7 Towns in the Mid-South That Are Ideal for Seniors
The start and end points of the Mid-South are quite contentious, but the common lines involve parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Alabama, and even parts of Kansas, with it being centered around big cities like Nashville. The region is full of mountain land and dense forests like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, which is perfect for nature lovers looking to retire and get outside. Cultures in this region clash, with influences from the Northeast, South, and Midwest all rolled into one. Small-town and big-city appeal lies everywhere in this region, with no shortage of activities for seniors in the Mid-South, from golfing to hiking and everything in between.
Kennett, Missouri
In the southeast of Missouri is the town of Kennett, which is most known for two things: agriculture and music! It is the biggest producer of cantaloupe, watermelon, cotton, and rice in the state, with a local farmer's market and a community farm helping put fresh food on plates year-round. Musicians like Sheryl Crow, Trent Tomlinson, and David Nail are just some of the celebrated figures from Kennett, with many households enjoying their music. Spots in town include the Kennett Palace Theater, among other performing arts venues like concerts by the Kennett Municipal Band at Jones Park.
Sprinkled throughout are stores, boutiques, and antique shops with knick-knacks of all kinds waiting to be found. Shops like Tropical Glamour, Circa, Meli's Plus, or Southern Glo provide a wonderful assortment of clothes and garments throughout the year. All of these help Kennett provide a suburban feel that's not too large but not too small, with plenty of things to do for seniors. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median home value in Kennett is $98,000, with a median gross rent of $598 as of 2022.
Mayfield, Kentucky
Off Interstate 69 in Kentucky is Mayfield, a historically rich and ideal place to stay for any family of any age. The town is filled with small-town appeal and events throughout, like an annual picnic on Fancy Farm, known by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "World's Largest Picnic." Other annual events include a festival dedicated to gourds in September called the Gourd Patch Festival, which includes arts & crafts alongside entertainment, including live music and a crowning of the Gourd Prince and Princess. Lastly is the Purchase District Fair, which has carnival rides, demolition derbies, horse shows, and more!
The amount of unique boutiques and shops in Mayfield is enough to make anyone turn their head, with gift shops lining the streets at every corner, like the Icehouse Gallery & Gift Shop or Backyard Fabric. Outdoor recreation includes six parks and a golf course alongside a 1,843-acre national wildlife refuge called Kaler Bottoms, which itself is just outside of town and has fishing opportunities along the Spring Creek and West Fork Clarks River. Mayfield has a median home value of around $113,600, with the median gross rent costing $582.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Just north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, on the Little Pigeon River, is Pigeon Forge, a tourist town mixed with a resort city. It's full of places to see and things to do, ranging from the Titanic Museum to the NASCAR Speedpark and the Hollywood Wax Museum, just to name a few. Theaters line the town, both old and new, showing films and shows, like the American Oldies, Country Tonite, or Comedy Barn Theaters. Pigeon Forge's most acclaimed attraction is arguably Dollywood, which is a theme park that caters to both thrillseekers and people who want to experience the Smoky Mountain area, with traditional food, arts & crafts along with entertainment theaters like Showstreet Palace, and even a steam train called the Dollywood Express.
Around town are different shops ranging from leather goods at Outback Leather, vintage photo taking at Four Sisters, alongside gifting at the Gift Gallery. Car lovers will enjoy the various assortment of automobile-related events in the town, including the Pontiac Car Club Show, the Annual Smoky Mountain Classic Chevy Roundup, and the Ford F-100 Super Nationals among many others. Pigeon Forge has a median house value of $234,900 with a median gross rent cost of $858, which is a nice price for such a touristy area.
Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Kingston Springs is perfect for anyone who wants to have access to outdoor activities while being close to a nearby city. The town is 20 miles west of Nashville, which itself offers plenty of big-city appeal and shopping. Kingston Springs is on the Harpeth River, which the locals take full advantage of throughout the year. In the Harpeth River State Park, only a short drive away, people can rent canoes, zipline, and fish, offering plenty of wilderness activities and fun. Those who want to fish in town can visit the LL Burns Park Pond, where people can also play disc golf through a 9-hole course. The area is dog friendly, not only with plenty of woods but also the Kingston Springs Dog Park.
Hikers will love the easy-to-access trails in the state park, like Gossett Tract, Hidden Lakes, Newsom Mill Fisherman Trail, and more! Events around town include a farmers' market named after the town, open from May to October, and an art in the park in the aforementioned LL Burns Park during early October. Kingston Springs is a very rural area, which is great for people who want to be outside of Nashville. The median home value sits around $185,000 in Kingston Springs, with a gross rent of $727.
Somerset, Kentucky
The town of Somerset is close in proximity to Lake Cumberland, which is a popular tourist spot in Kentucky. It offers nearby lake fun like boating, swimming and fishing to all nearby residents. One of the town's favorite events is an annual music festival called Master Musicians, where musicians bring tunes from different kinds of genres into one place over the course of two days.
Antique lovers will appreciate everything in store at the Somerset Peddlers Mall, which specializes in buying and selling all things vintage, from collectibles, furniture and general antiques. Other stores in town include the North 27 Antique Mall, which also houses a lovely selection of vintage goods. Plenty of parks line the town for outdoor walks during any time of year, like the Bourne or Elgie Woods Piano Park. During the summer, the SomerSplash waterpark has a relaxing lazy river for any hot day. The median home value in Somerset is $131,900, while the median gross rent is around $812.
Paris, Tennessee
While it might not be as romantic as the real Paris, the Paris in western Tennessee has a lot to offer, even with its own replica of the Eiffel Tower in Eiffel Tower Park. Plenty of outdoor activities bring Paris into its own, with the Paris Landing State Park and Kentucky Lake close by to scratch any hiking, sailing, swimming, or camping itch. Some of the more popular trails include the Red Trail Loop, Healthy Hike, and the White Trail Loop, all in the State Park!
Downtown has a plethora of retail experiences amongst the historical architecture, like The Iron Place, Bo & Co Boutique, and Lura Lee's of Paris. Eateries include coffeehouses and barbecues like Perry's BBQ and Trolinger's Old Fashioned Butcher Shoppe. Even walking around town is fun because of the murals painted in certain back alleys! Many of Paris' residents are retirees, with an affordable median house value of $137,400, while the median gross rent is $739.
Carthage, Missouri
In Missouri, Carthage wears its history quite well, with the people there celebrating where the town came from. It was the site of the first battle of the American Civil War, and reenactments take place to commemorate it, alongside museums like the Carthage Civil War Museum putting their history on full display. Other bits of Carthage's past include the over century-old architecture, which still lines the downtown like the Jasper County Courthouse, along with a drive-in-theater called the 66 Drive-In that still runs. A stunning place to visit is Precious Moments Park, which has 52 biblical murals sprinkled throughout a 6,400-square-foot area with fountains and churches.
Events in the area include the Maple Leaf Festival, which celebrates the maple trees in town through a parade, bike rides, a rodeo, and more! There is also Martian Days, which draws thousands of people and has honored Vietnamese American Catholics since 1978. The once widely used US Route 66 ran through the town, and it is still marked to this day. In Carthage, the median home value is $130,400, with the median gross rent being $854.
These towns are just the tip of the iceberg when settling down in the Mid-South. Anyone who wants a peaceful, small-town appeal should consider the region. It's culturally significant enough to hold its own compared to other areas of the country and has plenty of charm and fun waiting to be had. The housing is quite cheap comparatively, and it's eccentric enough never to leave anyone bored, with the number of shops, boutiques, social events, and activities made to last a lifetime!
