Potential retirees looking to stretch their retirement income should take a close look at the three affordable places to retire in the US listed below. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index ranks each of these affordable places to retire in the top 10 of the least expensive urban areas in the US.
Harlingen, Texas: Most affordable place to retire in the US
Harlingen, Texas is a city of approximately 75,000 located in the Rio Grande Valley region of south Texas. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index ranks Harlingen as the least expensive urban area in the US, with a cost of living index almost 20 percent lower than the national average. Harlingen may be the most affordable place to retire in the US.
Harlingen’s climate is semi-tropical with warm winters and hot summers. Harlingen’s winter high temperatures are in the low to mid 70s, while summer high temperatures are in the 90s. Harlingen averages around twenty-five inches of rainfall per year, with September typically the wettest month.
Harlingen offers excellent health care facilities. There are three hospitals and a VA clinic located in Harlingen. Valley Baptist Medical Center has been recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States.
Harlingen offers its residents many exciting recreational activities. Harlingen’s amenities include seven golf courses, numerous public parks, and Harlingen Arroyo Colorado wing of the World Birding Center. Additionally, South Padre Island, home of the best beaches in Texas, is located a mere 25 miles from Harlingen. Harlingen is also home to the Iwo Jima Memorial Museum and the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum.
Pueblo Colorado: Affordable retirement in Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado is a city of approximately 150,000 located in southeastern Colorado, approximately 115 miles south of Denver. Pueblo’s cost of living is approximately 15 percent lower than the US average according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index, making Pueblo the least expensive city in Colorado and among the most affordable retirement locations in the US.
Pueblo has a dry climate with warm summers and cool winters. Pueblo’s average summer high temperatures are in the upper 80s and its average winter high temperatures are in the mid 40s. Pueblo receives an average of 11 inches of precipitation annually, with July and August typically the wettest months.
Pueblo has two large hospitals: Parkview Medical Center and St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, which between them provide Pueblo residents with excellent health care services.
Pueblo residents have many exciting recreational opportunities. Nearby Lake Pueblo State Park is Colorado’s most visited state park, offering its visitors a variety of water sports. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo is a 32 acre urban waterfront experience located in the heart of downtown Pueblo. More than 25 sculptures, statues, and ceramic murals have been erected along the riverwalk. Pueblo is also the home of the annual Wild West Festival in May and the Colorado State Fair in the late summer.
Cookeville, Tennessee:
Cookeville, Tennessee is a city of approximately 27,000 located in central Tennesseeapproximately half way between Nashville and Knoxville. Cookeville’s cost of living is approximately 15 percent below the US national average, making Cookeville one of the most affordable retirement locations in the US.
Cookeville has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. Summer high temperatures are typically in the upper 80s while winter high temperatures are generally in the upper 40s or lower 50s. Cookeville receives about 50 inches of precipitation annually.
Cookeville Regional Medical Center is the largest healthcare provider in the Cookeville area. Cookeville Regional Medical Center has over 140 physicians in 36 specialties.
Recreational activities in the Cookeville area include nearby Burgess Falls State Park, the Appalachian Center for Craft, Cookeville Depot Museum, Cane Creek Park and the Cookeville History Museum.
Senior citizens looking for an affordable place to retire in the United States should give each of these three locations a close look. All three offer a low cost of living, great recreational activities, and access to quality medical care.