Are you looking forward to an exciting retirement? Texas’ comfortable climate and low cost of living make it a fantastic place for snowbirds’ destination retirements and for anyone who wants to see their hard earned savings last longer.
You can’t go wrong retiring in Texas. NewHomeSource found the top 10 Texas cities to retire in.
Top 10 Cities to Retire in Texas
1. Port Arthur
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12..2%
Median Home Value: $65,700
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 390
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,445
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3
Port Arthur is an exciting town on the Gulf Coast, and the best Texas city for retirees! Port Arthur boasts a fun culture and a low median home price, making it perfect for active adults living on a fixed income. If you’re thinking about a beachside retirement, but you don’t want to deal with gators, life in Port A has the benefits of a Florida destination retirement, minus the massive reptiles and higher cost of living.
2. Pharr
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 11.7%
Median Home Value: $77,600
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 328
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,585
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
Not everyone wants to kick it on the beach in their retirement; nobody likes sunburns, and sand gets everywhere. If you prefer the dessert, Pharr, TX is a great city for retirees in the Rio Grande Valley. This beautiful town combines a lovely setting, a historic church, and low cost of living. Retirees looking to enjoy a rural retirement can live a life they love in Pharr.
3. Weslaco
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.2%
Median Home Value: $83,600
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 162
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,595
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 7
Weslaco is a charming town in the Rio Grande Valley. This thriving community is one of the best Texas cities for retirees thanks to its low cost of living and great culture. Weslaco’s historic downtown and numerous parks, including Estero Llano Grande State Park, let you enjoy a wide range of activities in your golden years.
4. Harlingen
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.8%
Median Home Value: $83,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 273
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,807
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 4
Harlingen, TX is the fourth best city in the state for retirees. Who wouldn’t love the idea of a low cost of living, beautiful scenery, and a fun culture? Numerous parks, including the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge and the Huge Ramsey Nature Park showcase the beautiful wetlands of the Valley, and give active adults cool places to explore, so you’ll always have something to do.
5. San Juan
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 10.4%
Median Home Value: $84,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 155
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 858
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
San Juan is a beautiful city in the Rio Grande Valley, and the fifth best Texas city for retirees. If you want to enjoy a peaceful suburban retirement, in the heart of the Rio Grande wetlands, then San Juan is the perfect town for you. It’s healthy community and low cost of living are added bonuses for people living on a fixed income.
6. Socorro
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 11.5%
Median Home Value: $91,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 60
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 310
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 8
Socorro is a fantastic suburb of El Paso on the banks of the Rio Grande river. This great community is fantastic for retirees, giving them easy access to a bustling metro, while still providing them with a safe and private neighborhood to call home. It’s low median home value comes in under $100,000, making it a great place to settle down on a limited budget.
7. Brownsville
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 11.7%
Median Home Value: $93,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 739
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 5,082
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2
Active adults can’t go wrong starting their next adventure in Brownsville! This exciting city on the Texas Gulf Coast is one of the best cities for retirees thanks to its beautiful coastal setting, historic architecture, and thriving culture. Retiring in Brownsville means getting to explore historic buildings, spend the day on the beach watching dolphins, taking advantage of numerous parks and nature centers, and so much more.
8. Del Rio
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.5%
Median Home Value: $95,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 22
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 742
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1
Del Rio offers up some of the best retirement living in the state of Texas. This charming city on the banks of the Rio Grande combines a fantastic cost of living, a safe community, and a great culture for active adults. Moore Park and San Felipe Springs let you get out and about and enjoy nature. Unwind at the Val Verde Winery, and enjoy good times with good company.
9. Wichita Falls
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 13%
Median Home Value: $97,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 391
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 3,266
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2
Wichita Falls is a beautiful city in Northern Texas, on the banks of the Red River. This beautiful community is great for active adults that want to enjoy the great outdoors during their retirement, thanks to the numerous parks on the banks of Lake Wichita. Its quirky culture features the World’s Littlest Skyscraper, the Museum of North Texas History, the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at Midwestern State , the Wichita Rail Road Museum, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum.
10. Haltom City
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 9.6%
Median Home Value: $101,100
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 140
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,157
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 27
Retirees who want to enjoy the benefits of living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area are in luck. Haltom City makes the list of best Texas Cities for Retirees! This great community gives active adults the best of all possible worlds, combining a low cost of living, easy access to Downtown Dallas, and a safe and private suburban living environment.
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.
Common Questions About Retiring in Texas
Texas is a great state for retirees! If you love the idea of low taxes and a low cost of living, then you can make your fixed income last longer in Texas. Retirees can also enjoy mild winters and exciting cultural opportunities in thriving Texas cities like Houston and Dallas.
Retirees over the age of 65, or a surviving spouse is at least 55 years old, can obtain a property tax deferment or exemption for their primary residence.
People over the age of 65 can defer their property taxes for their primary homestead.
| City Name | People Over 65 | Violent Crimes | Property Crimes | Access to Doctors | Median Home Price |
| Port Arthur | 12.2% | 390 | 1,445 | 3 | $65,700 |
| Pharr | 11.7% | 328 | 1,585 | 6 | $77,600 |
| Weslaco | 14.2% | 162 | 1,595 | 7 | $83,600 |
| Harlingen | 14.8% | 273 | 2,807 | 4 | $83,500 |
| San Juan | 10.4% | 155 | 858 | 6 | $84,900 |
| Socorro | 11.5% | 60 | 310 | 8 | $91,400 |
| Brownsville | 11.7% | 739 | 5,082 | 2 | $93,500 |
| Del Rio | 14.5% | 22 | 742 | 1 | $95,400 |
| Wichita Falls | 13% | 391 | 3,266 | 2 | $97,400 |
| Haltom City | 9.6% | 140 | 1,157 | 27 | $101,100 |
| Lufkin | 16% | 134 | 1,403 | 3 | 104,100 |
| Beaumont | 14% | 1,269 | 4,564 | 3 | $104,400 |
| Mission | 11.8% | 94 | 1,594 | 5 | $106,800 |
| Copperas Cove | 10% | 143 | 629 | 22 | $110,000 |
| Texas City | 15% | 237 | 1,496 | 4 | $111,200 |
| Baytown | 11.8% | 302 | 2,912 | 10 | $111,800 |
| Sherman | 13.7% | 147 | 1,068 | 3 | $114,200 |
| Edinburg | 7.4% | 306 | 3,294 | 6 | $113,300 |
| Abilene | 12.8% | 591 | 3,604 | 2 | $114,000 |
| Waco | 11.7% | 886 | 5,111 | 2 | $116,600 |
| Pasadena | 9.5% | 684 | 3,598 | 52 | $115,400 |
| Lancaster | 8.6% | 171 | 988 | 16 | $121,600 |
| Killeen | 5.9% | 580 | 3,399 | 2 | $121,500 |
| McAllen | 12.8% | 122 | 3,856 | 6 | $123,900 |
| Laredo | 9% | 898 | 6,405 | 2 | $122,900 |
| El Paso | 12.4% | 2,584 | 10,720 | 9 | $123,900 |
| Texarkana | 14.8% | 171 | 1,914 | 2 | $130,700 |
| Mesquite | 10% | 573 | 5,257 | 20 | $129,100 |
| Amarillo | 12.9% | 1,622 | 8,450 | 3 | $127,200 |
| Victoria | 14.8% | 280 | 1,885 | 2 | $131,000 |
| Duncanville | 13.4% | 215 | 1,258 | 28 | $135,400 |
| Bryan | 10.2% | 332 | 2,073 | 4 | $135,500 |
| Nacogdoches | 11.5% | 107 | 1,018 | 4 | $136,500 |
| Longview | 14.6% | 326 | 2,507 | 1 | $137,000 |
| Lubbock | 11.8% | 2,578 | 12,036 | 4 | $131,500 |
| La Porte | 11.7% | 65 | 458 | 10 | $138,300 |
| Temple | 15.1% | 236 | 1,940 | 1 | $138,700 |
| Corpus Christi | 13.5% | 2,669 | 12,131 | 4 | $133,200 |
| Rosenberg | 9.5% | 162 | 626 | 8 | $142,700 |
| Garland | 11.5% | 660 | 6,486 | 34 | $146,200 |
| Odessa | 9.9% | 1,105 | 3,056 | 3 | $149,900 |
| Grand Prairie | 8.7% | 496 | 3,906 | 35 | $151,300 |
| Cedar Hill | 8.9% | 85 | 1,385 | 17 | $154,600 |
| Waxahachie | 12.8% | 73 | 527 | 5 | $155,700 |
| Tyler | 15.3% | 417 | 3,205 | 4 | $155,200 |
| Deer Park | 12% | 30 | 493 | 22 | $159,500 |
| Huntsville | 9.2% | 134 | 666 | 1 | $162,500 |
| Arlington | 10.2% | 1,793 | 11,922 | 37 | $154,600 |
| DeSoto | 13.6% | 183 | 1,242 | 18 | $163,500 |
| San Marcos | 7.2% | 276 | 1,540 | 3 | $163,500 |
Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.
After graduating in 2016 from The University of Texas with a degree in English, Sanda Brown became a content writer for the BDX with a focus on website copy and content marketing.
At the BDX, Sanda helps write and edit articles on NewHomeSource.com, writes website copy for builders, and manages a team of freelancers that work on additional content needs.
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Carol
I am looking for a rural home in the panhandle of Texas . I am of retirement age and have a fixed income. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you
Jamie Garcia
Hi Carol,
You can find new homes in any Texas city on newhomesource.com! Simply enter the city you’d like to live in to view available homes.