It’s that time of your life when you deserve an indefinite vacation — retirement. And while it might seem like a miracle, you’re ready to hang up your hat and stirrups. So the question becomes, where should you retire? The answer, of course, is one of these Texas towns.
If Florida is too beachy and California is too West Coast, then there is another state that many people consider for retirement living. Texas. That’s right, this southern state is perfect for retirement. It is affordable, has amazing weather, and is a retirement hub for other like-minded older individuals. You may not have luscious green grass in Texas, but you can make a decent cactus garden, ride horses, and eat delicious BBQ.
You might assume the best place to retire is a big city like Austin or Houston. But the reality is a little more nuanced. We dug into the recent Census and FBI Crime data to determine the safest, most affordable places in Texas that still offer plenty to do on the weekends — which is everyday for a retiree.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Texas For 2024
What’s the best place to retire in Texas? Santa Fe is the best place to retire in Texas. This city won first place for retirement because of its low cost of living and its proximity to bigger cities.
Want to see how your favorite Texan city stacked up? Read on to find out and learn more about how we determined the best of the best cities in Texas for retirement.
Why did Santa Fe take the top spot? And where are Houston and San Antonio?
For more Texas state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Texas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Texas
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Texas
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Texas For 2024
/10
Population: 12,792
Median Income: $91,209
Median Home Price: $308,994
Median Rent: $947
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Santa Fe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,463
Median Income: $68,270
Median Home Price: $303,514
Median Rent: $1,122
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Lockhart: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,020
Median Income: $56,858
Median Home Price: $540,684
Median Rent: $1,296
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Fredericksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,449
Median Income: $66,626
Median Home Price: $300,890
Median Rent: $1,041
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Taylor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,333
Median Income: $58,797
Median Home Price: $350,078
Median Rent: $1,027
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Kerrville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,043
Median Income: $85,014
Median Home Price: $292,243
Median Rent: $1,128
Distance to Closest Airport: 20 miles
More on Elgin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,246
Median Income: $35,417
Median Home Price: $85,886
Median Rent: $952
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Robstown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,979
Median Income: $62,143
Median Home Price: $163,862
Median Rent: $875
Distance to Closest Airport: 111 miles
More on Burkburnett: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,848
Median Income: $46,536
Median Home Price: $234,737
Median Rent: $937
Distance to Closest Airport: 86 miles
More on Gatesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,872
Median Income: $58,930
Median Home Price: $221,303
Median Rent: $1,058
Distance to Closest Airport: 65 miles
More on Denison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Lone Star State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Texas to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Lone Star State — 1687 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 226 places from across the state.
For these 226, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 226, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Santa Fe, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Texas.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Texas Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Texas goes to Santa Fe.
The best places to retire in Texas are Santa Fe, Lockhart, Fredericksburg, Taylor, Kerrville, Elgin, Robstown, Burkburnett, Gatesville, and Denison.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- South Houston
- Clute
- Humble
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Texas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | 12,792 | $91,209 | $308,994 | $947 |
| 2 | Lockhart | 14,463 | $68,270 | $303,514 | $1,122 |
| 3 | Fredericksburg | 11,020 | $56,858 | $540,684 | $1,296 |
| 4 | Taylor | 16,449 | $66,626 | $300,890 | $1,041 |
| 5 | Kerrville | 24,333 | $58,797 | $350,078 | $1,027 |
| 6 | Elgin | 10,043 | $85,014 | $292,243 | $1,128 |
| 7 | Robstown | 10,246 | $35,417 | $85,886 | $952 |
| 8 | Burkburnett | 10,979 | $62,143 | $163,862 | $875 |
| 9 | Gatesville | 15,848 | $46,536 | $234,737 | $937 |
| 10 | Denison | 24,872 | $58,930 | $221,303 | $1,058 |