: 22,631 (16% age 55-64 and 23% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 89% of the population
– Renters: 11% of the population
– Median household income: $108,511
Stedil // Wikimedia Commons
Texas: Shenandoah
– Population: 2,887 (10% age 55-64 and 40% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 55% of the population
– Renters: 45% of the population
– Median household income: $80,451
Kit Leong // Shutterstock
Utah: Ivins
– Population: 8,530 (14% age 55-64 and 30% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 83% of the population
– Renters: 17% of the population
– Median household income: $63,680
Bob LoCicero // Shutterstock
Vermont: Cornwall
– Population: 1,028 (18% age 55-64 and 29% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 77% of the population
– Renters: 23% of the population
– Median household income: $84,688
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Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
Virginia: Belmont Estates
– Population: 1,226 (13% age 55-64 and 34% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 100% of the population
– Renters: 0% of the population
– Median household income: $81,885
SounderBruce // Wikimedia Commons
Washington: Woodway
– Population: 1,105 (13% age 55-64 and 23% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 97% of the population
– Renters: 3% of the population
– Median household income: $194,904
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
West Virginia: Summersville
– Population: 3,368 (20% age 55-64 and 28% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 69% of the population
– Renters: 31% of the population
– Median household income: $38,774
Porterhse // Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin: Elm Grove
– Population: 6,153 (14% age 55-64 and 25% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 93% of the population
– Renters: 7% of the population
– Median household income: $106,058
Jonathan Green // Wikimedia Commons
Wyoming: Thermopolis
– Population: 2,703 (14% age 55-64 and 26% age 65+)
– Homeowners: 77% of the population
– Renters: 23% of the population
– Median household income: $53,162
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