Guide to Best Places to Retire in Tennessee
Best Places to Live & Retire in Tennessee
Ideal-Living offers a free comprehensive service that begins with helping you find your Ideal Lifestyle. Until you know how you want to live, you can’t know where you want to live. We offer a wide array of tools to help you get answers to the questions that are keeping you from moving to your ideal destination. That includes finding the best place to retire in Tennessee.
There are plenty of hotspots in Tennessee, such as Nashville, Gatlinburg and Knoxville, as well as secluded locales that offer all the privacy you seek. Besides its natural beauty and great retirement communities, Tennessee is one of the most tax friendly states for retirees and seniors. The tax benefits of living in Tennessee include:
- No state income tax
- No tax on social security benefits
- Property tax relief program for qualifying seniors
- Prescription drugs are exempt from state sales tax
Idyllic Communities in Ideal Locations
Tennessee is home to a diverse music scene, with Nashville known as the country music capital. For fans of the King of Rock and Roll, there’s even Graceland. But music isn’t the only thing to explore here. Whatever you wish to experience—Civil War sites, the Mississippi River, distilleries, outdoor adventure, amusements parks—Tennessee has a little bit of everything for you to explore and enjoy.
Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.
Our free Digital Choose Your Ideal Place Guide and Ideal-Living Magazine offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers.
Sample Communities to Discover
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.
Del Webb at Barton Village
Discover Del Webb at Barton Village: Coming Spring 2025
Nestled just 30 miles east of Nashville, TN, Del Webb at Barton Village is a master-planned community that offers the perfect balance of serene suburban living and convenient urban access. Set in Lebanon, this vibrant 55+ Active Adult community will bring together a blend of modern amenities and tranquil surroundings, making it an ideal place to call home.
At Del Webb at Barton Village, you’ll enjoy a wealth of resort-style amenities designed to enrich your lifestyle. Our community features stunning pools, a state-of-the-art clubhouse, pickleball courts, and a variety of resident-led clubs. The community is thoughtfully designed to foster social interaction and a vibrant lifestyle, with activities ranging from fitness classes to hobby groups.
Commute with ease to Lebanon’s charming town square, Nashville International Airport, or downtown Nashville. Experience the best of both worlds with quick access to the city’s cultural attractions, such as the Frist Museum, Grand Ole Opry, and Bridgestone Arena. Explore Tennessee’s beautiful countryside with opportunities for hiking, fishing, and canoeing. And when it comes to healthcare, you’ll be well-served by nearby facilities like Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital and Ascension Saint Thomas.
Del Webb at Barton Village is designed to accommodate your every need with its collection of innovative, flexible floor plans. Our homes feature low-maintenance designs with luxury touches, such as zero-entry showers, widened hallways, and open, flowing spaces. Choose from ten unique floor plans, each offering ample indoor and outdoor living areas perfect for entertaining family and friends.
The heart of our community is the Residents Clubhouse, which includes a comprehensive fitness center, hobby and meeting rooms, a large event space, and both indoor and outdoor pools. Enjoy recreational activities with sport courts, an arboretum, Veterans Park, and an open-air performance pavilion. Whether you’re interested in games, cooking classes, line dancing, or social events, there’s always something to look forward to.
With a mild four-season climate and Tennessee’s affordable cost of living, Barton Village is not just a place to live but a lifestyle to embrace. Be among the first to learn about community updates, building progress, and exclusive events by joining our VIP Interest List.
Del Webb at Barton Village – where modern living meets timeless comfort.
Fairfield Glade & Fairfield North
Fairfield Glade is perched high atop the Cumberland Plateau, and offers serene mountain beauty as it sits on the highest point between the Rocky and Smoky Mountains. One of the favorite features of this area is the moderate year round temperatures. The pleasant summer days and the cool summer nights can be attributed to the Cumberland Plateau’s 2,000-foot-elevation, allowing for more comfortable temperatures and much lower humidity than most areas of the south.
What to do with all the fabulous weather and beautiful scenery? Golfing, boating, fishing, hiking, walking, swimming, tennis/pickleball-the list of fun activities available is simply endless! Plus, an outdoor amphitheater and biergarten just opened to host live music, movies, food and community events – it’s a great gathering place for neighbors to come together.
The community offers multiple subdivisions with a wide range of home sizes, price ranges, and views that include mountain, lake, golf and protected woodlands. Another attribute is the incredible cost of living in Fairfield Glade – no state income tax on wages, very reasonable home prices, and extremely low property taxes and club dues.
Fairfield Glade is just 6 miles from the city limits of Crossville, a small town, but bustling with activities. Crossville’s central location on Interstate 40 has made it a hub for many outlying areas and has given rise to a booming retail environment, offering shopping, dining and entertainment choices. The community is also located right off I-40, less than an hour from Knoxville, and an hour and a half from either Nashville or Chattanooga.
Testimonial
“The biggest deciding factor for choosing Fairfield Glade was the people, both in the Glade and in the town. When we came to visit the first time, we had no appointment and no agenda – we just popped in and wandered around. Folks stopped us everywhere we went – Food City, the Wellness Center, Villa Pizza – and just chatted. No one was in a hurry, everyone was interested in our story, everyone had some tidbit to share. The same thing happened on our second visit, and then on every visit we made once construction started. We felt like we had become part of the community before we were actually part of the community.” Michelle and James Bayless
Fairfield Glade has 11 lakes and two marinas.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top communities in Tennessee, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
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