After examining over 350 cities in the United States, AARP The Magazine, has published their annual list of the top 10 cities for retiring in an affordable and rewarding environment.
The top 10 list is published in latest edition of the magazine where Gainesville, Georgia topped the list of cities that offered the best combination of median home prices, costs of living, tax rates on pensions and Social Security, recreation, climate and health resources. The city offers plenty of water sports, hiking and golf for older Americans seeking an active lifestyle.
None of the cities represented in the top 10 are in states that tax Social Security income. Midland, Texas; Wenatchee, Washington; and Cheyenne, Wyoming stand out and cities that do not tax pension income. Winchester, Virginia offers the lowest sales tax rate at 5%, along with the lowest property tax rate at 5.53%.
In addition to the the tax rate, the top 10 list includes the best features of each city, including the best activities or deals offered in each city. The featured places to visit included nostalgia inspired soda fountains in Wenatchee, Washington and Columbus, Indiana.
Seeking to identify the top destinations for retirement, the magazine looked for places that offered "a fabulous lifestyle without outrageous costs. The top 10:
- Gainesville, Georgia
- Columbus, Indiana
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Maine
- Ithaca, New York
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Midland, Texas
- Winchester, Virginia
- Wenatchee, Washington
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
2. Columbus, Indiana
