25 College Towns That Are Perfect for Retirees

Although retirees are decades from their college graduation, many are opting to live in college towns. According to MarketWatch, older Americans have been flocking to college towns for a number of reasons, including affordability, walkability and cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. In addition, college towns often have diverse populations, and with students and university staff moving in and out, there are always new people to meet. There are also often a plethora of part-time job opportunities for retirees who may want some extra income to pad their savings.

To find the best college towns for retirees, GOBankingRates examined a number of factors, including livability scores, the percentage of the population ages 65 and older, monthly living costs (groceries, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses) and housing costs. Based on this analysis, these are the 25 best college towns for retirees.

• Livability score: 81
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 17.2%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,951
• Average mortgage: $707

• Livability score: 86
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 13.5%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,775
• Average mortgage: $1,783

• Livability score: 85
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12.7%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,691
• Average mortgage: $1,491

Pictured: University of Wisconsin Madison

• Livability score: 90
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 10.5%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,863
• Average mortgage: $1,886

• Livability score: 88
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 11.6%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,882
• Average mortgage: $1,829

• Livability score: 87
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 11%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,816
• Average mortgage: $1,424

• Livability score: 77
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 16.9%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,618
• Average mortgage: $1,357

• Livability score: 79
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 17%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,926
• Average mortgage: $1,796

• Livability score: 84
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12.7%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,876
• Average mortgage: $1,521

• Livability score: 82
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 13.3%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,702
• Average mortgage: $1,571

• Livability score: 83
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 16.4%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,931
• Average mortgage: $3,319

• Livability score: 85
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 13.5%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,927
• Average mortgage: $2,767

• Livability score: 86
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 11.2%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,826
• Average mortgage: $2,210

• Livability score: 88
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,784
• Average mortgage: $3,200

• Livability score: 79
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 14.4%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,740
• Average mortgage: $1,789

• Livability score: 83
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 10.6%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,808
• Average mortgage: $1,245

• Livability score: 84
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 11%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,758
• Average mortgage: $1,935

• Livability score: 75
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 16.8%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,766
• Average mortgage: $1,791

• Livability score: 79
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12.6%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,966
• Average mortgage: $1,069

• Livability score: 90
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 6.7%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,699
• Average mortgage: $2,055

• Livability score: 83
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12.1%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $2,000
• Average mortgage: $2,071

• Livability score: 78
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 16.5%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,755
• Average mortgage: $2,907

• Livability score: 78
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12.9%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,957
• Average mortgage: $1,333

• Livability score: 82
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 10.8%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,863
• Average mortgage: $1,782

• Livability score: 78
• Percentage of the population ages 65 and older: 12%
• Monthly expenditure costs: $1,809
• Average mortgage: $1,268

Methodology: To find college towns that are perfect for retirees, GOBankingRates analyzed numerous college towns in the United States sourced from ListWithClever’s Best College Towns. With a list of college towns, GOBankingRates found the [1] total population and [2] population ages 65 and over sourced from the U.S. Census American Consumer Survey. Using those factors, the percentage of the population ages 65 and over was calculated. For each city on the list, the cost of living was calculated based on [3] grocery cost-of-living index, [4] healthcare cost-of-living index, [5] utilities cost-of-living index, [6] transportation cost-of-living index and [7] miscellaneous cost-of-living index, all sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. The cost-of-living indexes were multiplied by the national average expenditure costs for people ages 65 and over, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, to find the cost of living across all the expenditure categories for each city. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes, scored and weighted at 1.25. Using the Zillow Home Value Index, the average home value in August 2023 was sourced, and using the Federal Reserve Economic Research’s national average 30-year fixed rate mortgage, the average mortgage cost was calculated. The average mortgage combined with the monthly expenditure cost gives the total monthly cost for each city. The percentage of the population ages 65 and over was scored and weighted at 1.00, the total monthly cost was scored and weighted at 1.50, and the livablity index was scored and weighted at 1.25. All the scores were combined and sorted to show the college towns that are perfect for retirees. All data is up to date as of Sept. 25, 2023.