50 Best Small Towns To Retire in 2026

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Pennsylvania doesn’t just show up on the list of retirement-friendly small towns — it practically owns it.

In a new GOBankingRates list ranking the 50 best small towns for retirement, the Keystone State claims an astonishing 22 spots, far outpacing every other contender. For perspective, runners-up Michigan, Oregon and Washington each have four.

GBR compiled its rankings by blending data on total population, percentage of retirement-age residents, median household income, housing affordability, cost of living, crime rates, and overall livability. To be considered, cities needed to have a population between 1,000 and 10,000, along with an AreaVibes livability score of at least 80.

You’ll find the top entry on GBR’s list in Ohio, but Pennsylvania grabbed four spots in the top 10.

Read on for more key findings and the complete list.

Also see the cheapest places to retire in America.

Key Findings

• Among the cities and towns that made the list, average monthly rents range from $888 to $2,700+.
• Pennsylvania locales dominate the higher-end rental and livability spectrum. Jenkintown, Conshohocken, Hatboro and Brentwood offer rents above $2,000 and livability scores in the mid-80s to high-80s, but some of these towns also have relatively higher crime rates.
• Crime rates vary widely across the cities and towns in the list. Some communities — like Windsor Heights, Iowa — report high property crime rates (46.1 per 1,000 residents). Others — such as Irwin, Pennsylvania — remain very low (0.87 per 1,000 residents). Violent crime is generally low across the board but noticeably higher in certain towns, including Coraopolis, Pennsylvania (3.79).
• Multiple Midwestern towns maintain a balance of affordability and safety. Michigan, Illinois and Ohio towns such as Northville, Grand Ledge, and Lake Bluff show moderate rents ($1,293 to $1,650), relatively low crime, and livability scores in the 80s.
• Washington and Oregon towns on the list exhibit higher rental costs with mixed safety outcomes. College Place and Steilacoom, Washington, along with Philomath and Hood River, Oregon, often feature rents over $1,700 per month. Property crime rates can be higher than average, however.

Here’s GBR’s full list of the best small towns for retirement, along with key data for each.

1. Canfield, Ohio

• Population: 7,651
• Average monthly rent: $1,800
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,724
• Livability: 87
• Property crime rate: 3.43
• Violent crime rate: 0.53

2. Bellevue, Kentucky

• Population: 5,598
• Average monthly rent: $1,528
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,886
• Livability: 92
• Property crime rate: 10.15
• Violent crime rate: 0.88

3. Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

• Population: 8,149
• Average monthly rent: $1,468
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,960
• Livability: 92
• Property crime rate: 10.39
• Violent crime rate: 0.73

4. College Place, Washington

• Population: 9,828
• Average monthly rent: $1,457
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,677
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate: 18.13
• Violent crime rate: 0.93

5. Northville, Michigan

• Population: 6,080
• Average monthly rent: $1,650
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,879
• Livability: 86
• Property crime rate: 6.07
• Violent crime rate: 0.17

6. Irwin, Pennsylvania

• Population: 3,862
• Average monthly rent: $1,245
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,802
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 0.87
• Violent crime rate: 0.44

7. Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

• Population: 4,708
• Average monthly rent: $1,950
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,009
• Livability: 94
• Property crime rate: 10.02
• Violent crime rate: 1.28

8. Fort Wright, Kentucky

• Population: 5,882
• Average monthly rent: $1,485
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,891
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate: 5.06
• Violent crime rate: 0.65

9. Aspinwall, Pennsylvania

• Population: 2,866
• Average monthly rent: $1,850
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,901
• Livability: 88
• Property crime rate: 6.49
• Violent crime rate: 0.72

10. Southgate, Kentucky

• Population: 3,680
• Average monthly rent: $1,415
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,875
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate: 8.72
• Violent crime rate: 0.79

11. Grand Ledge, Michigan

• Population: 7,797
• Average monthly rent: $1,335
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,758
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate: 4.24
• Violent crime rate: 2.83

12. Grand Blanc, Michigan

• Population: 7,995
• Average monthly rent: $1,293
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,802
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 7.36
• Violent crime rate: 1.65

13. Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

• Population: 8,885
• Average monthly rent: $971
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,877
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate: 11.20
• Violent crime rate: 1.97

14. King City, Oregon

• Population: 5,078
• Average monthly rent: $1,711
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,904
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate: 7.55
• Violent crime rate: 0.41

15. Philomath, Oregon

• Population: 5,537
• Average monthly rent: $1,845
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,772
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 8.04
• Violent crime rate: 0.86

16. Newmarket, New Hampshire

• Population: 5,730
• Average monthly rent: $1,836
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,914
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate: 3.79
• Violent crime rate: 0.53

17. Prosser, Washington

• Population: 6,213
• Average monthly rent: $1,600
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,713
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 16.29
• Violent crime rate: 2.33

18. Steilacoom, Washington

• Population: 6,683
• Average monthly rent: $2,217
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,808
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate: 7.77
• Violent crime rate: 0.91

19. Lexington, Virginia

• Population: 7,420
• Average monthly rent: $1,650
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,811
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 4.57
• Violent crime rate: 1.31

20. DuBois, Pennsylvania

• Population: 7,449
• Average monthly rent: $1,029
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,855
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 14.04
• Violent crime rate: 2.07

21. Malvern, Pennsylvania

• Population: 3,427
• Average monthly rent: $2,392
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,028
• Livability: 89
• Property crime rate: 2.04
• Violent crime rate: 0.29

22. Crafton, Pennsylvania

• Population: 5,995
• Average monthly rent: $888
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,891
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 20.83
• Violent crime rate: 2.24

23. Lake Bluff, Illinois

• Population: 5,834
• Average monthly rent: $1,919
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,889
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate: 8.35
• Violent crime rate: 0.36

24. West Dundee, Illinois

• Population: 7,867
• Average monthly rent: $2,230
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,853
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate: 9.64
• Violent crime rate: 1.52

25. Yarmouth, Maine

• Population: 6,293
• Average monthly rent: $2,211
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,858
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate: 4.21
• Violent crime rate: 0.89

26. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

• Population: 9,235
• Average monthly rent: $2,293
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,019
• Livability: 89
• Property crime rate: 12.42
• Violent crime rate: 0.32

27. Lititz, Pennsylvania

• Population: 9,599
• Average monthly rent: $1,765
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,996
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate: 4.38
• Violent crime rate: 0.10

28. Roanoke, Texas

• Population: 9,947
• Average monthly rent: $1,574
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,920
• Livability: 82
• Property crime rate: 12.26
• Violent crime rate: 1.07

29. Stanwood, Washington

• Population: 8,351
• Average monthly rent: $2,453
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,791
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate: 9.83
• Violent crime rate: 1.06

30. Brentwood, Pennsylvania

• Population: 9,927
• Average monthly rent: $1,285
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,908
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 13.77
• Violent crime rate: 1.77

31. Hood River, Oregon

• Population: 8,360
• Average monthly rent: $1,950
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,738
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 22.66
• Violent crime rate: 1.32

32. Hatboro, Pennsylvania

• Population: 8,219
• Average monthly rent: $2,311
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,000
• Livability: 87
• Property crime rate: 5.08
• Violent crime rate: 0.73

33. Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

• Population: 8,310
• Average monthly rent: $1,455
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,020
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 4.07
• Violent crime rate: 0.24

34. Brentwood, Missouri

• Population: 8,151
• Average monthly rent: $1,668
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,816
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate: 38.90
• Violent crime rate: 1.50

35. Sandwich, Illinois

• Population: 7,121
• Average monthly rent: $1,300
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,037
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 2.77
• Violent crime rate: 0.28

36. Black Mountain, North Carolina

• Population: 8,462
• Average monthly rent: $1,902
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,010
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate: 11.79
• Violent crime rate: 0.58

37. Dayton, Kentucky

• Population: 5,703
• Average monthly rent: $1,682
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,868
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 7.37
• Violent crime rate: 2.40

38. North Wales, Pennsylvania

• Population: 3,421
• Average monthly rent: $2,019
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,978
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate: 8.50
• Violent crime rate: 0.88

39. Windsor Heights, Iowa

• Population: 5,171
• Average monthly rent: $1,525
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,795
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate: 46.10
• Violent crime rate: 2.20

40. Morton, Pennsylvania

• Population: 2,768
• Average monthly rent: $1,415
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,070
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate: 10.55
• Violent crime rate: 1.82

41. Seaside, Oregon

• Population: 7,210
• Average monthly rent: $1,670
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,726
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 37.84
• Violent crime rate: 2.23

42. Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

• Population: 8,991
• Average monthly rent: $2,739
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,868
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate: 5.21
• Violent crime rate: 1.44

43. Verona, Pennsylvania

• Population: 2,660
• Average monthly rent: $1,474
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,864
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 33.81
• Violent crime rate: 0.85

44. Plymouth, Michigan

• Population: 9,234
• Average monthly rent: $2,168
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,986
• Livability: 84
• Property crime rate: 9.68
• Violent crime rate: 0.55

45. Ambler, Pennsylvania

• Population: 6,822
• Average monthly rent: $2,370
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,005
• Livability: 85
• Property crime rate: 8.17
• Violent crime rate: 0.29

46. Downingtown, Pennsylvania

• Population: 8,163
• Average monthly rent: $2,427
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,024
• Livability: 89
• Property crime rate: 20.90
• Violent crime rate: 0.95

47. Prospect Park, Pennsylvania

• Population: 6,402
• Average monthly rent: $1,250
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,041
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 7.87
• Violent crime rate: 1.73

48. Glenolden, Pennsylvania

• Population: 7,207
• Average monthly rent: $1,293
• Average monthly expenditures: $2,060
• Livability: 83
• Property crime rate: 21.82
• Violent crime rate: 1.12

49. Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

• Population: 5,464
• Average monthly rent: $1,368
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,878
• Livability: 80
• Property crime rate: 9.47
• Violent crime rate: 3.79

50. Itasca, Illinois

• Population: 9,525
• Average monthly rent: $2,120
• Average monthly expenditures: $1,966
• Livability: 81
• Property crime rate: 7.75
• Violent crime rate: 0.22

Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed small towns across the United States to identify the best places for retirees, focusing on communities with populations between 1,000 and 10,000 to ensure a true small-town profile. Demographic indicators such as total population and median household income were drawn from the U.S. Census 2024 five-year ACS. Housing affordability was measured using the Zillow Observed Rental Index for December 2025, while cost-of-living indexes came from Sperling’s BestPlaces and were paired with national average expenditure data for retired households from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate typical monthly spending. Total cost of living for each town was calculated by combining rental and expenditure figures. Crime data from the FBI’s 2024 Crimes Known to Law Enforcement was used to determine property and violent crime rates per 1,000 residents. To ensure strong quality of life, towns with an AreaVibes livability score below 80 were excluded. Final rankings were based on weighted scores that emphasized rental costs and expenditure costs at 1.25 each, with livability, property crime and violent crime weighted at 1.00. The combined scores were then used to determine the best small towns for retirement, with all data current as of Feb. 2, 2026.

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