50 Safest and Most Affordable Places To Retire in America

The Midwest is shaping up to become the hottest region to retire in America. According to a new study from GOBankingRates, 37 Midwestern cities ranked among the 50 safest and most affordable places to retire in America. The average cost of living across these 37 locales does not exceed more than $66,062 annually — and can be as inexpensive as $30,292, depending on where you decide to spend the next chapter.

GOBankingRates determined these 50 places by using the FBI’s 2024 “Offenses Known to Law Enforcement” to calculate each location’s property crime rate and violent crime rates. After scoring these, 500 cities were identified as the safest places. All places with populations under 10,000 were removed. Each city was ranked and sorted by property crime rate, violent crime rate, mortgage cost and expenditure cost. 

• Columbus, Indiana, is the nation’s safest and most affordable place to retire. The average annual cost of living is $38,795. 
• Nine Midwest cities dominated the top 10. It’s possible to retire on $50,000 in (1) Columbus; (2) Broadview Heights, Ohio; (3) Auburn, Indiana; (4) Mayfield Heights, Ohio; (5) Berea, Ohio; (6) Pingree Grove, Illinois; (7) Parma Heights, Ohio; (8) Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and (10) Huntington, Indiana.
• Only one Florida city ranked in the top 50. At No. 39, Vero Beach is the most budget-friendly for retirees, with an average cost of living of $47,249.
• Sixteen Ohio cities received mentions in the top 50, the most out of any state. They are Broadview Heights (#2), Mayfield Heights (#4), Berea (#6), Parma Heights (#8), Brecksville (#12), Avon Lake (#15), Willowick (#19), Norwalk (#21), Perrysburg (#25), Aurora (#26), Rocky River (#30), Vermilion (#33), Bedford (#35), Bay Village (#38), Trenton (#41) and Brunswick (#47).
• Lumberton was the only Texas city in the ranking. The town ranked at No. 48 with an annual cost of living of $40,087.

Take a look at which cities ranked among the 50 safest and most affordable places to retire in America. Plus, see which 50 suburbs ranked as the nation’s wealthiest in 2025. 

• Average home value: $273,372
• Total cost of living annually: $38,795
• Livability: 76
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.829
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.135

• Average home value: $408,610
• Total cost of living annually: $48,151
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.015
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.051

• Average home value: $265,953
• Total cost of living annually: $37,523
• Livability: 70
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.211
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.071

• Average home value: $229,834
• Total cost of living annually: $35,615
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.981
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.202

• Average home value: $326,504
• Total cost of living annually: $43,694
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.203

• Average home value: $235,291
• Total cost of living annually: $36,065
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.746
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.224

• Average home value: $375,707
• Total cost of living annually: $47,013
• Livability: 66
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.580
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.088

• Average home value: $212,619
• Total cost of living annually: $34,929
• Livability: 71
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.320
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.293

• Average home value: $162,264
• Total cost of living annually: $32,548
• Livability: 68
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.111
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.372

• Average home value: $188,801
• Total cost of living annually: $32,660
• Livability: 68
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.474
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.471

• Average home value: $202,358
• Total cost of living annually: $34,023
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.523
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.505

• Average home value: $462,225
• Total cost of living annually: $51,476
• Livability: 77
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.062
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.071

• Average home value: $237,185
• Total cost of living annually: $36,291
• Livability: 69
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.202
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.508

• Average home value: $439,049
• Total cost of living annually: $52,392
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.165

• Average home value: $442,174
• Total cost of living annually: $50,072
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.904
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.191

• Average home value: $305,065
• Total cost of living annually: $42,150
• Livability: 71
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.028
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.475

• Average home value: $325,067
• Total cost of living annually: $44,054
• Livability: 76
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.014
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.263

• Average home value: $355,817
• Total cost of living annually: $45,635
• Livability: 77
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.440
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.123

• Average home value: $189,557
• Total cost of living annually: $33,002
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.910
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.639

• Average home value: $352,544
• Total cost of living annually: $45,772
• Livability: 73
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.322
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.242

• Average home value: $200,953
• Total cost of living annually: $32,704
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.117
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.408

• Average home value: $345,484
• Total cost of living annually: $45,372
• Livability: 75
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.536
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.349

• Average home value: $449,261
• Total cost of living annually: $52,410
• Livability: 71
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.291
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.242

• Average home value: $316,517
• Total cost of living annually: $43,265
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.603
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.089

• Average home value: $330,759
• Total cost of living annually: $42,791
• Livability: 90
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.466
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.277

• Average home value: $443,095
• Total cost of living annually: $50,618
• Livability: 73
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.805
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.168

• Average home value: $655,128
• Total cost of living annually: $66,062
• Livability: 67
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.464
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.093

• Average home value: $256,686
• Total cost of living annually: $38,844
• Livability: 69
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.094
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.341

• Average home value: $302,447
• Total cost of living annually: $42,125
• Livability: 91
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.432
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.336

• Average home value: $438,707
• Total cost of living annually: $50,068
• Livability: 88
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.187
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.235

• Average home value: $387,934
• Total cost of living annually: $48,343
• Livability: 67
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.924
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.367

• Average home value: $363,755
• Total cost of living annually: $47,975
• Livability: 70
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.328
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.077

• Average home value: $250,808
• Total cost of living annually: $36,872
• Livability: 77
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.596
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.466

• Average home value: $316,956
• Total cost of living annually: $44,297
• Livability: 70
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.160
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.269

• Average home value: $154,497
• Total cost of living annually: $30,617
• Livability: 69
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.407
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.627

• Average home value: $502,392
• Total cost of living annually: $56,109
• Livability: 65
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.769
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.163

• Average home value: $301,223
• Total cost of living annually: $42,594
• Livability: 72
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.981
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.550

• Average home value: $398,489
• Total cost of living annually: $47,432
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.283
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.505

• Average home value: $375,154
• Total cost of living annually: $47,249
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.724
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.454

• Average home value: $153,935
• Total cost of living annually: $30,292
• Livability: 77
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.660
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.628

• Average home value: $275,124
• Total cost of living annually: $39,830 
• Livability: 70
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.572
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.857

• Average home value: $200,493
• Total cost of living annually: $34,928
• Livability: 73
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.347
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.869

• Average home value: $522,443
• Total cost of living annually: $57,786
• Livability: 88
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.080
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.159

• Average home value: $493,364
• Total cost of living annually: $54,534
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.789
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.423

• Average home value: $455,957
• Total cost of living annually: $52,608
• Livability: 73
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.656
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.530

• Average home value: $240,102
• Total cost of living annually: $38,629
• Livability: 86
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.424
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.339

• Average home value: $313,124
• Total cost of living annually: $42,001
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.834
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.658

• Average home value: $272,554
• Total cost of living annually: $40,087
• Livability: 74
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.894
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.489

• Average home value: $410,831
• Total cost of living annually: $49,156
• Livability: 74
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.566
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.361

• Average home value: $368,077
• Total cost of living annually: $48,504
• Livability: 70
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.769
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.111

Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.

Methodology: Using the FBI’s 2024 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement, the property and violent crime rates (per 1,000 residents) were calculated for each location listed. The safest 500 cities were identified. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the national average expenditure costs for retired consumer units were calculated for each location. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each location. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. Places with populations under 10,000 were removed. The property crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the expenditure cost was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the safest and most affordable places to retire in America. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 19, 2025.