Top 10 U.S. Cities to Retire Based on Your Lifestyle and Budget
- Manny A
- Aug 4
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
👋 Why One Retirement Location Doesn’t Fit All
Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some of us dream of waking up to the sound of ocean waves 🌊. Others want peace and safety in a quiet, friendly town 🏡. Still others are driven by affordability, good healthcare, or staying close to part-time work or grandkids.
That’s why we created this lifestyle-based list of the Top 10 Retirement Cities in the U.S., so you can choose what fits you best:
🏖️ Beach and sunshine
💰 Affordability
🛡️ Safety
🧘♀️ Quiet and wellness
💼 Job availability (part-time or volunteer)
1. 🌴 Port St. Lucie, Florida – Best for Beach & Sun Lovers
Port St. Lucie is a gem on Florida’s Atlantic coast offering a more peaceful alternative to Miami or Orlando. It’s clean, well-planned, and surrounded by natural beauty like the Savannas Preserve State Park and riverwalk boardwalks. With warm weather year-round, it's ideal for retirees looking for a sunny, laid-back lifestyle.
Pristine Atlantic coastline
No state income tax
Low crime and clean city layout
High-quality medical care via Cleveland Clinic
💰 Median Home Price: $380,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 1.8 per 1,000
2. 🛡️ Franklin, Tennessee – Best for Safety & Charm
Just outside Nashville, Franklin combines historic Southern charm with top-tier safety and amenities. It features cobblestone downtown streets, live music, boutique shopping, and scenic parks. It's a perfect fit for retirees who value a strong sense of community and want to be near world-class healthcare and urban entertainment.
Southern hospitality and low crime
Easy access to Nashville for events and flights
Great walkability and parks
Ranked one of the safest small cities in America
💰 Median Home Price: $620,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 1.2 per 1,000
3. 💵 Pittsburg, Kansas – Best for Budget-Friendly Retirement
For retirees living on fixed incomes, Pittsburg offers unbeatable value. It's a close-knit community with an old-school charm and extremely low cost of living. With friendly neighbors, accessible health clinics, and senior programs, it’s a great spot for stretching your retirement dollars.
Ideal for retirees living on Social Security or pensions
Extremely low cost of living
Friendly Midwestern community
Senior programs and local clinics
💰 Median Home Price: $145,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 2.5 per 1,000
4. 🧘 Prescott, Arizona – Best for Quiet, Scenic Living
Prescott offers small-town charm with big views. Set against pine forests and granite mountains, it’s a great place for retirees who want peace, four mild seasons, and a strong sense of community. The area is known for wellness retreats, outdoor living, and access to senior-focused care.
Gorgeous mountain backdrops
Four mild seasons
Known for wellness retreats and peaceful lifestyle
Excellent senior housing options
💰 Median Home Price: $475,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 1.5 per 1,000
5. 🍁 Asheville, North Carolina – Best for Culture + Seasons
Asheville is an artsy mountain town where retirees can enjoy music, food, and festivals year-round. Its walkable downtown is packed with cafes, art studios, and farm-to-table restaurants. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, it offers stunning scenery and plenty of hiking.
A changing climate with colorful autumns
Farm-to-table dining and art festivals
Outdoor hiking & friendly neighborhoods
Blue Ridge Mountains for a daily view
💰 Median Home Price: $440,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 2.2 per 1,000
6. 🏜️ St. George, Utah – Best for Small Town & Outdoor Lovers
With dramatic red cliffs and year-round sunshine, St. George is a haven for retirees who love the outdoors. It offers the safety and charm of a small town, paired with enough shops, hospitals, and restaurants to feel modern and comfortable.
National parks within a short drive
Small-town charm with urban comforts
Dry climate ideal for respiratory health
Low crime and high senior population
💰 Median Home Price: $450,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 1.7 per 1,000
7. 🏝️ Gulf Shores, Alabama – Best for Affordable Beach Living
Gulf Shores provides all the perks of coastal living—white beaches, warm weather, and Gulf seafood—without Florida’s price tag. It’s perfect for beach-lovers on a budget, offering a relaxed pace of life and welcoming senior services.
Access to white sandy beaches without Florida costs
Easygoing lifestyle and seafood culture
Active senior rec centers
Storm-smart building codes and infrastructure
💰 Median Home Price: $275,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 2.8 per 1,000
8. 💼 Boise, Idaho – Best for Retirees Seeking Jobs or Activity
If slowing down isn’t your thing, Boise might be your ideal fit. With part-time job options, vibrant community markets, and green space galore, it blends active retirement with urban growth. Clean air and access to healthcare are also key perks.
Great for part-time work or consulting
Clean air and green spaces
Senior-friendly transportation and medical care
Strong community events and farmers markets
💰 Median Home Price: $410,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 2.0 per 1,000
9. 🌲 Hot Springs, Arkansas – Best for Nature + Low Costs
Hot Springs offers a rare combo: natural beauty, historical charm, and affordability. Home to famous hot springs and bathhouses, it’s a wellness-focused town with a strong art scene. The scenic lakes and mountains also make it perfect for outdoor lovers.
Hot springs, hiking trails, and lakes
Affordability with small-town charm
Historic bathhouses and spas
Walkable downtown with artsy flair
💰 Median Home Price: $190,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 2.4 per 1,000
10. 👴 The Villages, Florida – Best for Full-Service Retirement
The Villages is like a cruise ship on land—a master-planned retirement city built specifically for active seniors. Golf carts rule the roads, clubs run every day of the week, and entertainment is constant. It’s designed for those who want everything in one place.
Massive retirement community (over 100,000+ residents)
Golf carts, clubs, fitness, and entertainment every night
On-site medical care, grocery stores, banks
Everything designed with seniors in mind
💰 Median Home Price: $430,000
🛡️ Crime Rate: 1.6 per 1,000
Retirement is Personal
There’s no “best” place to retire—only the best place for you. Whether you’re looking for serenity, sunshine, savings, or social life, the U.S. has diverse cities ready to welcome your next chapter. From the peaceful trails of Prescott to the golf-cart-friendly streets of The Villages, retirement can be as vibrant—or as calm—as you want it to be.
📌 Updated 2025 Housing & Safety Guide for Retirees
To help you make the most informed decision possible, here’s the most up-to-date information on median home prices and crime rates in each of the top 10 retirement cities, based on recent data from Redfin, Zillow, NeighborhoodScout, and other trusted sources (as of August 2025).
Where data was unavailable, the most recent estimates were used and noted.
🏙️ City | 💰 Median Home Price (2025) | 🛡️ Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) |
Port St. Lucie, FL | $412,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 0.99 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
Franklin, TN | $975,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 1.1 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
Pittsburg, KS | $160,000 (Zillow, 2025) | 2.5 (Assumed, unverified) |
Prescott, AZ | $600,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 1.4 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
Asheville, NC | $475,000 (Zillow, 2025) | 2.0 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
St. George, UT | $510,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 1.7 (City-data.com, 2023) |
Gulf Shores, AL | $400,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 2.5 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
Boise, ID | $465,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 1.9 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
Hot Springs, AR | $210,000 (Zillow, 2025) | 2.6 (NeighborhoodScout, 2023) |
The Villages, FL | $465,000 (Redfin, July 2025) | 1.5 (SafeWise, 2023) |
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