10 best places to retire in the US

This list of cities and towns has both well-known and lesser-known names, but all can boast that they offer a high quality of life for retirees.

By Robert Powell, MarketWatch

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jturk1
Apr 20, 2012 8:24AM
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How about good retirement places for the normal person who maybe earns #35,000 yearly retired?? Not everybody can buy a $50,000 boat, golf club membership and a maid during or after they retire.
mftx22
Apr 20, 2012 9:42AM
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Tucson, AZ? Are you kidding me? 120 degrees in the summer and smack dab in the middle of the drug trade corridor. Inexpensive place to retire, sure....if you can stay alive.
Varacefan24
Apr 20, 2012 4:46PM
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It is funny to see where everyone says they think the best place to retire is. It's really about what makes you happy. As my wife and I have traveled around the country with our family we've often commented on where would be nice to retire. What is not often mentioned in articles like this is lets say you retire to Florida. After a few years of enjoying the sunshine your health starts to let say go south. Without family around who will you count on to help you if lets say you are on a limited budget? The same for those retirees who move to the mountians or the country. Lets see! I'm older now so I think I'll move further away from medical care. I'm not saying any of these moves are wrong. I'm saying think about such things before you move to the other side of no where.

 

One other thing! A few have said they can't afford to retire on their SS. Did you know it was never meant to be a retirement plan? You have to actually plan and "save for retirement" if you want to maintain your lifestyle. That may means a little known word now days and that is sacrifice. I hear people all the time say "it impossible to save now days". This while talking on their smartphone and driving a new car and getting ready to take that two week cruise. Not to mention their kids living like kings and queens. Really! Give me a break! The secret to retirement is to owe as little as possible. That takes planning. What the ole saying? If you are failing to plan you are planning to fail.

RetiredDIY
Apr 20, 2012 7:06PM
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Having retired already, I find I agree with a few of the previous comments.  First, by the time you retire, you do need to be sure you will have the medical care close by that you will need one day.  Second, if your wife isn't happy with the place, you probably won't be either and she almost always wants to be part of the kids and grandkids life where they live.  Finally, if you didn't plan your finances right, you will probably work all your retilrement years and some folks are happier and live longer doing just that.  You might also plan to have a hobby to stay involved in because you can only fish and golf so much and then what are you going to do to fill like you are enjoying your "golden years".  Just remember, "To a great extent, the rest of your life is pretty much what YOU make of it".
Gar003
Apr 20, 2012 5:25AM
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Great places for the upper income maybe
bh7166
Apr 20, 2012 6:39PM
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Seriously, Florida and Arizona, Carolinas?  Such a cliche....there are dozens if not hundreds of places in the United States that would be greater to retire and every year but in survey after survey the same tired over hyped cities come up.  How about Santa Fe/Albuquerque?  How about Austin?  How about the Oregon coast?  How about coastal Mississippi and Louisiana?  You guys seriously need to expand your scope.  This list was lame in its predictability.....
CW40
Apr 20, 2012 7:09PM
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Anywhere is a good place to retire!  But it depends on how you wish to spend your retirement years.  Yes, if you love the ocean, beaches, Arizona is not your place.  If you love snow skiing, you won't enjoy Florida.   But who says when you retire that you have to move to another city?   I recently retired, and everyone keeps asking me, where are you going to move to?   I say I'm staying here, and they think I'm nuts for not selling out and packing off to some unknown city.
4 aussies
Apr 20, 2012 9:19AM
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Why not retire in the forest, Jasper Ar.Near the Buffalo National River, South of Branson MO. 15 acres surronded by forest slip coffee on your covered front porch & watch the sun rise. 4 bedroom home 2 baths dual heating & central air, for when u have company last years heating 367. 4 car garage, taxes 815 a year. Price reduced 159900
hrtattkjck
Apr 20, 2012 12:34AM
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San Antonio crime ridden crummy town. I was born in and raised within 30 miles of SA and they forgot to mention HIGH property taxes a less than adequate mass transportation system and if you need extra income good luck finding anything with insurance or even pays a little over min. wage. The only good thing about SA is the Spurs. I guess SA would be considered first class if it were in a third world country. NO.2 what a joke go live there yourself Robert Powell and you will realize what a poorly researched article you wrote.
Snowqueen 716
Apr 20, 2012 4:33PM
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I live in Englewood Fl.(part of Charlotte county) having lived here 16 yrs ago leaving for jobs we returned just 1 1/2yrs ago. I am ever so happy to be home..... Englewood between the Myakka River, Lemon Bay and the Gulf is fabulous. No matter where you go there is water to cross.... it's like being on vacation everyday all day.I work part-time on the mainland and would not trade Englewood for another location. It is where I will  live out my life and I will be buried here.

Far enough south on the western coast of Florida we get very little winter weather and rarely wear heavy coats,  sweaters are usually enough.... I could go on and on about Southwest Florida I am a 1 person chamber of commerce............​.... love it love it love it.

Gary Boyce
Apr 20, 2012 9:03AM
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In response to Realtalk111- You are correct on PR.

From what I have seen -heard-read  that if you can do it or want to the tropics of Costa Rica and Ecuador are very cheap and you get alot for your US $ and can stretch it much further than any beach community in the US.

I would say the only drawback is the travel and distance from anywhere and family in the states

Though I gotta admit maybe forcing the family to get on a plane and travel too far would have its benefits-haha!

small14
Apr 20, 2012 12:44PM
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How about picking some places that poor people can retire in; my SSI will be $1600 a month, minus medical. And we know I willl need to work and earn only the amount SSi says (?) so add a bit to that, and make our choice for living. Oh yes, then add to all that, what any of our political parties think we must pay for! What kind of quality of life do we get .... work till we drop dead so we are not a burden on anyone! Please tell us where we live?
Lee
Apr 20, 2012 4:01PM
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 if all you have is ssi stay put you should have thought about that 30 years ago
Elixr 9
Apr 20, 2012 8:31AM
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I'm a DAV and I'm already retired and have been since 1999. I just need to win the Lottery.
Dr Isa Lazy
Apr 20, 2012 10:41AM
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This "news" item brought to you by the state of Florida.
don quix dik
Apr 20, 2012 5:16PM
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i would like to see a $130000 home in sarasota? they must be including bradenton in that demographic because there are none? OW great place to live and visit.
Ad7756
Apr 20, 2012 4:35PM
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Well how about Washington State, no state tax on your retirement money and if you live on the border of Portland, Oregon you can drive over and pay no sales tax!  Sounds like a no brainer if you can handle the rain!

Gary Boyce
Apr 20, 2012 8:41AM
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Funny but last night I was the first to reply and my comment disappeared? Hmmmmmm

Ok here goes again and where is the offensiveness? Perhaps it was too smart for the article?

 

My wife and I will be retiring to Buffalo NY!

Thats right and its simple as I believe when you do retire or leave where you are you always must go down in order to protect whatever money you have.

Too many people make the mistake of going where they want to but sometimes you cant afford that (like all the wonderful spots in this article ).

These spots are fine for Thurston Howell the 3rd from Gilligans Island!

Buffalo NY?

Its a cheap area to live in - we can finally but a house that is affordable in a nice neighborhood and its a city/area that has the friendliest people you will ever meet.

Whatever we have when that time comes will go alot further there and we can live financially stress and worry free for the ending say 30 years of our lives together.

We have earned that and to have the final stages of our life play out in Buffalo NY would be just perfect.

Its all about keeping the most of that money you have or come into and then lowering your expenses and in some cases your expectations and finding that hidden jewel.

For us in about 5 years when I hit 62 thats Buffalo NY!

JackSpat
Apr 20, 2012 3:58PM
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Also, keep in mind that pretty much nobody in Tucson speaks English-outside the UofA.
brighterorange74
Apr 20, 2012 1:08PM
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Seems to me the majority of these locations are in hurricane territory.  Why in the world would you want to move into that possibility?
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