These Southern Hidden Gem Cities Are Perfect for Retirees

Retirees seeking warm weather and a more relaxed pace of life might consider moving down South -- a recent GOBankingRates survey found that nearly a third of Americans want to retire there. But choosing where to retire within the region can be tricky, and there are a number of factors retirees might want to consider before making the move.

GOBankingRates determined the 30 best Southern cities to retire by analyzing the safety, percentage of the population age 65 and older, livability and the average cost of living for seniors in 60 of the biggest Southern cities by population size. Some of the best cities are popular for younger adults entering the workforce, but soon-to-be retirees might be overlooking these hidden gems when searching for the most affordable cities to retire.

Last updated: July 21, 2020

30. Greenville, South Carolina

• Annual expenditures: $52,412
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 50.09
• Livability score: 72

Greenville is among the most affordable places to retire on this list, with a median home list price of $275,000 and an average annual expenditure for seniors of roughly $52,000. A relatively high crime rate prevents this South Carolina city from ranking higher.

29. Dallas

• Annual expenditures: $59,232
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 40.13
• Livability score: 75

Dallas is one of the dozen Texas cities included in this ranking. The median home listing price in Dallas is $370,000.

28. Chesapeake, Virginia

• Annual expenditures: $63,687
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 26.99
• Livability score: 69

Chesapeake is among the safest cities included in this list. However, it's overall livability score is the lowest due to a relatively high cost of living and housing -- the median home list price in the Virginia city is $320,950.

27. Austin, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $71,496
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 37.71
• Livability score: 82

Austin is tied with one other city on this list for the third-highest livability score, and it's one of the best places to retire in Texas. The capital city got a perfect score for its local amenities, which include dozens of restaurants, places to shop, coffee shops, parks and libraries.

26. Greensboro, North Carolina

• Annual expenditures: $48,617
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 43.89
• Livability score: 69

The median home list price in Greensboro is $195,000 -- it's the fifth-lowest median list price on this list, and it's significantly lower than the national median of $275,000. The city also has the third-lowest cost of living of all the places in this ranking.

25. San Antonio

• Annual expenditures: $53,182
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 56.15
• Livability score: 80

If you want to know where to retire in Texas, consider San Antonio. San Antonio is tied with four other cities on this list for the fourth-highest livability score. It got a perfect score for its local amenities and a high score for its warm weather, with an average summer temperature of 84 degrees.

24. Raleigh, North Carolina

• Annual expenditures: $61,047
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 38.19
• Livability score: 78

Raleigh's livability score is among the highest on this list thanks to its great selection of local amenities. What the Southern city lacks is a large senior population -- only 9.7% of its population is age 65 and older.

23. Fort Myers, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $57,857
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 38.16
• Livability score: 69

Fort Myers is one of the best places to retire in Florida -- the cost of living there is only slightly above the national average. Although the Florida city is relatively affordable, it doesn't rank higher on this list because of its high crime rates.

22. Pensacola, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $51,202
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 47.27
• Livability score: 72

Pensacola is one of the most affordable places to retire near the beach, with an average annual expenditure for seniors of about $51,000 and a median home list price of $224,900. The city ranks on the bottom half of this list, however, due to its relatively high crime rate and relatively low livability score.

21. Jacksonville, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $54,722
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 42.36
• Livability score: 75

If you're wondering where to retire in Florida, you should consider Jacksonville. Jacksonville has some of the most affordable homes in this study, with a median home list price of $208,990. A relatively high crime rate puts it on the lower end in this ranking.

20. Oklahoma City

• Annual expenditures: $50,322
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 46.1
• Livability score: 76

Oklahoma City's affordable housing helps it to land a spot on this list. The median home list price in the city is $189,900, which is the fourth-lowest of all the cities included in this ranking.

19. Lexington, Kentucky

• Annual expenditures: $52,247
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 41.81
• Livability score: 75

Lexington is a college town that's also one of the best places to retire. It makes the list of best Southern hidden gems perfect for retirees with its affordable homes -- the median home list price is $249,900 -- and a cost of living that's below the national average.

18. Lawrenceville, Georgia

• Annual expenditures: $56,812
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 36.52
• Livability score: 74

The median home list price in Lawrenceville is $30,000 below the national median at $245,000. People age 65 and older make up 13.5% of this Georgia city's population.

17. Arlington, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $59,892
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 37.66
• Livability score: 80

Arlington is tied with four other cities on this list for the fourth-highest livability score. The Texas city got high marks for the plethora of local amenities available, as well as for its affordable housing. The median home list price in Arlington is $249,900.

16. Lubbock, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $46,912
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 45.39
• Livability score: 76

Lubbock has the lowest cost of living for seniors compared to all of the other cities on this list, with an average annual expenditure of $46,912. As another plus, the median home list price in Lubbock is $187,950, which is the third-lowest home price of all the cities included in this study.

15. Woodbridge, Virginia

• Annual expenditures: $71,826
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 16.21
• Livability score: 77

Woodbridge is the safest city on this list, with a crime rate of 16.21 crimes per 1,000 residents. However, it's a relatively expensive place to live with an above-average cost of living and a median home list price of $339,000.

14. Garland, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $59,122
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 33.38
• Livability score: 78

Garland scored high for livability with its variety of available amenities and affordable housing. Garland's median home listing price is $219,900.

13. Fort Worth, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $59,012
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 37.89
• Livability score: 82

Fort Worth is tied with Austin, Texas for the third-highest livability score in this ranking. AreaVibes gave it the top score for local amenities and a high score for affordable housing. The median home list price in Fort Worth is $259,000.

12. Hialeah, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $69,241
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 24.34
• Livability score: 74

Twenty percent of Hialeah's residents are age 65 and older. The Florida city has the fifth-highest percentage of senior residents of all the places in this ranking.

11. Tampa, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $59,782
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 23.43
• Livability score: 76

Tampa is among the safest places on this list -- but the cost of living and housing is slightly above average. The median listing price in Tampa is $300,000.

10. Corpus Christi, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $49,552
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 43.56
• Livability score: 80

With an average annual expenditure for seniors of less than $50,000, Corpus Christi has the fourth-lowest cost of living of all the cities included in this ranking. It's also tied for the fourth-highest livability score, with top marks for its local amenities and warm weather.

9. Sarasota, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $59,837
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 40.67
• Livability score: 74

Seniors age 65 and older make up 26.5% of the population in Sarasota. The Florida city has the second-highest percentage of seniors of all the places included in this list.

8. Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Annual expenditures: $63,577
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 20.92
• Livability score: 77

With a rate of about 21 crimes per 1,000 residents, Virginia Beach is the fourth-safest city included in this ranking. About 13% of the beach city's population is age 65 and older.

7. Laredo, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $49,882
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 28.28
• Livability score: 78

The median list price of homes in Laredo is $181,995 -- the second-lowest of all the cities included in this ranking. It's also the fifth-most affordable place to live in terms of annual expenditures for seniors compared to the other cities in this study.

6. Bradenton, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $59,617
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 30.83
• Livability score: 73

Twenty-four percent of Bradenton's population is age 65 and older -- it has the fourth-highest percentage of senior residents of all the cities included on this list.

5. Boca Raton, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $73,146
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 30.21
• Livability score: 80

Boca Raton has the third-largest senior population percentage -- 24.6% -- compared to the other cities on this list. It's also tied with four other cities for the fourth-highest livability score. Boca Raton got high scores for its local amenities and weather -- the average summer temperature is a balmy 83 degrees.

4. Irving, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $59,122
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 29.16
• Livability score: 86

Irving has the second-highest livability score of all the places included in this ranking. AreaVibes gave the Texas city top scores for its local amenities, including grocery stores, parks, libraries and more, and affordable housing. The median home list price in Irving is $359,900.

3. El Paso, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $47,957
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 22.76
• Livability score: 79

El Paso is one of the safest and most affordable places to retire, not only in the South but in the U.S. overall, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The Texas city has the lowest median home list price -- $174,900 -- of all the places on this list. It also has the second-lowest cost of living, with the average annual expenditure for seniors at roughly $48,000, and it's the fifth-safest city in this ranking. In addition, it has the fifth-highest livability score.

2. Plano, Texas

• Annual expenditures: $65,886
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 19.12
• Livability score: 91

Plano ranks high thanks to its very low crime rate and high livability score. The Texas city is the third-safest of all the locations included in this ranking, and it has the highest livability score with its affordable homes -- the median list price is $374,945 -- and top-notch local amenities.

1. Naples, Florida

• Annual expenditures: $66,876
• Crimes per 1,000 residents: 18.77
• Livability score: 80

Retirees who want to live among their peers should head to Naples. This top Southern city for retirees has a population that's 51.5 percent over the age of 65 -- the highest percentage by far of all the cities included in this study. It also is the second-safest city on this list, and it's tied with four other cities for the fourth-highest livability score.

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Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the Southern "gems" that are perfect for retirees by compiling a list of the 60 biggest Southern cities by population size, based on the U.S. Census Bureau's definition of the South region of the United States. The principal criteria were: 1) safety scores (total crimes per 1,000 residents), sourced from NeighborhoodScout; (2) percentage of seniors, sourced from U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts July 2018 data; (3) livability scores, sourced from AreaVibes; and (4) annual expenditures of a 65- to 74-year-old, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2017 Consumer Expenditure Survey, which was then adjusted to each city's respective cost of living, sourced from Sperling's Best Places. Each individual category was assigned a score, with a lower score indicating a better ranking, and once all the data was compiled, all category scores were added together to get a final score. All data was compiled on March 5, 2019.

About the Author

Gabrielle Olya

Gabrielle joined GOBankingRates in 2017 and brings with her a decade of experience in the journalism industry. Before joining the team, she was a staff writer-reporter for People Magazine and People.com. Her work has also appeared on E! Online, Us Weekly, Patch, Sweety High and Discover Los Angeles, and she has been featured on “Good Morning America” as a celebrity news expert. 

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