These might be the best neighborhoods for your retirement!
After my husband, Bill, and I became empty nesters, we decided to do something a little bit wild. We packed up our things, sold the big house, and left in a quest to find a new kind of home. Something that suited our actual needs. The big house life was no longer a thing for us.
I was looking for a new place that was made just for us and what we were becoming. This experience taught me that retirement is not the end of the road but a new beginning. I witnessed my transformation firsthand, and I can tell you that we are in a continuous transformation.
These days, retirees have more choices than ever. Whether you’re drawn to coastal charm, desert peace, mountain air, or vibrant city life on a smaller scale, there’s a neighborhood calling your name.
But what you need to remember is that it is not just about good weather and golf courses. It’s about community, affordability, walkability, access to healthcare, and yes, finding a place where you’ll feel at home. So, check out these cool neighborhoods!
Downtown & historic districts
Neighborhoods like Downtown Charleston, SC; Historic District, Savannah, GA; and Old Town, Alexandria, VA are wonderful places for retirees! If you want to have access to all the amenities of a big city while also enjoying a beautiful view paired with high walkability, then the downtown might be what you are looking for.
From what I experienced while traveling, these places often have a strong sense of community, and the best part is that you no longer need a car to move around. You have everything in reach, and you can keep the car for the moments you decide to go on vacation or visit Walmart.
Bill and I noticed that walkability is a big thing for us. Being able to walk to a local diner or bookstore gives our days a rhythm we didn’t realize we’d been missing. It’s such a delightful and fulfilling feeling that truly changes how you see life and how you perceive the days.
Since some might worry about affordability, you need to know that there are a bunch of revitalized downtowns in smaller cities across the U.S. Most of these neighborhoods are affordable while also keeping all of the advantages I told you about earlier.
The Villages (Florida)
I’ll admit, when I first heard about The Villages, I thought it sounded a little too good to be true. But who would have thought that something like a “retirement Disneyland” is actually a feasible thing that can make people happy?
I remember that I went there to visit Mike, Bill’s brother, and I was truly surprised by what I found. Also, the weather is incredibly hot, so if you are not a lizard-type person, you are probably better off avoiding this place. Maybe visiting it in the summer was not the best idea, but it is what it is. I just wanted to make you aware of this potential inconvenience.
The thing is that you’ve probably already heard about The Villages. This is not actually one of the neighborhoods because calling it a neighborhood is technically wrong, as this area is a census-designated place.
Ok, so this place is recognized as a top retirement destination, largely due to its commitment to an active, social lifestyle. You will never be alone here! Mike is friends with a lot of his neighbors, and they actually hang out. Yeah, this surprised me because you know how things are nowadays; nobody likes hanging out anymore. Well, this is not the case here.
And this is the main appeal of the Villages. After my research, I managed to find out that residents enjoy access to over 3,000 clubs and organized activities, ensuring a wide range of interests are catered to. Golf, swimming, tennis, you name it. You can do so many activities here! And if golf is your thing, you might want to have a brand new golf hat!
North End (Boise, Idaho)
Idaho was one of the places we loved to visit in the summer, alongside Maine. Currently, Bill and I no longer go to Idaho for vacation, considering that the road is long and our eldest son moved to Portland, Maine.
But we visited Boise countless times back then, and it was a truly beautiful place. I recall telling him that if I ever retire, it would be nice to relocate here. Well, since this never happened, moving here, I mean, not retiring, I don’t know much about the retirement landscape in Boise. Hopefully, we live in the internet era, and I am here to make things easier for you.
Apparently, one of the neighborhoods to spend your golden years in is the North End. It has historical charm, walkable streets, and a strong sense of community. Here you can find Hyde Park, known for its boutique shopping, coffee shops, and local dining, and Camel’s Back Park, ideal for hiking, tennis, or relaxation. What I also like is that it is very close to Downtown Boise, and it also provides easy access to the Boise Farmers Market.
The housing here seems lovely, and most people describe the homes as “character-filled” and rich in charm. I am not sure what that means, but they are smaller than your usual home, and from pictures, they truly seem like a good place to spend your retirement. The median home price in this neighborhood is $288,917, with a median monthly rent of $782. A decent price if you were to ask me.
Stanton Heights (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
This one stands out as one of the best and most affordable neighborhoods to retire in the state, and I believe it is a great choice considering its large aging population. Some jokingly say that everyone is a senior in Pittsburgh! Well, things are not exactly like that, but indeed it seems that this is a place with a well-established senior community.
What I like the most about this city is that it offers a low cost of living, approximately 12% lower than the national average, and some excellent healthcare services. I feel like it somehow manages to effectively blend a small-town feel with the conveniences of a major city.
Stanton Heights is one of the neighborhoods that caught my attention. It is a quieter area in Pittsburgh’s East End, and from what I’ve heard, the retiree community is tightly knit. Some people here might become your second family, and this is an important aspect, at least for me. I am sure that this would have been a great choice for me if I had known about it at the time I moved.
Some recreational opportunities include Officer Eric Kelly Memorial Field for walking and sports, proximity to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and if you want something cultural, you have the Pittsburgh Glass Center and Contemporary Craft, which offer workshops and exhibitions.
If you are looking for housing, there are cheap single-family Colonial houses with big yards in this area. The average price of a property is $163,800, while the average rent is $821 per month.
There are many more great neighborhoods out there, but these were the ones that seemed to be the most interesting to me. Maybe in the future, if you enjoyed this, I can come up with a part two where I explore some more interesting neighborhoods for anyone looking to relocate once they retire. I had fun researching for this list, and I surely have enough resources for a second part to this article.
What are your favorite neighborhoods? Tell me more in the comments!
Maybe once you decide to relocate, you will also rely on your Social Security. This is why you want a location without so many taxes, right? But have you ever thought about what life without Social Security would look like? I discovered that this topic is so interesting that I decided to write about it. Here’s the article: How Our Parents Got By Before Social Security?