Have you ever considered small towns to retire into when you reach your golden age?

When you think about it, a small town to retire in is not the worst-case scenario for a quiet and relaxing retirement! In the long run, it could be proven to be the most affordable way to live and enjoy your golden years to the fullest!

Let’s be honest for a moment. When it comes to retirement, we have all tried to save as much as we can, but for many, the time after they retire is the time to be as frugal as possible, due to the not-so-steady income of money.

You may be receiving Social Security checks and pension payments, but there is definitely a budget cut for a lot of American retirees, especially if they have not managed to save up as much as they would have wanted and when you take into consideration inflation.

A great way to make sure that you will be able to enjoy your retirement, have your retirement fund last you, and also be happy is to consider relocating to a small town in retirement. If you do not have heavy roots attached to one place, then you should definitely consider relocating to a small town to retire in!

Taking into consideration most of the costs of living you will have, we have brought you some of the best small towns to retire in if you have a budget of around $2,300, including rent and any healthcare you may have to pay! Curious? Keep on reading!

Do you have any other small towns you would love to see featured on our list? Let us know all about them in the comments!

North Dakota: Jamestown

Jamestown is one of the best small towns for retirement on our list. When it comes to renting a one-bedroom, the rent will be on average around $737, so it is not something that will make a huge dent in your budget.

If anything, research has shown us that on average, a retiree in Jamestown is going to spend around $2,040 monthly, which is under our threshold and quite a great arrangement.

Of course, this total depends on your lifestyle and what your health requirements are, so the total may vary, especially depending on the type of rent you have. However, if we look at only utilities, on average, the bills should not exceed $290, which is the lowest average on our list, and this is taking into consideration the cold winters of the Peace Garden State.

Yet, you may need to shell out a bit more on healthcare if you have preexisting conditions, as North Dakota is known to be over the national average when it comes to healthcare costs.

Despite this, it gets a livability score of 83, which is way above many other US cities you could relocate to!

Iowa: Newton

If you are looking for the most affordable small town to retire to on our list, then it is definitely Newton. With a monthly average that you will spend here going up to about $1,970 and the lowest rent average (around $650 for a one-bedroom), it is definitely extremely affordable to live here!

Living here is definitely a trade, as you can expect to have a few costs that are going to be really affordable, but there are also a few that are going to be on the higher side, as when it comes to utilities and healthcare, the averages definitely exceed the national averages by at least 4%.

Despite this, Newton is a charming small city that is known for its amazing botanical garden and for the local speedway, where you may be lucky enough to catch some races. Let’s not forget the local golf course if you are thinking about picking up the sport!

Ohio: Ashland

If there is one small city that you keep in mind after going through our list, then we hope it is this small town in Buckeye State. Ashland is one of the most affordable cities on our list, so it is no surprise that there are a number of 65 and older Americans who choose to relocate to this small town to retire.

The average rent in Ashland for a one-bedroom is somewhere under $700, and when we look at the national averages for things such as healthcare, groceries, and utilities, the city hits under each of the categories. If anything, the monthly expected average total for a retiree living in Ashland is somewhat around $1,900, which is what makes it one of the most affordable small towns on our list!

If you do not believe us, then look at the livability score, which came up to 87, making it the highest amongst all the cities on our list! So do not write Ohio off your possible states to relocate to list just yet!

If you are considering moving to Ohio, know that there are a lot of interesting things to visit in the state. This book is affordable and definitely worth checking out if this is the case: Ohio Bucket List Adventure Guide.

Pennsylvania: Greensburg

Greensburg is the small city of your dreams if you decide that Pennsylvania is the state for you when you end up retiring.

Out of all the cities you could choose to relocate to in the Keystone State, Greensburg is your best choice if you want to go to the one with the lowest expenditures per month. The total is under $2,300 a month, but still higher than some of the other entries on our list, sitting at around $2,070.

Still, it is not too much compared to other cities and states, especially if you look at the fact that it is close enough to Pittsburgh to be considered part of its metro area. What’s more, out of all the residents of this charming city, about 21% of them are over 65 years old, so you can already imagine that the retiree community is not only present but thriving!

You are also close to a big city, so you do not have to worry about having access to anything you would want, despite the city being self-sufficient and lovely!

West Virginia: Wheeling

Small towns to retire in are all over the United States, but you cannot always know if the one that you have chosen will be a good fit for you. However, with some of them, you can rest assured that not only is the retiree community present, but it is also thriving and supportive.

Wheeling has almost a quarter of its population made up of seniors 65 and older (about 24% by their latest census), and it is the small city with the biggest retiree concentration out of all the ones on our list. And when you look at the numbers, it also makes sense!

For a one-bedroom place, the average rent is around $800, and the monthly expenditures do not appear to go over $2,100!

Despite the generally low costs, this small town does have high healthcare costs, which are 12% over the national median cost, with retirees spending around $656 a month on healthcare. Even so, it depends on how much healthcare you need and what your conditions are.

Remember that all of our estimates are just averages and that reality and your expenses may vary due to a lot of factors. Yet, do not let this stop you from giving any of the small cities on our list a chance if any of them catch your eye!

If you are worried that you will reach retirement and find yourself with less disposable income due to taxes, then you should look into how your state taxes Social Security income! And if you are thinking of relocating, then make sure to check out these states here, as they are known for not taxing your Social Security check!