30 Best US Towns for Retirees Where Median Home Prices Are $200,000 or Less

Top: Bryan, OH; Wabash, IN. Bottom: Lebanon, IL; Elkins, WV. Photos: Antony-22 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Godsalvage (CC BY-SA 4.0), Unknown (CC BY-SA 2.5), Tim Kiser (CC BY-SA 2.5) · via Wikimedia Commons

A comfortable retirement doesn’t have to start with a $400,000 house. In thousands of American towns, the typical home still costs less than $200,000. The hard part is finding the ones that are actually good places to grow older: quiet, safe, easy to get around, with a hospital close by and something to do on a Tuesday afternoon.

To find them, we started with Zillow’s Home Value Index, which tracks the typical home value in every US town, and kept only towns where that figure was $200,000 or less in August 2026. We matched those towns to CoreLogic’s neighborhood indexes, which rate every census tract from 1 to 100 using data from the Census, the FBI and local police, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and more, and to Census Bureau population estimates. That left 860 towns of roughly 4,000 to 60,000 people.

Each town’s CoreLogic score blends six measures. Retirement friendliness counts most. It’s CoreLogic’s own mix of peace and quiet, low crime, educated seniors and a range of housing. Quiet streets, walkability, local shops and restaurants, light traffic and culture make up the rest.

Numbers only tell part of the story, so we then researched the top-scoring towns in each state one by one: how far it is to the nearest full-service hospital, what there is to do, and any honest drawbacks such as flooding, tornado risk or a shrinking population. That research makes up 40% of the final ranking, and towns more than 25 minutes from a hospital lost points. To spread the list around the country, no state gets more than two towns. The result is 30 towns in 19 states.

Each town’s chart shows its six CoreLogic scores in gold. The black tick marks the median for all 860 towns under $200,000 that we scored.

Here they are, counting down from 30 to the best affordable town in America for retirees.

30. Arkadelphia, Arkansas

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Arkadelphia sits in southwest Arkansas, about 50 minutes by car from Hot Springs. The Clark County Courthouse dates to 1899. Nearby DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers fishing and an 18-hole golf course. In town, the paved DeSoto Bluff Trail leads to views over the Ouachita River.

The typical home in Arkadelphia is worth about $185,000, according to Zillow. Arkadelphia scores 67 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale, but just 24 for walkability, suggesting a car-dependent routine. Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia is in town. It suits retirees who want lake outings and local hospital access rather than a largely walkable lifestyle.

Typical home value: $185,265 · Population: 9,894 · Retirement score: 67 · Final score: 64.3

29. Medina, New York

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Medina is an Erie Canal village in western New York, about 55 minutes by car from Rochester. Canal commerce helped shape its growth. Today, retirees can walk or cycle the Canalway Trail, explore downtown’s sandstone buildings, and visit the Medina Railroad Museum, which offers seasonal excursion trains.

The typical home in Medina is worth about $187,000, according to Zillow. Medina scores 68 for retirement friendliness and 75 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Medina Memorial Hospital is in the village with a 24-hour ER. Snowy winters are the trade-off. It suits history lovers comfortable with shoveling or arranging snow removal.

Typical home value: $186,579 · Population: 5,912 · Retirement score: 68 · Final score: 65.4

28. Tell City, Indiana

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Tell City stands on the Ohio River in southern Indiana, about 45 minutes by car from Owensboro, Kentucky. The Swiss Colonization Society founded it in 1858. Its heritage lives on at Schweizer Fest, with music and community events. The paved Tell City Riverwalk provides benches and river views for leisurely outings.

The typical home in Tell City is worth about $187,000, according to Zillow. Tell City scores 67 for retirement friendliness and 89 for easy driving on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Perry County Memorial Hospital is in town. Humid summers are a drawback. It suits retirees who enjoy riverfront walks and keeping a car.

Typical home value: $186,551 · Population: 7,515 · Retirement score: 67 · Final score: 65.4

27. Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

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Truth or Consequences lies in southern New Mexico, about 70 minutes north of Las Cruces by car. Formerly Hot Springs, it adopted a radio show’s name in 1950. Downtown bathhouses still offer mineral-water soaks. The Geronimo Springs Museum adds regional history, prehistoric pottery, and exhibits about the town’s unusual name.

The typical home in Truth or Consequences is worth about $158,000, according to Zillow. Truth or Consequences scores 79 for retirement friendliness and 72 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Sierra Vista Hospital is in town with a 24-hour ER. Summer heat is the trade-off. It suits retirees drawn to hot springs and a slower routine.

Typical home value: $157,766 · Population: 5,942 · Retirement score: 79 · Final score: 65.8

26. Beatrice, Nebraska

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Beatrice is in southeastern Nebraska, about 50 minutes south of Lincoln by car. Nearby Homestead National Historical Park explains the Homestead Act of 1862 through exhibits and prairie trails. In town, the Gage County Museum occupies a 1906 Burlington depot, and the Homestead Trail provides a walking and cycling route.

The typical home in Beatrice is worth about $187,000, according to Zillow. Beatrice scores 70 for retirement friendliness and 67 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center is on the north edge of town. Cold winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees seeking a quieter routine and prairie walks.

Typical home value: $186,905 · Population: 12,290 · Retirement score: 70 · Final score: 66.0

25. Marion, Virginia

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Marion lies in southwestern Virginia’s mountains, about 45 minutes by car from Bristol, Virginia. The Lincoln Theatre opened in 1929 and now presents live performances, including Song of the Mountains. Nearby Hungry Mother State Park offers lake fishing, boating, and wooded trails, giving retirees both indoor entertainment and outdoor options.

The typical home in Marion is worth about $165,000, according to Zillow. Marion scores 72 for retirement friendliness and 29 for walkability on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Smyth County Community Hospital is in town. The walking score suggests car dependence is a trade-off. It suits music lovers and outdoor-minded retirees comfortable keeping a vehicle.

Typical home value: $165,087 · Population: 5,602 · Retirement score: 72 · Final score: 66.4

24. Wagoner, Oklahoma

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Wagoner is in northeastern Oklahoma, roughly a half-hour drive north of Muskogee. It grew around a railroad junction in the late 1800s. Nearby Fort Gibson Lake offers fishing and boating. Sequoyah State Park adds walking trails, golf, and the Three Forks Nature Center for relaxed days outdoors.

The typical home in Wagoner is worth about $189,000, according to Zillow. Wagoner scores 75 for retirement friendliness and 23 for walkability on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. That low walking score suggests planning around a car, an important trade-off. Wagoner Community Hospital is in town. It suits anglers and boaters comfortable driving for errands.

Typical home value: $188,500 · Population: 8,387 · Retirement score: 75 · Final score: 66.5

23. Nebraska City, Nebraska

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Nebraska City is in southeastern Nebraska, about 45 minutes by car from Omaha. Its Arbor Day heritage centers on J. Sterling Morton, whose former home anchors Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. Retirees can tour the mansion, explore its gardens and walking trails, or follow wooded paths past orchards at Arbor Day Farm.

The typical home in Nebraska City is worth about $199,000, according to Zillow. Nebraska City scores 56 for retirement friendliness and 61 for walkability on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. CHI Health St. Mary’s hospital is in town. Cold winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees who enjoy gardens, history, and a smaller community.

Typical home value: $198,794 · Population: 7,526 · Retirement score: 56 · Final score: 66.5

22. Natchez, Mississippi

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Natchez overlooks the Mississippi River in southwestern Mississippi, about an hour and 45 minutes by car from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Established as a French fort site in 1716, it rewards an interest in history. Bluff Park offers river views, while Melrose provides house tours and exhibits about the estate’s enslaved residents.

The typical home in Natchez is worth about $115,000, according to Zillow. Natchez scores 71 for retirement friendliness and 66 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Merit Health Natchez is in town. Hot, humid summers are the trade-off. It suits history-minded retirees who prefer river views and leisurely outings to metropolitan bustle.

Typical home value: $114,594 · Population: 14,233 · Retirement score: 71 · Final score: 67.0

21. Menominee, Michigan

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Menominee sits on Green Bay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about an hour’s drive from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its current North Pier Lighthouse tower dates to 1927. Retirees can explore the historic waterfront downtown, pause at Great Lakes Memorial Marina Park, and enjoy summer concerts beside the marina.

The typical home in Menominee is worth about $178,000, according to Zillow. Menominee scores 77 for retirement friendliness and 80 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area is outside town in Marinette, Wisconsin. Cold winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees seeking waterfront outings and a quieter routine.

Typical home value: $178,397 · Population: 8,231 · Retirement score: 77 · Final score: 67.3

20. South Boston, Virginia

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South Boston sits in Virginia’s Southside region, about a 40-minute drive east of Danville. Tobacco shaped its past, and The Prizery reuses an old tobacco building for performances and art exhibitions. Nearby Staunton River State Park offers trails and dark-sky stargazing, giving retirees a choice between an evening at the theater and time outdoors.

The typical home in South Boston is worth about $153,000, according to Zillow. South Boston scores 73 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale, but only 27 for walkability. Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital is in town. That walking score suggests keeping a car for daily errands. It suits retirees seeking arts and outdoor recreation who are comfortable driving.

Typical home value: $152,829 · Population: 7,795 · Retirement score: 73 · Final score: 67.3

19. Corbin, Kentucky

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Corbin is in southeastern Kentucky, about 85 minutes by car north of Knoxville, Tennessee. The town grew with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Nearby Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers waterfall views, while Laurel River Lake provides fishing and boating. These outings give retirees several ways to spend an afternoon outdoors.

The typical home in Corbin is worth about $170,000, according to Zillow. Corbin scores 78 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale, but just 26 for walkability. Baptist Health Corbin is in town. The walking score suggests planning around a car rather than errands on foot. It suits retirees who want outdoor outings and a local hospital.

Typical home value: $170,311 · Population: 7,891 · Retirement score: 78 · Final score: 67.8

18. Fairmont, Minnesota

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Fairmont lies in southern Minnesota, about an hour’s drive southwest of Mankato. Its five lakes, four connected by channels, provide places to fish and boat. Local preservation adds another draw: the Red Rock Center for the Arts occupies an 1898 former church and presents concerts, bringing live music into a piece of town history.

The typical home in Fairmont is worth about $171,000, according to Zillow. Fairmont scores 77 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Mayo Clinic Health System’s hospital is in town with a 24-hour ER, but its surgical unit closed. Cold, snowy winters are another consideration. It suits lake lovers prepared for winter and travel for surgery.

Typical home value: $170,959 · Population: 10,176 · Retirement score: 77 · Final score: 68.1

17. Abilene, Kansas

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Abilene is in north-central Kansas, about a 30-minute drive east of Salina. Dwight D. Eisenhower grew up here, and his presidential library and museum anchor the historical attractions. Retirees can tour the 1905 Seelye Mansion or catch a production at Great Plains Theatre, giving this small town several options for an afternoon out.

The typical home in Abilene is worth about $185,000, according to Zillow. Abilene scores 68 for retirement friendliness and 77 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Memorial Hospital is in town and provides a 24-hour emergency department. Hot summers and cold winters are the trade-off. It suits history lovers comfortable with the Plains climate.

Typical home value: $185,028 · Population: 6,501 · Retirement score: 68 · Final score: 68.5

16. Spindale, North Carolina

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Spindale sits in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge foothills, about 55 minutes by car from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Textile mills shaped its early growth. Today, the paved Thermal Belt Rail Trail runs through town for walking and cycling. The Foundation Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College hosts concerts and other performances.

The typical home in Spindale is worth about $148,000, according to Zillow. Spindale scores 82 for retirement friendliness and 82 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Rutherford Regional Medical Center is outside town in neighboring Rutherfordton. Hospital visits therefore require leaving town, an important trade-off when choosing a home. It suits retirees who enjoy trails and local performances.

Typical home value: $148,116 · Population: 4,168 · Retirement score: 82 · Final score: 68.7

15. Pipestone, Minnesota

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Pipestone sits in southwestern Minnesota, about 50 minutes by car from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Pipestone National Monument explains Indigenous quarrying traditions that continue today, with exhibits and a walking trail past quarries and a waterfall. Downtown, the Pipestone Performing Arts Center presents community theater and music in the historic Sioux quartzite Ferris Grand Building.

The typical home in Pipestone is worth about $151,000, according to Zillow. Pipestone scores 80 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic Avera provides hospital care in town. Cold, snowy winters are the main trade-off. It suits retirees who enjoy local theater and prairie walks and can manage winter weather.

Typical home value: $151,077 · Population: 4,034 · Retirement score: 80 · Final score: 68.7

14. Tuscumbia, Alabama

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Tuscumbia lies in northwestern Alabama’s Shoals region, about 15 minutes by car from Florence. Helen Keller’s birthplace, Ivy Green, preserves the house and pump associated with her early education. Spring Park adds downtown walking paths and a waterfall, while the Alabama Music Hall of Fame offers another outing for music lovers.

The typical home in Tuscumbia is worth about $196,000, according to Zillow. Tuscumbia scores 82 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Helen Keller Hospital is outside town in neighboring Sheffield. Hot, humid summers are an honest drawback. It suits retirees who enjoy history, music, and park walks and are comfortable planning around summer heat.

Typical home value: $196,197 · Population: 9,222 · Retirement score: 82 · Final score: 68.9

13. Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania

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Mount Pleasant is in southwestern Pennsylvania, about 50 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh by car. Its glassmaking history lives on through the annual Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival, with demonstrations, food, crafts, and entertainment. Nearby Mammoth Park offers lake fishing, accessible fishing docks, and lakeside walks for afternoons away from town.

The typical home in Mount Pleasant is worth about $181,000, according to Zillow. Mount Pleasant scores 81 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Frick Hospital provides hospital and emergency care in town. Cold winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees who enjoy local traditions and nearby parks more than city bustle.

Typical home value: $180,603 · Population: 4,150 · Retirement score: 81 · Final score: 69.1

12. Newton, Kansas

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Newton sits in south-central Kansas, about 30 minutes north of Wichita by car. Its railroad roots reach back to the arrival of the Santa Fe line in 1871. The Sand Creek path offers walking and cycling, while Kauffman Museum in neighboring North Newton explores prairie life and Mennonite immigrant history.

The typical home in Newton is worth about $175,000, according to Zillow. Newton scores 65 for retirement friendliness and 85 for easy driving on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. NMC Health Medical Center provides hospital and emergency care in town. Summer heat is a drawback. It suits retirees who want walking trails and convenient access to Wichita.

Typical home value: $175,092 · Population: 18,320 · Retirement score: 65 · Final score: 69.1

11. DuBois, Pennsylvania

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DuBois sits in north-central Pennsylvania, about two hours and ten minutes by car from Pittsburgh. Lumber mills and coal mining shaped its early growth. Retirees can catch community productions at the Reitz Theater, housed in a former church, or explore local history through the DuBois Area Historical Society and its museum.

The typical home in DuBois is worth about $179,000, according to Zillow. DuBois scores 78 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Penn Highlands DuBois provides hospital and emergency care in town. Pittsburgh outings require a substantial drive. It suits retirees seeking local medical care and community theater rather than frequent big-city visits.

Typical home value: $178,921 · Population: 7,302 · Retirement score: 78 · Final score: 69.2

10. Benton, Kentucky

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Benton is in western Kentucky, about 40 minutes by car from Paducah. Incorporated in 1845, it carries on the Tater Day tradition rooted in sweet-potato trading. The town is inland from Kentucky Lake’s fishing and boating. Nearby Mike Miller County Park offers paved walking trails, pickleball courts and an accessible fishing pier.

The typical home in Benton is worth about $186,000, according to Zillow. Benton scores 85 for retirement friendliness but just 11 for walkability on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Marshall County Hospital is in town. The low walkability score suggests planning on driving. It suits retirees who want lake outings and don’t mind relying on a car.

Typical home value: $186,293 · Population: 4,726 · Retirement score: 85 · Final score: 69.5

9. Webster City, Iowa

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Webster City is in north-central Iowa, about 75 minutes by car from Des Moines. Wilson Brewer Historic Park preserves its pioneer history through log cabins, a schoolhouse and a railroad depot. The paved Boone River Recreational Trail links town with Briggs Woods Park, where fishing and golf offer other ways to spend an afternoon.

The typical home in Webster City is worth about $156,000, according to Zillow. Webster City scores 87 for retirement friendliness and 76 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Van Diest Medical Center is in town. Freezing, windy winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees seeking trails and a quieter routine.

Typical home value: $156,137 · Population: 7,763 · Retirement score: 87 · Final score: 70.5

8. Wabash, Indiana

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Wabash is in north-central Indiana, about 55 minutes by car from Fort Wayne. The Honeywell Center opened in 1952 as a community recreation center and now offers touring performances and gallery exhibitions. Paradise Spring Historical Park adds paved walking paths and reconstructed cabins at the site of the 1826 treaty negotiations.

The typical home in Wabash is worth about $186,000, according to Zillow. Wabash scores 68 for retirement friendliness and 88 for easy driving on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Parkview Wabash Hospital is in town. Freezing, snowy winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees who want live performances and local medical care.

Typical home value: $185,591 · Population: 10,275 · Retirement score: 68 · Final score: 70.7

7. Clyde, Ohio

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Clyde is in northwestern Ohio, about 55 minutes by car from Toledo. Civil War General James B. McPherson spent part of his childhood here; his house offers tours by appointment. The free Clyde Museum preserves local history, while the North Coast Inland Trail provides a place to walk or cycle.

The typical home in Clyde is worth about $197,000, according to Zillow. Clyde scores 86 for retirement friendliness and 73 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. The trade-off is traveling outside town for hospital care at Firelands Health The Bellevue Hospital in Bellevue. It suits retirees seeking quiet routines, local history and trail outings.

Typical home value: $197,240 · Population: 6,360 · Retirement score: 86 · Final score: 70.7

6. Elkins, West Virginia

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Elkins sits in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, about 90 minutes by car from Morgantown. Incorporated in 1890, it grew as a railroad center. Retirees can attend Augusta Heritage Center’s traditional-music workshops and dances downtown or board the New Tygart Flyer at the restored depot for a mountain excursion.

The typical home in Elkins is worth about $172,000, according to Zillow. Elkins scores 79 for retirement friendliness and 69 for quiet on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Davis Medical Center is in town. Cold, snowy winters are the trade-off. It suits retirees who enjoy traditional music and mountain scenery.

Typical home value: $172,047 · Population: 6,698 · Retirement score: 79 · Final score: 71.2

5. Iron Mountain, Michigan

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Iron Mountain is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about two hours by car from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its iron-mining past is preserved at the Cornish Pumping Engine and Mining Museum. Nearby Lake Antoine Park offers a kayak launch and picnic areas, giving retirees places to spend an unhurried afternoon beside the water.

The typical home in Iron Mountain is worth about $196,000, according to Zillow. Iron Mountain scores 90 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson is in town. Severe winter cold is the trade-off, so winter upkeep deserves a place in the budget. It suits outdoors-minded retirees who are comfortable with a northern climate.

Typical home value: $195,875 · Population: 7,524 · Retirement score: 90 · Final score: 71.7

4. Dixon, Illinois

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Dixon stands along the Rock River in northern Illinois, about an hour’s drive from Rockford. Ronald Reagan spent part of his childhood here, and his restored Boyhood Home offers guided tours. Lowell Park provides wooded walking trails, fishing spots, and boat access, making it easy to pair local history with an afternoon outdoors.

The typical home in Dixon is worth about $181,000, according to Zillow. Dixon scores 78 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center is in town. Cold, snowy winters are the trade-off, and some outdoor plans will depend on conditions. It suits retirees who enjoy river recreation and history close to home.

Typical home value: $180,985 · Population: 15,156 · Retirement score: 78 · Final score: 71.8

3. Lebanon, Illinois

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Lebanon is on the Illinois side of the St. Louis metropolitan area, about 31 minutes from St. Louis by car. Founded in 1814, it retains a historic Brick Street shopping district. McKendree University’s Hettenhausen Center for the Arts offers music and theater, giving retirees a local alternative to driving into the city.

The typical home in Lebanon is worth about $177,000, according to Zillow. Lebanon scores 92 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Memorial Hospital Shiloh is outside town, in Shiloh, so hospital visits require travel. That is a practical trade-off for this small college town. It suits arts-minded retirees comfortable keeping a car.

Typical home value: $176,882 · Population: 4,628 · Retirement score: 92 · Final score: 73.0

2. Bryan, Ohio

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Bryan is in northwestern Ohio, about an hour’s drive from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 1840, it still centers on the historic Williams County Courthouse square. Retirees can enjoy free summer performances at Fountain City Amphitheater in Recreation Park, with paved walking paths nearby for a stroll before the music begins.

The typical home in Bryan is worth about $194,000, according to Zillow. Bryan scores 85 for retirement friendliness and 90 for easy driving on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Parkview Bryan Hospital is in town. Freezing winters are the main trade-off. It suits retirees who prefer community concerts and manageable drives to a big-city routine.

Typical home value: $194,259 · Population: 8,601 · Retirement score: 85 · Final score: 74.4

1. Fairfield, Iowa

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Fairfield sits in southeastern Iowa, about 30 minutes by car from Ottumwa. Established as Jefferson County’s seat in 1839, it later hosted Iowa’s first state fair. Retirees can attend performances at the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts or walk the Fairfield Loop Trail through woodland and prairie.

The typical home in Fairfield is worth about $158,000, according to Zillow. Fairfield scores 94 for retirement friendliness on CoreLogic’s 100-point scale. Jefferson County Health Center is in town. Cold winters are the trade-off, so plan for heating and winter upkeep. It suits retirees who want arts outings and walking trails without a large-city setting.

Typical home value: $157,685 · Population: 9,511 · Retirement score: 94 · Final score: 75.1

The Full Ranking

CoreLogic scores run from 1 to 100, and higher is better on every measure. The final score blends the CoreLogic score (60%) with our research on healthcare, amenities and drawbacks (40%).

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, single-family homes and condos, August 2026); CoreLogic neighborhood indexes (March 2025), rolled up from census tracts to municipalities; population from US Census Bureau 2024 estimates. Home values change, so check current listings before you buy.