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It’s a perpetual question for the older set: Where to retire? A lot of people simply stay put where they’ve been for decades. Others move far away—-even abroad–for adventure or to save money. Another retirement option is a change to an inner-city neighborhood.
But there’s a middle ground that might be appealing to those who have spent comfortable decades in the suburbs, those largely residential towns full of larger homes with back yards within reasonable commuting distance of the big city they generally ring and draw energy from. Consider relocating to another suburb, maybe in another part of the country.
There can be savings and value generated, especially if one takes advantage of what can be the country’s widely differing tax environments. Texas and Florida, for instance, has no state income tax (although other higher taxes make up some of the difference). Some states like Pennsylvania and Florida afford retirees with special tax incentives.
Here’s how our roster came together. First, we set a 25-mile limit for the distance from the suburb to the center of the big city. A longer trip than that struck us as interfering too much with getting to the cultural, sporting and other amenities found in larger cities.
House prices everywhere are way down. We sought towns where the average home price was under $400,000. In nearly half, the price was $200,000 or less. The one exception was Davis, Calif., where home prices are in the mid 400,000’s but plenty of other factors offset this.
Drawing data from such sources as city-data.com, we scrutinized a variety of other factors. They included cost of living and the tax climate for retirees (generally a function of state law). We evaluated availability of hospitals and higher education (it’s never too late to keep learning). We took into account data for crime rates (almost all the towns listed register less than half the national crime rate) and air quality.
Finally, we looked at mass transit options—-especially the proximity of rail–back to the big city.
No single town excelled on every factor. But hey, life is full of trade-offs. We found plenty of interesting places worth your consideration.
Not every suburb we highlight is a tiny burb. From a 1960 population under 4,000, the Dallas suburb of Plano now tops 260,000, one reason for its five hospitals. But average home prices barely nudge $200,000, there’s no state income tax and rail can take you to the big (or bigger) city 18 miles south.
The smallest suburb on the list is Lauderdale, Minn., whose population of 2,200 sits just four miles from Minneapolis. The winters are cold, but homes go for less than $200,000.
Here are 10 of the top suburbs for retirees:
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Broomfield, CO., near Denver, feels relaxed
Thirteen miles northwest of Denver, this 55,000-person city enjoys easy access to the big city, a nearby hospital and college, low crime and good air quality. Average home price is less than $300,000, although the cost of living is 7% above the national average.
The average home price of $450,000 is the highest on our list. But this Sacramento suburb of 65,000 has a lot going for it anyway. Favorable factors include a local hospital, its own University of California campus and rail links to both Sacramento 15 miles east and the San Francisco Bay area 50 miles southwest. There are good weather and above-average air quality, too.
Brentwood, Mo., near St. Louis, offers affordable living
Its population of 7,000 is on the smallish side, but this close-in St. Louis suburb (six miles) has a rail link, low crime, a low cost of living, and a home price average in the mid 200,000’s. Downsides are temperature extremes and below average air quality.
Although in another state, this 15,000-person suburb is so close to Cincinnati--five miles--that buses on their route double-back to Kentucky. Typical homes go for under $200,000. Cost of living is 9% below the national average. There's also a local hospital.
Meridian, ID., near Boise, is scenic and comfortable.
Eight miles south of Boise, this 70,000-person suburb also has an average home price below $200,000. Other favorable factors include low crime, a hospital, a low cost of living, and Idaho's hospitable tax environment for retirees.
The winters are cold in this close-in (four miles) Minneapolis suburb of barely 2,000 people. But the town has low crime, an average home price below $200,000, and a nearby hospital and college. One drawback: the cost of living is 15% above the national average.
With a median home price of barely $200,000, this northern Dallas suburb of 84,000 has a low cost of living and crime, that favorable Texas tax climate and a local hospital. It sits near rail to downtown Dallas. One drawback: below-average air quality.
Homes in this 15,000-person suburb 22 miles south of Atlanta average about $200,000, reflecting the lower-than-average cost of living. There’s a local hospital. Mass transit to Atlanta, however, is limited, although the Atlanta Airport is just 10 miles away.
9。Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, AZ. is near Phoenix and its many attractions.
Photo: Phillip Augustavo | Alamy
Three hospitals dot this Phoenix suburb of 215,000, the third biggest town on our list. Average home price is about $250,000, and the cost of living is 6% below the national average. Downside: Mass transit to the big city 22 miles west is extremely limited.
This 13-miles-out suburb of Fort Lauderdale sports homes generally selling for less than $200,000. Besides the famous Florida weather and no-income-tax environment, there's a hospital and decent mass transit. One drawback: cost of living is 14% above the national average.
11。Beaverton, Oregon
Nike's world headquarters is surrounded by this suburb of 93,000 nine miles west of Portland. Average home prices are about $300,000, and the cost of living is slightly above the national average. But there's good weather and air, a rail line to downtown and hospitals and colleges within five miles.
12。Cary, North Carolina
Now up to a population of 135,000, this suburb nine miles west of Raleigh still has one of the lowest crime rates on this list. It also has average home prices around $300,000 and a below-average cost of living.
13。Edmond, Oklahoma
Ignore the tornadoes. This Oklahoma City suburb of 80,000 has two hospitals, two colleges, the cheapest cost of living on this list, good air and average home prices under $200,000. The state's tax climate is favorable to retirees. But there's limited mass transit to the big city 13 miles south.
14。Fishers, Indiana
Enjoying the lowest crime rate on our list, this Indianapolis suburb of 70,000 people also offers value. Homes average a tad above $200,000 and the cost of living is 10% below the national average. But there's only modest mass transit to the big city 14 miles to the southwest.
15。Friendswood, Texas
With the scaling down of the space program, home prices in this southeast Houston suburb of 35,000 near the Johnson Space Center, are in the $200,000s and might go even lower. Cost of living is below the national average. Hospital is five miles away.
16。Henderson, Nevada
Sixteen miles southeast of the Las Vegas strip, this suburb of 255,000 has a hospital and a four-year state college. Other attributes: low crime, average home prices below $250,000, a cost of living 4% below the U.S. norm, and an appealing tax climate for retirees.
17。Munster, Indiana.
Twenty-two miles across the state line from Chicago, this 20,000-person suburb has three hospitals, average home prices in the low $200,000s, cost of living right at the national average, and an acceptable crime rate. The town is near rail going straight back to the Windy City.
18。Naperville, Illinois
This Chicago suburb of 145,000 sports a hospital, a college, low crime and above-average air quality. The typical home price isn't the lowest--nearly $400,000--and the cost of living is 5% above the national average. But the 25-mile trip east to the cultural attractions of Chicago is an easy ride via rail.
19。Overland Park, Kansas
Four hospitals festoon this Kansas city suburb of 175,000. Other pluses include a college, low crime, average home prices in the mid-$200,000s and a cost of living a whopping 12% below the national average. One drawback: limited mass transit to the big city.
20。Plano, Texas
At 260,000 persons the biggest suburb on this list, Plano has five hospitals, low crime, home prices barely scraping $200,000, a low cost of living and Texas's lack of an income tax. There's also rail for the 18-mile ride south to Dallas.
21。Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Good weather, modest costs and a favorable retiree tax climate are the draw to this suburb 13 miles northwest of Albuquerque. Average home price is way under $200,000, and the cost of living is 5% below the U.S. norm.
22。Roswell, Georgia
This 90,000-person suburb offers a hospital and sits near the end of a rail line to Atlanta. Home prices aren't low--the average is near $400,000--but the cost of living is 5% below the national average and Georgia tax rules are agreeable to retirees. Crime is low and the air quality high.
23。Smyrna, Tennessee
Eighteen miles southeast of Nashville, this suburb of 40,000 has a low average home price--in the mid-$100,000s. Cost of living is 11% below the national average. Other perks include a hospital and above-average air quality.
24。South Jordan, Utah
Cost of living in this Salt Lake City suburb of 55,000 is 6% below the national average, and Utah affords retirees favorable tax treatment. Typical home prices are in the mid $300,000s. The town sits near rail for the 17-mile ride north to the big city.
25。West Chester, Pennsylvania
Our sole Northeast listing sits 25 miles west of Philadelphia near the end of a rail line. Its population of 18,000 is served by a hospital and a college. Home prices average around $300,000.
