Considering a change in locale for retirement? FORBES has identified 25 top cities for retirement in 18 states across the country. Affordability is a major factor, which is why locations in high-cost, high-tax states like New York, New Jersey and California didn’t make the cut. On the economic front we looked at average housing prices, cost of living and taxes, as well as the job prospects for those who want to work in retirement. For quality of life we rated weather, availability of doctors, serious crime rates and conditions that encourage an active retirement, including the availability of hiker/biker trails and volunteer opportunities. Our map is color-coded for our rating of a state’s overall tax climate, including special tax breaks for retirees. Green is for the lowest-tax states, yellow for those in the middle and orange for the highest. Ten of our picks are below. All 25 cities are shown on the map, and details on all of them, as well as our methods, can be found at www.forbes.com/best-retirement-places.
Albuquerque, N.M.
Fast Facts: World's largest hot-air balloon event staged each October
Pros: Good weather and air quality, low taxes, lots of M.D.s, below-average cost of living, average home price $163,000, active-lifestyle-friendly
Cons: Crime, high Unemployment
Asheville, N.C.
Fast Facts: Location of 250- room Biltmore House, U.S.’ largest privately owned home
Pros: Good climate, abundant doctors, moderate cost of living, average home price $198,000
Cons: High unemployment rate
Austin, Tex.
Fast Facts: Hosts annual music, film and tech happening, South by Southwest
Pros: Growing economy, no state income tax, below-average cost of living, average home price $188,000, good weather, exercise-friendly
Cons: Average air quality
Bloomington, Ind.
Fast Facts: Home of Indiana University
Pros: Good economic record, average cost of living, average home price $144,000, low crime rate
Cons: Cold winters
Boise, Idaho
Fast Facts: Home of Boise State University’s famous blue football field
Pros: Low crime rate, low cost of living, average home price $118,000, above-average air quality, attractive semiarid climate
Cons: Poor economy
Cape Coral, Fla.
Fast Facts: More miles of canals than anywhere in world
Pros: Good weather, no state income tax, low cost of living, average home price $108,000, good air quality
Cons: Bad economy
Fargo, N.D.
Fast Facts: Named for a Wells Fargo cofounder
Pros: Solid economy, low cost of living, average home price $154,000, activelifestyle encouragements, low crime rate
Cons: Cold winters
Lynchburg, Va.
Fast Facts: Self-styled City of Seven Hills
Pros: Good economy, cost of living 6% below nation’s, average home price $134,000, good air quality, low crime rate
Cons: So-so tax climate
Phoenix, Ariz.
Fast Facts: Original name was Pumpkinville
Pros: Good tax environment, low cost of living, average home price $119,000, good weather, high number of doctors per capita
Cons: Poor economy
Tulsa, Okla.
Fast Facts: Most-inland river port in the U.S.
Pros: Decent economy and tax climate, low cost of living, average home price $129,000, good metrics for active retirement
Cons: Crime
