The best places to retire in America? Try this wine-centric California city
For folks who want to be like John Mellencamp and “live in a small town / probably die in a small town,” where should they head when retirement comes knocking?
It might be Cedar Key, Fla.; Dillsboro, N.C.; or closer to the Bay Area, a little city (not town) called Paso Robles. That’s according to a new guide from Travel + Leisure, “Discover the Best Small Towns in America for Retirees,” which is based on data like cost of living, crime, healthcare availability and senior housing.
“There’s something about small towns that inspires nostalgia and the feeling that traditions are still thriving,” writes Patricia Doherty. “Many retirees look for that type of atmosphere, whether it recalls their own history or a long-imagined ideal place to settle down. There are also practical reasons to move to a small town upon retirement, such as affordability, safety, wellness, culture and comfort-related preferences.”
Sitting about halfway between San Francisco and L.A., Paso Robles made the cut due to its walkable downtown, warm summers and senior-friendly activities like golfing and wine tasting. Here are other places the magazine has deemed worthy of retirement.
Travel + Leisure’s best small towns to retire in for 2025
1 Greer, S.C.
2 Coolidge, Ariz.
3 Dillsboro, N.C.
4 Fredericksburg, Texas
5 Cedar Key, Fla.
Tidy rows of grapevines surround a heart-shaped grove of oak trees at Niner Wine Estates, a scenic spot to have lunch in the Willow Creek District area of the Paso Robles wine country. (Lori Rackl)
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