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Want to Retire Early

11 cities that will stretch your dollars further

Cities include affordable healthcare and a low cost of living. Alamy Forget pristine beaches and palm trees. When the work wheel stops spinning, the best two cities in the U.S. to retire early are both in Kentucky – Louisville and Lexington, according to . That’s hardly a surprise considering the personal finance website as the second-best state for an early retirement last year. (Wyoming came in first.) Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Not only is the Bluegrass State tax-friendly, but it also lures retirees with its low cost of living and average house costs of only $8,600 a year. What’s more, the state is a nature lover’s paradise, offering a plethora of hunting, fishing, hiking and biking opportunities. When crafting its ,the personal finance website considered 10 factors: quality of medical care, unemployment, violent and property crime rates, average income, property and sales taxes, the cost of living, home prices and health care costs. AJ Smith, a personal finance expert at SmartAsset, acknowledged that Kentucky doesn’t typically show well on lists of “best retirement spots.” “But both Louisville and Lexington have low costs of living and affordable health care,” Smith said. “Additionally, first-place Louisville provides an average effective retirement income tax rate of only 12 percent for folks ages 55 to 64.” The site’s ultimate list of 11 best cities skews away from the Northeast, dotted by some of the most expensive locales in the country, and toward cities mostly in the South and West. Scroll below to see which cities made the cut and why. 1. Louisville, Ky. Although the country’s bourbon capital ranked 48th in SmartAsset’s study of number of medical facilities per resident, Louisville punches above its weight when it comes to housing prices and cost of living. It also offers an average effective income tax rate of only 12 percent. 2. Lexington, Ky. The horse capital of the world is Kentucky’s second-largest city, located about 80 miles east of Louisville. Both cities have a lot in common, including affordable health care and a low cost of living. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Groceries 20% off a Freshly meal delivery subscription See more Groceries offers > 5. Boise, Idaho The City of Trees features little crime as well as a very low average effective property-tax rate (0.84 percent), a relatively low sales tax (6 percent) and a low housing cost burden. 6. Mesa, Ariz. There was a time when you couldn’t talk about retirement without mentioning Arizona. And Mesa is one of the reasons why. The city offers the sixth-lowest average effective property taxes and the 18th-lowest average effective income tax rate. 7. Raleigh, N.C. Although health insurance here can get pricey, Raleigh rises toward the top when it comes to cost of living, sales tax and housing costs. The state’s capital is also awash in art galleries, local boutiques and diverse dining options. 8. Pittsburgh, Pa. This city’s attractiveness is tilted in favor of those who are especially health conscious. The city ranks sixth for average health care expenses and also has the eighth-most medical facilities per resident. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. . AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Finances offers > See more Vision Benefits offers > See more Retirement offers > See more Technology & Wireless offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS