Surprises Galore: Best Places to Retire in the West for 2018

A town might be viewed 3500 times and rejected 3500 times. We considered St. George after a trip out west, but decided no after more research.

I cannot believe there is no mention of AZ. Your own site often refers to AZ as a great place. Scottsdale is rated highly in many polls and reviews as a great place to live. Ca, WA and even NV have recently been rated as the most expensive places to move to by Wall Strret 24. National Geographic needs a geography lesson. How can AZ not been considered a Western State? Colorado is east of AZ. So is Wyoming and a good portion of Montana.

Editor's Note: See our definition of the West (Arizona is in the Southwest). See our list of the Top 20 Towns in the Southwest (you are right, AZ got 14 of the Top 20 spots)

For most, this web site is what its all about, research. Comments from all of us help promote the narrative. The West is beautiful, if that's what you want. "Poison for one is a feast to another."

I moved to Redmond (18 miles N of Bend). Partly because of better home values but primarily because Bend is a major tourist town. Tourist towns have issues that create love hate feelings in many locals for the obvious reasons - they bring in money(and the options/services that go with money)
but create major headaches. I recommend keeping that in mind when choosing.

Bravo to Daryl in comment #1. The article title is wrong! It should be something like the "20 cities people are most curious about for retirement". I wish the narrative paragraphs were more informative. How about a mention of the number of days per year of precipitation in Bellingham and Eugene; a mention of the Blue Hole in Sequim; and a comment about the extent of the winter in Boise and Bend for example.

Editor's comment: Thanks for the comments RonM. We can quibble about what to call the list, but the point is that it is a list of places that a lot of people think are potentially great places to consider for retirement. As far as the narrative paragraphs go, we tried to give a brief summary that might spark more curiosity. With 20 towns on the list, pretty hard to spend much detail without boring everyone. Use the links provided for each place and you will find a lot more. Maybe not everything you want, but enough to get started.

Medford, Oregon can be 113 degrees in summer, pretty darn hot in my opinion. I like the Oregon coast. No place is perfect though is it????

I think future research/discussions about western areas for retirement will likely need to include air quality due to the "fire season" which now lasts most of the year. Having just spent the last 6 weeks in Colorado and Wyoming, I was aghast at times. While not smokey all the time, it certainly was much of the time, if not from local state fires then from the ongoing California burn. As I was heading home and drove across the eastern high plains of Wyoming, I estimate that the visibility was 3 to 5 miles at times, and there were no fires nearby! I suspect this is now the new "norm" out there.

Medford.......is a lot hotter because it's not on the Oregon coastline. If you want cooler weather you should try Astoria all the way to Brookings. I'm now finding with my research that inland California is pretty comparable in cost of living. I'm talking about Sun City and all the towns near Palm springs too. So we are probably just going to stay here. Even though I'm getting an inheritance my Medicaid expansion policy will get me by until I qualify for Medicare. So if you don't mind hot summers it's a pretty good exchange!!

Daryl, we chose ST George over Az cities and Spokane. What swayed you away from St George?

I wish we could find out where the coolest temperature cities are to live. I despise the heat and humidity. I have heard San Diego has wonderful temps but also it is very crowded.

Gary, first let me say how much I thoroughly enjoy this website, the articles, and especially viewer comments. Every day someone says something that is eye-opening or amusing. My initial comment was merely about drawing conclusions from data, not to disparage St. George. Our reasons for not choosing St. George are just personal preferences of climate and demographics.

Hi Louise:

San Diego has great weather and not only is it a bit crowded, it is also expensive for the most part. San Miguel de Allende in Mexico has similar weather and lots of Americans are retiring there for the same weather reasons. No humidity and cheaper to live. We all are looking for a utopia. Good luck to those who have found it.

Louise, I have lived in NY, Fla, Oregon and California.....needless to say San diego has the best weather with only a few days of 90 degree temperatures ever y summer. We don't need air conditioning and our utility bills are only $45 monthly. Food prices are lower because we grow most of the food here as well. You can purchase a 2 BR condo 4 mi from the ocean for $230,000, which BTW if anyone is interested that's what I'm selling ours for at the end of October.
OF COURSE .....if you need a stick home that's a different matter of price unless you're able to live inland where the summers are much warmer. We plan on purchasing a Mtg home in a 55 + park where you own the land and the HOA is only $200, and home prices start at $100,000. So as you can see almost anyone can afford living here if you do your research. Another thing that's keeping us here is how well the state takes care of you if you do need assistance later on in life.....

Thanks for the reply Daryl. I always find it interesting to read the varied opinions on different locations. We found St George accidentally 5 years ago and landed here. Why, moderate weather, the beauty of the close by National Parks, and the red rock mountains surrounding the City. There is a large high quality medical center, and airport serviced by 4large carriers, a university, and very reasonably priced housing. No traffic and clean air were extras. The main industry recreational and sporting opportunities. The biggest of all is the Huntsman world wide senior games. I grew up in Spokane and for all its pluses the winter is cooold.

Mary 11,
I see you have found your spot and it sounds reasonable. Where are you going? Tell us about manufactured homes in CA. I have heard that California has good benefits--Medi-Cal being one. How do the taxes affect you? My brother says that many people are moving from CA to Oregon to escape all the taxes. If you stay, will your income be taxed heavily? How about real estate taxes?

Thanks, Jennifer

Jennifer,
Well...We live in Oceanside CA which is a military beach town in San diego county. We are looking into Vista, Escondido and Sun City CA. They're 20 to 45 minutes inland where homes are more reasonably priced. Property taxes on a Mfg home , where you own the land are approx $70-100 monthly. Plus with Prop 13, we are grandfathered in to not paying more in prop taxes if we purchase a home in CA. We dont have any issues with taxes because we earn less than $25000 per year. When I had to move in with my elderly mother we became qualified for MediCal and that has been a godsend. It covers your medical, dental and vision as well. We will continue our benefits until I turn 65, even though I am coming into an inheritance. So that's what keeps us here.....at least for the next 2 years. Sure, some people are moving out of CA, but with all the research I've done with cost of living comparisons I'm seeing about $100 per month difference in costs. Oregon is beautiful, but some cities don't offer things you need in retirement , such as grocery delivery or a hospital nearby. It all depends on what you're looking for in a home. We are downsizing down to a 1000 square ft home with a small yard. We want less maintenance and cost. Not everyone would be happy with a smaller home so then the cost of living costs will be much more. You can't really rent near the coast, unless you can qualify for low income housing. It hasn't been an easy decision for us.....do you pay a little more to stay in Cali with the nice weather and an easier move or move to Oregon where they have a very high income tax and where it rains all of the time. We may not stay here forever but that's fine because my parents retired to Fla and eventually moved to San diego. We don't have children so it's an easier decision in where we do move to. I hope I was able to answer some of your questions.....

Mary 11,

You have chosen some very good reasons to stay in California. Walkability and grocery delivery are very important to me as well. I have both of those here in Washington, DC , but when I looked in Lincoln City, OR where my brother has a beach home, I felt I might be isolated. I can drive now, but in the future who knows if I will or even would want to. I will want access to Uber as well in that event. So the weather even though cooler and less humid in Oregon probably will not work for me due to the rain and grey sky for prolonged periods of time. I have a hard enough time here in the winters, after the Holidays in January-March when it is dark upon arising and the sun sets early. I have been looking elsewhere like New Hampshire since I like New England, but I have not found my utopia yet. Thanks so much.

Coolest summer climate is probably Monterey area in California. Year round is very moderate and summer fog from ocean keeps it cool. Salinas supposedly has the ideal climate but still a little rough at the edges.

Deb, I assume you've checked the real estate and rental prices on the Monterey Peninsula. Outrageous!!! I lived there for 29 years but had to leave when prices shot out the roof. You're right about the climate. I lived in Carmel Valley because I wanted more sun and heat. There aren't many places that have a grocery store within walking distance either.

Speaking of how to find the best place to retire, we strongly recommend this article about how one of our Members, a former Rocket Scientist, went about finding his. https://www.topretirements.com/blog/retirement-planning-2/this-is-rocket-science-how-a-space-engineer-found-his-best-place-to-retire.html/ He ended up in Ocean Shores, WA, and we were a little surprised that town didnt end up on this list. Check it out! Ocean Shores, WA

Gary, your inspiring description of St. George makes me want to reconsider. You could find a second calling as a realtor! Is there a specific 55+ community that you really enjoyed visiting?

Daryl,
There are 2 places to consider. Sun River is large and well established,but the facilities
are a bit dated. There are thousands of homes in this complex. You must be 55+ .
The other, Brio, where I live, is only 2 years old and has about 125 finished homes, which will eventually be about 650. The facilities are quite modern and just stunning. However, although nearly everyone who lives here is 55+, it is not age restricted, so a young family could move there if they wished.
Costs are fairly similar between the 2 communities, with Brio having slightly lesser cost for housing and a much less expensive HOA fee.
Because of Brio’s newness, there. are not yet the number of clubs and activities there that Sun River has.
We have lived inSt. G for 2 years now, coming from the Midwest. We had never even heard of the place, and came on the recommendation of a friend. We absolutely love it here and we just had 2 of the hottest summers in Utah history.
Also, we are not LDS, and have had nothing but the nicest interactions with people of that faith..living here is sort of like stepping back in time, where neighbors looked out for each other, etc..great, relaxed vibe to the city and its residents.

Anyone have any information about retiring to Palm Springs CA and the residing towns nearby? We are thinking of retiring there but have some concerns such as the air quality and electric bills....

Thanks Andy, we will include a visit to both on our trip next summer!

Anyone have any info on Sun City, CA?? I noticed the homes are reasonably priced but the weather can get pretty warm there too - From Mary 11

About Sun City, CA: It is old in years and population and Hot June-mid Oct. It is no longer an idependant municipality. Nothing physically attractive about it at all. It has been incorporated into Menifee, a fast growing, middle income community in South Riverside County, affordable by southern Calif. housing. Menifee, along with nearby neighbors Murrieta and Temecula, offer every standard chain store and restaurant you expect.

There are many beautiful vineyards outside Temecula that offer great dining, wedding, and concert venues. The annual hot air balloon festival is a huge, fun event. Old Town Temecula is a nice change of pace once in a while. Downtown beautiful San Diego is 90 mins. south, and you can be on the beach in Oceanside or Carlsbad in about a non-rush-hour hour.

Depending where you might go in LA, traffic/time of day are more important than miles. You’re about three plus hours from Las Vegas, two hours from Big Bear Lake, and four hours to the beginning of the magnificent eastern Sierra.

Shelley from North County San Diego

Thanks Shelley...funny I also live in North County!! We just sold our condo and in 4 mo need to decide if we want to move back to Oregon or move inland to Riverside County... So it's either rain or hot weather to deal with...oh well... Id rather stay closer to the ocean but San diego is too expensive so maybe it's the Oregon or Washington coast for us!!

Mary, if you haven't checked out Sequim, WA, suggest you do. Its on the Olympic Peninsula and in a rain shadow. Meaning, doesn't get as much rain as those of us in other areas of Puget Sound. Also a lot of retirees there.

Hi Mary,
You were inquiring about Sun City. I live in Temecula which is about 17 miles south of Sun City. To travel to Sun City I take the 15 north to the 215 north. The 215 freeway is gridlocked with work traffic coming into Temecula/San Diego very early in the morning. The Temecula area as Shelley mentioned is pretty but you have to plan your appointments and activities around the traffic.

Best wishes to you:)

Diane,
I wish we could live in Temecula but Menifee is better on the finances...thanks for the info...

Hi Mary,
Yes, Menifee has lower home prices. The good news is that Menifee has built new stores and restaurants for its residents. You will need to drive to Temecula to go to an indoor shopping mall for a store like JCPenney. When you drive further south there is a larger mall in Escondido with higher end stores such as Nordstrom.

Enjoy planning your move:)

Diane

My friend lives on 120 acres in Montana. The winters are killing him. He is a conservative and likes land. Does not want anywhere hot or too cold (long winters). He wants to stay in the west. He is not wealthy but can probably get $750,000 for his property.
Can anyone make some suggestions on where he might look? He is 55 years old.
Thanks.

Have your Montana friend look at Albuquerque, NM and Flagstaff, AZ as much better weather landings spots out west.

Well....needless to say home prices in Southern California haven't gone down much so we found a very nice condo to rent in Oceanside CA . We really didn't want to move inland to the desert communities and the high utility bills. So for now until my hubs goes on SS in 7 years we can continue to enjoy living 5 miles from the ocean. After that who knows...lol

Paul, tell your friend to look at Eastern Washington State. Its conservative but does have four seasons although the winters are not as bad as Montana. Another State would be Idaho.

Paul, as an extra perk, no state income tax in Washington

Washington is getting very expensive. I would check out Idaho. It is much cheaper if you are looking to reduce taxes/insurance.

Paul, Western Washington has gotten terribly expensive. However, Spokane and surrounding area is not, at least not yet. I have been considering Spokane myself because the "west side of the mountains" costs are getting out of hand, especially for a retiree.