10. Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort sits in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry, positioned on Port Royal Island. While slightly more expensive than Gulfport or Mobile, it remains significantly cheaper than nearby Charleston or Hilton Head. It offers an elegant, slow-paced retirement surrounded by tidal marshes and winding waterways.
The town is defined by its antebellum architecture and Spanish moss-draped oak trees. The lifestyle here revolves around the water: crabbing, kayaking, and watching the sunset over the intracoastal waterway. South Carolina is very welcoming to retirees, offering a generous deduction on retirement income and completely exempting Social Security benefits.
Beaufort strikes the perfect balance. It is small enough to feel like a close-knit community but close enough to larger cities to ensure you have access to major airports and specialized healthcare when necessary.
I JOINED USA NAVY IN 1964 TO AVOID THE ARMY DRAFT.
I ATTENDED ELECTRICIAN SCHOOL AND WENT TO AN
AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN SAN DIEGO. WE MADE 2 TRIPS TO
VIET NAM. OUR SHIP HAD 3,500 MEN ABORD; I WAS PROMOTED
TO E-4 ELECTRICIANS MATE. I DO NOT REGRET ANY DECIONS
THAT I MADE IN MY LIFE. MY WIFE AND I ARE MARRIED 50
YEARS NOW. PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM SURE
THAT EVERYONE AGREES…AMEN.
TICONDEROGA CVA-14