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Home » 55+ » The 10 Best Places to Retire in Texas

The 10 Best Places to Retire in Texas

bluebonnets in texas

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

Skip Ahead
1. Port Arthur
2. Pharr
3. Weslaco
4. Harlingen
5. San Juan
6. Socorro
7. Brownsville
8. Del Rio
9. Wichita Falls
10. Haltom City
Common Questions About Retiring in Texas

1. Port Arthur

Port Arthur, Texas

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

Weslaco, Texas

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

Harlingen Texas

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

Socorro, Texas

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

Brownsville, Texas

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

What are the benefits of 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.

Do retirees pay property taxes in Texas?

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.

At what age to seniors stop paying property taxes in Texas?

People over the age of 65 can defer their property taxes for their primary homestead.

City Name People Over 65Violent CrimesProperty CrimesAccess to DoctorsMedian Home Price
Port Arthur12.2%3901,4453$65,700
Pharr11.7%3281,5856$77,600
Weslaco14.2%1621,5957$83,600
Harlingen14.8%2732,8074$83,500
San Juan10.4%1558586$84,900
Socorro11.5%603108$91,400
Brownsville11.7%7395,0822$93,500
Del Rio14.5%227421$95,400
Wichita Falls13%3913,2662$97,400
Haltom City9.6%1401,15727$101,100
Lufkin16%1341,4033104,100
Beaumont14%1,2694,5643$104,400
Mission11.8%941,5945$106,800
Copperas Cove10%14362922$110,000
Texas City15%2371,4964$111,200
Baytown11.8%3022,91210$111,800
Sherman13.7%1471,0683$114,200
Edinburg7.4%3063,2946$113,300
Abilene12.8%5913,6042$114,000
Waco11.7%8865,1112$116,600
Pasadena9.5%6843,59852$115,400
Lancaster8.6%17198816$121,600
Killeen5.9%5803,3992$121,500
McAllen12.8%1223,8566$123,900
Laredo9%8986,4052$122,900
El Paso12.4%2,58410,7209$123,900
Texarkana14.8%1711,9142$130,700
Mesquite10%5735,25720$129,100
Amarillo12.9%1,6228,4503$127,200
Victoria14.8%2801,8852$131,000
Duncanville13.4%2151,25828$135,400
Bryan10.2%3322,0734$135,500
Nacogdoches11.5%1071,0184$136,500
Longview14.6%3262,5071$137,000
Lubbock11.8%2,57812,0364$131,500
La Porte11.7%6545810$138,300
Temple15.1%2361,9401$138,700
Corpus Christi13.5%2,66912,1314$133,200
Rosenberg9.5%1626268$142,700
Garland11.5%6606,48634$146,200
Odessa9.9%1,1053,0563$149,900
Grand Prairie8.7%4963,90635$151,300
Cedar Hill8.9%851,38517$154,600
Waxahachie12.8%735275$155,700
Tyler15.3%4173,2054$155,200
Deer Park12%3049322$159,500
Huntsville9.2%1346661$162,500
Arlington10.2%1,79311,92237$154,600
DeSoto13.6%1831,24218$163,500
San Marcos7.2%2761,5403$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.

Sanda Brown

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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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol

    July 11, 2020 at 11:21 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Jamie Garcia

      July 15, 2020 at 4:45 pm

      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.

      Reply

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