Discover 4 big cities that retirees will love thanks to big-city perks at small-town prices

Many retirees believe they need to choose between small-town charm and big-city resources, but some cities have the best of both worlds. In this article, we look at cities with populations over 100,000 that offer retirees the best combination of affordability, culture, and access to strong health care.

This list is part of a larger project Investopedia did with Travel + Leisure to identify the 50 best places to retire in the United States. We collected and analyzed data on the cost of living across counties in the United States, as well as access to travel, healthcare, arts, and entertainment. Our four cities below show different fun ways big-city retirement can take shape while maintaining the charm and affordability of big metro cities.

1. Toledo, Ohio

Toledo is a mid-sized city of over 263,000 residents, but it still maintains its award-winning parks system. Active retirees will find plenty of natural spaces to explore. Together, the parks in Lucas County – Toledo County – cover more than 12,000 acres of protected land and 200 miles of trails.

There is also plenty to do at the parks when the grandchildren visit. The county claims to have the country’s only public treehouse village, and many kids find hours of fun at the mountain biking skills course, both located about a 30-minute drive from central Toledo. There is a Metropark within 5 miles of every Lucas County resident, so if you live here, your closest park may be just a short drive from home.

To complement the outdoor fun, retirees who enjoy boating or fishing will appreciate Toledo’s proximity to Lake Erie, where you can swim and fish for yellow perch, bass and trout.

But Toledo isn’t just about green spaces. It’s also about historical magic. Toledo’s Old West End neighborhood has one of the largest collections of Victorian, Edwardian, and Arts and Crafts homes in the United States. You’ll find it on the tree-lined streets of the Old Orchard neighborhood.

The cost of living in Toledo remains manageable, even with all the amenities. Lucas County has a lower cost of living than any other county in this article. Median home value is lowest at $155,200, and average monthly housing costs are $953. The county’s monthly food costs and taxes are also the lowest, at $600 and $547, respectively. Furthermore, there are no state taxes on Social Security benefits in Ohio.

The county also has dozens of hospitals and medical facilities, providing easy access to healthcare.

If you’ve always wanted to retire in a big city but are concerned that your retirement funds won’t go far enough, Toledo may achieve the balance of cost and big-city living you seek.

2. Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield is called the “City of Firsts,” thanks to being the birthplace of basketball, the armory, and the first American automobile. It was also the birthplace and home of Theodor Geisel, known as “Dr. Seuss.” Today, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden honors his legacy with bronze sculptures of beloved characters from his book collection.

The Springfield Museum Quad, a part of the city that includes museums and other cultural institutions, adds to the city’s rich cultural appeal for its population of more than 154,000.

Retirees who like to travel will appreciate Springfield’s proximity to major cities and international airports. The city of Springfield, which has been called the “Western Gateway to New England,” is located a 30-minute drive from Hartford, Connecticut. Boston is 90 minutes away, and New York City is a 2.5-hour drive away. Bradley International Airport, New England’s second largest airport, is located 16 miles from the center of the county.

Unfortunately, Springfield’s convenient location comes at a price. Hampden County, where Springfield resides, has the highest cost of living of all the counties on this list. This includes a high median housing value ($276,300), high median monthly housing costs ($1,309), food costs ($696) and taxes ($767). For these reasons, Hampden County ranks in the top three most expensive places out of the top 50 places to retire.

However, Massachusetts does not tax Social Security benefits, making the cost of living more manageable for retirees. The cost of living in Springfield also pales in comparison to other major cities like San Francisco and New York.

3. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Forget Florida. If you’re looking for sunny skies and mild winters without the oppressive heat and humidity, consider Albuquerque. Located one mile above sea level, its high desert climate is mild and dry, providing an average of 310 days of sunshine with an acceptable average humidity of 44%. The city’s average annual rainfall is only 9 inches.

Residents enjoy four distinct seasons, but Albuquerque maintains comfortable weather year-round, assuming you can handle the dry, average temperatures of 90 degrees during the summer. The city’s top-rated golf courses are open year-round, and you’ll regularly find several seniors on the greens practicing their putts, even in December.

Albuquerque County, Bernalillo County, has hundreds of health care facilities. This makes sense, since Bernalillo County is the most populous county of all the counties we ranked. More than 674,000 people live on its borders, approximately 83% of whom reside in Albuquerque.

Retirees aiming to age in place will appreciate the options to stay active within the city’s Paseo del Bosque (“Forest Walk”) trail. The 16-mile trail follows the Rio Grande through Albuquerque’s riparian forest, providing a scenic route for walkers, bicyclists, and even horseback riders.

If you get bored of the arcade, you can always see what’s happening in the city’s arts scene, as the district has more than 300 arts and entertainment institutions.

For travel, residents have access to the newly renovated Albuquerque Sunport International Airport, located just four miles from the center of the county. Having an airport in town is ideal if you travel frequently or welcome friends and family from out of state or abroad.

4. Pueblo, Colorado

As the smallest city on this list, Pueblo has a population of about 110,000 people. Pueblo has a small-town atmosphere that stems from community events like the Pueblo Chile Festival and the Frijoles Festival. The Arkansas Historic Trail also lends itself to a slower pace of life.

Contributing to the rural feel is the distance to the nearest international airport. Denver International Airport is located 120 miles from the center of the county.

Besides local festivities, Pueblo offers retirees a variety of activities to keep them busy, including a long golf season, fishing on the Arkansas River, nature trails, historic areas and ski slopes within 2 1/2 hours. With moderate average temperatures and 300 days of sunshine annually, retirees can enjoy many of the city’s activities year-round. FEMA also classifies Pueblo as having relatively low climate risk.

Retirees looking to move within Pueblo County will find median home values ​​at $271,800 and monthly housing costs of $1,083. Average monthly tax costs are $612.

These costs of living are high compared to the smaller cities we’ve ranked, but are in line with the larger cities mentioned in this article.

Bottom line

Our four cities prove that retiring in a city with a population of 100,000 or more can still be approachable – offering culture, healthcare and character without the sprawl, costs and noise of more prominent cities. Toledo’s green spaces, Springfield’s connections, Albuquerque’s recreational opportunities, and Pueblo’s community events show that retirees can find big-town life with small-town affordability.