Best Places to Retire in Texas
Best Places to Retire in Texas
Texas, with its diverse landscapes, rich culture, and welcoming communities, is an ideal destination for retirees. From bustling cities and quaint small towns to scenic countryside and coastal retreats, Texas offers something for everyone. Discover the best places to retire in Texas and find your perfect retirement haven.
Why Retire in Texas?
Retiring in Texas comes with numerous benefits that make it an attractive option for many retirees.
Low Cost of Living:
Texas boasts a lower cost of living compared to many other states, allowing your retirement savings to go further.
No State Income Tax:
Texas does not have a state income tax, which means your retirement income, including Social Security benefits, pension income, and retirement account income, is not taxed.
Mild Winters:
While summers can be hot, Texas enjoys mild winters, making it an excellent choice for those looking to escape harsh winter weather.
Diverse Activities:
Whether you love outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or vibrant nightlife, Texas has it all. From hiking and fishing to museums and live music, there’s something for everyone.
Top Cities to Retire in Texas
Austin
Austin, the state capital, is known for its vibrant music scene, cultural festivals, and outdoor recreational opportunities. It offers a lively atmosphere with a mix of urban amenities and natural beauty.
Highlights:
- Thriving music and arts scene
- Beautiful parks and outdoor spaces
- High-quality healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining and entertainment options
San Antonio
San Antonio is rich in history and culture, featuring iconic landmarks like the Alamo and the scenic River Walk. It offers a blend of historic charm and modern amenities.
Highlights:
- Historic sites and cultural attractions
- Scenic River Walk with shopping and dining
- Affordable cost of living
- Warm climate and mild winters
Houston
Houston is a bustling metropolis with a diverse population and a strong economy. It offers world-class healthcare, numerous cultural institutions, and a variety of recreational activities.
Highlights:
- Excellent healthcare facilities
- Diverse cultural and culinary scene
- Numerous parks and green spaces
- Proximity to the Gulf Coast
Dallas-Fort Worth
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is known for its vibrant arts scene, shopping, and dining. It offers a mix of urban living and suburban tranquility, with plenty of amenities for retirees.
Highlights:
- World-class museums and theaters
- Major sports teams and events
- Variety of dining and shopping options
- High-quality healthcare services
Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
Fredericksburg
Nestled in the heart of Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg is known for its charming downtown, wineries, and German heritage. It offers a peaceful, small-town atmosphere with plenty of activities.
Highlights:
- Quaint shops and restaurants
- Beautiful vineyards and wineries
- Scenic Hill Country landscapes
- Friendly and welcoming community
Georgetown
Georgetown, located north of Austin, is renowned for its historic town square and friendly community. It offers a mix of small-town charm and modern amenities.
Highlights:
- Historic downtown with unique shops and dining
- Abundant parks and outdoor activities
- Active cultural scene with local festivals
- Close proximity to Austin
Best Places to Retire in Texas Near Water
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, located on the Gulf Coast, offers beautiful beaches, a warm climate, and a relaxed coastal lifestyle. It’s ideal for those who love water activities and coastal living.
Highlights:
- Miles of sandy beaches
- Excellent fishing and boating opportunities
- Warm and sunny climate
- Vibrant local culture and cuisine
Galveston
Galveston is a historic coastal city with beautiful beaches, Victorian architecture, and a rich cultural scene. It provides a laid-back, island-style living experience.
Highlights:
- Charming historic district
- Scenic beaches and waterfront activities
- Rich cultural and artistic heritage
- Proximity to Houston
FAQs about Retiring in Texas
Find Your Ideal Retirement Community in Texas
Villages of Citrus Hills
Terra Vista is Florida’s premier master-planned community featuring incredible resort-style retirement living just minutes from the spectacular Gulf Coast. This amenity-rich community is set in unique surroundings characterized by rolling hills, towering oaks, and moderating Gulf breezes.
The Villages of Citrus Hills stands as a truly unique departure from the traditional Florida lifestyle experience. Citrus Hills is amenity-rich, resort- style living, at its finest. The community is set in unique surroundings characterized by rolling hills, with an elevation up to 260 feet, towering oaks, and incredible landscaping. While one of the highest elevations in Florida the community is just miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Terra Vista at Citrus Hills offers a beautiful selection of customizable, single-family homes with a wide variety of world-class amenities just minutes from your door including: championship golf, first-class tennis, private dining and a spectacular spa and fitness complex.
At Citrus Hills you’ll discover Skyview, the region’s most elaborate country club, along with two other challenging 18-hole golf courses, two tennis centers, private restaurants and a 50,000-square- foot Spa and Fitness Center. Best of all Citrus Hills blends suburban charm with easy access to cosmopolitan Tampa Bay, Orlando and Ocala, so you are close to everything you want, yet far enough away from what you don’t want.
The Villages of Citrus Hills offers customizable single-family homes and detached villas from $400,000 – $1.5 million in a choice of beautiful neighborhoods designed to accommodate a wide variety of tastes and needs.
The Villages of Citrus Hills unquestionably is one of the Southeast’s most exciting resort-lifestyle opportunities. You must see it to believe it.
Tellico Village
Tellico Village is Eastern Tennessee’s premier active-adult community for retirees and remote workers of any age who want to enjoy the region’s finest collection of resort-style amenities.
Set on 4,800 acres around Tellico Lake in the Great Smoky Mountain foothills, Tellico Village is an outdoor recreation paradise. Three lakeside golf courses host a year-round schedule of league events, plus pro and amateur championships. The Tellico Village Yacht Club, one of three community marinas, offers complete boating services and lakefront dining. Fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis/pickleball courts, and 50+ miles of local hiking trails give residents a choice of healthy activities every day of the week. The 200+ Tellico Village social clubs and volunteer organizations make it easy for neighbors to become friends. At the same time, the on-site Summit Medical Center offers convenient primary care and physical-therapy services.
More than 2,300 buildable lots and waterfront homesites are available at Tellico Village. An impressive roster of 15 local builders offers a fantastic variety of floor plans with customizable options to create the new home of your dreams. There are also a number of existing homes on the market at any given time, plus rentals available for a week to a year while you check out all of the choices.
Located just 31 miles from Knoxville, Tellico Village residents are just a short drive away from the region’s finest night-life venues, cultural events, shopping centers, and top-rated health care facilities.
Request more information below, and you’ll be on your way to enjoying the good life at Tellico Village.
Logan Homes
Coastal Living at Its Finest
Logan Homes mission is to build homes and develop communities where value, location and lifestyle come together. No matter what season of life you’re in, there’s a Logan Homes community and floor plan to fit every one of your needs. Based on your budget, personal style, desired amenities and preferred locations, the Logan Homes team is there to be your guide through it all, ensuring your experience is easy, simple and fun.
Logan Homes builds within a host of premier communities in the Southeastern parts of both North Carolina and South Carolina and Northeastern Georgia. Enjoy thoughtful plans and design features, curated by their professional in-house design team. In addition to a streamlined process, you will enjoy extra peace of mind with the Warranty Program, knowing the Logan Homes team will be there for you every step of the way.
Ready to get started? Explore communities and available homes on the Logan Homes website and contact Logan Homes today to get started on your new home journey!
Osprey Landing
Welcome to Osprey Landing, a new single-family home community in charming Southport, North Carolina. In one of the most desirable coastal areas, Osprey Landing offers residents a relaxed lifestyle with a blend of seaside living and everyday convenience. Named “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” by Coastal Living Magazine, Southport is a historic city abundant with charming streetscapes and coastal beauty. The area offers stunning beaches, marinas, boating, fishing, shopping, exceptional dining, art galleries, golfing, and more! Within the community, Osprey Landing features an outdoor lap-size pool with a water slide, an open-air pool house Cabana, lawn maintenance, and more! Offering multiple home designs and types, single family land and home packages range from the mid $300’s to the high $600’s.
Visit billclarkhomes.com to explore your new home options today!
Dataw Island
There is a place off the South Carolina coast, near the charming town of Beaufort, where nature and luxury share center stage. Shaped by the Intracoastal Waterway and a rich Southern history, the SC gated golf community of Dataw Island is a pristine parcel of 870 acres waiting to be discovered.
The Dataw Island Club is the perfect choice for you. Golf and Social memberships are available for island residents. If you live in the area and are interested in joining the club. For membership information, call (843) 838-3838.
- “Top 100 Amenity Communities” – ideal-LIVING Magazine
- “Best in Value Golf Community” – Links Magazine
- “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” – The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses
Their two championship golf courses, by Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills, wind their way through stunning Lowcountry landscape, complete with historic ruins, moss-draped oaks, and tidal marsh. Complemented by an array of sports amenities (Tennis, Pickleball, Croquet, Bocce) and social clubs too numerous to mention (arts clubs, yoga and fitness, special interest groups), members of Dataw Island find their days full of friendship, philanthropy, and fun!
Dataw Island is a luxurious and private residential golf community nestled in an unrivaled South Carolina landscape. Within the gates, there is 24-hour security. There’s vibrancy there, a constant bustle of activity that reflects the area’s rich wildlife and Dataw’s collaborative culture. Residents can walk, bike or travel by golf cart to social gatherings, functions and meetings.
From deepwater slips that lead to blue waters to the manicured golf courses named for legends; from an indoor lap pool to a whirlpool spa; from tennis lessons to Spanish lessons, Dataw Island is humming with leisure. Start the day sunny side up in your Lowcountry residence. Uncover cozy, shaded nooks perfect for soaking in the coastal breeze. Join neighbors for a Yacht Club meeting or challenge friends to a game of croquet on the lawn. From a calendar of social events to thoughtful gathering spots woven throughout, Dataw Island’s connected community is inspired by you.
Rarity Bay
The undulating vistas of the Smoky Mountains make for an idyllic backdrop to life at Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, this gated lakefront community offers space to grow and explore the iconic wilderness of the region.
At Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake, you’ll find a variety of real estate options, including homes, rentals, condos, and sites ready for development. The turnkey single-family homes are large, with sweeping views and plenty of space to spread out when guests inevitably come to visit. Pools, courtyards, patios and firepits make the outdoors an extension of your space. For those that make boating an everyday element of life, there are plenty of waterfront lots waiting for your custom-built dream home.
Water skiing, recreational boating, fishing and kayaking are all popular pastimes on Tellico Lake, and Rarity Bay offers over 10 miles of shoreline and a number of community docks for easy access. Golfers will delight in the par-72, 18-hole golf course, designed by DJ DeVictor and Peter Langham. The professionally maintained stables make it easy for equestrians to board their horses and offers lessons for the casual rider looking to take advantage of the 125 miles of riding (and hiking) trails.
Renovated in 2020, the 11,000 square foot Country Club is a social hub with a bistro and full-service bar. Just outside, you’ll find lighted tennis courts, pickleball facilities, and a swimming pool.
Tennessee’s low cost of living, 0.64% effective property tax, and lack of tax on salaries as well as income made on dividends are added bonuses to life in the Volunteer State. The real draw is what’s beyond your front door. So come to Rarity Bay and make the majestic Smoky Mountains and clear waters of Tellico Lake the backdrop for your vacation getaway, second residence or forever home.
Request more information about Rarity Bay.
St. James Properties
St. James Plantation, located along Southeastern North Carolina’s Intracoastal Waterway near the charming towns of Southport and historic Wilmington, remains one of the most desirable communities in the region. The community boasts over $100 million in top-tier amenities, including a private oceanfront beach club, a 475-slip marina with dry stack options, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, including the Signature Wellness Center, four welcoming clubhouses, and 81 holes of championship golf. Residents can also enjoy 36+ miles of biking and walking routes, five dining options, Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball, parks, community gardens, and over 100 social clubs.
With a mild Carolina climate offering four distinct seasons, the area is ideal for outdoor activities and exploring nearby antique shops, boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and historical landmarks dating back to the 1700s. Additionally, the region is home to well-equipped adult educational institutions and first-class medical centers. Real estate options in St. James include spacious custom homes, new cottage homes, and condominiums, with single-family homes ranging from the $600,000s to over $1 million, and homesites starting in the $200,000s.
Plan your visit right now! Call 800-245-3871 or visit our website: www.StJames-Properties.com.
Woodside
Enhanced by the region’s lucrative cost of living, mild climate, stunning natural beauty, and charming
Southern hospitality, Woodside’s 3,000-acre community is ideally located in one of the Southeast’s best-kept secrets, Aiken, SC.
Meticulously designed from concept to creation for discerning active-active adults, downsizing retirees, and anyone else with a taste for the finer things in life, Woodside’s location in one of Southern Living Magazine’s “South’s Best Small Towns” offers residents walkable access to the best of both worlds. On top of Woodside’s world-class amenities, including 4 championship golf courses, 2 clubhouses, more than 60 member-led social groups and clubs, 2 resort-style pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, over 21 miles of hiking and nature trails, 7 landscaped parks and green spaces – including a Certified Butterfly Park – Woodside residents enjoy 10-minute access to downtown Aiken’s Gilded-Age avenues filled with exceptional local restaurants, designer boutiques, art galleries, and more.
Whether you envision yourself perfecting your swing on our Nicklaus Design course, dozing by the pool,
or creating new memories with friends you’ve yet to meet, life at Woodside is designed to deliver you a
home that extends far beyond your property line!
Brunswick Forest
Brunswick Forest, the Coastal South’s fastest growing community, is located on North Carolina’s Cape Fear coast, just minutes from historic Wilmington. This 4,500-acre retreat features a wide features a wide array of
neighborhoods, architecture, and price points.
World-class amenities include:
• 18 holes of golf at Cape Fear National
• Clubhouse, Restaurant & Pro-shop
• Fitness & Wellness Center with Indoor & Outdoor Pools
• Hammock Lake Park, Pool, and Fitness Center
• Reflections Fitness Center & Pool
• Town Creek River Launch
• Nearly 100 Miles of Walking, Biking & Nature Trails
• Tennis & Pickleball Courts
• Community Town Center with Shopping, Medical & Restaurants
If you would like to learn more about this vibrant, coastal community in North Carolina, you can request more information and compare this community with many others to find your ideal lifestyle, all you have to do is request more information. Discovery packages are available.
The Landings on Skidaway Island
Welcome to The Landings.
Our vibrant, island lifestyle is made even richer by our proximity to the culture and excitement of Savannah, GA. The best of both worlds? You bet!
All the natural beauty of an island and the modern amenities of a city blended to make one of the most amazing places to live in the entire United States. You’ll always feel connected to the exhilaration of Savannah, while enjoying the privacy and security of having a home inside a gated community – better yet, a gated community on an island!
World-class, resort-style amenities, the feel of a small town and a number of distinct neighborhoods… each detail has been considered in creating a community of incomparable standards. With 40 years of national awards for golf and community excellence, The Landings on Skidaway Island offers a range of real estate opportunities fit for any lifestyle.
Life at The Landings comes with many outdoor opportunities too, including fishing in one of our many lagoons, 30 miles of nature trails, playgrounds, dog parks, not to mention year-round watersports. Set off on an adventure from either of our two full-service, deep-water marinas: Landings Harbor and Delegal Creek Marina. Both offer easy access to the Atlantic, and the Intracoastal Waterway – two ideal locations for enjoying the best maritime experience that the Southeast has to offer.
Here you’ll also find The Landings Club, our private luxury golf club offering 6 Championship golf courses, 4 Clubhouses, 7 Dining options, 31 Har-Tru tennis courts, Pickleball, Bocce, 5 pools, a 50,000 sq ft Wellness Center and much, much more. While you don’t have to join The Landings Club to live in The Landings, becoming a member of The Landings Club takes life at The Landings to a whole new level.
Discover more about The Landings on Skidaway Island by taking advantage of one of our Island Discovery Packages today! Learn more at www.thelandings.com or contact The Landings Welcome Center at 912-598-0500.
Robson Communities
Start Your Texas Retirement Journey with ideal-Living
Texas provides a wealth of options for retirees, from vibrant urban centers to peaceful small towns and coastal retreats. Whether you seek cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, or a low cost of living, Texas has something to offer. Discover the best places to retire in Texas with Ideal-Living and start planning your perfect retirement today.









