By Amy Hoak
Retiring on $30,000 a year is
manageable — if you live in a low-cost area. That means housing costs are
affordable, taxes are favorable to retirees and there are a variety of
inexpensive dining and entertainment options. AARP The Magazine recently
compiled a list of 10 places throughout the U.S. where retirees can live
comfortably, yet inexpensively. Take a look.
1. Daytona/Deltona/Ormond Beach, Fla.
Population: 514,450
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: No
The median home price is $108,900, the median mortgage payment is $416 and the median property tax is $1,161. There’s no state tax on Social Security or on pensions. Love watching baseball? Join the Silver Sluggers Club, where for $15 you can get in free to all Tuesday games where the Class A Daytona Cubs play, according to the AARP report.
2. Pocatello, Idaho
Population: 88,500
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exemptions)
The median home price is $127,500, the median mortgage payment is $487 and the median property tax is $1,179. While there is a state tax on pensions (with some exemptions), there is none on Social Security, according to the AARP report. Lifelong learners can take some classes on the cheap: Idaho State University’s New Knowledge Adventures are open to those 50 and older and allow people to take unlimited classes for a modest fee.
3. Bangor, Maine
Population: 149,630
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exemptions)
The median home price is $110,400 in Bangor, the median mortgage payment is $421 and the median property tax is $1,303. There are no state taxes on Social Security; there are on pensions (with some exemptions). Nature lovers will appreciate the beauty of this part of the country, and so will music lovers; the annual three-day American Folk Festival in Bangor is free.
4. Greenville, S.C.
Population: 628,600
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes
The median home price is $127,600, the median mortgage payment is $487 and the median property tax is $753 in Greenville. There are no state taxes on Social Security; there are on pensions. Those looking for cultural attractions will be pleased to know that admission to the Greenville County Museum of Art is free, according to the AARP report. Trolley rides and downtown Wi-Fi are also free of charge in the city.
5. Grand Rapids, Mich.
Population: 782,100
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exemptions)
The median home price is $114,200, the median mortgage payment is $436 and the median property tax is $1,830. There are no state taxes on Social Security, but there are on pensions (with some exemptions). Some bright spots of living in Grand Rapids include the international ArtPrize competition downtown, as well as $14 tickets to watch the Grand Rapids Griffins ice hockey team, according to the AARP report.
6. South Bend, Ind.
Population: 316,900
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes
The median home price is $82,500, the median mortgage payment is $315 and the median property tax is $846. There are no state taxes on Social Security; there are on pensions. South Bend is best known as the home of the University of Notre Dame, and free campus tours are offered. The university also draws well-known entertainment acts, according to AARP. At left, University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
7. Erie, Penn.
Population: 278,500
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: No
The median home price is $106,600, the median mortgage payment is $407 and the median property tax is $1,899. There are no state taxes on Social Security or pensions. While Erie is known as a manufacturing town, one of Erie’s natural treasures is Presque Isle State Park, a seven-mile peninsula of beaches on Lake Erie, according to the AARP report.
8. Louisville, Ky.
Population: 1,250,000
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Partial
The median home price is $128,200, the median mortgage payment is $489 and the median property tax is $1,116. There’s no state tax on Social Security, and there’s a partial state tax on pensions, according to AARP. Attractions here include 18 parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of Central Park in New York), the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, and the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs racetrack.
9. Sherman/Denison, Texas
Population: 120,600
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: No
The median home price is $79,400, the median mortgage payment is $303 and the median property tax is $1,158. There are no state taxes on Social Security or pensions. For free, retirees can visit the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, which has 338 species of birds, 36 species of mammals, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians and 61 species of fish, according to the AARP report.
10. Pueblo, Colo.
Population: 158,000
State tax on Social Security: Yes
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exceptions)
The median home price is $102,600, the median mortgage payment is $392 and the median property tax is $765. There are taxes on Social Security and pensions (with some exceptions). One of the best freebies in Pueblo: The Pueblo Levee Mural Project, which spans three miles and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest continuous painting, according to AARP.
1. Daytona/Deltona/Ormond Beach, Fla.
Population: 514,450
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: No
The median home price is $108,900, the median mortgage payment is $416 and the median property tax is $1,161. There’s no state tax on Social Security or on pensions. Love watching baseball? Join the Silver Sluggers Club, where for $15 you can get in free to all Tuesday games where the Class A Daytona Cubs play, according to the AARP report.
2. Pocatello, Idaho
Population: 88,500
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exemptions)
The median home price is $127,500, the median mortgage payment is $487 and the median property tax is $1,179. While there is a state tax on pensions (with some exemptions), there is none on Social Security, according to the AARP report. Lifelong learners can take some classes on the cheap: Idaho State University’s New Knowledge Adventures are open to those 50 and older and allow people to take unlimited classes for a modest fee.
3. Bangor, Maine
Population: 149,630
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exemptions)
The median home price is $110,400 in Bangor, the median mortgage payment is $421 and the median property tax is $1,303. There are no state taxes on Social Security; there are on pensions (with some exemptions). Nature lovers will appreciate the beauty of this part of the country, and so will music lovers; the annual three-day American Folk Festival in Bangor is free.
4. Greenville, S.C.
Population: 628,600
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes
The median home price is $127,600, the median mortgage payment is $487 and the median property tax is $753 in Greenville. There are no state taxes on Social Security; there are on pensions. Those looking for cultural attractions will be pleased to know that admission to the Greenville County Museum of Art is free, according to the AARP report. Trolley rides and downtown Wi-Fi are also free of charge in the city.
5. Grand Rapids, Mich.
Population: 782,100
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exemptions)
The median home price is $114,200, the median mortgage payment is $436 and the median property tax is $1,830. There are no state taxes on Social Security, but there are on pensions (with some exemptions). Some bright spots of living in Grand Rapids include the international ArtPrize competition downtown, as well as $14 tickets to watch the Grand Rapids Griffins ice hockey team, according to the AARP report.
6. South Bend, Ind.
Population: 316,900
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Yes
The median home price is $82,500, the median mortgage payment is $315 and the median property tax is $846. There are no state taxes on Social Security; there are on pensions. South Bend is best known as the home of the University of Notre Dame, and free campus tours are offered. The university also draws well-known entertainment acts, according to AARP. At left, University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
7. Erie, Penn.
Population: 278,500
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: No
The median home price is $106,600, the median mortgage payment is $407 and the median property tax is $1,899. There are no state taxes on Social Security or pensions. While Erie is known as a manufacturing town, one of Erie’s natural treasures is Presque Isle State Park, a seven-mile peninsula of beaches on Lake Erie, according to the AARP report.
8. Louisville, Ky.
Population: 1,250,000
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: Partial
The median home price is $128,200, the median mortgage payment is $489 and the median property tax is $1,116. There’s no state tax on Social Security, and there’s a partial state tax on pensions, according to AARP. Attractions here include 18 parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of Central Park in New York), the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, and the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs racetrack.
9. Sherman/Denison, Texas
Population: 120,600
State tax on Social Security: No
State tax on pensions: No
The median home price is $79,400, the median mortgage payment is $303 and the median property tax is $1,158. There are no state taxes on Social Security or pensions. For free, retirees can visit the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, which has 338 species of birds, 36 species of mammals, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians and 61 species of fish, according to the AARP report.
10. Pueblo, Colo.
Population: 158,000
State tax on Social Security: Yes
State tax on pensions: Yes (with some exceptions)
The median home price is $102,600, the median mortgage payment is $392 and the median property tax is $765. There are taxes on Social Security and pensions (with some exceptions). One of the best freebies in Pueblo: The Pueblo Levee Mural Project, which spans three miles and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest continuous painting, according to AARP.