#25 of 25 Best Places To Retire

Georgetown, Texas

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Georgetown, Texas is full of Victorian architecture.

Population: 47,400

% over 50: 43%

Median home price: $121,000

Top state income tax: None

Cost of living index: 93

For retirees who want easy access to all the perks of a city but crave a smaller community with its own sense of place, head 26 miles north of Austin to Georgetown.

This historic town on the edge of Texas hill country gets kudos for its Victorian architecture, picturesque downtown, and plethora of walking and biking trails following the San Gabriel River and Lake Georgetown. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, recently cut the ribbon on the $11 million Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning; seniors can enroll in up to six classes a semester in Georgetown's Senior University program, which is headquartered there, for just $60. The city's recreation center also has an impressive lineup of classes and travel opportunities for retirees.

While restored Victorians near downtown start at $300,000, new single-level homes farther out start around $125,000. Adding to the appeal, there's no state income tax in Texas, and homeowners 65 and older receive an additional homestead exemption for school taxes and a portion of local taxes.

#24 of 25 Best Places to Reitre

Conway, Ark.

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Conway, Ark., bustles with activity.

Population: 58,900

% over 50: 22%

Median home price: $140,000

Top state income tax: 7%

Cost of living index: 93

Love of the water is a big reason for retiring to Conway, whether you want to paddle as far as your arms will take you, land the catch of a lifetime, or soak in the views.

On the north side of town, Beaverfork Lake is a popular spot for recreation, both on the water and the lush shoreline. Serious anglers can head a few miles south of town to 6,700-acre Lake Conway, the largest man-made lake built by a state game and fish commission.

Once retirees dry off, they can take advantage of classes, speaking events, and performances on three different campuses: Hendrix College, University of Central Arkansas, and Central Baptist. Downtown, meanwhile, is bustling with live music, gallery hops, outdoor cinema, and a thrice-weekly farmers market.

#23 of 25 Best Places to Retire

Iowa City, Iowa

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Iowa City, Iowa, is ideal for literary retirees.

Population: 67,900

% over 50: 23%

Median home price: $164,000

Top state income tax: 8.98%

Cost of living index: 96

For the better part of a century, Iowa City has been a literary destination for writers who flock here for the University of Iowa's world-renowned writing workshops. But you needn't be an aspiring John Irving or T.C. Boyle to appreciate the city's creative appeal.

The Old Capitol Cultural District melds 19th-century architecture with quirky shops and innovative restaurants. In the summer, its pedestrian mall serves as center stage for free concerts, outdoor movie nights, a jazz festival, and an arts festival, complete with sand sculpting.

The art doesn't stop when the temperatures drop. National and local artists perform year round at the restored 1912 Englert Theatre, while the Riverside Theatre produces a half a dozen professional shows each season. For retirees who want a more hands-on experience, the university's lifelong enrichment classes run the gamut from salsa dancing and social networking to--of course--writing.

#22 of 25 Best Places to Retire

Marietta, Ga.

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Marietta, Ga., features many historic districts.

Population: 56,600

% over 50: 28%

Median home price: $168,000

Top state income tax: 6%

Cost of living index: 95

Antebellum history has woven itself into the fabric of everyday life in this small city 20 miles north of Atlanta. The 2,888-acre Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield National Park draws Civil War buffs and fitness buffs alike with more than 17 miles of trails that meander past monuments and historic home sites.

Downtown's Marietta Square once housed a military hospital and militia training ground, but today it plays host to a variety of community events, from the weekly farmers' market to outdoor theater productions. The city's many historic districts mix carefully preserved architecture with chic boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, and museums, including one that pays tribute to "Gone with the Wind."

And yet home prices here won't make you swoon. You can find stately three-bedrooms for less than $180,000. Meanwhile, there's no shortage of facilities, classes or events geared toward the area's older residents. The annual Cobb County Senior Games, for example, pits residents against each other in everything from basketball to billiards.

#21 of 25 Best Places to Retire

Albuquerque, N.M.

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Albuquerque, N.M., has a diverse landscape and culture.

Population: 545,900

% over 50: 31%

Median home price: $139,000

Top state income tax: 4.9%

Cost of living index: 95

There is much to be said for a place where you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon; drink authentic Italian-style espresso at breakfast and eat homemade sopapillas for lunch; see ancient petroglyphs one day and gallery hop in Old Town the next.

With an elevation ranging from 4,900 feet along the Rio Grande near downtown to nearly 7,000 feet heading east toward the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque is as diverse in its landscape as it is in culture. Crime is on the higher side, as is to be expected with a city of half a million, but with the large population come great amenities, from outstanding health care to several universities.

What you don't get, however, are big-city home prices. With a $150,000 budget you can buy an upscale condo or airy three-bedroom pueblo-style home. 

#20 of 25 Best Places to Retire

Columbia, S.C.

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Columbia, S.C., boasts great weather for outdoor activities year-round.

Population: 129,300

% over 50: 26%

Median home price: $147,000

Top state income tax: 7%

Cost of living index: 94

South Carolina's capital offers all the amenities of city life, with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality, great weather for enjoying the outdoors all year, and a low cost of living to boot. (Think three-bedroom bungalows for $150,000.)

There are dozens of golf courses in or near Columbia. The city's three rivers, 12-mile greenway, and nearby Congaree National Park also provide ample opportunities to get outside.

For indoor recreation, state residents age 60 and older can sign up for free classes at the University of South Carolina, or volunteer at the Columbia Museum of Art or South Carolina State Museum. There's also no shortage of performing arts organizations, including multiple theater groups, two ballets, and a philharmonic orchestra.

Retirees here have a little more play money thanks to a $50,000 homestead exemption for homeowners 65 and older, a state tax exemption for Social Security income, and a deduction of up to $15,000 per person for qualified retirement income.