30 Best Cities for Retirees To Rent
Retirement is a great goal after a career of working. However, it’s not entirely carefree, especially when staying on a fixed-income budget. Some cities are more expensive than others, particularly concerning for retirees looking to rent. Luckily, GOBankingRates analyzed cities countrywide to find the best city for retirees to rent, compiling a list of some of the best places to put down roots and not break the bank renting.
First GOBankingRates found the average rental cost from January 2024 from Zillow Observed Rental Index. For each city on the list the median household income, total population, and population of residents aged 65 and over was found from the U.S. Census American Community Survey.
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Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey’s national average expenditure costs for residents aged 65 and over, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each city. Adding the expenditure costs to the average rental cost showed the total cost of living in each city.
Here are the top 30 cities for retirees to rent.
Norfolk, Virginia
Population 65 and over (%): 12.29%
Median household income: $60,998
Average rent: $1,489
Other monthly expenditures: $1,904
Monthly total cost of living: $3,393
Livability: 81
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Kansas City, Missouri
Population 65 and over (%): 13.87%
Median household income: $65,256
Average rent: $1,364
Other monthly expenditures: $1,827
Monthly total cost of living: $3,191
Livability: 77
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Vancouver, Washington
Population 65 and over (%): 16.10%
Median household income: $73,626
Average rent: $1,780
Other monthly expenditures: $1,856
Monthly total cost of living: $3,637
Livability: 82
El Paso, Texas
Population 65 and over (%): 13.50%
Median household income: $55,710
Average rent: $1,511
Other monthly expenditures: $1,716
Monthly total cost of living: $3,227
Livability: 80
Corpus Christi, Texas
Population 65 and over (%): 14.46%
Median household income: $64,449
Average rent: $1,387
Other monthly expenditures: $1,830
Monthly total cost of living: $3,217
Livability: 78
Spokane, Washington
Population 65 and over (%): 16.16%
Median household income: $63,316
Average rent: $1,514
Other monthly expenditures: $1,792
Monthly total cost of living: $3,305
Livability: 80
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Population 65 and over (%): 15.08%
Median household income: $60,187
Average rent: $1,486
Other monthly expenditures: $1,896
Monthly total cost of living: $3,382
Livability: 82
Durham, North Carolina
Population 65 and over (%): 12.74%
Median household income: $74,710
Average rent: $1,662
Other monthly expenditures: $1,879
Monthly total cost of living: $3,541
Livability: 81
Richmond, Virginia
Population 65 and over (%): 13.75%
Median household income: $59,606
Average rent: $1,514
Other monthly expenditures: $1,984
Monthly total cost of living: $3,497
Livability: 84
Madison, Wisconsin
Population 65 and over (%): 12.75%
Median household income: $74,895
Average rent: $1,547
Other monthly expenditures: $1,967
Monthly total cost of living: $3,514
Livability: 81
Fremont, California
Population 65 and over (%): 13.02%
Median household income: $169,023
Average rent: $2,943
Other monthly expenditures: $2,148
Monthly total cost of living: $5,091
Livability: 83
Huntsville, Alabama
Population 65 and over (%): 16.18%
Median household income: $67,874
Average rent: $1,441
Other monthly expenditures: $1,918
Monthly total cost of living: $3,358
Livability: 81
Greensboro, North Carolina
Population 65 and over (%): 13.61%
Median household income: $55,051
Average rent: $1,402
Other monthly expenditures: $1,813
Monthly total cost of living: $3,215
Livability: 82
Columbus, Ohio
Population 65 and over (%): 10.74%
Median household income: $62,994
Average rent: $1,311
Other monthly expenditures: $1,821
Monthly total cost of living: $3,132
Livability: 79
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Mesa, Arizona
Population 65 and over (%): 16.89%
Median household income: $73,766
Average rent: $1,648
Other monthly expenditures: $1,833
Monthly total cost of living: $3,481
Livability: 82
San Antonio, Texas
Population 65 and over (%): 12.81%
Median household income: $59,593
Average rent: $1,384
Other monthly expenditures: $1,790
Monthly total cost of living: $3,174
Livability: 81
Metairie, Louisiana
Population 65 and over (%): 21.52%
Median household income: $72,070
Average rent: $1,663
Other monthly expenditures: $1,806
Monthly total cost of living: $3,469
Livability: 83
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Population 65 and over (%): 13.08%
Median household income: $64,251
Average rent: $1,221
Other monthly expenditures: $1,850
Monthly total cost of living: $3,071
Livability: 79
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Omaha, Nebraska
Population 65 and over (%): 13.84%
Median household income: $70,202
Average rent: $1,290
Other monthly expenditures: $2,053
Monthly total cost of living: $3,343
Livability: 82
Lincoln, Nebraska
Population 65 and over (%): 14.00%
Median household income: $67,846
Average rent: $1,1967
Other monthly expenditures: $2,173
Monthly total cost of living: $3,369
Livability: 83
Arlington, Virginia
Population 65 and over (%): 11.27%
Median household income: $137,387
Average rent: $2,480
Other monthly expenditures: $2,153
Monthly total cost of living: $4,634
Livability: 86
Akron, Ohio
Population 65 and over (%): 15.50%
Median household income: $46,596
Average rent: $1,067
Other monthly expenditures: $1,740
Monthly total cost of living: $2,807
Livability: 80
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Austin, Texas
Population 65 and over (%): 9.77%
Median household income: $86,556
Average rent: $1,710
Other monthly expenditures: $1,898
Monthly total cost of living: $3,608
Livability: 83
Raleigh, North Carolina
Population 65 and over (%): 11.44%
Median household income: $78,631
Average rent: $1,664
Other monthly expenditures: $1,870
Monthly total cost of living: $3,534
Livability: 84
Overland Park, Kansas
Population 65 and over (%): 16.14%
Median household income: $100,876
Average rent: $1,571
Other monthly expenditures: $1,977
Monthly total cost of living: $3,548
Livability: 79
Des Moines, Iowa
Population 65 and over (%): 12.45%
Median household income: $62,378
Average rent: $1,102
Other monthly expenditures: $1,861
Monthly total cost of living: $2,962
Livability: 81
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Plano, Texas
Population 65 and over (%): 13.67%
Median household income: $105,679
Average rent: $1,795
Other monthly expenditures: $1,898
Monthly total cost of living: $3,694
Livability: 84
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Population 65 and over (%): 14.72%
Median household income: $58,233
Average rent: $1,108
Other monthly expenditures: $1,738
Monthly total cost of living: $2,845
Livability: 83
Gilbert, Arizona
Population 65 and over (%): 10.25%
Median household income: $115,179
Average rent: $2,186
Other monthly expenditures: $1,844
Monthly total cost of living: $4,030
Livability: 89
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Population 65 and over (%): 13,49%
Median household income: $71,785
Average rent: $1,156
Other monthly expenditures: $1,833
Monthly total cost of living: $2,989
Livability: 84
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 30 Best Cities for Retirees To Rent
