Huntsville, Alabama

• Cost of living for seniors: 6.1% below the national average
• State’s tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly

The Heart of Dixie boasts many wonderful areas for affordable living in your golden years. But Huntsville, in the northern part of the state, is one of our favorites. It offers all the low-tax and low-cost advantages of the rest of the state.

But it includes more generous incomes among retirement-age citizens. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income for 65-plus families in Alabama is $46,318.

Home to the Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the Huntsville campus of the University of Alabama, this charming place offers a strong economy and highly educated residents.

Plenty of cultural attractions await retirees as well, from a sculpture trail to a symphony orchestra and outdoor recreation opportunities, including bass fishing.

Overall, the state of Alabama offers many of Florida’s popular retirement attractions, like lovely beaches, warm weather, and plenty of golfing opportunities, but at a typically lower price.