Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin are in neighboring Penobscot County. The scenery in the surrounding mountains is spectacular, and so are the recreation possibilities. A $30 annual membership gets you access to interest groups, trips, social gatherings and program classes, including local and international history, music, computers and yoga. Communities | Mount Rainier National Park is about 150 miles away, but you can find plenty of peaks, including Badger Mountain, Candy Mountain and Jump Off Joe Butte, nearby. Its a city of 12,000, about 45 miles north of Interstate 80 and 2 hours south of Buffalo, N.Y., in an area the tourism people call the Pennsylvania Wilds region. The cost of living in both areas runs nearly 14% below the national level. It also helps that you can refuel at one of Asheville's many innovative restaurants and breweries. 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. Just as some people treasure a view of a lake or ocean, so do many others enjoy the thrill of big overlooks and distant mountains from every window and deck. Homebuyers hoping to find their ideal Tennessee mountain home should consider looking to Knoxville. By Dan Burrows 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. It has a population of 583,200that's just about six people per square mile. Blacksburg is a great college town for retirement. 8. On top of the scenic views, higher altitudes also give you cooler weather and less humidity. Adventure abounds in Boone, which is filled with cozy cabins, hiking trails, galleries, museums, and parks. We get up early and go to bed early, so we enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I used the MarketWatch where should I retire tool to help me find some options, choosing median rents for a two-bedroom place below $600 (the lower the better) and counties with fewer than 50,000 people. The median home value is $312,514, Zillow says. Take the Blue Ridge mountains of western NC for example, where retirees experience snow and colder temps than do those who live in the rest of the state. More difficult transportation. The hot springs in the area provide a retreat for relaxation while the areas plentiful golf courses and hiking trails allow residents to easily stay active. The Best States: Where Are Retirees Moving to? Literally. Privacy | Livability explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live. This northwest Arkansas town is nestled in the Ozark Mountains and is a welcoming spot to decamp to during retirement. 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. Richland's metro area includes Kennewick, both of which qualify as great retirement destinations. We love small mountain towns, privacy, colder weather. Hiawassee, Georgia. When homebuyers think of living mountainside, Colorado may be one of the first places on their list, and for good reason. How Will Social Security and Medicare Survive in the New Congress? Americans are living longer than ever, and that creates some challenges for retirees. Coravllis is home to more than a dozen wineriesnaturally, being in the heart of the Willamette Valleyas well as four craft distillers for whiskey, vodka and more and six breweries right in town. Nearest resort: Taos Ski Valley 7. Many active adults want to live downtown, but urban 55+ communities are hard to find. Burlington, Vermont. Reviews | We want to buy a home on 10 wide-open acres and live on $50,000 a year where should we retire? If you insist on going out west, start with southeastern Idaho, particularly Bear Lake County. 9 Things You Must Know About Retiring to Arizona. But at least that's more affordable than capital city Honolulu, on Oahu, where living costs are a steep 101.1% above the national average. Contact Us | Seems like a fair trade. And you can find even more to explore in nearby Scottsdale, Glendale and Tempe. Pittman Center Wikipedia/Brian Stansberry 12. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Those looking to explore everything the Appalachian Mountains have to offer will enjoy living in Asheville. Fans of the TV series Breaking Bad will recognize the scenery around this town butting up against the Sandia Mountains. Few aspiring retirees have enough saved to buy a retirement home in Aspen, Colorado, or Jackson, Wyoming. Small towns with lesser-known mountains (some might call them really big hills) may have to substitute. Denver offers 14,000 acres of parks nearby in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with ample opportunity for hiking, biking and exploring. This mountain resort town in Colorado draws tourists for its sports and views. New York, Here are some of the best mountain townswith nearby communities for active adults. Email Address Silverthorne, CO - Average Home Cost: $428,367. If youre ready to find your own winter retreat this season, here are some of the best places to consider. 10. (Tip: For a hike your visiting guests will, well,love, climb to Heart Rock, a natural wonder at a waterfall where a perfect heart-shaped pool was formed into the cliff by the force of water.). Enter the email address associated with your account. All are proven great places to retire some are college towns and others are also on a lake. These savings vehicles allow you to make tax-deferred contributions and your earnings grow tax-free. Nearest resorts: Breckenridge, Keystone, A-Basin, Loveland, Copper 8. Palm Springs has many natural attractions as well as dining and shopping for homeowners to take advantage of. She previously served as editor of the "Starting Out" column, focusing on personal finance advice for people in their twenties and thirties. 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. Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks sit due south of Bozeman. With 9,000 people, Presque Isle is the largest community in Maines northernmost county and the areas commercial center. The cost of living is 10%. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, this gated lakefront community offers space to grow and explore the iconic wilderness of the region. Driving on snowy roads can be dangerous. Its setting among the beautiful San Francisco Peaks and Coconino National Forest was one reason. Q and A A house with a mortgage costs a median of $1,316 per month, and the median monthly rent is $911. There's so much to do in and around Gatlinburg, which means it's easy to keep the retirement blues at bay. Idaho Fallsmight not be a mountain town in the literal sense, but asthe closest metropolitan area to any of Yellowstone National Parks entrances, it serves as a gateway to some of the countrys most stunning mountain terrain. And the scenery? Most of the other Rocky Mountain towns on this list post a much higher cost of living. The University also helps boost local health care services with its many medical facilities, including the Eye Institute, Heart Institute and Ruby Memorial Hospital. Nvidia stock has been a market-beater recently, but has it always been such a winner? It also has an abundance of health care facilities, more than 41 establishments per 1,000 seniors in the metro area compared with just about 19 per 1,000 seniors in the U.S. Best States to Retire 2018: All 50 States Ranked for Retirement. The gateway to Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley, this hidden gem, just 35 minutes north of Salt Lake City, sits at 4,280 feet and is adjacent to 170,000 acres of national forest. Cresswind_Charlotte While the housing prices are on the rise, they aren't changing too rapidly just yet: the median list price in Ogden is $189,900. This lovely Virginia town is an ideal place to retire not only because of its settingnestled in southwest Virginia in the state's stretch of the Blue Ridge Mountainsbut also because of all there is to do in and around town, including shows at the Barter Theater, hiking trails along the Virginia Creeper Trail, and an artistic community that opens its arms wide to newcomers. Indeed, the Denver metro area is home to more than 24 health care facilities per 1,000 seniors, compared with just about 19 per 1,000 seniors in the U.S. 33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes. As an example, the Animas River, a gold medal fly fishing stream, flows through the center of town. 2007 2023 55places.com, a division ofNeighborhoods.com. Great Places to Retire Early Near the Beach. If rising before the sun to get in an early ski run or mountain bike adventure before work sounds like your idea of bliss, the mountains are calling your name. Even Colorado locals may not have heard of this neighborhood but it's located between downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The Chugach State Park alone offers 155 peaksranging from Flattop Mountain with an elevation of 3,245 feet to Mount Marcus Baker at 13,094 feetwith endless opportunities for hiking and ice climbing. What is your favorite mountain town for retirement? The 10 Best Mountain Towns for Retirement, Password requires min. It gets its name from the naturally heated springs in the area, which you can find in Hot Springs National Park, and also Bathhouse Row, which is home to bathhouses that date back centuries. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Whether you're partial to exploring the great outdoors or focusing on wine country, you have plenty of optionsyou don't even have to choose one over the other. There are many parks, a national forest, and the popular Shoshone Falls. Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles! 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. 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. If you're age 65 and up, you can take WVU courses, for credit or not, at a discount. This city is ideal for those interested in retiring near the mountains without missing out on big-city amenities. And Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is one of the best. Early Retirement Can Be Hazardous to Your Health. Readers, where do you think Lisa and her husband should retire? And taxes throughout Cali also weigh heavily on your wallet. Unlike some of the state's other top retirement. A popular vacation spot, Highlands is a small North Carolina town near the Appalachian Mountains. Bethel, Maine Population: 2,650 Average Age: 48.8 Median Home Price: $178,500 Median Rental Price: $1,310 (3-bedroom) Retirees living in Bethel, Maine will have no problem convincing the family to come visit! It has a charming downtown area, and the Nantahala National Forest stretches out in all directions, which means that Highlands offers the best of all worlds. 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. In 2018, the payment was $1,600 per person. But if you're willing to look beyond the most well-known ski resorts, there are mountain towns that offer scenic views and well-groomed slopes at far more affordable prices. State | Mammoth Lakes, CA - Average Home Cost: $438,686. Note this is Part 2 of Mountain Towns for Retirement, see Further Reading at end for 10 more. Anyone hoping to find a traditional mountain town to retire to can find plenty do to in Denver. Bella Vista, Arkansas. Elevation-wise, it's also one of the highest towns east of the Mississippi River, so there's nowhere to go but up in this charming small town. There are plenty of cultural attractions, from a sculpture trail to a symphony orchestra. A trip to Colorado a few years back to test as a possible new home proved very stressful for my lungs with severe hard breathing, coughing and general fatigue. Taos, NM - Average Home Cost: $401,864. Seattle is home to famous sights and attractions such as the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the Museum of Pop Culture. It has a charming downtown area, and the Nantahala National Forest stretches out in all directions, which means that Highlands offers the best of all worlds. 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? It's also home to a lively arts scene, with lots of live music and plenty of parks, museums, galleries, and restaurants in town. Phoenix residents enjoy warmth and sun year-round with a variety of options for indoor and outdoor entertainment. There's also a massive retirement. Buthalf an hour in the car to live in your vacation paradise? College towns such as Blacksburg, Va. generally offer a high level of amenities at affordable prices. Iron Mountain is the snowier of the two. We just moved here and love it! In Hilo, on the Big Island, the overall cost of living is 36.4% above the national average, according to Sperling's BestPlaces. Heres how it works. But, because they are expensive and congested, they will only appeal to a small segment of retirees. The site lists Parade Road-Old North Main Street and Weirs Beach-Lakeport as the safest neighborhoods in Laconia. Im including listings of homes for sale just for flavor. Homes, Townhomes, Condos: $139.9K - $2.8M Lots: $20K - $595K The undulating vistas of the Smoky Mountains make for an idyllic backdrop to life at Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake. This rapidly growing town in west central Montana is home to Montana State University Bozeman and its 10,000 students. 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. Last updated 12 February 23. state tax The town is actually home to the Liberty Skis Corporation, one of America's biggest independent producers of skis. Bozeman is in southern Montana, nestled in the Gallatin Valley and surrounded by majestic ranges and national forests. With Dollywood just next door, you'll never be at a loss for entertainment. Phoenix, though, offers a pocket of affordability, plus typically higher incomes. 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. Tahoe, California. The city tends to get 310 sunny days each year through all four seasons. The historic city of Charlottesville, Virginia is located near the Southwest Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. Details here. 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. 10. Another reason Iron Mountain is more expensive: its near Pine Mountain Resort, which brings in golfers and skiers. If youd love to make your vacation spot a year-round residence, this smallCaliforniatown, about a 20-minute drive fromSan Bernardino, is worth a look. Median rents in Elk County, where 30,000 people live, are just under $600 a month and are a touch lower than in neighboring Cameron County, which has just 4,500 residents. Theres good reason more than 45 movies and TV shows (The Sandlot, Everwood, Con Air, Drive Me Crazy) have been filmed here. Salt Lake City in Utah is one of the countrys most prominent mountain towns as it is located along the border of the Oquirrh Mountains. They describe it as home to millions of acres of unspoiled forests and mountains. The Best Active Adult Communities for Boaters. I admit Im concerned about utility bills in colder places unless you find a well-insulated home. Here are three suggestions to get you started. Buyers Market vs. Sellers Market: Whats the Status Right Now? (Image credit: Courtesy Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau), If You'd Put $1,000 Into Nvidia Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have Today, How Cytonics' Developed a Revolutionary Treatment for Osteoarthritis, Solving a $240B Problem, The 6 Safest Vanguard Funds to Own in a Bear Market, Child Tax Credit Changes and FAQs for Your 2022 Tax Return, 10 Big U.S. Cities With the Cheapest Apartment Rents, How 12 Types of Retirement Income Get Taxed, The 25 Cheapest Places to Live: U.S. Cities Edition, 10 Least Tax-Friendly States for Middle-Class Families, 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Middle-Class Families, Reasons Youll Blow Up Your Retirement Plan, one great retirement destination in each state, 10 Cheapest States Where You'll Want to Retire, home to a surprising number of millionaires, which we rank as the fifth-best in the nation for retirement, 10th in our 2018 rankings of the best states for retirement. Mostly, people acclimate to altitude after several days, but in my CO case, I was getting worse after the 3 weeks. Ogden is not as well known asPark City, UT, but offers some advantages and similarities to that resort town for a lot less money. The capital of Alaska is on the coast beneath mountains as they rise away from the coast. It. Sometimes it makes more sense for one member of a married couple to keep working. Sound fun? Tiny Laconia offers a big bargain for your retirement destination. Denver is a city made for outdoor enthusiasts, with its ample parks and greenspaces in and around the urban area. The geography means you have to be comfortable hiking, mountain biking, skiing and backcountry exploring your way through retirement. Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News Cabins, hiking, and lots of great landscapeswith gorgeous foliage in the fallmake it a wonderful place to settle down. Bozeman, Montana. Brigham Young University offers intellectual stimulation to complement the physical activity. Thats quite a challenge. Another big local attraction: Every summer since 1897, Cheyenne hosts the world's largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration, Frontier Days, now a 10-day event. The surrounding Ozark Mountains afford residents outdoor recreation and natural wonders to enjoy while the downtown area, home to the University of Arkansas, provides restaurants, shops and a lively music and arts scene, including the Walton Arts Center. We will email you a link to quickly reset your password. Sometimes this can work out well, but in other cases it can be more hassle than its worth. The list is ordered alphabetically by state. Chattanoogais a low-cost, interesting city of about 170,000 people in southern Tennessee. The nature lovers of Denver can visit the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests with popular trails such as the Arapaho Glacier Trail and Beaver Reservoir Trailhead at their fingertips. Retirement Tips. I want to retire in a liberal-thinking area on $3,000 a month, including rent where should I go? Published 8 December 22. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Annual snowfall averages 58 inches. Active adults hoping to find a unique city for their retirement should consider everything Salt Lake City has to offer. This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information. If a move from one state to another is in your future, you could save big bucks by relocating to one of these states where the tax bite is light for middle-class families. Annuities provide steady income in retirement, but some financial planners prefer alternatives. Sitting above the Snake River Canyon, this town is known as the hub of the eight-county Magic Valley region. Lawrenceburg. 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