Best Small Towns to Retire
This ranking focuses on smaller-market retirement places where daily life may feel more manageable than a large metro. It is designed for retirees who want a practical shortlist, not just a pretty small-town name.
How to use this ranking
Small-town retirement searches usually come down to tradeoffs: lower traffic and a calmer pace can be appealing, but healthcare depth, airport access and specialist care may be thinner than in larger metros.
Use this page to find places that look promising on cost, comfort and fit, then compare them against a nearby larger metro before deciding whether the smaller setting is realistic.
What to verify before moving
- Current housing prices and property taxes in the exact neighborhoods you would consider.
- Healthcare access for your doctors, medications and likely specialist needs.
- Insurance, wildfire, flood, hurricane, heat or winter-driving exposure.
- Whether the place still fits in the off-season, not just during a short visit.
Top places in this ranking
Updated 2026-05-21. Scores are screening signals, not a substitute for visiting, checking local costs and confirming healthcare access.
#1 Carroll County, New Hampshire
Carroll County works best for retirees who care most about scenic mountain-lake appeal. It is less appealing if healthcare depth matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 70
#2 Calhoun County, Georgia
Calhoun County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#3 Franklin County, Georgia
Franklin County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#4 Miller County, Georgia
Miller County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#5 Treutlen County, Georgia
Treutlen County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#6 Person County, North Carolina
Person County is a practical North Carolina retirement county for people who want livability, services, regional access. It is less compelling if coastal or mountain lifestyle fit may matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#7 Burleson County, Texas
Burleson County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#8 Eastland County, Texas
Eastland County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#9 Live Oak County, Texas
Live Oak County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#10 Rains County, Texas
Rains County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#11 Upton County, Texas
Upton County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#12 Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is a practical Vermont retirement county for people who want scenic appeal, lower-intensity living, lifestyle fit. It is less compelling if the strongest services base matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
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How RetireScorecard scores places
RetireScorecard combines public-data signals for affordability, healthcare access, climate comfort, air quality, disaster risk and retiree fit. The goal is to help you narrow a large search into places worth researching more deeply.
Read the methodology or review the data sources.