50 Best Small Towns for Your Retirement in 2025

Four Florida communities ranked among the nation’s best small towns to retire in last year, but The Sunshine State was completely absent from GOBankingRates’ 2025 analysis.

To find the best places to retire in 2025, GOBankingRates identified small towns with populations between 1,000 and 7,500 residents. As in 2024, we analyzed each town’s average monthly expenditures and rent, cost of living, livability and crime rates (including property and violent crime) to determine the 50 best small towns.

• Bellevue, Kentucky, ranked as the best small town for retirement. The suburb boasts an impressive livability score of 92 and average monthly expenditures of $1,599. Maplewood, Missouri, held the first-place ranking in 2024.
• The top five best small towns are based in the South, the Midwest and the East Coast. South Williamsport (#3) and Hollidaysburg (#5) are in Pennsylvania. Bellevue (#1) is in Kentucky, Nappanee (#2) is in Indiana and Northville (#4) is in Michigan.
• Six Kentucky towns ranked in the top 50. Besides Bellevue, the other five towns are Fort Wright (#7); Southgate (#9), Ludlow (#13), Dayton (#39) and Cold Spring (#46). This is a substantial jump compared to 2024, when only one Kentucky town — Fort Mitchell — broke into the top 44 ranking.
• 16 Pennsylvania towns are among the 50 best small towns to retire in for 2025. This is a massive increase from 2024’s ranking, which featured just five Pennsylvania suburbs. Coraopolis and Sharpsburg are the only two Pennsylvania towns to rank as the best for retirement in 2024 and 2025.
• No Florida cities broke into the 2025 ranking.

See which small towns are considered the best to retire in this year below — and don’t forget to check out 2024’s ranking for retirees.

• Average monthly rent: $1,599
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,886
• Livability: 92
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.152
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.875

• Average monthly rent: $995
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,735
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.574
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.045

• Average monthly rent: $900
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,864
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.435
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.411

• Average monthly rent: $1,744
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,879
• Livability: 86
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.069
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.169

• Average monthly rent: $963
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,755
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.491
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.915

• Average monthly rent: $1,328
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,802
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.869
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.435

• Average monthly rent: $1,683
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,891
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.055
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.652

• Average monthly rent: $1,548
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,907
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.809
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.031

• Average monthly rent: $1,570
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,875
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.716
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.792

• Average monthly rent: $2,137
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,808
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.765
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.914

• Average monthly rent: $1,679
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,794
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.746
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.988

• Average monthly rent: $2,775
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,846
• Livability: 88
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.574
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.569

• Average monthly rent: $1,800
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,885
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.897
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.927

• Average monthly rent: $1,349
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,829
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.845
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.561

• Average monthly rent: $2,146
• Average monthly expenditure: $2,028
• Livability: 89
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.043
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.292

• Average monthly rent: $1,896
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,904
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.549
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.408

• Average monthly rent: $776
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,802
• Livability: 77
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.820
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.596

• Average monthly rent: $2,132
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,772
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.040
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.855

• Average monthly rent: $1,563
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,795
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 46.099
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.195

• Average monthly rent: $1,254
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,828
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 11.814
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.737

• Average monthly rent: $1,522
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,878
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.427
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.530

• Average monthly rent: $1,733
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,811
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.572
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.306

• Average monthly rent: $2,413
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,776
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.032
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.843

• Average monthly rent: $1,098
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,891
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 20.827
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.243

• Average monthly rent: $1,525
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,820
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 15.380
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.801

• Average monthly rent: $1,248
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,918
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.334
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.152

• Average monthly rent: $1,367
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,855 
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 14.044
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.065

• Average monthly rent: $2,150
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,914
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.793
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.527

• Average monthly rent: $1,267
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,891
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.273
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.645

• Average monthly rent: $1,791
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,867
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.719
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.457

• Average monthly rent: $1,300
• Average monthly expenditure: $2,056
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.250
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.972

• Average monthly rent: $1,339
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,768
• Livability: 76
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 16.520
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.322

• Average monthly rent: $1,350
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,816
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 11.462
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.758

• Average monthly rent: $1,760
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,978
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.497
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.879

• Average monthly rent: $2,400
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,774
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.621
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.733

• Average monthly rent: $1,266
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,877
• Livability: 79
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.322
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.847

• Average monthly rent: $1,436
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,864
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 33.812
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.845

• Average monthly rent: $2,080
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,889
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 22.819
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.802

• Average monthly rent: $1,853
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,868
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.372
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.400

• Average monthly rent: $1,025
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,928
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.960
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.590

• Average monthly rent: $1,750
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,789
• Livability: 76
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.258
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.355

• Average monthly rent: $2,204
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,889
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.350
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.363

• Average monthly rent: $1,180
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,798
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 24.233
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 4.700

• Average monthly rent: $1,300
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,747
• Livability: 75
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 13.696
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.621

• Average monthly rent: $1,588
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,788
• Livability: 75
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.369
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.468

• Average monthly rent: $1,375
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,887
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 19.142
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.617

• Average monthly rent: $1,800
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,863
• Livability: 78
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.053
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.572

• Average monthly rent: $1,524
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,878
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.471
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 3.789

• Average monthly rent: $1,486
• Average monthly expenditure: $1,777
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 23.877
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 7.008

• Average monthly rent: $2,336
• Average monthly expenditure: $2,005
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.170
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.292

Read more original studies and surveys in the .

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

Methodology: GOBankingRates identified small towns with a total population between 1,000 and 7,500, U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. The average rental cost was sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index for August 2025. The cost of living was determined using indexes from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the national average expenditure costs for retired households from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and all the locations below 75 were removed as they represent less than ideal quality of life. Using 2024 data from the FBI, the property crime rate and the violent crime rate was calculated. The average expenditure cost was scored and weighted at 1.25, the average rental cost was scored and weighted at 1.25, the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the violent crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best small towns to retire. All data was up to date as of Oct. 15, 2025.