most affordable mountain towns to retire
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). 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. NY 10036. From most of them you can look up and see mountains rising above, while in others they are just a short drive away. And nearby is the tallest peak in Georgia,Brasstown Bald, which welcomes hikers, nature lovers and picnics too. With so much volatility in the real estate industry these past few years, many retirees are scratching their heads and wondering, Is it a buyers or sellers market? Understanding the differences is vital because timing is everything. Plus, living costs are low while incomes are high, at an average $97,958 a year for residents age 60 and up. RSS feed for comments on this post. Chitr. 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. Heres whats for sale now in Aroostook County. Plus, you can choose among a host of retirement communities with ocean views. For people with respiratory or circulation problems, the thinner air can be problematic. Less daylight. But the smaller of the two, Richland, has an older population with a higher average income (Kennewick's is $57,989) and lower poverty rate (7.6% compared with 8.3% in Kennwickboth lower than the national poverty rate of 9.3% for people age 65 and older). Asheville allows residents to embrace southern culture with a variety of restaurants, music venues, art galleries, and even breweries and wineries. And recent job growth has increased by 2.8 percent (higher than the national average of 1.6 percent) with manufacturing, retail trade and public administration ranking as the citys leading industries. This college town is the home of Southwestern University, the oldest higher education institution in Texas. Indeed, Knoxville is one of the cheapest U.S. cities to live in (opens in new tab). Living in an age-restricted community is often new to active adults moving into a 55+ neighborhood. The University of Vermont will cover tuition costs for state residents age 65 and older who wish to take a class, even if it's for credit. 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. In the downtown and waterfront areas, enjoy galleries, shops, restaurants and museums, including the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center. This intimate city of approximately 43,300 people is located between the Prescott National Forest and the Tonto National Forest. Treat this as your starting point to look at the many small towns in rural Maine. Its setting among the beautiful San Francisco Peaks and Coconino National Forest was one reason. Pigeon Forge, one of Tennessee's favorite towns, is a longtime favorite spot for vacationers, but it's also a great spot to retire. Set your sights on this mountain town and take in the wide-open spaces from Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, then settle in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a whole host of delicious, down-home restaurants. Bozeman, Montana. The Mile High City is an obvious choice for mountain lovers. This is a golfer's paradise with more than 100 courses in the area. After a short 500 foot walking climb up a local peak, I found my heartrate elevated above 120 and it didnt drop until we got back down below 5000 feet. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Like much of Californiawhere living costs are 69% above the national average, making it the second-most expensive state in the country behind only HawaiiCarlsbad and the whole metro area is a pricey place to live. And if internet access is important to you, remember to ask about speed and cost. Renaissance man Thomas Jefferson laid the foundation for the well-rounded city his hometown has become. The good news for those of us lacking a few extra zeroes in our bank accounts? Theres good reason more than 45 movies and TV shows (The Sandlot, Everwood, Con Air, Drive Me Crazy) have been filmed here. Located 100 miles fromDenverand resting at 10,150 feet, the nations highest-altitude incorporated city is home to 50 historic structures, eight museums and plenty of outdoor adventure options. Charlottesville also ranks fifth for overall well-being, out of all 187 metro areas included in the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, with above-average scores in all categories, including physical health and resident satisfaction. Of course any location can have its share of natural disasters, but living in the mountains can come with serious hazards. Readers, where do you think Lisa and her husband should retire? MarketWatchs Where Should I Retire column, Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman says Lorne Michaels gave her the best financial advice, Teslas stock falls 5% as Elon Musks Master Plan 3 is short on details about both cars and finances. A state fund fueled by oil wealth gives all permanent residents an annual dividend. To get the No. You can also indulge in the more intoxicating offerings of the area. It's where you can ha Cool (literally: Surrounded by theSan Bernardino National Forest, its about 20 degrees cooler than nearby cities), quaint and full of camping, hiking, birdwatching, biking, paragliding and other activities,Crestlinealso home toLake Gregory Regional Parkand features four seasons. Most of the other Rocky Mountain towns on this list post a much higher cost of living. Mountainsides are hard to develop. The city has its very own range, the Phoenix Mountains. Although many people dream of a retirement near the beach, in a small town, or even the downtown of a city, there are plenty of baby boomers whose ambition is to retire near the mountains. Welcome to Cresswind Charlotte! Some of the popular spots to visit include the Cactus to Clouds Trail, Thomas Mountain, and Tuscan Springs Hotel & Spa which features hot springs. And Alabama at-large offers many of Florida's popular retirement attractionswarm weather, nice beaches and plenty of golfall at a typically lower price. The city and surrounding area provide many outstanding recreation activities in the adjacent Sandia Mountains, which you can get to from a city gondola. This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information. Im including listings of homes for sale just for flavor. The colonial town's mood is quiet and calm, but its location on the eastern coast of the island and near active volcano Mauna Loa offers plenty of opportunities for adventure. Buyers Market vs. Sellers Market: Whats the Status Right Now? New Rules Push Back RMD Start, Reduce Penalties. Next: 25 . Small towns with lesser-known mountains (some might call them really big hills) may have to substitute. Knoxville, Tennessee is the third-largest city in the state and is located only an hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If youre willing to look beyond the Aspens,Park CitiesandJacksonsof the country, there are a number of mountain towns with a cost of living you can actually afford. That adds up to favorable odds for a balanced budget. And signature events include theLeadville Trail 100bike and running races; theBBQ & Brews Festival, held each June; andBoom Days, a street fair held each August. The population is about 6,000. 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. And Provo, with mountain peaks within the city limits and Utah Lake on its doorstep, is particularly buzz-worthy. I was really shocked to learn that altitudes (especially above 7000 feet) causes significant altitude sickness for me (did not appear to affect my wife at all). 7. It is home to the Shoshone Falls, The Niagara of the West. He loves to deer hunt. Where should we retire? Take a look at our list of the cheapest places to live in America for city dwellers. Other strengths of the area include high employment and economic stability, as well as quality infrastructure, with well-funded transit for older adults, highly rated nursing homes and ample continuing care. Burlington, Vermont. At the end of this article we will discuss some of the pros and cons of retiring in the mountains, but first here is our list, in no particular order (theyre all nice!). Winters here would be a touch warmer than Michigan and Maine, with average highs around freezing. New England is notoriously expensive, but Pittsfield, located in the western part of Massachusetts, offers a small pocket of relative affordabilitymore reasonably priced than Boston and Cambridge, where living costs are, respectively, 48.1% and 38.1% above the U.S. average. Before joining Kiplinger, Rapacon worked as a senior research associate at b2b publishing house Judy Diamond Associates. 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. Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Homebuyers hoping to find their ideal Tennessee mountain home should consider looking to Knoxville. You can enjoy boating and fishing on the Columbia, Yakima and Snake Rivers, and hiking or biking on the 23-mile Sacagawea Trail. The city itself is at nearly 7,000, making it one of Americas highest cities. Another time back before we retired, I extended a business trip to Switzerland where one night we stayed at 8000 feet. The nearby Green Mountains offer some of Vermonts best skiing. State | But given that youre looking for a rental in a small town, where you find an attractive home may be the deciding factor. Thats quite a challenge. Exuberant co-eds might not be the neighbors you pictured in your mountain-view retirement destination, but you may enjoy the dining, culture and entertainment options that come with a college town. Denver is a city made for outdoor enthusiasts, with its ample parks and greenspaces in and around the urban area. More reasons to live here: The median home cost is $254,000 (in Aspen, its $1.4 million), the unemployment rate, at 3.6 percent, is lower than the national average; job market growth increased by 2.6 percent last year and schools have seen recent renovations. 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. The cost of living is 10%. 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. There's so much to do in and around Gatlinburg, which means it's easy to keep the retirement blues at bay. Chattanooga, Tennessee. 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. Fayetteville ranks 11th for community well-being on the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index with residents reporting high levels of liking where they live, feeling safe and having pride in their community. Tiny Laconia offers a big bargain for your retirement destination. If you're age 65 and up, you can take WVU courses, for credit or not, at a discount. Livability explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live. Only 10.1% of the entire state's population is age 65 and up compared with 14.9% of the whole U.S. This city is known for its vibrant art scene, historical sites, and architecture such as the Biltmore Estate and the Basilica of St. Laurence. Juneau, Alaska. But local average incomes are still high, averaging $71,605 for residents across all ages. Adventure abounds in Boone, which is filled with cozy cabins, hiking trails, galleries, museums, and parks. Were changing the way people 55 and older are searching for their perfect next place. Having a swimming pool nearby is a must. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs antique trains to other neighboring mountain towns. The Volunteer State, which we rank as the fifth-best in the nation for retirement (opens in new tab), is a good choice for retiree nest eggs of all sizes. To help them find their best mountain retirement town, we have assembled a list of sixteen. Heres Why Urban 55+ Communities Are So Rare. Steamboat Springs, Colo. Artists, writers and musicians have long been inspired by this North Carolina mountain town. One potential drawback is there are only 2 ways to get here by sea or air. Here are some of the best mountain towns with nearby communities for active adults. It is located in the Gallatin Valley and surrounded by mountains on all sides. Driving on snowy roads can be dangerous. Published 9 December 22. state tax Cadence_at_Lansdowne Rents across Delta County are much cheaper than around Iron Mountain, where median incomes are higher and median rents are well above $600. 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. Golfer & # x27 ; s paradise with more than 100 courses in the area up and see rising! 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