The Best Places to Retire in the West, Southwest, and Southeast
Tired of facing another winter shoveling snow, salting your driveway, and drying your boots by the heater? For that matter, are you tired of working?
Here's a list of 30 great places to retire, many of them in the sunbelt, others that will offer you a relatively mild climate paired with the pleasure of experiencing four distinct seasons.
To find these retirement spots, we turned to John F. Brady, president of TopRetirements.com, a research site for people seeking adult communities and retirement locations. Based on his surveys and frequency of views on TopRetirements, here are some of the best places to retire in the southeastern U.S., the Southwest, and the West.
This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.
10 Places to Retire in the Southeast: This region includes West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida. Much of the region has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers, while areas in the north or higher elevations tend to be cooler. Hurricanes can reach landfall in the summer and fall months along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Asheville, N.C.
Asheville, a prosperous city of just over 75,000, sits amid the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina. Those who like four seasons will see them here, thanks to the mountains. There is a large number of 55+ and active adult communities.
Photo: Shutterstock
Pensacola, Fla.
Pensacola is a popular town for retirement and tourism in the western end of the Florida panhandle. Many former military personnel retire here, and the location on the bay gives it access to the clear waters and sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Above is the historic Seville District in Pensacola.
Photo: James Kirkikis / Shutterstock
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
This beach and golf resort community has one of the world's longest sections of perfect beach, and over 120 golf courses. It's a hotspot for live entertainment and has a mild climate.
Photo: Shutterstock
Beaufort, S.C.
Beaufort has both Old South atmosphere and seaside charm. Horse-drawn carriages roll along streets in the town's picturesque historic district.
Photo: Shutterstock
Charleston, S.C.
A beautiful city and a top tourist draw, Charleston is popular among retirees. Above, the historic Charleston City Market, one of the nation's oldest public markets, (since 1804) offers galleries, cafes and shops, and a night market that showcases more than 100 talented artists and craftspeople.
Photo: 11photo / Shutterstock
Sarasota, Fla.
Sarasota has one of Florida's best downtowns and many interesting neighborhoods. It's rich with cultural facilities and has great beaches and developments where retirees can live. Above, Turtle Beach, on Siesta Key in Sarasota.
Photo: Shutterstock
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chattanooga is a low-cost, interesting retirement city in a state considered to be tax-friendly (earned income is not taxed). It sits on the Tennessee River and is home to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
Photo: Shutterstock
Greenville, S.C.
Greenville's pretty downtown has a beautiful park along a river with a waterfall, pictured here, just a few steps from the downtown. It has great neighborhoods, several colleges and is a thriving arts community.
Photo: Shutterstock
Summerville, S.C.
"The Flower Town in the Pines," is situated on a pine-forested ridge and has a charming downtown with many restaurants and unusual shops. Since the early 1900s tourists have flocked to the town in early spring to see the azaleas in bloom.
Photo: Brian Stansberry Wikipedia
New Bern, N.C.
This fast-growing city has a tree-lined historic district and a charming downtown. New Bern was named a "Certified Retirement Community" by the State of North Carolina in 2015. Above, the formal Latham Garden at Tryon Palace in New Bern.
Photo: Michael Neil Thomas / Shutterstock
Top Places to Retire in the Southwest
Based on popularity at Topretirements, here are 10 of the best places to retire in the Southwest:
Green Valley, Ariz.
Green Valley, above, is an unincorporated retirement community composed of 59 homeowner associations. It is near the Santa Rita Mountains and just south of Tucson.
Photo: Ken Bosma from Green Valley, Arizona, USA/ Wikipedia
Prescott, Ariz.
Located in central Arizona at an elevation of 5,400 feet in the mountains, Prescott enjoys mild weather, four distinct seasons and breathtaking landscapes. Those who enjoy the outdoors will have plenty to do here. Above, Prescott's downtown square and court house decorated for the holidays.
Photo: John D Sirlin / Shutterstock
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Situated near the Grand Canyon and other beautiful regions of the state, Flagstaff is a top-rated community for retirement. Above, the historic city center.
Photo: canadastock / Shutterstock
Las Cruces, N.M.
Las Cruces has been listed as a "Best Place to Retire" by several organizations for many reasons: low cost of living, active cultural life with its major university, and unusually beautiful location.
Photo: Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau
Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson enjoys almost 300 days of sunshine a year, and with 233 performing arts dates a year, it's rich with culture and entertainment.
Photo: Manuela Durson / Shutterstock
Santa Fe, N.M.
Santa Fe is a top cultural destination in the world. It's a beautiful location in the Sangre de Cristo foothills and it is famous for its Pueblo-style architecture and as an arts community. Above, the New Mexico Museum of Art.
Photo: LizCoughlan / Shutterstock
Sedona, Ariz.
This is a popular retirement community thanks to its natural beauty -- the Red Rocks of Sedona are world famous -- its mild climate, outdoor activities and the arts community.
Photo: Shutterstock
Albuquerque, N.M.
New Mexico's largest city (about 550,000) Albuquerque sits in the high desert near the mountains, and is a vibrant college town, home to the University of New Mexico. It has a long history going back to 1706, when it was founded as a Spanish colony. Above, a mural painting along Route 66.
Photo: Gimas / Shutterstock
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is famous for its river walk, Tejano culture, and The Alamo, located in the heart of downtown. It has a population of about 1.5 million and some unique cultural festivals, and has a lower cost of living than the U.S. average.
Photo: Shutterstock
Peoria, Ariz.
This suburban town northeast of Phoenix is growing fast. It is one of the furthest out communities from Phoenix and is home to many active adult communities because of the availability of land. Peoria is the spring training home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
Photo: User ISU_79 Wikipedia
Top Places to Retire in the West
Based on popularity at Topretirements, here are some of the best places to retire in the West:
St. George, Utah
St. George has spectacular red rock bluffs overlooking the town, a mild climate in winter, and terrific recreational opportunities.
Photo: Shutterstock
Sequim, Wash.
Sequim is popular both with retirees and with people looking for second homes. The town has has won numerous awards as a great place to live and retire.
Photo: Shutterstock
Colorado Springs, Colo.
This city of almost half a million is south of Denver, and is a popular retirement community thanks to its spectacular scenery, abundant sunshine, and conservative values.
Photo: Shutterstock
Ft. Collins, Colo.
Fort Collins has low crime rates, many outdoor activities, and is home to a University of Colorado campus. Above, Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins.
Photo: Shutterstock
Grand Junction, Colo.
Grand Junction is a college town near the Utah border. It has a pleasant downtown, and natural beauty and recreation are abundant here.
Photo: Shutterstock
Mesquite, Nev.
Casinos arrived here in the 1970s. The town markets itself as a low-key alternative to Las Vegas. Mesquite is an popular retirement town, and close to both the Arizona and Utah state lines. It has a population of just under 20,000. Above, the Wolf Creek golf course in Mesquite.
Photo: Shutterstock
Bend, Ore.
Bend offers great scenic beauty -- to the west are the lakes and peaks of the Cascade Mountains -- and the town is located on the Deschutes River. There's skiing, hiking, golf, fishing, and more. Bend makes just about every list of best retirement communities.
Photo: Shutterstock
Boise, Idaho
Idaho's capital and largest city (about 205,000) is a modern, prosperous, and livable city that offers many recreational activities and a great lifestyle for retirees.
Photo: Shutterstock
Palm Springs, Calif.
This oasis town east of Los Angeles sits in the Coachella Valley at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, and not far from Joshua Tree National Park. The downtown features vintage boutiques, shops and restaurants, and the area has lots of golf, hiking, biking and tennis.
Photo: Shutterstock
Las Vegas
Legalized gambling in this desert resort city has created an enormous economy and attracted many new residents, including retirees in active adult communities. Above, Binion's is one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas.
Photo: Nick Fox / Shutterstock