12 Smart Places to Retire

If you are among the growing number of people thinking about moving in retirement, we have some great suggestions—in fact, 12 of them.

A dog chills on a patio by a pool on a waterfront in Flagstaff, Ariz.
(Image credit: Courtesy Discover Flagstaff)

If you are among the growing number of people thinking about moving in retirement, we have some great suggestions—in fact, 12 of them.

Each of the cities and towns here is home to at least one college or university that offers access to concerts, interesting lectures and sports (without final exams and 8 a.m. French class). Most of our cities have a moderate cost of living, and all are located in states that exempt all or a portion of retirement income from taxes. Because health care is an important concern for retirees, our cities also have at least one hospital nearby that has received four or five stars—the highest rating—from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Source: For population figures, we used the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data. Cost-of-living data comes from the Council for Community and Economic Research (100 represents the national median). Median home prices were provided by Redfin, Zillow and local associations of Realtors.