The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012

These cities will meet your retirement lifestyle needs and suit your budget

By Emily Brandon

October 17, 2011 RSS Feed Print
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    In Pictures: The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012

    Better weather, affordable housing, and plenty of interesting things to do are just a few reasons people move to a new place when they retire. Whether you want to spend your golden years watching the sun set over the water or taking on a second career, we've identified an ideal place. U.S. News selected 10 key attributes that many people look for in a retirement spot, along with a city that excels in meeting each need. Here are 10 excellent places to retire in 2012.

    Pleasant year-round weather: Flagstaff, Ariz.

    Flagstaff's high altitude and low humidity generally lead to a pleasant four-season climate throughout most of the year. To select a place with great year-round weather, we used National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data to find places with the most sunny days. Among the sunniest cities, we looked for places where the temperature seldom rises above 90 degrees. The sun shines in Flagstaff an average of 78 percent of the year, according to NOAA data, but unlike most other sunny climates, the temperature only rises above 90 degrees an average of three days per year. Flagstaff can receive a significant amount of snow in the winter, but the prolific sunshine often quickly melts accumulation. "There is a lot of sunshine and no extremes of temperature," says Karen Haskins, 71, a retiree who moved to Flagstaff from Amherst, N.H., in 2007. "Summer and early fall are really pleasant. Winters are cold and you do get snow, but because of the intensity of the sun, it melts quickly."

    [In Pictures: The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012.]

    Affordable mountain town: Boone, N.C.

    Pricey Aspen and Vail may be beyond your budget, but that doesn't mean you can't spend your retirement years appreciating spectacular mountain views or making runs on the slopes. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone boasts three nearby ski resorts as well as trails for cross country skiing, winter hiking, and snowshoeing. Residents of this small town of 14,000 also have access to one of the country's most scenic roads, the Blue Ridge Parkway. A bonus: Boone provides residents with a free local bus service, AppalCART, and access to many of the amenities at Appalachian State University. In 2010, the median home sale price was $215,250.

    Water views on a budget: Traverse City, Mich.

    Dream of retiring to a lake house? The Traverse City area offers more than 180 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 149 large lakes measuring 10 acres or more. Residents can climb the high sand dunes and lounge on the freshwater beaches at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, or take a ferry out to the Manitou Islands. There are also plenty of opportunities for boating on the twin Grand Traverse Bays. Housing prices in this lakeside city average a reasonable $155,715.

    [See 10 New Retirement Hot Spots.]

    Greenest place to retire: Walnut Creek, Calif.

    Retirees make up more than a quarter of the population of Walnut Creek, which combines the amenities of a city with abundant access to the wilderness. Downtown is filled with high-end shops, fine dining, and organic eateries, as well as the Lesher Center for the Arts. The city also has 22 city parks and 2,704 acres of open space. "There's a great amount of open space available," says Joe Stadum, a resident of Walnut Creek's large 55-and-older gated community, Rossmoor. He enjoys hiking with the Rossmoor Trails Club, which counts more than 200 members. "You can drive or ride your bicycle or run and hike. It's a great asset." Residents may choose to drive up to the summit of 3,849-foot Mount Diablo or travel to nearby San Francisco. But life in the Bay Area doesn't come cheap. The median home price is $411,000.

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    The best place to retire may be the home you already live in. According to the Florida Move Guide, most who move to FL end up moving back after they learn about 9 months of humidity and 6 months of hurricane season every year. It's great for real estate agents and movers when you move somewhere and then move back, but it can be a nestegg buster.

    jersey shore jake of NJ 7:53AM November 15, 2012

    For that price in these states? What forest fire affected this town in California?

    And; Wich hurricane hit this town in Florida?

    William Angel of OH 3:38PM November 13, 2012

    I am surprised that the 3 lake areas of Branson Missouri was omitted. This area has extremely low cost of living, especially real estate taxes, food & eating out, Median home prices are $150K and part time employment is plentiful. There is plenty to occupy retirees: 100 live shows in Branson and a plethora of restaurants, flea markets, multiple shopping centers, lake Taneycomo and the other super big, clear, lake... Table Rock Lake with a number of small towns and communities that have lake shores in the Tri-lakes area. A beautiful place to retire or attend the local college or find full time employment.

    June Constable of MO 9:31PM November 06, 2012

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