Ten Best Early Retirement Towns

[W2R]

I just found a new Youtube on this topic, released this afternoon:

Here's the towns he likes best for early retirement, in order with his favorite one first:

1. Sherman, Texas
2. Portland, Maine
3. Pierre, South Dakota
4. Savannah, Georgia
5. Omaha, Nebraska
6. Boseman, Montana
7. St. George, Utah
8. Twin Falls, Idaho
9. Lake Havasu City, Arizona
10. Huntsville, Alabama

We aren't thinking of moving, but I enjoy this youtuber's videos and thought someone here might find this one interesting or useful. He shows some footage from each town and discusses why he likes that town for early retirement.

When we WERE thinking of moving (around 2005-2010), our three top choices were Springfield, Missouri, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Huntsville, Alabama. So, we agreed on Huntsville.

 

[COcheesehead]

Just recently was in St George. Would never consider as a retirement town.

 

[MarieIG]

I enjoyed the video. Savannah, Georgia looked very nice.

 

[W2R]

Just recently was in St George. Would never consider as a retirement town.

Oh I know, I know. My brother's name is George, and if I retired to St. George I'd never hear the end of it!

 

[W2R]

I enjoyed the video. Savannah, Georgia looked very nice.

Glad you liked it! I have never been to Savannah, but I love the architecture there and from what he said, the food there is terrific as well.

 

[candrew]

Lake Havasu City AZ

Summertime temperatures there make it not such a great place.

 

[SALTedOut]

I've always found it interesting that people would move just to retire early. While I retired early I would never have compromised moving from my family, friends and life just to be able to quit work. Plus the total unknown of moving somewhere you don't really know if you will like.

I understand many people do it but its not for me.

 

[Clone]

Summertime temperatures there make it not such a great place.

That's why your domicile is in Pierre, South Dakota! Retreat from the heat and file your taxes, then return to Lake Havasu once they turn off the blow torch!


I am working on taxes, I may want to look closer at Pierre...

 

[Markola]

Funny. Savannah is as-advertised. Don’t tell anyone! In fact, my mother is retired there and I’m going to see her on Tuesday, and to gain weight.

 

[Svensk Anga]

My parents lived in Huntsville for a while. Dad was in the army there. No one in this family will be retiring there.

 

[MRG]

I've always found it interesting that people would move just to retire early. While I retired early I would never have compromised moving from my family, friends and life just to be able to quit work. Plus the total unknown of moving somewhere you don't really know if you will like.

I understand many people do it but its not for me.

It's just different. We moved away from "home" at 21 for opportunities. Successfully done, but there's nobody left at home. Okay there's a few but things are different now. I guess our world became bigger and theirs stayed the same. I couldn't go back there..

Sure we could stay where we were, KC, it's awesome there. But why not go somewhere different? New people, food, areas to explore. For us it's more about living in an area we love and can have new adventures in. Of course there's things we miss but the adventure is just starting. Last year we experienced what living in 10-12 feet of snowfall was like. That was way different from the midwest.[emoji1787]

Good video. Interesting choices never been to any of these except Portland ME. A former co-w*rker lived in Huntsville and thought it was nice.

 

[Gumby]

The only one of them I would consider is Portland, Maine. Actually, I would live in the Mid-Coast region (where we summer) and drive down to Portland as necessary.

 

[timo2]

Nice Video. I did cringe every time he mispronounced Pierre SD (it is pronounced Peer). I've been to or lived in the following on this list. Bozeman MT is the most attractive package of these ones.
3. Pierre, South Dakota
5. Omaha, Nebraska
6. Bozeman, Montana
7. St. George, Utah
8. Twin Falls, Idaho
9. Lake Havasu City, Arizona

 

[Cessna152]

Peer, er, I mean Pierre South Dakota is on his list!? What a fickle Youtuber. The same fellow made a video 19 months earlier with the top 10 reasons NOT to move to SD! He was right the first time - do not move to SD - you'll die of either loneliness or frozen to death from a blizzard in May. And the political muck-a-mucks dream up slogans like "Meth. We're on it."

(At least wait till we buy a house here. Already a seller's market.)

 

[pb4uski]

I love Maine and love Portland, but we had some friends who move to York, ME a couple years ago and have found it to be very expensive and very high taxes.

 

[timo2]

Peer, er, I mean Pierre South Dakota is on his list!? What a fickle Youtuber. The same fellow made a video 19 months earlier with the top 10 reasons NOT to move to SD! He was right the first time - do not move to SD - you'll die of either loneliness or frozen to death from a blizzard in May. And the political muck-a-mucks dream up slogans like "Meth. We're on it."




(At least wait till we buy a house here. Already a seller's market.)

Having lived in South Dakota, that is the most awesome description of the place I've ever seen. Holy Cow! You are correct. I can't believe that this is the same guy that said to move there!!

And actually, it is very lonely when you are freezing to death in a blizzard in May.

 

[timo2]

Regarding the St. George listing, I was reading recently that some of the locals are starting to resent the influx of outsiders, especially in the winter. Of course, it is too hot to live there in the summer.

 

[Bamaman]

I just found a new Youtube on this topic, released this afternoon:

We aren't thinking of moving, but I enjoy this youtuber's videos and thought someone here might find this one interesting or useful. He shows some footage from each town and discusses why he likes that town for early retirement.

When we WERE thinking of moving (around 2005-2010), our three top choices were Springfield, Missouri, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Huntsville, Alabama. So, we agreed on Huntsville.

There really should have been more southern cities on the list. I certainly agree with you about SW MO, NW AR and N AL being great retirement regions. The people there are just so gentle in spirit.

We moved to NW AL to escape Atlanta traffic and congestion--knowing no one was going to last to full retirement age at MegaCorp. And we just moved to Huntsville--one of the smartest U.S. cities they call the "Rocket City". We also have a lake house an hour away on the fabulous Tennessee River.

But the video forgot to add Franklin, TN, home of so many music and movie stars. If it's good enough for Nicole Kidman and Justin Timberlake, it's good enough for me.

I would also add Beaufort, SC to the list. Many think Auburn/Opelika, AL is another secret retirement city, with all the culture a large university adds.

We just love the mountains of East TN, Western NC and NE GA, and there are many great smaller, livable communities with very low COL there. Once there, people never leave.

 

[Midpack]

The only one on the list I’d consider would be Savannah - until the next hurricane, so scratch that. These lists are fun, but they always depend on the chosen criteria, and of course that’s unique to each of us. That’s what Sperlings, City Data, etc. are for. I think we’ve found our best place.

https://www.bestplaces.net/fybp/

 

[brucethebroker]

Personally, nearly the entire list is either too far north, or too far from the ocean. Spent too much of my life in both...

BUT, looks like most would make for a nice anchor home with a vacation/winter home in a warm weather clime, near the water.

 

[Ronstar]

These list makers can twist their data all they want, but the best list has places based on personal preference. Personally, I'd prefer a list of retirement places to include Sedona Az, Moab Ut, and Durango Co.

 

[COcheesehead]

These list makers can twist their data all they want, but the best list has places based on personal preference. Personally, I'd prefer a list of retirement places to include Sedona Az, Moab Ut, and Durango Co.

These lists are so personal. No one size fits all. For example having been to all three you listed, I can easily say they are either: hot, crowded, expensive, overrun with tourists or get tons of snow, yet you like them, so on it goes.

 

[Franklin]

Funny. Savannah is as-advertised. Don’t tell anyone! In fact, my mother is retired there and I’m going to see her on Tuesday, and to gain weight.

Hay Markola already gained weight from all that great fried food in this town. Sold the house out west and moved to Savannah on the water. Like several other threads been living in a remodel for the past few months but found we love this town. It has all 4 seasons (summer is hot and humid) but fall is perfect. I watch the dolphins daily. Cost of living is much better than Cali (who insists on taxing me for years to come even though I declared a non resident). Oh well, just remember to say y'all, thank you mam, bless your heart, and tell your mama hi!!.

 

[friar1610]

b

The only one of them I would consider is Portland, Maine. Actually, I would live in the Mid-Coast region (where we summer) and drive down to Portland as necessary.

I had a 3 year Navy assignment in Maine in the early 90s. If the stars had been aligned a little differently I would have been happy to retire from that job and settle in/around Portland.

I've also vacationed in Savannah. Although I'm more of a northeast guy, Savannah looked to me like a Southern location that would be ideal for retirement.

 

[ckelly78z]

I am far more likely to visit areas in the Winter that interest me somewhat like snowbirding. We have a large 32' travel trailer that is very comfortable, so no reason to rent AirB&B, or a beach house. I also enjoy going home to my quiet 10 acre LCOL area farm in the country.