The Cheapest Places to Retire in the U.S. for 2012

One of my closest friend's recently introduced me to a new book he discovered - the name speaks for itself, 'The Cheapest Places to Retire in the U.S. 2012 Edition'. The cool thing about this book is that a great deal of research went into it. So, it's not just another one of those subjective lists someone has put together to promote their particular community instead it's a fact based directory.

The author is Thomas Corley who is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner.He runs a company called the Rich Habits Institute which is dedicated to helping people and organizations achieve financial freedom. He's accumulated literally thousands of hours of research into the many different locations around the United States that he found to be the cheapest places to live and retire. It's no lie to Tom has "crunched" a lot of numbers to come up with this list. In fact, he and his team have analyzed over 3,000 cities, towns and communities across the U.S. to come up with his Top 100 list. He looked at ten key relevant factors and then applied a proprietary scoring formula to each factor to determine which communities ranked highest as the best of the cheapest places to retire in the U.S.  The following factors were identified and used to create the directory:

Ten Key Retirement Factors -

1. Lowest Housing Costs
2. Lowest Property Tax 
3. Lowest Sales Tax 
4. Best Climate 
5. Lowest Crime Rate 
6. Lowest Income Tax 
7. Closest to Major or Regional Metropolitan Areas 
8. Closest to Hospitals 
9. Closest to Airports 
10. Closest to Beaches or Coastlines

If you look around on the Internet you'll see a lot of lists that claim to give you the top 10 or 100 but what sets this directory apart is the hard analytical data and the volume of work done to come up with an objective measure of 'cheap living'. Not only that but this list of the 100 cheapest places to retire is substantially different from the others based on the criteria that was used.

Now I keep referring to this as a list or directory but make no mistake it's not just a one page list of the top 100. Tom has gone a lot further to provide a full page of detailed analysis for each and every place on the list. You can get the highlights from his snap-shot 'The Good and The Bad' bullet points and you can dive in with detailed stats on the key retirement factors as well as a good narrative.

By now I hope you agree this sounds like a great resource to help you uncover a good place to retire on a limited budget.  But just to be sure we've worked with Tom to come up with a free 'Sneak Preview' of his book. This will give you a good idea of the content of the big book - how it is laid out and how valuable it could be to you if you are looking for that perfect spot to retire on a limited budget. To get the Free Mini-Book - just fill in the form below and we will send it directory to your e-mail box.

Living in California

Is California the Best Place to Live in the U.S.?

With its prime location nestled next to the Pacific Ocean coupled with mountain ranges all around and some pretty nice weather year round it is no surprise that many are living in Southern California. Since California joined the union people have exclaimed the virtues of California and called it the best place to live in the United States.

Living in Southern California

There are many benefits to the living in the southern half of this state. Job opportunities abound here. If you are in the Entertainment field, there are a wealth of studios and production companies to work for, but Southern California has job opportunities outside of the stereotypical 'movie business'. Yes, Southern Cal has a wide variety of professions to choose from - from accounting to advertising, to working with technology or opening your own business or restaurant, choices and opportunities abound abound.

Southern California is a hubbub of recreational activities. With the moderate temperature of the ocean water activities such as surfing, diving, and parasailing are at your fingertips. If you prefer grounded movement, there are bike trails and hiking trails all over the regions. If you like roller coasters and water parks, Southern California has several zoos, aquariums and theme parks to choose from.

Living in Northern California

Living in Northern California can be an amazing experience too, although it is significantly more expensive than it's southern counterpart. Like Southern California, Northern California has a range of job opportunities, including great advertising companies, educational positions and various technology fields. There are mountains to hike and some great city trekking to be done in cities like San Francisco. The weather is more moderate here, and the rainfall and fog are significant, but they go great with a nice cup of coffee from some outstanding coffee shops and restaurants up North. As an added bonus a trip to the woods and to the neighboring state of Oregon are not far away either.

The Cheapest Places to Live in California

Most people are surprised to learn that there are inexpensive places to live in California, but it's important to note that these places are often in hotter parts of the state.

The cheapest places to live in California include:

California City, with a population of about 15,000 it is located in Northern Antelope Valley and has affordable homes in the $200,000 range and low rents for apartments too.

Hesperia, California, which is a couple of hours from Orange county has a larger population of around 80,000 people and homes that are in the $200,000 to 300,000 range.

To the north of Los Angeles is Bakersfield, California with a growing population of 300,000 and affordable housing.

The most populated of these areas is Lancaster, California with over 500,000 people and lots of schools to accommodate this growing area.

The Best Place to Live in California?

There is some debate to where the best places to live in California are. Some automatically default to Los Angeles and San Francisco due to their popularity. San Diego's name has been emerging, for it is not as populated as the former cities and there are jobs, recreation and good food there too, for a little less on the pocket book. If the best place to live to you is where there is a low crime rate, then cities like Palos Verdes Estates or Saratoga, California may be what you are looking for although living in these spots does come with a higher price tag. Wherever you end up in this great state, I think you will love it.

The Cheapest Places to Retire by the Beach

When it comes to living in retirement on the cheap we all know the concept is almost completely subjective - that is to say one persons cheap could be completely different than another. Lifestyle factors are the first consideration. For some living in the cold is no big deal. Some retirees may even have problems dealing with heat and exposure to the sun and therefor really want and need to live some where cool and cloudy or at least shady. On the other hand many people and in all likelihood the majority of people would say living by water and specifically near a beach would be wonderful. So, is it possible? Can one find a cheap place to retire by the beach? I think so! Let's have a look at -

The Most Affordable Places for Retirement by the Beach

Choosing the cheapest places to retire is not a task that should be taken lightly. Retiring abroad is the dream of many people who have lived and worked in the same places their whole lives and want to experience something different in their twilight years. In some cases people want to return to a place that they have visited on vacation before, in others they are looking for an adventure. It is always best to conduct serious research into any country before visiting, let alone moving there permanently. For the few who actually get to do it, choosing the right place usually involves selecting based on a list of criteria including personal taste, cost of living, quality of the healthcare available and familiarity with the culture.

Panama is One of the Best Places to Live After Retirement

Panama is one of the more popular places for retirement outside of the USA for several good reasons. The first is the potential for it to be a tax haven for those who meet certain qualifications. Another is the fact that the country has a relatively high standard of living while also being an affordable place to live. Panama also uses the US dollar as its national currency, making things a lot simpler for new residents as they will not have a new currency or new exchange rates to figure out. To make it all even more appealing, Panama has always had strong ties with the US and there is a large community of ex-pat retirees in place there already. Those retiring to Panama can choose between the bustling metropolitan life of Panama City or, for a more rural setting, they may want to venture into the the hills and forests of the county. For many, the selling point is the abundance of beaches and the relaxed atmosphere of the beach towns.

Mexico Has Some of the Best Beaches in the World

Good old Mexico has gotten a bad rap recently due to drug cartel squabbles, but the fact is that those occur mostly in border towns and therefore ex-pats elsewhere in the country should be relatively safe. Apart from being next-door to the USA, Mexico has good food, a plentiful supply of beaches and in the big cities it is possible to find a good standard of living and reasonable healthcare. This is to say nothing of the fact that there are thousands of ex-pats living there already, therefore newcomers will have a community ready and waiting for them to join in.

France Has an Excellent Healthcare System

France is well known as a tourist destination. French food, wine, and art are all of a high enough quality that people travel from all corners of the world to partake of them. The French beaches of Canne and St Tropez are also among the more glamorous and well-known Europe. In fact, it could be said that no one can truly consider themselves a world traveler without experiencing a trip to France. Well, France is no longer just for backpacking college kids and the average summer tourist. It is widely considered to be one of the more appealing places in which to retire. Apart from the culture and countryside, France is one of the all-round best places to live in the world and offers a number of benefits including relatively affordable home ownership some of the very best health care available anywhere.

Cheap, Safe, and Friendly: The World's Top Retirement Havens

There are places, the world over, where people are friendly, crime is almost non-existent, health care is excellent, and prices for everything from homes to groceries and doctors' visits could make you think it's 1953 again.


Places where it is possible to reduce your retirement cost of living, perhaps dramatically...while increasing the quality of your life.


We have prepared a series of five Country Retirement Reports that contain complete details on retirement opportunities in some of the world's top retirement havens right now.

Go here now to learn more

Is the idea of moving abroad for a cheap place to live in retirement just not your cup of tea? If you're goal is to live in retirement in the U.S. there are plenty of cheap places to live and many are on the beach. Check out the post below for a free report on the cheapest places to retire in the U.S. and a review of the new comprehensive directory by the Rich Habits Institute.

Are There Cheap Places To Live In Florida That Are Safe?

Are there cheap places to live in Florida that are safe? This is a big question for anyone that is thinking about relocating to that state. It is especially important to people who want to retire to Florida and are on a limited budget. It definitely is possible to find affordable housing when using a bit of research and planning. Florida is divided among its geographic regions. Here is a look into cheap and safe places to live in Florida.

Cheap Places To Live In Florida

In the recent past, Florida has suffered from devastating storms that raised insurance and property taxes to a high rate. However, as more and more people are found to enter foreclosures, this state has an abundance of housing deals. Southern Florida is one of the most expensive areas in the state and the weather is very unpredictable and brings a strong risk of hurricanes. On the other hand, cities like Tampa and Orlando, in the central region of the state, are much better choices. Even though the real estate in this section can get costly, older areas have more affordable pricing. The northern area of central Florida has an endless number of inexpensive houses, low taxes, and cheap land improvement. North Florida, including the city of Jacksonville, is a safe area of the state that has a lot of cheap housing options as well.

Cheapest Places To Live

One of the cheapest places to live in Florida is one of the many mobile home parks. For retired couples, there are adult only communities that bring good opportunities to meet other people. Rent is low and prices on mobile homes are relatively cheap. Activities like swimming and tennis are ways to get involved in the neighborhood. Many times, mobile home communities have planned evening get togethers.

Best Places To Live In Florida

Florida is well known for its warm and sunny temperatures. It has a low crime rate and is a perfect environment for sports like golf and activities like fishing. Tampa is a city on Florida's west coast and is a mecca for tourists because of the beaches and commercial dealings. There is a large amount of condos that line this area as well. Miami lies on the east coast of South Florida. It has the nickname "The Gateway To The Americas" because it is a hub for media, fashion, music, and entertainment. Tallahassee, the state capital, houses many educational and job opportunities. It is evident that anyone searching for a safe and inexpensive city to live in should consider Florida. There are many towns that have affordable real estate all long the large coastline. The temperature, natural beauty, entertainment, and other opportunities makes Florida one of the best places to live.

Best Places to Live in Florida for Families

Where are the Best Places to Live in Florida for Families?

Florida is no longer a place just for the rich or retired; it has become a place for the common family to live due to the increase in job availability and wonderful climate, along with various other factors. However, when people think of Florida they don't typically think of it as a family-friendly place to live. It's true there are some parts of Florida that are unpleasant, or possibly even dangerous. That is why it is vital to choose your new home from safe areas that are known as the best places to live in Florida, to ensure that your family gets to live in a happy, safe location. Finding one of these Florida gems is not too difficult; you just need to know where to look.

The Best Places to Live

Using NeighborhoodScout, Dr. Andrew Schiller has been able to pinpoint the top ten places in Florida to live. He is the creator of the NeighborhoodScout engine, and built it so that families can find the most suitable places to live and raise a family. It takes into consideration the safety from crime, public school quality, number of families currently residing there, number of adults with degrees in the area, number of adults who own their home, and many other factors. This is how it determines the quality of living for families in certain areas, which in turn helps families that are looking for homes in the area find the place they would fit in the best. This tool reveals

The Top Ten Places to Live in Florida

- Windermere, FL

- Boca Raton, FL

- Winter Springs, FL

- Key Biscayne, FL

- Longwood, FL

- Orange Park, FL

- Fort Lauderdale, FL

- Jupiter, FL

- Oviedo, FL

- Naples, FL

Safe Places to Live

Each of the towns listed above have been verified that they are indeed safe for families to live there. Safety is the top concern this program takes into consideration when choosing the best places for families to live, as safety is typically the top concern for families. Families want to know that the place they are moving to is safe for themselves, as well as their children. Child safety is a necessity for any family to even consider living somewhere, so NeighborhoodScout has looked into the crime rate in these areas to make sure that families can feel safe living in these areas.

So if you are one of those families that are looking into moving into Florida, take a look at these ten towns listed above. These towns are believed to be the best places in Florida for families to live in, proven by statistics.

International Living - Best Places for 2012

The New Year has begun and all of the lists for the best places to live and retire are being updated as I write this post.

With all the Doom and Gloom on CNN one might think the whole world is falling apart but that's the image the media want to continually beat into our brains - it's not reality. While politicians harp on the "post American World' and how even mentioning the phrase is somehow considered unpatriotic, the reality is we are moving into the Post American Era and that's not because the U.S. is some how worse than it is because the rest of the world is finally catching up. And that's a good thing! The Post American World is not about America falling but about the rise of everyone else. Just look around the world - new, modern cities are being built and old ones completely remodeled to American standards. Capital is being invested into adding more entertainment facilities, into improving small towns, into expanding airports, and into making comfortable living that much easier for those who desire to pursue a life abroad. The biggest news that 2012 is bringing to such individuals is that living somewhere far from America is becoming cheaper and easier. More accurately stated, the best places are going out of their way to make life in their area more affordable and more comfortable. Take Panama and their Pensionado Program whereby ex-pats can retire to Panama and enjoy an extensive list of retiree benefits the same as if they were born there.

Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America

In 2012 one place that sets the bar for living internationally is Buenos Aires, "the Paris of South America". The people are friendly, the weather is beautiful and the city is humming - constantly alive with culture, music and entertainment. For those looking to continue life immersed in the hustle and bustle of the world, Buenos Aires is definitely a great place to consider when thinking of moving abroad. The living in this city, as in any other, is pricey as compared to surrounding small towns. However, if one can survive in Boston, New York or Los Angeles then Buenos Aires will be no trouble at all.

Hong Kong - Where East is Become West

Another city on top of the list of most desired places to live abroad in 2012 is Hong Kong. Yes, the culture is dramatically different from that of Western Europe, but almost every there now speaks English and there is a dramatic move towards Westernization throughout Asia. The city is extremely safe for its size, there is constantly something to do and some place to go. Eastern Asia is always a quick flight or boat trip away for exploration.

The Most Affordable Places to Live in Europe

Austria has continually been ranked as one of the best places to set up a new home. This may be because of its clean environment, peaceful living, beautiful nature, and intriguing history and culture. Specifically the capitol city of Austria, Vienna, has been listed as one of the most affordable places to live in Europe with the highest quality of living of any city in the surrounding areas.

Down-Under for the Healthiest Lifestyle

As for as standard of living goes, New Zealand has continually beat out a large number of competitors on the "best place for living abroad" lists. The affordable living and some of the healthiest food supplies of any country on the planet, New Zealand continues to be an inspiration for all other places. Not to mention the record low crime, great school systems and beautiful country side, all of which make the island one of the most desired places to live in the entire world.

Still The Best Place to Retire

For those looking for best places to retire, a look at Panama is certainly warranted. Panama remains one of the most affordable and laid back places to live in retirement, thanks in no small part to the Pensionado Program mentioned above. The area has been deemed the winner of International Living magazine's Annual Global Retirement Index for six years in a row. And this is just one of the many accredited organizations that have listed Panama as the top place to retire. Editors note - be sure to see the post below for a great free video about this year's hottest Top Retirement Destinations.

So, if you're tired of Doom and Gloom - tired of cynical politicians who are concerned with nothing but their own power maybe it's time you considered a new Life Overseas - maybe 2012 is your time for International Living.

New Video Reveals World's Top Retirement Havens For 2012

This New Video From Kathleen Peddicord Reveals Why You Don't Have To Worry About Outliving Your Nest Egg...


You can retire in style overseas and live better than you do now...for as little as US$694 a month...

Live well--including a maid, a gardener, a driver--all on a Social Security budget...

Arrange health insurance for US$150 a month or less...some places, you can even enjoy free medical care...

Own your own home in the sun for as little as US$99,000...

and wake up each morning to the sound of the waves on the sand...

or the freshness of clean, mountain air...

In this brand-new video from Kathleen Peddicord, she explains the 10 Best Value Destinations for Living and Investing in the World Today.

Go here now to watch Kathleen's free video presentation

The Best Cities To Keep You Young

10 Cities Considered the Best Cities To Keep You Young

I was doing my usual surf around for what other sites had to say about the best places to live recently when I came across an interesting study of cities in the United States where residents manage to stay young in spite of chronological age.

The study invited users to assess their “real age”-- a measurement of how well people handle their true age in years from both a physical and psychological standpoint and developed a survey of 28 million users which ranked a total of 50 cities based on how low the stress of living in those locations impacts residents. The study found that cities which evidenced the lowest rates of reported stress were the “youngest” because their residents took better care of themselves in terms of managing stress, smoking, diet and exercise which in turn reduced the incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes all considered diseases of age and stress.

The Top 10 Youngest Cities

The study website recently announced the results of their survey and here are the top ten youngest cities. Coming out on top in the rankings was -

• San Francisco, California - that hippie haven form the 60s, San Francisco started the healthy eating movement that has since swept the country. Residents here eat more fruit and vegetables and consume more whole grains than any other city in the United States. The city ranks number one in non smokers and number two in levels of exercise.
• Salt Lake City, Utah - Aiding the ranking here is the high percentage of Mormon residents--the Mormon religion bans drinking alcohol, coffee and sodas, and discourages smoking. Happy marriages abound here, and residents are found to have an uncommonly optimistic outlook on life, all of which contribute to the second place ranking.
• San Diego, California - comes in third on the list of youngest cities in the United States. There you find a moderate climate with mild temperate and the most consistent level of sunshine exposure in the U.S. This alone helps place this coastal southern California city at number three. San Diego ranks number one in the U.S. for the resident's level of exercise, boasts fourth place for non-smokers and ranks third in levels of optimism.
• Minneapolis-St Paul, MN - is fourth youngest when looking at the metro area. Surrounded by rich agricultural bounty, Minneapolis-St Paul boasts first place in the consumption of whole grains which in turn yields the best levels of blood pressure. The city ranks second in stress and bolsters its position by being the best metropolitan area in terms of adequate sleep and healthy levels of vitamin D.
• The Denver-Boulder Colorado metropolitan area ranks fifth youngest. This rugged mountainous--mile high environment leads the nation in optimism, third best for exercise and second best for levels of healthy blood pressure.
• Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina - is Sixth. Home to several prominent universities, the area boasts a socially connected and aware populace with great rankings in terms of low blood pressure and cholesterol, optimism, and strong employment.
• The Seventh youngest city is Boston, Massachusetts. Boston ranks highest among residents covered by health insurance and important and often overlooked factor in overall health maintenance. Residents here also rank high in their consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, which in allows Boston to rank second for low blood cholesterol levels.
• Eighth youngest city is Austin Texas. Prime here is the level of education in this university town which in turn results in better overall understanding of dietary requirements and the need for a healthy lifestyle. Austin residents boast the lowest stress levels in the US and maintain the second place position for optimism.
• Number nine is something of a surprise as very few would consider the metro Washington, D.C. area to be a geographic location known for low stress. Bolstering the ranking for this city is the high level of employment and the high income those jobs provide, which make health maintenance far easier than in other areas of the country. Money may not buy happiness but it buys access to good health-care.
• And, the number ten of youngest cities in the U.S. should surprise no one -- with its fabled glorification of the young and glowingly healthy. But Los Angeles California ranks as the tenth youngest city based on “real age” factors such as exercise, eating fruits and veggies, taking aspirin, and not smoking.

Not many of us can pull up stakes and move to one of these cities, but we can make changes to our own lifestyles which reflect those of these top ranked cities. A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, adequate levels of exercise, not smoking and an optimistic outlook are possible in any geographic location and at any age.