The Best Small Towns To Retire In New York
New York is a versatile state, from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple to the vast forests of the Adirondack Mountains. If you are looking for the perfect place to settle down, these best small towns to retire in are known for affordability. Which one will suit your ideal retirement lifestyle?
Dunkirk
Dunkirk is a small thriving town on Lake Erie that is known as one of the best Great Lakes. It features a tranquil setting and tons of recreational opportunities for all ages. The town of 12,000 offers affordable lake-side living for the Golden Years, attested by its 17% retiree population. With a lower median rent rate and median home value, it is a great place to try out or make the decisive move to buy.
There are two hospitals within one mile of the city, and the closest airport is an easy 44 miles away for when the family comes visiting out of state. The charming townscape offers a wide variety of pastimes to suit any taste, including atmospheric shoreline strolls, lighthouse sightings, great beach fun and relaxation for whole families, as well as a quaint boardwalk market that delights all.
Elmira
Elmira is one of the state's nicest places to retire, with a convenient location in the southern tier of New York, close to the border with Pennsylvania. The region's ex-transportation hub in the nineteenth century, along the New York City to Buffalo route, is now a thriving town of 30,000. Elmira boasts low cost-living, with an average house price of $100,000, along with several independent retirement communities. The town is home to baseball and hockey teams for the sports fans, while the drive-in movie theater is a beloved nostalgic pastime for the evening.
There's also the Chemung Valley History Museum on Civil War, along with the Arnot Art Museum and the Tanglewood Community Nature Center and Museum. The active retirees greatly enjoy the fresh-air Harris Hill Park with biking, walking, and running trails. The retirees comprise 13% of the population and get access to great healthcare with six hospitals within one mile of the city. The larger population signals liveability, while the lovely town stays the epitome of small-town living. There are the intriguing historic downtown and fun community parks, along with Mark Twain's study for those wishing to take a mental trip back to childhood with Tom Sawyer's adventures.
Fairport
Fairport is a great and scenic place to retire. The town comes with a high 21.6 percent retiree population, along with one of the highest concentrations of retirement communities in the state. The small Rochester suburb houses 0.75 locations to retire with comfort and care per 1,000 residents, along with 3.54 recreation centers per 1,000 residents. The adequate healthcare system in town features 8.39 medical centers available per 1,000 residents, while the renowned expansive University of Rochester Medical Center is only 15 minutes away by car.
Great Neck
The aptly-named town is a "great" place to retire on the northern side of the state's "neck", Long Island. Great Neck is perpetually considered the best spot to retire in the state, as well as one of the top in the whole country. The 18 percent senior population rate makes it easy to meet and keep good company in the Golden Years for fun, scenic outings and strolls through the picturesque downtown area.
Great Neck features some of the highest medical care-access rates, with whopping 28 medical centers. It is also easy to stay active and engaged with 3.76 recreation centers per 1,000 residents, although only 0.20 retirement communities per 1,000 residents. It is an upscale town when choosing to buy, with a relatively high tax burden of 18.5 percent. Nevertheless, the location, scenic vistas, and great health care add up to a prime place to retire.
Huntington
Huntington's coastal locale is enough reason for many to choose it as a retirement spot by the waters. The town-made of 19% senior population, is perched on the northern-bay side of Long Island. The retirees love ample opportunities to stay engaged and active, including various parks, an expansive golf club, and 3.35 recreational centers per 1,000 residents. Although the concentration of retirement communities is only 0.06 locations per 1,000 residents, one will receive access to medical care with 10.33 centers per 1,000 residents.
Ithaca
Ithaca is a great place to retire for those wishing to feel young in the Golden Years. The town of 30,600 rings with a youthful vibe and brims with amenities that become even more accessible when Ithaca deflates during summer. One will enjoy pure tranquility, breathing room, and ample space for the myriad of year-round activities in the area. The popular yet quaint townscape is set centrally in the state with convenient access around and easy visits for the family. The rural and cultural hub offers diversified pastimes for any taste and whole families. One will find a collection of great restaurants, bookstores, and shops, along with numerous concerts and educational opportunities to live out fulfilling Golden Years.
Cayuga Lake is a nature lover's paradise with the best of the Finger Lakes' scenery. With the slogan "Ithaca is Gorges," one will have a time of life chasing waterfalls, discovering gorges, and exploring the meandering trails through 25,000 acres of forests. There is a prominent wine culture in town, while Dalai Lama chose Ithaca for serenity to build a temple for students of Tabetian Buddhism. The lower living cost and median house price of $160,000 make it affordable to retire in the known hub of the region.
Jamestown
Jamestown is a beautiful town in western New York with a delightful senior community comprising roughly 17% of the total population. The town is filled with charmingly-historic architecture and a classic downtown area for endless strolls. There is a fun river walk strewn with attractions to engage in with vistas over the waters. The interesting Lucille Ball Museum comes with vibrant displays, while the numerous historic homes are worthy of checking out or marveling at during a stroll out. The town also boasts five hospitals within one mile of the city for seniors' peace of mind, along with an affordable median home value.
Mechanicville
The historic town was settled in 1721 in eastern Saratoga County, along the Champlain Canal. Mechanicville is the former home to a large flour mill, a paper mill, and automobile repair shops, as well as to a major transfer yard for the railroads. The town, with an industrious past, now offers a whole range of attractions and activities for all ages. With a population of only 5,100, retirees get ample space and easy access to a wide range of services for their Golden Years.
There is a city dock for fishing and vistas, fresh-air parks, walking trails, great restaurants and shopping, rustic and popular pubs, along with a nearby casino. The average home price is $155,000, while the low cost of living makes Mechanicville an affordable place to retire and invest in what the heart desires. The town boasts its own Alzheimer’s Care center, along with several retirement communities to keep engaged in good company, under care, and with comfort.
Middletown
Middletown is set in the scenic Hudson Valley, just north of New York City. It is one of the most picturesque towns in the state to retire along the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains near the Wallkill River. The town grew around the extended railroad in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, which attracted small manufacturers and businesses into the area. The quaint historic town with a population of 28,000 features a low cost of living and easy access to the Big Apple's city amenities.
The median house price of $180,000 is worth it for many to access quality health care at the Orange Regional Medical Center right in town. The scenic streets brim with neighborhood churches, downtown ethnic eateries, bowling, a library, and movie theaters. The renowned historic Paramount Theater is perfect for catching an afternoon flick or spending an atmospheric evening in good company. The nearby harness horse racing center is beloved by the equestrians.
New Hyde Park
New Hyde Park, with 14.4% of the general population over 65, is located just south of Great Neck. Despite the same tax burden as its northern neighbor, and only 0.10 retirement communities per 1,000 residents, it is an ideal place to retire right in the outer city limits of New York City. One can easily access all of the Big Apple's amenities via a quick drive or a short and convenient commuter train ride. The retirees will find plenty of ways to stay active in town, with 2.86 recreation centers per 1,000 residents. New Hyde Park also boasts wonderful healthcare access, with 23 medical centers per 1,000 residents.
Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg is set on the northern border of New York State, with 16.3% of retirees of the general population calling the town home. The lower median house value than in other small towns around makes it great for those looking to buy and settle along the water-bound location. The lovely town is a paradise for outdoor lovers, with striking natural vistas and lush fresh-air parks for stroll and relaxation. The St. Lawrence River also offers many ways to stay active and healthy, while four hospitals within one mile of the city give easy access to care when needed.
Ogdensburg is one, and only United States port-town along the St. Lawrence River, offering strolls to cast longing glances at ships docking and departing. The town features many wineries for a well-deserved chill evening with a glass of vino after an active day along the riverfront, golf, or hiking. There are great shopping options and a choice of restaurants with varied cuisine, along with art places to peruse for a diversified pastime. The beautiful town with 11,000 residents is an affordable place to retire, with an average house value of just $100,000, along with several active retirement communities.
Peekskill
The suburb of New York City is perfect for those who wish to retire in a small-town environment but still occasionally crave "a bite" of the Big Apple. The town played an active role in American Industrialization, with major companies like Crayola calling it home. Following a setback, Peekskill grew up in the late 1980s with a renovated Hudson Valley Hospital and an arts scene along the city's main street. Peekskill, with 24,000 residents, boasts an ideal location on the eastern side of the Hudson River for a water-front retirement with the world hub at a hand's reach.
Many artists and other creative minds from SoHo join the thriving arts community thanks to the affordable renting in town. Moreover, the city established great artist lofts for artists to stop commuting and stay in the city after 5 pm. There are many wonderful attractions, including highlights of the Peekskill Coffee House for a morning cup 'o Joe and the Center for the Arts, set in a 1930s movie theater that features dramas, comedies, and independent films.
These small towns offer great retirement living to spend the best Golden Years in the state. One will have plenty of opportunities to stay active and find good company to share fun and relaxing pursuits.
