12 Most Affordable U.S. Cities Where You’ll Really Want to Retire

March 10, 2021 · Retirement Life

A crowded tourist district in Anaheim. — Bright billboards and dense crowds in a bustling city highlight the hectic lifestyle many retirees want to avoid.

Don’t retire in Anaheim, California

Home to the famous Disneyland and a short drive away from Los Angeles, Anaheim is a popular destination for numerous retirees. However, some of the costs in this Orange County city are anything but a ride in the park. People aged 65 and older must shell out around $85,000 for annual expenditures while the median price for a home reaches $600,000.

Seniors chatting with their neighbor in a friendly neighborhood. — Friendly neighbors enjoy a morning chat over a white picket fence in a quiet, sun-drenched residential neighborhood.

Instead, opt for Las Vegas

Rather than allowing yourself to get swept away by the magical charm of Disneyland, opt for the more-glamorous version, namely Las Vegas. Sin City might be famous for its shows, gambling and restaurants but there’s more than that, especially for retirees.

Instead of worrying that you’ll be spending all your money in casinos, chew on the fact that the average annual expenditures in Las Vegas is less than $60,000 a year, $25,000 less than what you’d be spending in Anaheim. The median list price is half of that in Anaheim, which makes house-hunting a lot easier.

On top of that, 30 percent of new residents in Sin City are 65 and older and according to U.S. Census Bureau, the elderly population will become the fastest-growing demographic in the next 10 years.