TEXAS — For those looking to put down roots in their golden age, Texas is the perfect location, according to a new study from USA TODAY Homefront.
The USA TODAY Homefront research team surveyed and analyzed 329 cities in the United States based on 13 key livability factors for senior citizens ranging from health care availability and housing costs to leisurely activities for its residents.
The research concluded that half of the top 10 cities for best places to retire are located in the Lone Star State. Most notably, Tyler claimed the top spot on the list:
- Tyler, TX
- Peoria, IL
- Meridian, ID
- Knoxville, TN
- Rochester, MN
- Sugar Land, TX
- Boise, ID
- Wichita Falls, TX
- Abilene, TX
- McAllen, TX
Tyler’s cost of living is about 7.8% lower than the national average and houses in the city are about 29% less than the cost of a typical home nationally, according to the USA TODAY Homefront.
For leisure activities, retirees can enjoy the sights of Lake Tyler and Lake Palestine, or they can walk through the Tyler Museum of Art and the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum.
Behind Tyler, Sugar Land, only about 20 miles south of Houston, is ranked the next best Texas city to live in during retirement at No. 6 on the list.
Wichita Falls, Abilene and McAllen round out the list at eighth, ninth and 10th place, respectively. According to USA TODAY, all three of these towns’ regional costs are at least 9% less than the national average.
Additionally, all Texans are exempt from retirement income tax and the state boasts around 10 senior-relevant health care providers per 1,000 residents.
Out of the bottom 20 cities listed in the study, 19 of them are located in California. Although the Sunshine State’s landscape is highly admired, the threat of severe weather, high costs of living and taxes on retirement income make California less ideal for retirees.