America's Top 25 Retirement Destinations: Finding Safe and Affordable Communities for Your Golden Years

Selecting the ideal location for your retirement years involves balancing multiple priorities: financial stability, personal safety, community environment, and quality of life. With countless American cities competing for retirees’ attention, understanding which communities offer both security and affordability becomes essential. This comprehensive guide examines 25 standout places to retire across America, analyzed through rigorous criteria including crime statistics, living expenses, and community demographics.

Methodology Behind the Rankings

The analysis of these best places to retire evaluated cities using data from multiple authoritative sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Sperling’s BestPlaces cost-of-living indices, Bureau of Labor Statistics expenditure surveys, and U.S. Census demographic information. Each location received scoring across violent crime rates, property crime rates, annual living costs, livability indices, and the percentage of residents aged 65 and older. This multifaceted approach ensures that potential retirees can make decisions based on comprehensive, current information as of May 2024.

Budget-Conscious Retirement: Communities Under $65,000 Annually

For retirees operating on fixed incomes, finding affordable housing and lower expenses represents a critical priority. Several American cities deliver on this front while maintaining strong safety records.

Beatrice, Nebraska stands out as one of the most economical options, with annual living costs at just $56,403 and a livability score of 78. The community’s low cost structure doesn’t sacrifice on safety—violent crime and property crime rates both score favorably compared to national averages.

Kettering, Ohio keeps expenses minimal at $58,228 annually while providing impressive crime prevention metrics (violent crime rate: 0.984, property crime rate: 0.933). This combination makes it particularly attractive for cost-conscious retirees concerned about security.

Frankfort, Kentucky delivers similar affordability at $58,228 with stronger livability performance (91 score), offering residents a vibrant community atmosphere alongside economical living arrangements. The city’s violent crime score of 0.927 and property crime score of 0.906 provide additional peace of mind.

Parma, Ohio serves larger-population retirees (nearly 81,000 residents) while keeping costs under $61,000. With 19.48% of residents aged 65 and older, newcomers find an established senior community. Crime scores remain competitive at 0.956 for violent crimes and 0.959 for property crimes.

Dubuque, Iowa combines affordability ($61,949) with substantial senior representation—nearly 19% of the city’s 60,000 residents are retirement age. Violent crime scores reach 0.853, representing solid safety metrics.

Oxford, Mississippi ranks as the most affordable option at $60,490, though it carries slightly higher crime indices. For budget-prioritizing retirees, the trade-off offers maximum financial flexibility. Nearly 27% of residents are seniors, creating natural peer communities.

Mid-Range Retirement: $63,000–$75,000 Annual Costs

This segment offers balanced affordability with enhanced amenities and community characteristics appealing to active retirees.

Ankeny, Iowa achieves one of the highest livability scores (92) while keeping costs at $63,189. The midwestern setting provides strong safety records and modern community infrastructure.

Brandon, Mississippi maintains expenses at $64,576 with manageable crime rates. Though the town houses under 25,000 residents, 17.67% are retirement-age individuals.

Fergus Falls, Minnesota presents exceptional senior demographics—25.47% of residents are 65-plus—at annual costs of $64,065. This concentration ensures robust senior-focused services and social networks.

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin offers $64,211 annual costs with 8,300+ seniors among its 48,000 residents. The Wisconsin location provides access to natural landscapes and regional recreation.

Rochester, Minnesota delivers a 91 livability score for $68,735 annually, though winters prove challenging. Residents consistently report satisfaction with community attributes and safety (violent crime: 0.929, property crime: 0.908).

Tonawanda, New York sits near Niagara Falls’ natural attractions, with 18.75% senior population and $67,203 costs. The smaller community (15,100 residents) offers intimate living without isolation.

Montpelier, Vermont showcases the state capital’s historical character and scenic environment at $68,735 annually. The location achieves an 84 livability score with strong crime prevention (violent crime: 0.897, property crime: 0.910).

Keene, New Hampshire earns an 86 livability score for $67,203, balancing New England charm with reasonable costs for the region.

Concord, New Hampshire maintains similar advantages at $73,259, with low crime rates (violent: 0.956, property: 0.934) and over 7,500 seniors among residents.

Dover, New Hampshire reaches $75,010 annually for an 88 livability score, hosting 5,300+ seniors within a 32,600-person population.

Premium Retirement Communities: $75,000+ Annual Investment

High-cost regions typically compensate through superior amenities, safety records, and established quality-of-life standards.

Brunswick, Maine charges $82,088 for an 87 livability score and strong regional reputation. The location balances affordability relative to comparable northeastern destinations.

Exeter, New Hampshire requires $86,758 investment but delivers an 87 livability score and New England sophistication.

Anacortes, Washington presents Pacific Northwest advantages at $85,882, with an 80 livability score and 28.51% senior population—among the highest senior concentrations nationally.

Milford, Connecticut costs $79,680 for established Connecticut communities with nearly 20% seniors (65+), though livability metrics remain moderate.

Rockport, Massachusetts ranks among the safest destinations with exceptional crime prevention (violent: 0.987, property: 0.995), though costs reach $95,952. The tradeoff prioritizes security despite a 70 livability score.

Lexington, Massachusetts represents premium retirement living at $105,583 annually with an exceptional 92 livability score. This Massachusetts community combines maximum safety (violent crime: 0.986, property crime: 0.989) with upscale infrastructure.

The #1 Best Place to Retire: Pinehurst, North Carolina

Pinehurst, North Carolina emerges as the premier best places to retire, earning top rankings across multiple dimensions. At $68,516 annually, the cost structure remains accessible. More significantly, Pinehurst boasts crime prevention scores among the nation’s highest (violent: 0.989, property: 0.983), indicating exceptional safety.

The community’s demographics seal its designation: nearly 40% of Pinehurst residents are 65 years or older—the highest senior concentration on this list. This density ensures abundant senior-focused services, recreational opportunities, and natural peer communities. Established retirees consistently report satisfaction with social infrastructure and lifestyle quality.

Regional Perspectives on Best Places to Retire

New England Concentration: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, and Vermont dominate the premium segment. These northeastern destinations command higher costs ($75,000+) but deliver exceptional safety records and livability scores. Residents access cultural amenities, historical settings, and established infrastructure, though winters present seasonal challenges.

Midwest Excellence: Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin provide the strongest value propositions. Communities like Ankeny, Rochester, and Urbandale achieve high livability (89-92 scores) while maintaining moderate costs ($61,000-$68,000). The region attracts retirees prioritizing community spirit and balanced affordability.

Southern Affordability: Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee offer the lowest cost structures while maintaining competitive safety metrics. Pinehurst exemplifies how southern communities provide maximum senior concentration with reasonable expenses.

Selecting Your Ideal Best Places to Retire

The decision process requires personal prioritization:

Budget-First Retirees should examine Beatrice, Kettering, Frankfort, and Oxford—all delivering annual costs under $61,000. These communities suit fixed-income residents who prioritize expense minimization.

Safety-Focused Individuals should investigate Lexington, Rockport, Dover, and Pinehurst, where violent crime and property crime scores both exceed 0.98. These destinations represent America’s safest communities regardless of cost.

Community-Oriented Seniors should target Pinehurst, Fergus Falls, and Anacortes, where 25%+ of populations are retirement age. These concentrations ensure robust peer networks and senior-specific services.

Active Lifestyle Seekers benefit from Ankeny, Urbandale, Rochester, and Lexington, which combine high livability scores (88-92) with strong community infrastructure and recreational opportunities.

Final Considerations for Retirement Planning

Choosing among these 25 best places to retire requires honest self-assessment regarding priorities, health considerations, climate preferences, and family proximity. The combination of detailed crime data, living cost information, demographic composition, and livability metrics provides objective frameworks for comparison.

Whether prioritizing maximum affordability, exceptional safety, robust senior communities, or premium lifestyle infrastructure, American retirees can identify destinations matching their specific retirement vision. The diversity across regions, climates, populations, and cost structures ensures viable options for virtually every retirement profile and financial situation.