Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

  • Home
  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

Best Places in Every State to Live On a Fixed Income

April 5, 2018 · Retirement Life

Hawaii: Hilo

Home values in Hawaii have always been exceptionally high, so those who wish to retire to this tropical paradise might need to rethink their budgeting strategies. That being said, there is at least one place in the island state where prices are lowest.

In Hilo, the median home prices have only increased by 1% lately, though you’re still expected to dish out $336,900. Even so, it’s only the second-highest city in terms of home prices on our list. In Hawaii overall, the median home price is $628,600, so you’re looking at a fraction of the cost either way.

Rent will cost you around $1,685, unsurprisingly considering the 12% increase over the last couple of years.

A couple looking over the Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Active seniors enjoy the stunning canyon and waterfall views at the scenic Perrine Coulee Overlook.

Idaho: Twin Falls

Percentage wise, you might think Twin Falls might be too expensive for retirees with a limited income. That’s because while home values increased by 6% within one year, rent has also gone up by 4.5%.

That being said, you’ll still find a home $49,400 cheaper than the national average. In this city, you can purchase one for $158,200.

Seniors shopping at a local farmer's market in Illinois.
Seniors browse fresh produce and enjoy live music at the bustling Champaign-Urbana Farmer’s Market.

Illinois: Champaign-Urbana

Are you $76,500 short compared to the median home value nationwide? Then you should strongly consider Champaign-Urbana. On top of living in a metropolitan area with that name, you’ll also be a resident of one of the top greenest cities in the U.S., which is always a plus!

In terms of arts and culture, you’ll find plenty of theatres and art galleries for lovely evenings. In the last week of April you should definitely plan a visit to Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, hosted by the Historic Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign.

A couple sitting on a dock by a lake in Angola, Indiana.
A retired couple enjoys a serene sunset from a dock, highlighting the affordable lakeside living in Angola, Indiana.

Indiana: Angola

The most stable housing market in Indiana is in the city of Angola. Seniors who are worried about their budget and fixed income but have always wished to move here, now’s your chance.

Both rent and home prices have been stable over the past couple of years, with the former only going up 1% and the latter just 2%. These numbers should give retirees a little more security during their golden years.

Retirees exploring an outdoor sculpture park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Seniors enjoy the free art and city views at the sculpture park in downtown Des Moines.

Iowa: Des Moines

Des Moines is yet another capital city on our list where home and rent prices won’t make you think twice about moving here. You can set up permanent residence for as little as $174,100 and rest assured, their prices have only gone up by 2% lately. Rent, on the other hand, has only risen by around 1%.

It’s also the cultural center of Iowa and home to several theatres and performing arts groups. Fans of sports rejoice. In 2017, Des Moines was known as the number 1 Minor League Sports city in the US by SportsBusiness Journal!

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

4 responses to “Best Places in Every State to Live On a Fixed Income”

  1. Robert Jones says:
    January 28, 2019 at 2:43 pm

    Nothing is said about Medical facilities which are of importance to the elderly.

    Reply
  2. William Horn says:
    January 28, 2019 at 4:03 pm

    I’d like to see an article about the best places for people with incomes under $1,000

    Reply
  3. Ray says:
    January 29, 2019 at 2:59 pm

    What is with the “Median” values? A community could have 10,000 homes sold for $200,000 and if one home went for $100, 000 and another for $1,000,000 the median would be $450,000. Median is the half way value and is only used to mislead. It is not an average.

    Reply
  4. Red Winzer says:
    January 29, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    If the financial situation is dire enough that it is life or death, I suppose that these places would be preferable to death. If that is not the deciding factor, I would rather be dead than live in most of these places.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • A senior woman looking thoughtfully at her phone in a bright, modern home office. 6 Social Security Scams You Need to Pay Attention to
  • A happy retired couple enjoying the sunset on a beautiful porch. 8 States to Retire For Less Than 45K a Year
  • A retired couple looking at a map on a sunny balcony overlooking a beautiful coastal town. 10 Countries to Retire Where $150K Is More Than Enough
  • A happy retiree working on a laptop on a sunny patio, symbolizing flexible part-time work. 20 Great Part-Time Jobs For Retirees
  • A senior couple smiling while looking at a tablet in a bright, modern kitchen. 5 Crucial Medicare Changes Coming Soon
  • A senior couple happily unpacking groceries in a bright, modern kitchen. 9 Ways to Shop at Costco Without a Membership
  • A happy retired couple stands on the porch of a beautiful, sunny home, symbolizing an affordable and joyful retirement. 10 Best Places to Retire That Won't Break the Bank
  • An older man confidently using a laptop in a sunlit home office, symbolizing digital security. 7 Common Passwords To Avoid
  • A retired couple looking out a window in their bright, downsized modern home. 11 Mistakes to Avoid When Downsizing Your Home
  • A retired couple smiling on a balcony overlooking a scenic coastal village at sunset. 12 Best Countries to Live Perfectly Well on Social Security

Newsletter

Get retirement planning tips, savings strategies, and lifestyle insights delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

10 Ways Seniors Suffer Financial Abuse

Using joint accounts There might be situations where it’s not a good idea to have…

Read More →

Most Important Financial Benefits For Retirees Offered By Each State

Delaware – Social Security is exempt from taxes, as well as up to $12,500 of…

Read More →
A mature couple looking thoughtfully at a sunset over the ocean, representing the transition into retirement.

20 Moments When We All Lie to Ourselves About Retirement

Discover the 20 most common lies we tell ourselves about retirement and learn how to…

Read More →

22 Ways to Live a Comfortable Retirement on Social Security Alone

A happy man walks through a sun-drenched, walkable neighborhood while carrying his reusable grocery bag.…

Read More →

Will Taxing the Rich Save Social Security? Experts Weigh in

How much could a revised Social Security tax bring in? This depends on the plan…

Read More →

12 Smarter Options You Should Try Before Raiding Your Retirement Funds

Low-Interest Loan If there’s anything good to take out from this whole COVID-19 situation, it’s…

Read More →

7 Reasons Renting Fits Perfectly With Your Retirement

3. Live closer to children and grandchildren A lot of parents have looked forward to…

Read More →

Find Out if You Can Still Work Through Retirement in the USA

Kansas As many as 22.2% of Kansas’ seniors are still working, totalling to 103,000 people.…

Read More →

12 Ways To Relieve Your Financial Anxiety

Picture worst-case scenario If you didn’t resonate with the previous advice, you could try another…

Read More →
Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@retiredinamerica.com

Trust & Legal

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertiser Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Disclaimer

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in America. All rights reserved.