Ask the Readers: Where Would You Like to Retire?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Matt, Kristin, and Mary for winning this week's contest!
A big part of retirement planning is deciding where you will live. Some areas offer greater benefits to retirees, including more affordable housing, lower taxes, and better health care. But for some people, living near family or in an area that you've always loved is more important.
Where would you like to retire? What makes this location so appealing? What is the most important factor when you consider retirement destinations?
Tell us where you would like to retire and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!
Mandatory Entry:
- Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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- Contest ends Monday, July 18th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after July 18th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
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I would like to retire in my same geographical area but downsize to a smaller home/condo in the Midwest.
Michigan on the Lake Michigan coast. Love the sand beaches, four seasons and close to family
I'd love to retire someplace near the mountains so that I can stay active and enjoy nature. I find the mountains peaceful, so that would be awesome.
Small town in southeast Minnesota. Great outdoor activities, lots of arts, and near the Mayo.
I'd like to retire to the North Carolina mountains because the weather is nice and it's tranquil there.
My husband and I plan to retire to New York City, NY. I'll tell you why. The city is alive and has an energy like no other place. There are so many places to discover, entertainment everywhere as well as the best museums and restaurants. If you look hard enough, there are so many fun and affordable options. We plan on finding a nice, small and reasonably priced rental. We hope such a place exists. Looking forward to our retirement.
New York City
I would like to retire in Georgia where some of my family lives and it has great prices for retirees.
I want to retire in California because I like the weather
I would love to retire.... everywhere! My dream would be to just spend my days traveling from place to place every couple of months and maybe have a small place near family to have as a home base.
Las Vegas, Nevada!
We have always talked about Belize.
Would love to retire in a place like Hawaii, and maybe run an Airbnb operation from my house as a retirement job.
Charleston, SC
I'd like to retire in San Francisco near friends and family. There's also a lot to do - museums, parks, theater, etc. And the food and drink are great. I just wish it was cheaper!
I'd like to retire to Maine. Right on the ocean!
New York City, but it's too expensive.
My goal when I retire is to move closer to Disneyland and not actually retire but get a part time job there. Or near one of the National Parks so I can also work or volunteer part time there. I don't want to fully retire just be able to be more relaxed about work and not have a 9-5 office job.
I honestly haven't given it that much thought but probably the same state or a surrounding one to stay close or within driving distance to immediate family.
If I could retire anywhere in the world it would be Sweden (love the culture, the people, the weather) or England. I realize either of these locations would be very expensive though! Domestically, and more realistically speaking, I would probably stay in the Midwestern US.
Spain
Although I'm open to some other states, I hope to retire in Michigan. It's where I was born and where I've lived my whole life except for one winter in Florida. Michigan is a beautiful state. You can easily travel to many beautiful places on a day trip. Mostly, I want to continue living here because it's where most of my family lives. If they moved, I'd be more likely to move to where they live.
I intend to retire right here in Arkansas, but as I've learned over the years, stuff happens and things change. We'll see.
I'd like to retire to Tampa FL where some of my family lives. The weather is nice too.
Kanab, Utah. Close to great National Parks, decent cost of living, low humidity, and amazing scenery everywhere you look.
I'd like to retire outside of Kansas City, KS. A relatively mild climate, family close by, moderate cost of living, sports, colleges near by and good infrastructure.
I would like to retire in New Zealand. Not sure if that's even feasible but it is a dream of mine
Florida or somewhere else warm, with beaches, and no state income tax.
I would like to retire where I am now, in South Florida, since I don't want to battle the snow and cold.
I would like to retire where I live now, but ideally in a smaller house with a vacation house in a location we have been going to for years.
We live on the East Coast and LOVE the Southwest. Sedona was highest on our list until recently. Now we're thinking of retiring among the red rocks of Utah.
Golden, Colorado
I just read the article about retiring for half the cost, and any of those places seem wonderful, I have my eye on Malta though :)
Somewhere where it doesn't snow much, but has 4 seasons; near an airport that is easy to travel from, and near my children and hopefully grandchildren!
I want to retire somewhere in Maine. I went there once a few years back and it was the calmest, most relaxing vacation I have ever taken. I want a cabin and I want to be in nature and I want to be perfectly close and far from civilization.
I would love to retire to hawaii or somewhere warm with a beach.
I think I'd like to retire in Spain because it's where I'm originally from and I love the people and the spirit of the place. For me right now, the most important thing to consider is where I'd like to be, but perhaps I'll consider other factors later, as I get older.
I want to retire to California.
Pints Cana, DR or Belize
I want to be near family, so I'll probably retire right around where I am now, in Ohio.
I would like to retire on the road... just travelling the back roads in a four wheel drive RV.
Really don't know at this point in my life. Maybe build a smaller home in current location or go further south for more moderate weather.
Costa Rica! The cost of living is cheap and the flights to and from the U.S. are cheap!
I would like to stay in the same area but downsize and then spend a few months a year traveling.
My hubby & I would love to live in an RV & travel the country!
Either near the mountains (Colorado) or high desert (New Mexico or Eastern Washington). I like drier climates but I do love having seasons. Luckily I have a long time to figure it out!
I would like to go somewhere with great weather and low cost of living. I still have awhile, but definitely hoping to retire early!
I would love to retire in Hawaii however the cost of living is high.
i would like to travel the world. but if i must pick a place then asia (lower cost of living)
I call my house my retirement home. Moved to FL in 1989. Bought my house in 1991. Added a pool. I am 15 min from the beach. Plan on having house paid off in 2 years, then I will decrease my work week to part time. I might retire at 65 or work per diem until I don't want to anymore.
I would probably move back to Florida to be near my family.
My hubby and I would love to retire to Brookings, Oregon. We love the scenery and the ocean! We are also looking for a small, peaceful town away from the big city.
My husband and I have one retirement goal:water view. River, lake, ocean...havent decided. But I want to see water everyday. This wint be until like 2040, so hopefully clean water will still be abundant.
Pennsylvania
I'd love to retire in Northern Georgia. Love the climate there, love the people, love the mountains!
Possibly Whidbey Island, it's kind of a cool place, still close to lots of things, but small town feel.
I would like to retire in California
Oh I would love to retire in Venice Florida where my grandmother did. Was so beautiful and loved the gulf beach! We would go and look for sharks teeth whenever I visited. Loved it so much!
I'd like to be near my children.
That's decades away for me, depends on where family ends up!
I would like to retire in my same area but probably a smaller house so it's more manageable for me.
My dream is to retire in California
I want to retire New York for spring, hawaii for winter and California for summer and fall
I think either Florida or California.
I want to retire to Europe!
I would like to retire to hawaii
I want to retire in Hawaii
I am thinking of retiring somewhere in the Midwest