The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S.. #1 is Rhinebeck, NY.

1. 50Carroll, Pennsylvania

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   5,380 people · Washington County · median home $189,300 · income $79,219 · Jan low 21°F · 10 in snow

2. 49Rye, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   5,543 people · Rockingham County · median home $1,028,100 · income $140,655 · Jan low 16°F · 65 in snow

3. 48Jamestown, Rhode Island

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   5,559 people · Newport County · median home $842,400 · income $140,625 · Jan low 24°F · 26 in snow

4. 47Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   5,641 people · Blair County · median home $196,100 · income $69,458 · Jan low 20°F · 38 in snow

5. 46Penn, Pennsylvania

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   5,644 people · Chester County · median home $498,600 · income $136,250 · Jan low 23°F · 18 in snow

6. 45Petoskey, Michigan

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   5,877 people · Emmet County · median home $364,100 · income $74,196 · Jan low 15°F · 124 in snow

7. 44Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   6,005 people · Santa Fe County · median home $591,900 · income $106,633 · Jan low 21°F · 28 in snow

8. 43Peninsula, Michigan

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   6,068 people · Grand Traverse County · median home $706,900 · income $137,787 · Jan low 17°F · 115 in snow

9. 42Sanibel, Florida

   Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

   6,382 people · Lee County · median home $957,300 · income $108,644 · Jan low 54°F

10. 41Pelican Bay, Florida

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    6,660 people · Collier County · median home $1,287,900 · income $163,520 · Jan low 56°F · 0 in snow

11. 40Cumberland, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    7,033 people · Adams County · median home $293,200 · income $83,021 · Jan low 21°F · 27 in snow

12. 39Skaneateles, New York

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    7,112 people · Onondaga County · median home $457,800 · income $103,545 · Jan low 15°F · 106 in snow

13. 38Lely Resort, Florida

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    7,619 people · Collier County · median home $666,900 · income $93,750 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow

14. 37Montecito, California

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    8,638 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $231,005 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

15. 36Skidaway Island, Georgia

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    9,310 people · Chatham County · median home $803,700 · income $136,156 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

16. 35Piermont, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,517 people · Rockland County · median home $652,900 · income $140,450 · Jan low 23°F · 33 in snow

17. 34Elk Rapids, Michigan

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,521 people · Antrim County · median home $401,100 · income $82,933 · Jan low 17°F · 112 in snow

18. 33Woodstock, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,521 people · Ulster County · median home $675,600 · income $52,091 · Jan low 12°F · 86 in snow

19. 32Fearrington Village, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,557 people · Chatham County · median home $472,600 · income $86,116 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow

20. 31Hallowell, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,570 people · Kennebec County · median home $295,300 · income $68,398 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

21. 30Sharon, Connecticut

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,680 people · median home $590,700 · income $100,518 · Jan low 14°F · 62 in snow

22. 29Rhinebeck, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,697 people · Dutchess County · median home $492,600 · income $70,496 · Jan low 11°F · 61 in snow

23. 28Lima, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,745 people · Delaware County · median home $396,300 · income $76,932 · Jan low 27°F · 19 in snow

24. 27Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,090 people · Hillsborough County · median home $379,300 · income $85,833 · Jan low 13°F · 69 in snow

25. 26Snowmass Village, Colorado

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,096 people · Pitkin County · median home $1,729,900 · income $102,959 · Jan low 9°F · 171 in snow

26. 25Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,308 people · Washington County · median home $851,300 · income $82,192 · Jan low 19°F · 35 in snow

27. 24Galena, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,308 people · Jo Daviess County · median home $233,200 · income $58,689 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

28. 23Caroline, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,334 people · Tompkins County · median home $234,200 · income $80,855 · Jan low 13°F · 63 in snow

29. 22Barton Creek, Texas

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,356 people · Travis County · median home $2,000,001 · income $203,947 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

30. 21Yountville, California

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,436 people · Napa County · median home $802,200 · income $80,342 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

31. 20Toftrees, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,513 people · Centre County · median home $434,100 · income $73,721 · Jan low 21°F · 44 in snow

32. 19Ketchum, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,555 people · Blaine County · median home $824,000 · income $93,046 · Jan low 8°F · 102 in snow

33. 18Otsego, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,641 people · Otsego County · median home $352,600 · income $72,891 · Jan low 14°F · 86 in snow

34. 17Camden, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,850 people · Knox County · median home $498,800 · income $78,788 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

35. 16Harding, New Jersey

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,871 people · Morris County · median home $1,145,100 · income $222,429 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

36. 15Pennsbury, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,876 people · Chester County · median home $671,600 · income $167,727 · Jan low 20°F · 31 in snow

37. 14Wayzata, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,434 people · Hennepin County · median home $1,153,400 · income $131,614 · Jan low 7°F · 54 in snow

38. 13Mahoning, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,559 people · Montour County · median home $400,900 · income $86,008 · Jan low 19°F · 29 in snow

39. 12Cornwall, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,604 people · Lebanon County · median home $333,700 · income $107,583 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

40. 11Rockport, Massachusetts

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,010 people · Essex County · median home $748,200 · income $86,250 · Jan low 18°F · 49 in snow

41. 10St. Clairsville, Ohio

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,096 people · Belmont County · median home $199,000 · income $76,480 · Jan low 22°F · 18 in snow

42. 9Camden, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,232 people · Knox County · median home $520,600 · income $82,344 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

43. 8Kennebunk, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,776 people · York County · median home $452,800 · income $95,169 · Jan low 13°F · 49 in snow

44. 7Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), Arizona

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,128 people · Yavapai County · median home $741,100 · income $80,878 · Jan low 34°F · 26 in snow

45. 6Woodstock, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,287 people · Ulster County · median home $604,700 · income $92,118 · Jan low 12°F · 86 in snow

46. 5Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,418 people · Hillsborough County · median home $404,500 · income $98,401 · Jan low 13°F · 69 in snow

47. 4Belfast, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,938 people · Waldo County · median home $340,900 · income $67,679 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow

48. 3Rockport, Massachusetts

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,992 people · Essex County · median home $746,100 · income $96,250 · Jan low 18°F · 50 in snow

49. 2Decorah, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,587 people · Winneshiek County · median home $244,500 · income $64,366 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

50. 1Rhinebeck, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,596 people · Dutchess County · median home $521,800 · income $93,284 · Jan low 11°F · 60 in snow

Price vs ranking

More U.S. rankings

• The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
• The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
• The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 50 Best Places to Retire in America
• The 50 Quietest Places in America
• The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
• The 50 Best Places for Families in America
• The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
• 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes

Same ranking, other places

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois