Hilo, Hawaii
Average high temperature in July: 83℉
Average low temperature in January: 64℉
Cost of living for retirees: 55.6% above U.S. average
Share of population 65+: 18.0%
Hawaii’s tax rating for retirees: Mixed
Lifetime health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $332,090
Hawaii is well known for its beautiful beaches, enviable climate and high prices. If you’re hoping to retire in paradise, you can do so more affordably on the Big Island compared with Oahu, home of capital city Honolulu, where retiree living costs are 79.5% above the U.S. average. The median home value in Hilo is $303,800—still pricey, to be sure, but much more reasonable than the $550,900 median in urban Honolulu.
And the local lifestyle is still priceless. The colonial town’s mood is quiet and calm, but its location on the eastern coast of the island and near active volcano Mauna Loa offers plenty of opportunities for adventure. You can explore rainforests and waterfalls, as well as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the downtown and waterfront areas, enjoy galleries, shops, restaurants and museums, including the Imiloa Astronomy Center.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Average high temperature in July: 91℉
Average low temperature in January: 45℉
Cost of living for retirees: 4.3% below U.S. average
Share of population 65+: 10.9%
Louisiana’s tax rating for retirees: Most Tax-Friendly
Lifetime health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $395,452
Pleasure-seeking retirees can find a lot to satisfy them in the Big Easy. The unique cultures, delicious foods and signature music are big draws. The city offers brass band parades and festivals throughout the year, including the hugely famous jazz fest.
Considering New Orleans is a world-renowned convention and tourism destination, the cost of living for residents is surprisingly reasonable. So, too, are taxes on retirees, explaining why Louisiana ranks as one of our 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees. The city’s median home value is $183,700, slightly higher than the national median of $176,700, though it might be worth it to pay a bit more to live in nearby Metairie (where the median home value is $209,500). The New Orleans suburb offers greater safety and a higher share of seniors, who make up 17.1% of the population.
Oxford, Mississippi
Average high temperature in July: 91℉
Average low temperature in January: 30℉
Cost of living for retirees: not available
Share of population 65+: 10.5%
Mississippi’s tax rating for retirees: Most Tax-Friendly
Lifetime health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $379,852
Ole Miss can breathe new life into your retirement. Hometown Mississippi Retirement, the state’s official retiree attraction program, has designated Oxford a certified retirement city, which required a three-month evaluation that assessed its affordability, safety, access to quality medical care and abundance of recreational opportunities. Housing in the city can be expensive; the median home value is $224,100, much more than the state’s median of $99,900. But the Magnolia State’s tax situation is one of the nation’s friendliest for retirees.
The University of Mississippi makes Oxford a great college town to retire to. You can enjoy football and other sporting events (plus tailgating), musical and theater performances, and academic pursuits. Residents 65 and older can take one university course per semester free. Or you can take your education to go with the academic traveler program, which organizes weeklong, faculty-led trips several times a year.