The Best Places To Retire In The South
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It’s one thing to dream about your next big move—it’s another to find a place that actually makes sense for your lifestyle and budget.
Deciding on where to retire is part fantasy (Do you want to live within walking distance of the beach or in a quiet spot in the mountains?) and part reality (Can you afford it?). But dreams can come true when you bring those two worlds together.
While you can count on us to identify charming towns and vibrant cities across the region, that’s just half of the equation. To help you make an informed choice, we partnered with the financial experts at Investopedia, one of our sister brands, to present options that also consider your bottom line. They started with a list of Southern small towns and cities and factored in cost of living, home values, access to hospitals, and continuing education programs. Based on this information—and our own research—we landed on 12 locations that offer excellent quality of life and make sense financially.
Whether your idea of a good time is dining out or heading to a ball game, there’s a place to suit everyone, from the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains. We also asked retirees why they love their adopted hometowns, so you’ll have a full picture of what life is really like in these spots—and what it takes to get there.
Crunching the Numbers
The destinations chosen for this list were selected from a collection of 41 top-rated cities and towns from the 2023 South’s Best awards by Southern Living. The finalists were chosen based on data from Investopedia on how each of the locations compared to the U.S. as a whole on a variety of economic and lifestyle criteria including home and rental affordability (according to 2017-2021 U.S. census data); average resident age; and access to restaurants, hospitals, colleges, airports, and green spaces.
Best All-Around: Chattanooga, Tennessee
ROBBIE CAPONETTO
This spot ticks all of the boxes for a great retirement town— including being a magnet for your children and grandkids. They’ll flock here for the main attraction (you) and so much more. Show off your chosen city: Take an Incline Railway ride up Lookout Mountain, head to Ruby Falls for a tour of the underground waterfall, and check out the ocean and freshwater inhabitants of the Tennessee Aquarium.
"“This is a never-met-a-stranger community. People encourage you to be part of things bigger than yourself.” - Bob Corker"
While the city is perfect for guests, it seems specially made for you. “This is a never-met-a-stranger community,” says former U.S. Senator Bob Corker, who served as Chattanooga’s mayor and chose to return. “People encourage you to be part of things bigger than yourself.” That can range from hiking down to Sunset Rock to learning a new skill (like meditation, mixology, or cake decorating) through a class at The Chattery. Drive about an hour to kayak the Ocoee River, or stroll to Clumpies Ice Cream Co. for a scoop of their Banana Puddin’ flavor. Take your time browsing the Hunter Museum of American Art’s exhibits (including 18thcentury furniture and Salvador Dalí paintings), and dig into the local food scene. “My husband’s retirement has allowed us to dine out more often,” says Kathleen Evans, formerly from the Atlanta suburbs. “We have become such regulars that servers bring me iced tea just the way I like it without even asking.” Chattanooga’s median age of 36.7 (which is nearly two years less than the national average) ensures a buzzing energy. “There are no age barriers,” she says. “It’s like one big family, and we are here to stay.”
Best for Healthy Living: Beaufort, North Carolina
CEDRIC ANGELES
Whatever career you had, we bet that building a wooden boat wasn’t part of your dayto-day activities—but it can be in Beaufort. The Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center offers classes on constructing everything from paddleboards to prams and other vessels. And because you can see water from almost every vantage point here, kayaking rivers, creeks, marshes, and even the Atlantic Ocean is a way of life. Also consider that 60% of Beaufort residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
Retiree David Cartier basks in the coastal landscape, having settled here just over a decade ago, the 20th move in his long career in hospitality. “My wife, Betsy, told me she’d know our perfect retirement town in five minutes—it only took two.” Replaying a recent meal at one of the many waterfront restaurants in Carteret County, he adds, “We had fresh tuna and saw a pod of dolphins and three wild horses in the distance. Sometimes we watch yachts on the Intracoastal Waterway. It never gets old.”
This is a shorts-and-sandals town where volunteer-driven festivals contribute to charities. Add fishing tournaments, farmers’ markets, bike trails, and Cape Lookout National Seashore—all of which come with your move. “When we arrived, we didn’t want to change a thing,” Cartier says. “Beaufort gives you an opportunity to live life.
Best for Outdoor Enthusiasts: Abingdon, Virginia
Nasreen Hussain
When recent retiree Dave Dalton decided to move to Abingdon from Charlotte, he combed through visitor guides. “I found 21 pages of activities, and I’m trying to knock them all out,” says the newcomer, who already serves on a board and an advisory council.
"“I found 21 pages of activities, and I’m trying to knock them all out.” - Dave Dalton"
So what can you do in this little town in southwestern Virginia? For starters, hike easy or straight-up-the-mountain trails. Fly-fish for trout in the South Fork Holston River. Bike the 34.3-mile Virginia Creeper Trail in small stretches or big bursts—a smidgen of the journey is officially on the Appalachian Trail. Walking through town counts too—shopping for Abingdon olive oil, sipping to-go coffee from The Girl & The Raven, or admiring 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The renowned Barter Theatre, thriving at age 90, is polished, professional, and open year-round. See productions of To Kill a Mockingbird, Clue, and Misery this month alone.
The town has a median age of 45, so retirees mingle with younger residents at the dog-friendly Abingdon Vineyards along the river, the new Summers rooftop bar, The Tavern (built in 1779), and festivals such as the Abingdon Fiddlers’ Convention. There’s even the College for Older Adults, pickleball culture, and golf galore. While Dalton’s electronics business used to take him around the world, Abingdon feels like home now. “This is a resort at a fraction of the cost, especially if you want an active lifestyle,” he says proudly.
Best for Home Buying: Ocean Springs, Mississippi
ALEX NORTH PHOTOGRAPHY
Your first act, even before settling in, should be a trip to the Ocean Springs Visitors Center to build a to-do list that’ll keep you busy for months. Not that it wouldn’t be enough to traverse the Live Oaks Bicycle Route to Gulf Islands National Seashore, ooh and aah at Shearwater Pottery (turning 95 this year), or pick up fresh-off-the-boat seafood in the harbor.
There’s a large population of retirees here—and home listings pop up constantly to meet the demand with a better-than-average income-to-home-value ratio (34% compared to the overall national percentage of 28%). Mississippi sweetens the pot with low taxes. That’s cause for celebration in this waterfront town that has a festival practically every month. (The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in November is the state’s largest art-and-food event.)
Anna Curtis arrived knowing no one after spending 23 years in Pittsburgh and six in Kentucky—the white sand beaches, locally owned shops, and restaurants were the lure. “I volunteered at the visitors center and quickly knew everything going on,” says Curtis, who’s just back from her weekly veggie-andbread buying at the Ocean Springs Fresh Market. “When I travel, I tell everyone about Ocean Springs and how you can see theater at The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center,” she says. “But what I like best is that we are a community, not just a town.”
Best Mountain Town: Blowing Rock, North Carolina
ROBBIE CAPONETTO
It’s just plain lovely when you’re keeping company with people who know the same song lyrics you do. That’s the essence of Blowing Rock, a place where retirees rule the roost, given the median resident age of 61 (as opposed to the national 38.9). And there’s a lot to learn, starting with gneiss (pronounced “nice”). That material composes the ancient rock formation where snow falls upward—totally true and showcased at North Carolina’s oldest attraction, which is called, appropriately, The Blowing Rock.
Joyce Zellner, named Volunteer of the Year in 2021 by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, knows these “gneiss” things and more. When she transplanted from Florida, Zellner embraced bluegrass music after hearing dulcimers for the first time. Now she looks forward to summer concerts in the park and the return of the snowbirds. “I live in a spot where people actually come to take pictures,” marvels the woman familiar with each bloom of Blowing Rock’s lavish floral displays. “We told ourselves we wanted to be within 30 minutes of the Blue Ridge Parkway—but we’re so close that a sidewalk from Main Street leads right to it.” After nearly 11 years, Zellner is still enchanted with the cove and spruce-fir forests, the 25 miles of carriage trails in Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, and the prolific artwork and crafts the mountains inspire—not to mention the fact that the majority of area restaurants serve trout sourced from local streams.
"“There’s not a day that I don’t wake up and say I’m grateful I live in Blowing Rock. I want to stay for the rest of my life.” - Joyce Zellner"
Appalachian State University in nearby Boone offers free class auditing for those ages 65 and older; its Dark Sky Observatory is a stargazing sensation. There’s a lot packed into this town that covers just over 3 square miles. Come for Winterfest and skiing in colder months, the Trout Derby in spring, and the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show in summer. With the rippling of the New River flowing north and the Yadkin to the south, the feeling here is peaceful and mountain majestic. “There’s not a day that I don’t wake up and say I’m grateful I live in Blowing Rock,” says Zellner. “I want to stay for the rest of my life.”
Best for Food Lovers: Greenville, South Carolina
LAUREY W. GLENN
Scott Butler reports that he and his wife, Gayle, have dined out three times in the last three days. It’s not so strange in Greenville, where happiness comes by the bite. The couple, who have lived here for eight years after careers in Des Moines, are enjoying adventures, trying different things, and making new friends—exactly what retiring is all about.
With a median home value of $349,300, the city sustains its high-end eateries with dedicated diners. “The number of restaurants has doubled since we moved to town,” says Butler. “We have traditional, grab-and-go, and international spots plus so much more.” For his part, the native Nebraskan delights in classic Southern plates (like shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles) as well as Greenville specialties, like Stecca Bread (a baby baguette) at Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery and the White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie at Soby’s downtown. It’s all good, and area chefs and restaurants have the James Beard Award recognition to prove it.
Beyond food, Greenville fuels newcomers’ calendars. The Senior Action organization offers ballet, line dancing, pottery, Qigong, and health classes as well as field trips and planned vacations. Furman University invites the 50-plus crowd to participate in OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) experiences. The Peace Center and the Greenville Museum of Art will stimulate your mind as a visitor or as a volunteer. Butler, with a professional background in finance and accounting, has found his own niche. “I signed up for the Friends of the Reedy River newsletter,” he says. “Now I’m board president.” That’s how it goes in this city. There are also festivals for foodies: Spring Fest in April, Tapas & Tinis in July, and Euphoria (the biggest) in September. Each showcases flavors from local chefs and gives back to a variety of good causes.
Walk downtown to meet people from “somewhere else” while still feeling right at home. “We chose Greenville partly for the climate—a May snowfall in Des Moines sent us looking to the South,” Butler says. “Every time we go on a trip, it just feels so good to come back here.”
Best Beach Town: St. Augustine, Florida
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Ponce de León thought he’d found the Fountain of Youth on the spot where St. Augustine sits today—and if feeling younger means being active and happy, maybe there’s something to the mythical tale. Come for the history— it’s the nation’s oldest continuously occupied city—and for the variety of beaches, from sandy white to coquinashell shorelines. Paddleboard on the smooth Atlantic (don’t be surprised if a dolphin surfaces beside you), kayak on designated paddling trails, search for fossilized shark teeth, or meet up with the pickleball league. Consider “enlisting” to lead historicweapon demonstrations at the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos—you can even learn how to fire a cannon. Or volunteer at the lavish Lightner Museum, home of fine art as well as Tiffany lamps and Victorian instruments. In the golf world in neighboring Ponte Vedra Beach, donate time either as a year-round “storyteller” tour guide at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse or as a volunteer during The Players Championship.
"“I’m amazed that people don’t even look their age. Maybe it really is the Fountain of Youth.” - Judy Thomas"
“There’s always something to do,” says Judy Thomas, who traded her Atlanta paralegal career for St. Augustine nine years ago. “I worked many long hours at the office; now I do things for myself and enjoy life in St. Augustine, which isn’t nearly as expensive.” While Thomas picked the World Golf Village, there are plenty of communities to choose from. The median home value is $312,700, which is higher than the national median of $244,900, but the real estate prices here trend lower than in other coastal Florida cities. “I’m amazed that people don’t even look their age,” reflects Thomas. “Maybe it really is the Fountain of Youth.
Best Access to Nature: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
THE EUREKA SPRINGS CITY ADVERTISING & PROMOTION COMMISSION
Eureka Springs has no stoplight—it’s not necessary. The police report in the newspaper is usually limited to the occasional barking dog. Getting from one end of town to the other takes about 15 minutes. Forget cooking—more than 100 restaurants range from posh to pancakes (most are mom-and-pop eateries).
And it’s built in harmony with 60-plus springs, most of which are owned by the city, easily accessible, and designated as parks. The 1,610-acre Lake Leatherwood City Park has over 25 miles of walking trails; an 85-acre, spring-fed lake; and boat rentals. Select your home in the winter for a clear view of your surroundings (other seasons adorn the scene with gorgeous leaves). Enjoy the prices, too, since Eureka Springs’ median home value rings in at $182,900.
Running errands? Add some extra time because you’re sure to fall into conversations wherever you go. Savor quiet moments inside Thorncrown Chapel, designed by famed architect E. Fay Jones. You can expand your musical repertoire with Opera in the Ozarks during the summer or concerts held year-round at The Auditorium. For fishing, there’s trout-filled White River or smallmouth bass in the Kings River. Bike trails lace the tiered landscape. That’s exactly what brought Susan and Chris Gaines here. “Chris volunteers as a coach for a local youth mountain biking team,” says Susan, who teaches yoga at the community center. “While we’re very active, Chris says he was born to retire. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit on the porch—we’ve got three."
Best for Lifelong Learning: Lexington, Kentucky
BROWN W. CANNON III
Which sounds more like you: enrolling in a course on what happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, learning about bourbon at Maker’s Mark Distillery, or singing in a 115-person choral group? Maybe you’d prefer Nordic walking, film noir, stamp collecting, or yoga? The OLLI offerings at the University of Kentucky (UK) aim to educate and entertain with about 60 different classes available every semester. Retiree Susan Bottom teaches history topics. After working for the military for 30 years, she chose Lexington, saying, “I wasn’t going to move from Tampa unless there was an OLLI program.” Her classes have waiting lists, and her fans say she brings the past to life.
There are also travel opportunities through OLLI— one might take you abroad to Florence, Italy, to study art while another may venture to nearby Keeneland to learn about betting techniques from an expert. UK also offers the Donovan Scholarship for those looking to earn advanced degrees or interact with professors on topics of interest (the starting age is 65; tuition is free).
Moving to Lexington itself widens the learning curve. Aside from the two universities (UK and Transylvania University), there’s the horse culture, the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a stunning opera house, and big concerts that come right to you. “I saw Paul McCartney at Rupp Arena,” says Bottom. “I knew Lexington was a good decision going in. And I feel passionate about the subjects I teach. It’s honestly a hoot.”
Note: The OLLI program operates at 125 colleges and universities—at least one in every state.
Best for Arts And Culture: Savannah, Georgia
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Cyndi and Chuck Seidel first came to this town as tourists. “We loved Savannah from day one,” says Cyndi. “Chuck is retired from the Air Force. We met in junior high in Pennsylvania and most recently lived in Salt Lake City, but we always knew we’d retire to the South.” What the couple quickly learned was that living in a popular destination is different from visiting. “That’s a positive,” says Cyndi. “Who can complain about trees draped with Spanish moss? We love the homey feel; it’s like a small town. Of course, we have our favorite spots: Go to Leopold’s Ice Cream (I order the Savannah Socialite), or head to any of the rooftop bars for great views of the city. We also love the old Savannah theaters for classic films and plays and saw Journey and Toto at the new arena.”
""Who can complain about trees draped with Spanish moss? We love the homey feel; it’s like a small town." - Cyndi Seidel"
The Seidels marvel at the atmosphere that has been cultivated by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which fills nearly 70 buildings with creative students from around the globe. Its annual SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival (also known as Chalk of the Town) transforms Forsyth Park, the leading landmark, into a celebration of bright, rich color.
An active festival season ranges from jazz and opera to a fun St. Patrick’s Day parade. The city itself is a lesson in style, dating back to 1733 when Gen. James Oglethorpe designed the layout with six squares. Now there are 22 that are green and inviting. Carefully tended historic houses and cultural offerings—from the Telfair Museums to the Savannah Philharmonic—please eyes and ears. The Seidels’ home is a place where trolleys and guides seamlessly relate stories from the past— the couple knows almost every word. “We have a lot of company visit,” says Cyndi, “so we’ve probably done the ghost tour eight times.” Their other activities include walks in Bonaventure Cemetery and quick trips to nearby Tybee Island for sunrises. The cost of living is pleasing, too, especially with the median home value of $170,500. “Yes, the day I sold my snowblower was great,” says Chuck. “We’re never leaving."
Best for Affordability: Huntsville, Alabama
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Did you imagine in your wildest dreams that one day you could retire to a city where you’d spend Thursday evenings in a biergarten beneath a Saturn V rocket enjoying German food, beverages, and a true sense of Huntsville’s role in aerospace history? Indeed, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center you can do just that for a $5 entry fee—which shows how far money goes here. You can even sign up for the Adult Space Academy to experience interactive missions like the ones you may have watched in black and white decades ago.
For years, the rocket industry was Huntsville’s draw— now there’s more to this city that recently became Alabama’s largest in population. With a low unemployment rate—less than the national average—Huntsville rings with vibrancy. By the end of the year, 44 miles of greenways and trails will add to the existing 73 miles. The Huntsville City Football Club just concluded its inaugural soccer season (the Rocket City Trash Pandas and Huntsville Havoc also fill stands with baseball and hockey fans, respectively). The Intuitive Planetarium, at 8K resolution, is one of the South’s best.
For arts and culture, visit the Von Braun Center (for theater and events) and the Huntsville Museum of Art (featuring a large collection of works by American women). Find peace exploring flowerinfused ecosystems and the Purdy Butterfly House at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. “There’s so much going on. It makes people want to come here to retire, find an exciting second career, and then stay to ‘retire retire,’ ” says Vincent Boles (who was a major general in the U.S. Army and is following that pattern). Straight from the Pentagon to Huntsville, Boles is now an author and executive-leadership coach. “The house we bought was half of what we would’ve paid in Washington, D.C.,” says the New York native. “You can find what you need—and pay less for it.
Best for City Lovers: Fort Worth, Texas
SCOTT SLUSHER
You know you’re in a culturally rich place when you can happen upon the first painting created by a young Michelangelo in the late 1480s. His The Torment of Saint Anthony resides at the Kimbell Art Museum. Then relive blasts of retro color with Andy Warhol’s 1970 work Flowers at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The fine arts mingle with the Western vibe of this locale. Visit the John Wayne: An American Experience museum to see the star’s Oscar for True Grit (1969), or delight in Dale Evans’ charm bracelet at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.
And that’s what a good city does well—it delivers the best. The nearly 300 parks are elegant—in fact, 62% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of one. Stroll through Trinity Park and into the Fort Worth Botanic Garden across the street. The Water Gardens (another park), with its terraced steps, pools, and fountains, is sure to help you work up an appetite.
"“There, you could hear your neighbor—here, your space can be open and pretty.” - Beth Stevens"
Sample all kinds of beef-brisket barbecue: You’ll find it served with chunks of bacon, a side of street corn, or even a fusionstyle option (like Laotian sausage). Beth Stevens sought something California couldn’t easily offer. “I always said that if I left home, I wanted land,” she says. “There, you could hear your neighbor—here, your space can be open and pretty.” She also enjoys Fort Worth’s feel. “In Los Angeles, you have to dress the part,” she says. “Now I can just go out as I am—and that’s good.”
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