Burlington, Vt.

Population: 42,453

Share of population 65+: 10.7%

Living costs for retirees: 16.4% above the national average

Average income for 65+: n/a

Community score: 64.2

State’s tax rating for retirees: Least Tax-Friendly

If your retirement dream included miles and miles of hiking and biking paths, secluded beaches where you can enjoy swimming, kayaking or paddleboard when the temperature is warm and endless skiing hours in winter, then Burlington is your retirement town.

This eco-friendly town is located on the shores of Lake Champlain, making it perfect for outdoor recreation. The city’s economy is continuously developing due to businesses such as household-products maker Seventh Generation or the local movement providing food to the neighborhood.

However, retirees have to pay big bucks for their tree-hugging opportunities. Living expenses and taxes are quite high, with private rooms in a metro area nursing home reaching a median of $11,498 a month, compared with $8,365 a month for the U.S. The median home value in the Green Mountain State, however, is $206,000, lower than the median $229,000 for the U.S.. In Burlington, it reaches $326,500!