Choosing the best location for your retirement is just as important as determining the amount you should save. And while it is not difficult to discover lovely cities in the United States, not everyone can afford to live there on a limited income.
GOBankingRates recently reported the cities with the cheapest rent, focusing on those with less than 200,000 inhabitants. Instead of breaking the bank or settling for a less-than-desirable location, consider retiring to one of these lovely and uncrowded cities.
Springfield, Missouri
Rental Price: $662
Population: 167,882
Livability Score: 62
Springfield, the city with the lowest rent and the most historical significance, tops the list. Additionally, the city is home to various national parks, so you may indulge in a nature stroll whenever you like. Even though its livability score is below the national average, Springfield’s cost of living and housing costs are 22% lower than Missouri’s.
Ames, Iowa
Rental Fee: $709
66,258 inhabitants;
Livability Score 83
Ames is the only option for retirees seeking a metropolis with a small-town ambiance. After Grand Forks, this city has the second-smallest population on this list, and the crime rates here are lower than the average for the state. Moreover, due to its high livability score, at the top of the list, Ames is sure to draw an increasing number of residents.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Rent Price: $827
Population: 183,790
Livability Score 70
Sioux Falls, while having the greatest population on our list, is the ideal location for retirees seeking a blend of urban and natural settings. Residents spend a great deal of time visiting the several museums and the city’s namesake waterfalls. When the family visits, there many things to do because the city is so vibrant.
Victoria, Texas
Rent: $841
Population: 66,916
Livability Rating: 69
Victoria has less than 67,000 residents and the Texas Zoo. Residents may receive their daily dose of beauty by strolling around the Victoria Educational Gardens, where the entrance is free and exotic plants bloom throughout the year. Victoria’s website describes a historical walking route and a coastal barbecue trail.
Columbia, Missouri
Rent is $924,
Population is 123,195.
Livability Score: 69
Even though Columbia earns an average ranking for livability, the city offers much to retirees. In addition to museums and sites, the historic region has state parks and hiking paths. With adjacent institutions, the city also swells throughout the school year, resulting in a pleasant mix of generations. According to the U.S. Census of 2020, 11% of the population will be over 65, so there will be no shortage of older communities to mingle in.
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Rental Fee: $939
Population: 55,839
Livability Score; 74
Grand Forks is a beautiful place to retire because of its vibrant, busy community surrounded by quiet, picturesque farmland. 11% of the population is over 65, indicating a sizeable retiree population. The city is brimming with natural beauty, as seen by its abundance of parks and the exquisite Japanese Garden. This city endures all four seasons, including a very chilly winter.
Baytown, Texas
Rental Cost: $949
Population: 77,192
Livability Score; 75
Baytown, Texas, has mild year-round weather. Baytown, the second city in Texas on our list, has a better livability rating and higher rent. Nonetheless, this city’s overall cost of living is 4% less than the state average. Real estate costs have decreased by 33%, while rental prices have fallen by 9%. Additionally, Baytown is a coastline city, so you can always enjoy a glimpse of San Jacinto Bay.
San Angelo, Texas
Rental Price: $972
Population: 101,004
Livability Score: 781
Like the other Texas communities on our list, San Angelo has mild weather and a low cost of living. Here, rental fees are 12 percent below the state average. The city’s location on the Concho River creates breathtaking beauty in every direction. San Angelo’s Southern heritage is represented by Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, a U.S. army post from the 1860s that displays actual antiques and weaponry.