Forbes Magazine recently defined high quality retirement living with these elements: affordable home prices and cost of living, doctor availability, low serious crime rates, high rankings on the Milken Institute of Best Cities for Successful Aging, good air quality, high walkability/bike-ability rates and the presence of colleges to bring expansive cultural opportunities and amenities to the community.
For our purposes, let’s dial into affordable home prices and cost of living.
Here is Forbes List of Best Places to Retire by State:
Alabama – Auburn
- $245,000 median home price
- Auburn University, Jude Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Telfair Peet Theater
Alaska – Homer
- $280,000 median home price
- Beachfront city, good climate/air, lots of doctors, appealing tax structure
Arizona – Green Valley
- $175,000 median home price
- Collection of retirement communities between Tucson and southern border, appealing tax structure
Arkansas – Bella Vista
- $163,000 median home price
- Scenic Ozarks foothill town
California – Sacramento
- $317,000 median home price
- CSU Sacramento, Old Town, state’s capital
Colorado – Colorado Springs
- $276,000
- Military and defense corporations, clean air, gorgeous country
Connecticut – Mansfield
- $236,000 median home price
- University of Connecticut
Delaware – Newark
- $228,000 median home price
- University of Delaware
Florida – Jacksonville
- $165,000
- Beaches, largest urban parkway in country, University of Northern Florida
Georgia – Athens
- $171,000 median home price
- University of Georgia
Hawaii – Kaneohe
- $828,000 median home price
- Beaches, clean air, recreational/cultural activities
Idaho – Lewiston
- $211,000 median home price
- Natural formations
Illinois – Alton
- $60,000 median home price
- High ranking on Milken Institute scale
- Mississippi river city near St. Louis
Indiana – Bloomington
- $176,000 median home price
- Indiana University at Bloomington
Iowa – Iowa City
- $220,000 median home price
Kansas – Lawrence
- $193,000 median home price
- University of Kansas & Haskell Indian Nations University
Kentucky – Lexington
- $177,000 median home price
- University of Kentucky & Transylvania University
Louisiana – Kenner
- $160,000 median home price
Maine – Portland
- $301,000 median home price
- Beaches, boating, recreation
Maryland – Owen Pines
- $246,000 median home price
- Old Port Historic District, brew pubs
Massachusetts – Northampton
- $285,000
- High ranking on Milken Institute scale
Michigan – Grand Rapids
- $150,000 median home price
- Furniture City, festivals
Minnesota – Minneapolis-St. Paul
- $236,000 median home price
- Active cultural, sports and educational amenities
Mississippi – Oxford
- $187,000 median home price
- University of Mississippi
Missouri – Columbia
- $179,000 median home price
- University of Missouri
Montana – Billings
- $223,000 median home price
Nebraska – Lincoln
- $176,000 median home price
- University of Nebraska
Nevada – Reno
- $355,000 median home price
- “Biggest Little City in the World,” mountains, Lake Tahoe
New Hampshire – Portsmouth
- $438,000 median home price
- High ranking on Milken Institute scale
New Jersey – Manchester Township
- $180,000 median home price
- High ranking on Milken Institute scale
New Mexico – Las Cruces
- $164,000 median home price
- New Mexico State University
New York – Ithaca
- $242,000 median home price
- Cornell Institute, Sciencenter
North Carolina – Asheville
- $275,000 median home price
- Satellite campus of University of North Carolina
North Dakota – Fargo
- $225,000 median home price
- Multiple cultural amenities and offerings
Ohio – Sandusky
- $69,000 median home price
- Lake Erie city near Toledo
Oklahoma – Edmond
- $222,000 median home price
- High ranking on Milken Institute scale
Oregon – McMinnville
- $308,000 median home price
Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh
- $145,000 median home price
- Several colleges & universities
Rhode Island – Westerly
- $329,000 median home price
South Carolina – Charleston
- $311,000 median home price
South Dakota – Sioux Falls
- $174,000 median home price
Tennessee – Smyrna
- $219,000 median home price
- High ranking on Milken Institute scale
Texas – San Marcos
- $208,000 median home price
- Texas State University
Utah – Salk Lake City
- $366,000 median home price
- Brigham Young University, clean air, mountains
Vermont – Burlington
– $300,000 median home price
