Homebuyers hoping to find their ideal Tennessee mountain home should consider looking to Knoxville. 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. 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. Part of the San Diego metro area, Carlsbad offers a small-city feel with easy access to big-city amenities alongside seven miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Phoenix, Arizona is a prime location for retirees interested in relocating to the mountains. Rents across Delta County are much cheaper than around Iron Mountain, where median incomes are higher and median rents are well above $600. How do I make it last? With Dollywood just next door, you'll never be at a loss for entertainment. The Milken Institute actually credits the area's abundance medical servicesincluding orthopedic surgeons, primary-care clinicians and home-health-care professionalsfor contributing to Morgantown's high ranking (18th) among small metro areas. But more and more businesses, tourists and residents are putting down roots in still-affordable Leadville. Classifieds | 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. A private room in a metro area nursing home costs a median $11,498 a month, compared with $8,365 a month for the U.S. At least you can save money on academic pursuits. Most of Colorado is mountainous, but this town in the southwestern part of the state is different and more out of the way. From his University of Virginia's hollering Hoos to the artists on the downtown promenade, the Charlottesville community is an unexpected blend of Southern charm and liberal edge, a nice choice for a range of retiree personalities. New York, Train aficionados can enjoy the area's railroad history and displays of locomotives, including the world's largest steam engine (also retired). College towns such as Blacksburg, Va. generally offer a high level of amenities at affordable prices. There's also a massive retirement. The population is 86,000, and Weber State University is located in town. West Virginia University offers a number of benefits to older Morgantown residents. Want to hop on the rails? Boone, N.C. and Fayetteville, Ark. Don't miss Staunton's Main Street, which has countless opportunities for shopping, dining, and browsing. Mesa offers modest living, with a median rent of $1,646, and some homes selling at less than $200,000. The problem? From when to retire to how much to save, here are expert-backed answers to crucial retirement questions. Tahoe, California. We hate heat, humidity, crowds and beaches. Juneau, Alaska. Read the in-depth tour our very own Flo Williamson wrote up on the area. Not that there are really seasons in Carlsbad: Throughout the year, average highs fall between 62 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit, and average lows only go down to between 45 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Weather.com. And you can find even more to explore in nearby Scottsdale, Glendale and Tempe. Of course any location can have its share of natural disasters, but living in the mountains can come with serious hazards. Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin are in neighboring Penobscot County. It is on the shores of giant Lake Champlain. Niche reports some of the most economical real estate for retirees in the area, with the median home value at $175,400 way under the $244,900 national average. By Dan Burrows Mountain towns tend to be smaller and more remote, so your car might be more important to your daily transportation needs than you might have hoped. Those looking to explore everything the Appalachian Mountains have to offer will enjoy living in Asheville. Im including listings of homes for sale just for flavor. And the University of Vermont and its students present an unusually vibrant college town atmosphere. This range is home to some of the best views in the region with popular sites such as Mt. Beyond financials, the area has plenty to recommend itself. Home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the Redstone Arsenal and the Huntsville campus of the University of Alabama, the city offers a robust economy and a highly educated population. A state fund fueled by oil wealth gives all permanent residents an annual dividend. Buthalf an hour in the car to live in your vacation paradise? Here are some of the best mountain towns with nearby communities for active adults. Denver offers 14,000 acres of parks nearby in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with ample opportunity for hiking, biking and exploring. Of our 50 picks, these 20 retirement spots across the U.S. offer the added benefit of nearby peaks and valleys to explore. It's also just north of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, another great mountain community with a charming downtown that's well worth a visit. 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This small mountain city on the shores of Lake Champlain is a picturesque setting for tree-hugging retirees. The cost of living is 10%. To help them find their best mountain retirement town, we have assembled a list of sixteen. Our income will be about $1,500 a month including rent. Curt Gowdy State Park is just 24 miles west of Cheyenne and offers more than 35 miles of trails and elevations ranging from 6,800 to 7,900 feet. 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. Having a swimming pool nearby is a must. The attractions of the city arent the only advantage of living in Seattle. The town is actually home to the Liberty Skis Corporation, one of America's biggest independent producers of skis. And the scenery? Georgetown is a haven for the old and the young. Join Us | She holds a B.A. Even Colorado locals may not have heard of this neighborhood but it's located between downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center. Average income for population 65+: $51,853 (U.S.: $56,453) As one of the 10 Cheapest States Where You'll Want to Retire, the Heart of . Before joining Kiplinger, Rapacon worked as a senior research associate at b2b publishing house Judy Diamond Associates. As a trail walker, you might enjoy the 25.5-mile crushed-stone rail trail from Escanaba to Hermansville. Few aspiring retirees have enough saved to buy a retirement home in Aspen, Colorado, or Jackson, Wyoming. It offers all the low-cost, low-tax advantages as the rest of the state, but adds more generous incomes among retirement-age residents. I aimed for counties with median two-bedroom rents around $600. And beyond the college campus and city center, you can find plenty of options for outdoor recreation in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including more than 100 miles of of the Appalachian Trail in nearby Shenandoah National Park. You can enjoy the great outdoors, hiking or biking along the more than 60 miles of surrounding trails, observing the local wildlife, or taking advantage of nearby fishing, kayaking and swimming spots. The city is so retiree-friendly, it's even home to Latitude Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffet-inspired 55-plus community. Phoenix, though, offers a pocket of affordability, plus typically higher incomes. In August 2017, Charlottesville captured national attention when a gathering of white nationalists to protest the removal of a monument to Robert E. Lee turned into a violent rally, injuring dozens of counter-protesters and killing one, Heather Heyer. With plenty of things happening at the town's art center, community theater, breweries, and restaurants, there's lots to enjoy in town. Theres also world-class art at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCa, for short) in North Adams. 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. Niche also gives the city high . You also may want to be close enough to potential jobs, should you decide to seek some extra income. Welcome to Cresswind Charlotte! Twin Falls, Idaho. There is a vibrant downtown with a busy new library and great outdoor stores. Brigham Young University offers intellectual stimulation to complement the physical activity. You know your budget best. Consider retirement in these affordable mountain towns. 9 Things You Must Know About Retiring to Arizona. Tiny Laconia offers a big bargain for your retirement destination. This small town in western Mass. entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. 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. Comments? By Dan Burrows 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. 2007 2023 55places.com, a division ofNeighborhoods.com. To pinpoint one great retirement destination in each state, we weighed a number of factors: Rapacon joined Kiplinger in October 2007 as a reporter with Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and became an online editor for Kiplinger.com in June 2010. Im looking for a cannabis-friendly red-leaning state with no state income taxes where should I retire on $60,000 a year? The Phoenix Mountains Preserve is located about 10 miles from the citys downtown region. Newsletter Archive | Current market conditions bring both opportunity and risk. (By comparison, the country's smallest state in size, Rhode Island, hosts more than a million peopleabout 871 people per square mile.) Anyone hoping to find a traditional mountain town to retire to can find plenty do to in Denver. Las Vegas may not be the first city on the list when it comes to mountain views, but Sin Citys location along Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area puts homeowners within reach of the McCullough Range and the Spring Mountains. Tucked between and Plott Balsam Mountain Range and the Blue Ridge Parkway,Sylva is a small but quaint town lined with cafes, galleries, bookstores, breweries, and antique shops. 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. In town,Historic Old Townoffers shopping and restaurants, and theres no shortage of events taking place year-round, including the July 4 Jamboree Days, fishing derbies at Lake Gregory, theMountain Fun Runners Car Show, a paragliding competition, theRedlands Bicycle Classicand more. Pair that with a strong local arts scene (First Friday Art Strollstake place monthly; catch live music at the downtown amphitheater; find annual events ranging fromPioneer Daysto theBlues & Brews Festival to aChristmas Village); great shopping along Historic 25th Street; and great dining options, breweries and distilleries for a well-rounded experience. 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. Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles! This nature-rich refuge of inviting streetscapes, manicured landscaping and miles of walking trails October 30, 2019 Ahh, the mountains.