5 Places To Retire That Are Just Like the East Coast but Cheaper
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Joe Evans
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If you’ve searched the internet for the best places to retire, you no doubt found plenty of listings for Florida cities. The lists also likely included many cities on the east coast.
But what if you’re looking to retire away from the East Coast – perhaps to find a cheaper option? Here are five places to retire where you may find some of what makes the East Coast so popular – minus some of the high cost of living.
Florence, South Dakota
If you haven’t considered South Dakota for retirement, now may be the time. Let’s start with this — it was named by Travel + Leisure as the best place to retire because of the affordable cost of living and no income tax.
You could consider a place like Florence. You’ll find median home values below the rest of the country — but a place where properties are expected to increase in value over time. The median home value in South Dakota is about $293,000. You could also spend about $760 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Youngstown, Ohio
If you’re looking for cultural and economic opportunities, you might want to check out Youngstown, Ohio. Not only does it make the list of top places to retire from U.S. News & World Report, but it’s in the middle of a cultural and economic renaissance.
Places make the U.S. News & World Report list based on factors such as housing affordability, the happiness of local residents, tax rates, and the quality of healthcare.
Here, you can find friendly Midwestern neighbors, along with a cheaper cost of living than you will find in a lot of East Coast cities. The median home price here is about $138,000. The median monthly rent is just over $700.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
You can escape to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where you’ll find an environment that may remind you of a much larger city. It makes the U.S. News & World Report list of best places to retire for many reasons — including that it combines rural and urban charm with high-tech and high-society life.
The median home price is about $405,000. The median monthly rent is just over $1,200. Along with affordability, you’ll find good public schools, a solid job market, and low crime rates.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Want to experience Hoosier hospitality for yourself? Check out retirement options in Fort Wayne.
It’s one of the bigger cities in the state and provides access to amenities you’d expect to find in a large metro area. That includes fun entertainment options and a thriving arts scene.
In Fort Wayne, the median home price is affordable at about $217,000. The median monthly rent is about $840.
Scottsdale, Arizona
If you want to head west, check out Scottsdale, Arizona. According to Niche, it’s a top city to retire to in the U.S., and “…offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes.”
Lots of retirees and families have good things to say about Scottsdale. In fact, it received an A+ rating as being good for retirees.
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