Comparing Your Options: The Financial Realities
When evaluating these locations, you must look beyond the scenery and assess the hard financial data. A lower cost of living can stretch a modest retirement portfolio by decades. The table below provides a high-level comparison of the economic factors driving the appeal of these regions.
| City, State | General Cost of Living (100 = Nat’l Avg) |
State Taxes on Social Security |
Best Feature for Retirees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 92.0 | Exempt | Tech-driven economy & low property taxes |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 96.5 | Exempt (Subject to age phase-outs) | “Medical Mile” top-tier healthcare access |
| Las Cruces, NM | 88.0 | Exempt for most middle-income | Year-round sunshine at high elevation |
| Spokane, WA | 104.0 (but 0% state income tax) | Exempt | No state income tax & outdoor recreation |
| Bethlehem, PA | 101.0 | Exempt (All retirement income exempt) | Massive tax benefits for traditional IRA/401(k) users |
“People who retire to something rather than from something tend to be much happier. A successful retirement requires a sense of purpose and a community that supports your daily lifestyle.”
— Mitch Anthony, Retirement Lifestyle Expert
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