Are you looking forward to an exciting retirement? Texas’ comfortable climate and low cost of living make it a fantastic place for destination retirements and keeping your hard earned savings.
You can’t go wrong retiring in Texas, so NewHomeSource found the top 10 cities for retirees in the Lone Star State.
Top 10 Cities to Retire in Texas
1. Port Arthur
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12.7%
Median Home Value: $65,800
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 344
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,203
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3
Port Arthur is an exciting beach town, and the best Texas city for retirees! Port Arthur’s fun culture and low median home price makes it perfect for active adults on a fixed income. If you want a beachside retirement, but you don’t want to deal with gators, Port A has the benefits of a Florida retirement minus the massive reptiles and high cost of living!
2. Pharr
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12.2%
Median Home Value: $80,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 235
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,423
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
Not everyone wants to kick it on the beach in their retirement. If you prefer the dessert, Pharr, TX is a great city for retirees. Located in the Rio Grande Valley, this beautiful town combines a lovely setting and low cost of living to create an enjoyable rural retirement. Any retiree can live a life they love in Pharr.
3. Weslaco
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 13.7%
Median Home Value: $83,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 155
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,528
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 10
Weslaco is another charming town in the Rio Grande Valley. This community is one of the best Texas cities for retirees thanks to Weslaco’s historic downtown and numerous parks. Parks like Estero Llano Grande State Park let you enjoy a wide range of activities throughout your golden years.
4. Harlingen
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 15.1%
Median Home Value: $87,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 274
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 3,155
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 7
Harlingen, TX is the fourth best city in the state for retirees. It has numerous parks, including the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge and the Huge Ramsey Nature Park. They showcase the beautiful wetlands of the Valley, and give active adults unique places to explore, so you’ll always have something to do.
5. San Juan
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 9.9%
Median Home Value: $90,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 173
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 858
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
San Juan is another stunning city in the Rio Grande Valley. If you want a peaceful suburban retirement 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. Brownsville
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12%
Median Home Value: $90,000
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 846
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 4,774
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6 Looking for your next adventure?
Start in Brownsville! This southern-most city has access to a beautiful coast, historic architecture, and thriving culture. Retiring in Brownsville means exploring historic buildings, spending the day on the beach watching dolphins, and taking advantage of all the parks and nature centers.
7. Socorro
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 11.8%
Median Home Value: $93,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 50
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 325
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 14
Socorro is a suburb of El Paso on the banks of the Rio Grande River. This community is excellent for retirees, giving them easy access to a bustling city, while still having access to safe and private neighborhoods to call home. It also has a low median home, making it a great place to settle down on a limited budget.
8. Del Rio
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.9%
Median Home Value: $100,600
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 38
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 610
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1
Del Rio is a charming city on the banks of the Rio Grande. and a safe and active area for retirees. For example, Moore Park and San Felipe Springs are wonderful places to get out and enjoy nature. Or, you can unwind at the Val Verde Winery, a chill place for good times with good company.
9. Wichita Falls
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 13.5%
Median Home Value: $102,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 364
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 3,183
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 5
Wichita Falls, a city in Northern Texas, is a beautiful city on the banks of the Red River. It is great for active adults that want to enjoy the great outdoors: retirees love the parks on the banks of Lake Wichita. Wichita Falls also 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: 9.9%
Median Home Value: $111,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 126
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,173
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 37
Retirees who want the huge benefits of living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area might want to call Haltom City their new home. This community gives retirees lots of perks, combining a low cost of living, easy access to Downtown Dallas, and a safe and private suburban living environment to create the town that many retirees call home.
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 | 12.7% | 344 | 1,203 | 3 | $65,800 |
| Pharr | 12,2% | 235 | 1,423 | 6 | $80,900 |
| Weslaco | 13.7% | 155 | 1,528 | 10 | $83,900 |
| Harlingen | 15.1% | 274 | 3,155 | 7 | $87,500 |
| San Juan | 9.9% | 173 | 858 | 6 | $90,300 |
| Brownsville | 12.0% | 846 | 4,774 | 6 | $90,000 |
| Socorro | 11.8% | 50 | 325 | 14 | $93,200 |
| Del Rio | 14.9% | 38 | 610 | 1 | $100,600 |
| Wichita Falls | 13.5% | 364 | 3,183 | 5 | $102,400 |
| Haltom City | 9.9% | 126 | 1,173 | 37 | $111,300 |
| Copperas Cove | 10.5% | 129 | 691 | 6 | $112,000 |
| Mission | 11.7% | 105 | 1,618 | 6 | $112,400 |
| Beaumont | 14.1% | 1,243 | 4,338 | 5 | $113,600 |
| Lufkin | 15.7% | 184 | 1,558 | 5 | $116,800 |
| Baytown | 11.6% | 325 | 2,839 | 18 | $119,900 |
| Abilene | 13.1% | 459 | 3,217 | 4 | $120,400 |
| Edinburg | 8.1% | 327 | 3,014 | 6 | $121,900 |
| Texas City | 15.4% | 199 | 1,400 | 8 | $124,200 |
| Pasadena | 10.0% | 839 | 3,864 | 40 | $124,200 |
| Sherman | 14.3% | 179 | 1,122 | 3 | $126,200 |
Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.
Drew Port is a writer for NewHomeSource. She writes on the homebuying process, as well as informing readers on homeownership.
Want a New Home for the Holidays? Time to Get Moving
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.