10 Smart Places to Retire

These college towns aren’t just for students. Along with a mix of classes, culture and community, they offer first-class health care and modest taxes.

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St. Augustine

Retirees can attend free lectures, concerts and art exhibits at Flagler College.

If you are among the growing number of people thinking about moving in retirement, we have some great suggestions—in fact, 10 of them. For this year’s list, we focused on cities and towns sprinkled throughout the U.S. that are home to at least one college or university. Each offers a wide variety of intellectual and cultural activities for local residents, who can enjoy all the things they loved about college, such as concerts, interesting lectures and sports, without the drawbacks, such as final exams and 8 a.m. French class. Most of our cities have a moderate cost of living, and all are located in states that exempt all or a portion of retirement income from taxes. Because health care is an important concern for retirees, our cities also have at least one hospital nearby that has received four or five stars—the highest rating—from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (For advice on making the decision to relocate, see “Living in Retirement,” on page 62.)

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.

POPULATION: 14,576 COST OF LIVING: Not available MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $343,000 COLLEGE PERK: Low-cost continuing education courses on everything from digital marketing to belly dancing.

St. Augustine and the surrounding St. John’s County offer more than just surf and sand wedges. But retirees looking for fun in the sun will find it here in spades, along with plenty of cultural activities, affordable luxury living, and firstclass health care.