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

If you’re not eying one of the best retirement cities or beach towns, look at small towns, many of which make sense for retirees. Small towns often have a lower cost of living, lower crime and much less traffic than bigger cities. On top of that, small towns generally offer a strong sense of community, which is great for the stage of life when you actually have time to meet your neighbors for a leisurely visit over a cup of coffee. Many small towns are also close to major metropolitan areas, offering seniors access to culture and health care, and they also tend to have good public transportation options.

GOBankingRates recently researched the 44 best small towns to retire in the U.S. for 2025. Keep reading to find out more about the best town and what makes it terrific for seniors.

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How were the best small towns for retirement determined?

GOBankingRates started by looking at U.S. Census American Community Survey data and making a list of all the towns in the U.S. with a population between 1,000 and 10,000. Because the cost of living is a factor, they sourced info from Zillow and Sperling’s BestPlaces, plus data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for Retired Residents. They used the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer for information about crime, and AreaVibes, a data analytics and real estate company based in Toronto, was used to determine overall livability.

GOBankingRates devised a scoring system that weighted most categories the same, though the expenditure cost was weighted at 1.25 because affordability is a big deal for people living on a fixed income. All data is up to date as of May 17, 2024. GOBankingRates summed the scores to determine the best small town in America to retire in.

Which small town is the best for retirement?

Maplewood, Missouri, a small town with a population of around 8,041, is the best small town for retirees in the U.S., according to the GOBankingRates study.

Why is Maplewood, Missouri, rated the best small town for retirement?

A GOBankingRates study determined that Maplewood’s overall livability score is 87. Seniors can live in this town outside St. Louis for about $2,810 per month. Maplewood is in St. Louis County and only about 10 miles from the “Gateway to the West’s” downtown, which is great for amenities, though its proximity may contribute to Maplewood’s higher total crime rate of 55.80 per 1,000 residents.

We chatted with Matt Lamb, a St. Louis-based realtor with The Gellman Team, for an insider’s perspective on what makes Maplewood so livable.

Affordable real estate

Lamb says that when people think about the small towns that make up the inner-ring suburbs of St. Louis, the affluent towns of Clayton and Ladue are often the first that come to mind. These towns feature beautiful architecture, but living in either comes at a cost. According to March 2025 data from Realtor.com, the median listing home price in Ladue was $1.5 million.

Lamb says Maplewood is just as close and convenient as the most expensive towns outside the city, and you can buy a lovely house for $300,000 to $500,000. “You can get a lot more for your money in Maplewood, with a wide variety of architecture, such as Tudors, bungalows and colonials on tree-lined streets,” Lawn says. “Maplewood feels like you’ve stepped back in time.”

Great downtown

Lamb says the downtown area is full of older, classic homes. “We call them gingerbread houses,” he says. For retirees who love a walkable downtown, Maplewood is the spot.

“Maplewood has a small-town main street,” Lamb says. “They have a local butcher, a bowling alley and plenty of great restaurants.” Downtown Maplewood has a MetroLink stop that costs $3 for a trip from downtown, and residents can also connect to take MetroLink to the airport, giving residents the best of small-town living with city access and amenities.

Health care

The city of St. Louis has 20 hospitals, and there are more than 100 hospitals in the greater St. Louis area, including both acute care and specialty hospitals. “St. Louis has one of the most robust hospital systems,” Lamb says. “Washington University and Saint Louis University are within a few miles of Maplewood.”

WashU Medicine is No. 2 in the U.S. for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and surpassed $1 billion in funding in 2024. This funding goes to study everything from Alzheimer’s disease to air pollution to childhood depression. Funding of this magnitude increases health care options in the community, plus it boosts the local economy through job growth, new construction and general spending.

Friendly people

Lamb moved to the St. Louis area from Wisconsin and knows firsthand how welcoming the people are to newcomers. “They’ll ask you about toasted ravioli,” Lamb joked, noting the beloved local delicacy. “And they’ll also want to know what high school you went to.”

Despite moving to St. Louis as an adult—and not going to a local high school or cutting his teeth on fried ravioli—Lamb says the community is friendly, and outsiders don’t feel like outsiders for long.

What other small towns are ranked in the top 10?

The other towns rounding out the top 10 are:

  1. Maplewood, MO
  2. Sharpsburg, PA
  3. Brentwood, PA
  4. Alamo Heights, TX
  5. Riverdale, UT
  6. Lindale, TX
  7. Coraopolis, PA
  8. Grand Blanc, MI
  9. Richmond Heights, MO
  10. Hillsborough, NC

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About the expert

  • Matt Lamb is a realtor with The Gellman Team in St. Louis. He has sold real estate in greater St. Louis since 2016, though he got his start in 2008 in Wisconsin. Lamb sells about 48 homes per year and does about $32 million in transactions. He understands relocation because he’s been there personally, and he knows how important it is to feel good in your home.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

Where You'll Get More Bang for Your Buck

The Most Livable Cities for Seniors

The Happiest Cities in America

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