I recommend Chattanooga, Tenn., with its mild winters, mountains, streams, lakes, and a wide variety of dining, cultural, and outdoor activities [10 Affordable Places to Retire, usnews.com]. Chattanooga's low cost of living, excellent medical facilities, wide range of services are icing on the cake. There must be a reason Chattanooga is appearing on a lot of top 10 lists.
Comment by Tom of TN
I've lived in Pittsburgh, and it is affordable. It's a great place to live if you can take the gloomy weather. It's that great combination of small town/big city. Unfortunately, the American Lung Association listed it as the No. 1 worst city for short-term air pollution and No. 2 worst for long-term air pollution in 2008. This is the first time a city outside of California has received this unwanted distinction. Also, property taxes are quite high while there is no sales tax on food, clothing, or laundry supplies. As with all "Best" and "Most" lists, there is much more to consider than the article's topic.
Comment by J K Sherbak of UT
I have visited Omaha and spent some time. I also have visited 48 of our 50 states along with 30 other countries. As I enjoyed my time in Nebraska, I'm sorry to break the news to you but it is definitely not in my (and most people's) top 250-500 places. If one is to retire somewhere, the only selling point should not be "it is cheap" and there are "lovely hills." Expense is a concern but what about extreme natural beauty such as mountains, the ocean, islands surrounded by blue water, sunsets and sunrises over plains that stretch for miles, culture, or theater and the arts? Omaha is a nice place to visit ... but retire?
Comment by Joe of NY
I have been considering a move to Wyoming. I already live in one of the 10 states you have in your list—Tennessee. However, I live in East Tennessee, which I would think would be even more cost-effective than the Chattanooga area, and we are very close to the University of Tennessee. I recently read a book that used Wyoming as the setting, and I fell in love with the Tetons, lakes, and marshes. Since then, I have wondered about the cost of living in that state and how it compares to TN.
Comment by Rebecca A. Stewart of TN
It's amazing that when anyone posts the best places to retire, there seems to be no agreement whatsoever. For instance, some years back Kiplinger did a cost analysis which showed that Delaware was absolutely the lowest cost state with a total tax cost of $419 for a modest income retiree—even taking into account state income tax. I tend to agree since I moved here partially on the basis of their article. However, in the latest U.S. News & World Report article, Delaware is not even on the list.
Comment by Ray of DE
The article doesn't mention departing from the USA. I will be retiring to my wife's southern Mexican hometown. What little I get from a federal pension and the few extra Social Security bucks/month just won't cut it in the USA, but will do quite well, thank you, in Mexico. Costs of luxury items are much higher there, but fresh foods and medical costs are a bargain.
Comment by Alan O. of MD
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