This Is the Best Small Town in the U.S. to Retire

For many people, retirement means enjoying life at a slower pace in a tranquil place away from the hustle and bustle of cities. A 2022 study revealed that 45 percent of Americans wanted to retire in a small or beach town versus only 10 percent — in cities. 

So GoBankingRates.com surveyed communities nationwide with populations between 1,000 and 10,000 residents and ranked them for income, livability, monthly expenses, crime rates, and quality of life to find the best small towns to retire. The winner is a community in Pennsylvania.

Camp Hill, located in Cumberland Valley along Susquehanna River a short drive from the state’s capital, Harrisburg, which was named last year as the best retirement community in the country, has a population of a little over 8,000. According to the website, retirees would need $3,356 on average to cover monthly expenses, of which $1,454 would be for housing. The town’s quality of life score is 92, with a total crime rate of just 9.4 per capita.

Camp Hill is also popular with families in Cumberland County for its excellent public schools, and recently, Niche.com ranked it the second best for retirement in the area. About 15 percent of its residents are aged 65 and over. And while the cost of living here is a little higher than the nation’s average, the median home value is lower—$302,958.

Camp Hill is a quaint small town with plenty in store for its senior citizens, especially if they like to stay active—it has over a dozen public parks and trails and is just 25 minutes away from Roundtop Mountain Resort with ski trails for skiers of all levels.

Second on BankingRates.com’s list is Northville in Michigan, west of Detroit, with a livability score of 86. Here, retirees need $3,383 for monthly expenses, of which $1,545 for rent. 

And the bronze medal goes to Fort Mitchell in Kentucky, part of Cincinnati’s larger metropolitan area. The town’s livability score is the same as Northville’s — 86; however, monthly costs are slightly lower — $3,347 and $1,495 for housing.

You can read GoBankingRates.com’s full report here.