And Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is one of the best. I can afford a $300,000 home in a ski town but not if it comes with $6,000 a year in HOA dues so where can I retire? Heres how it works. (San Bernardino County isadding jobsat a faster rate than counties on the coast, and is a top draw for millennial workers.) The Mile High City is an obvious choice for mountain lovers. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Do be very careful to test outmountain elevations before committing. Come summer, theres mountain biking and hiking for all levels, boating and water sports at the nearby Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes and ATV off-road thrills. Is one of the cheapest places to live in the U.S. right for you? Read the in-depth tour our very own Flo Williamson wrote up on the area. The Phoenix Mountains Preserve is located about 10 miles from the citys downtown region. Part of the San Diego metro area, Carlsbad offers a small-city feel with easy access to big-city amenities alongside seven miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Were changing the way people 55 and older are searching for their perfect next place. Many retirees dream of moving to a scenic beach setting or an ideal countryside landscape, but those looking for a mountainside retirement have plenty of options to choose from. And signature events include theLeadville Trail 100bike and running races; theBBQ & Brews Festival, held each June; andBoom Days, a street fair held each August. Learn which one is right for you. The nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range and Lake Tahoe provide ample opportunities for hiking, biking and boating in warm weather, and skiing in winter. Mountain towns tend to be smaller and more remote, so your car might be more important to your daily transportation needs than you might have hoped. Taos, NM - Average Home Cost: $401,864. Up in northern Arizona and not too far from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff almost became Americas movie capital. By Dan Burrows That means plenty of beaches and water-related activities for you in the warmer months. Alabama's quintessential mountain town is Mentone, which is set atop Lookout Mountain and filled with charming spots, including the Wildflower Caf, Mentone Log Cabin Village, and Mentone Arts and Cultural Center. The list is ordered alphabetically by state. Wildfires, blizzards, and landslides are just some of them. Not so great for older people. Some of the citys most popular attractions include the Michie Tavern which was established in 1784 and Monticello, which was Thomas Jeffersons plantation. This rapidly growing town in west central Montana is home to Montana State University Bozeman and its 10,000 students. Sometimes this can work out well, but in other cases it can be more hassle than its worth. The small city of Corvallis, located about 85 miles south of popular Portland, offers a similarly laidback lifestyle, but with smaller crowds and relatively lower costs. Details here. 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. By Dan Burrows It is the county seat and boasts a community college. Published 11 January 23. real estate It is home to a number of ski resorts, including Big Mountain Ski Area. And the University of Vermont and its students present an unusually vibrant college town atmosphere. Weve gathered 25 of the best places for snowbirds, including cities in Florida, Arizona, California, Texas, South Carolina, and Nevada. See "How We Picked the Best Places for Retirement" at the end of the list for details on our data sources and methodology. You could even walk between the two along the Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail. We then leverage that expertise to develop city rankings for a range of topics including small towns, college towns and our annual Top 100 Best Places to Live. The population is 86,000, and Weber State University is located in town. Of course, outdoor enthusiasts have more than enough to enjoy, too: The Phoenix Mountains Preserve alone, including Piestewa Peak (2,608 feet) and Camelback Mountain (2,707 feet), offers many hiking and biking trails just 20 minutes from downtown. 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. If you're age 65 and up, you can take WVU courses, for credit or not, at a discount. A private room in a metro area nursing home costs a median $11,498 a month, compared with $8,365 a month for the U.S. At least you can save money on academic pursuits. Annual snowfall averages 58 inches. Undoubtedly, many of you have considered the Grand Canyon State for its retiree-friendly climate and beautiful natural scenery. Explore these towns in the foothills and spend your days shredding slopes, uncovering the local history, and getting cozy by the fireplace. Wears Valley, TN 37862, USA 2. And because the city's median income is $115,069, Portland has the fourth best home price to income ratio in colorado. 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. The city was an early western railhead and stock town and became very important when the major east/west railroad came through town. Its location atop the Snake River Canyon provides for outdoor activities including boating, fishing, hiking, golf, whitewater rafting and skiing. And it backs up the claim, offering a downtown full of restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries and music venues, on top of its well-known casinos. A health savings account is a beneficial tool for retirement planning. 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. Only 10.1% of the entire state's population is age 65 and up compared with 14.9% of the whole U.S. Heres Why Urban 55+ Communities Are So Rare. The Beehive State, 10th in our 2018 rankings of the best states for retirement (opens in new tab), is a sweet spot for active retirees. Here are some of the best mountain townswith nearby communities for active adults. Comments? Any time you look you will see a dazzling array of cliffs, trees, peaks, and more. Some of the popular spots to visit include the Cactus to Clouds Trail, Thomas Mountain, and Tuscan Springs Hotel & Spa which features hot springs. We hate heat, humidity, crowds and beaches. Spirit Lake, IA. The geography means you have to be comfortable hiking, mountain biking, skiing and backcountry exploring your way through retirement. Asheville, North Carolina is located in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the larger Appalachian range. 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. Iron Mountain is the snowier of the two. 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. 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. Le Conte and Clingmans Dome. And average incomes are comparable at $68,589 a year in Corvallis and $68,125 in Portland for all residents. The metro area also has an abundance of health care facilities, about 32 establishments per 1,000 seniors compared with about 19 per 1,000 seniors in the U.S. AdvantagesFor those who aspire to a mountain retirement, here are some of the advantages that come with them: Cooler summers. With a national network of hand-selected real estate experts, plus comprehensive information, unbiased content, and on-the-go insight about thousands of communities across the country, were a trusted resource paving the way from here to home. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Hunting, fishing, hiking are excellent. Montana State University's Bozeman campus is home to about nearly 17,000 students. This Western North Carolina town is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enter the email address associated with your account. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound, as well: Hiking and biking paths around and throughout the city include the advanced slopes of Monte Sano Mountain (meaning "Mountain of Health" in Spanish), which has an elevation of 1,621 feet. Consider retirement in these affordable mountain towns. Bella Vista, Arkansas. This citys location in the Coachella Valley area provides access to both Joshua Tree National Park and the San Jacinto Mountains. 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. Some of the citys sights to see include Watson Lake and the Watson Woods as well as Lynx Lake Recreational Area. Travel Like a Millionaire on a Retirement Budget! 1 spot, Boynton Beach ranked high in cost of living, home price and value, and taxes. Showcase Listing Mammoth Lakes, CA - Average Home Cost: $438,686. When you live here, each day can be as active or laid Bon Ayre is a 55+ active adult, manufactured home land lease community located in Smyrna, Delaware, a town which was recently ranked 31st Showcase Listing even provide complimentary public transportation. Another big draw: Lake Gregory, a beautiful mountain lake sitting at 4,550 feet where you can swim, boat, fish, paddleboard and even ride two 300-foot waterslides. But while Cheyenne is hardly a bustling metropolis by headcount, the population density is much higher at about 2,200 people per square mile. 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. Some popular attractions within city limits include the Denver Art Museum, Coors Field, and The Denver Central Market. This mountain towns location also allows residents and visitors to easily take a day trip to Phoenix, making it a breeze to see the expansive mountain ranges Arizona has to offer. The famed Clark Art Institute, the Williams College Museum of Art, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival are just some of the proud artistic accomplishments of the town. Consider these affordable cities for retirement. Add Your Community | Topretirements has several friends who have retired to Whitefish, which they think is a magical place. 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. Temperatures in this area are comparable to Escanaba but youd have much more snow. Cost of living for retirees: 6.1% below the national average. Solace up those hiking boots and wax those snowboards: from epic scenery and a lively arts scene inOgden, UT; toBoone, NCsquaint college town feel, here are five high-altitude cities with surprisingly low price tags. It is the largest city in New Mexico. To inspire your next rustic retreat, we've picked 17 of the best mountain towns in Americain no particular order. 10 Myths That Could Sink Your Retirement. Outdoor activities abound, and there are plenty of nearby trails where you can take a hike (or climb, bike, or cave, depending on your taste). . Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs antique trains to other neighboring mountain towns. I understand that my consent is not a prerequisite for buying a property. The site lists Parade Road-Old North Main Street and Weirs Beach-Lakeport as the safest neighborhoods in Laconia. Im 54 and my husband is 62. Although skiing on Mount Werner is the main draw here in the winter and spring, the. One of the first questions many retirees ask before making their move is if the active adult community is pet friendly.While many age-restricted communities have different rules when it comes to pets, retirees are sure to find the ideal 55+ community that caters to pet lovers. Median lake home price: $792,000. Silvia Ascarelli is a senior news editor for MarketWatch based in New York. Average income for population 65+: $51,853 (U.S.: $56,453) As one of the 10 Cheapest States Where You'll Want to Retire, the Heart of . Heres what you need to know about moving to Puerto Rico for retirement. This town in Georgia near both North and South Carolina offers the best of two lifestyles its on Lake Chatuge with 150 miles of coastline. Sound fun? Seems like a fair trade. By Kyle Woodley Retirees in Florida enjoy the financial benefits of having no state income tax,. Las Vegas is not only home to some of the countrys most popular resorts and casinos, but also plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Upside of the relative crowds of the capital city: no lack of activities. The city has its very own range, the Phoenix Mountains. In town,Historic Old Townoffers shopping and restaurants, and theres no shortage of events taking place year-round, including the July 4 Jamboree Days, fishing derbies at Lake Gregory, theMountain Fun Runners Car Show, a paragliding competition, theRedlands Bicycle Classicand more. Few aspiring retirees have enough saved to buy a retirement home in Aspen, Colorado, or Jackson, Wyoming. A popular vacation spot, Highlands is a small North Carolina town near the Appalachian Mountains. This northwest Arkansas town is nestled in the Ozark Mountains and is a welcoming spot to decamp to during retirement. The gateway to Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley, this hidden gem, just 35 minutes north ofSalt Lake City, sits at 4,280 feet and is adjacent to 170,000 acres of national forest. This seems to be age related for me. And many people aren't able to strike a balance: The poverty rate in Albuquerque among residents age 65 and up is 9.9%, compared with 9.3% for the U.S., but better than the 11.9% rate for New Mexico. Look for ways to trim costs and keep items in solid condition to stretch retirement dollars. We will email you a link to quickly reset your password. A drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway or a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park or the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests is sure to restore your sense of wonder. Bozeman is in southern Montana, nestled in the Gallatin Valley and surrounded by majestic ranges and national forests. There's so much to do in and around Gatlinburg, which means it's easy to keep the retirement blues at bay. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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. There are many things to consider before selling your own home. Burlington, Vermont. State | Livability includes Ogden in its 2019 list of best places to live and a 2018 list of affordable mountain towns. Bozeman area mountains Bozeman, Montana. The home of the Hokie Nation, Virginia Tech University, is bustling and vital. Nvidia stock has been a market-beater recently, but has it always been such a winner? A part-time career could mean a stressful future if you don't use some of these tips to prepare for retirement. As a trail walker, you might enjoy the 25.5-mile crushed-stone rail trail from Escanaba to Hermansville. offers a double pleasure it is in the Berkshire Mountains and is home to prestigious Williams College. This nature-rich refuge of inviting streetscapes, manicured landscaping and miles of walking trails Cadence at Lansdowne is a brand new 55+ active adult community offering a vibrant lifestyle in Lansdowne, Virginia. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, this gated lakefront community offers space to grow and explore the iconic wilderness of the region. Another popular attraction in the area is Dollywood, a theme park modeled after Dolly Parton and her early life growing up in Tennessee. Nearest resort: Mammoth Mountain 9. Should we cut my sister out of the family inheritance? All are proven great places to retire some are college towns and others are also on a lake. Another popular mountain town in Arizona is Prescott. Before joining Kiplinger, Rapacon worked as a senior research associate at b2b publishing house Judy Diamond Associates. With 9,000 people, Presque Isle is the largest community in Maines northernmost county and the areas commercial center. places to live For people with respiratory or circulation problems, the thinner air can be problematic. Less daylight. It is in the Medicine Bow Mountains, famous for being tax friendly as well as its Frontier Days and huge outdoor rodeo. There's also a massive retirement. From metro areas on both coasts to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, these are the priciest cities in the U.S. to call home. Niche also gives the city high . Lets take a look at what it means to live in an age-restricted community, and whether its important enough to you as you begin or continue your search for a new home. ) Fewer cultural resources. The city tends to get 310 sunny days each year through all four seasons. Below the national Average majestic ranges and national forests spot, Boynton ranked. 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