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GOBankingRates

Heather Taylor

50 Safest and Most Affordable Places To Retire in America

Ohio DenisTangneyJr Indiana America Davel5957 Illinois GOBankingRates

The Midwest is shaping up to become the hottest region to retire in America. According to a new study from GOBankingRates, 37 Midwestern cities ranked among the 50 safest and most affordable places to retire in America. The average cost of living across these 37 locales does not exceed more than $66,062 annually — and can be as inexpensive as $30,292, depending on where you decide to spend the next chapter.

GOBankingRates determined these 50 places by using the FBI’s 2024 “Offenses Known to Law Enforcement” to calculate each location’s property crime rate and violent crime rates. After scoring these, 500 cities were identified as the safest places. All places with populations under 10,000 were removed. Each city was ranked and sorted by property crime rate, violent crime rate, mortgage cost and expenditure cost.

Key Findings

Columbus, Indiana, is the nation’s safest and most affordable place to retire. The average annual cost of living is $38,795.
Nine Midwest cities dominated the top 10. It’s possible to retire on $50,000 in (1) Columbus; (2) Broadview Heights, Ohio; (3) Auburn, Indiana; (4) Mayfield Heights, Ohio; (5) Berea, Ohio; (6) Pingree Grove, Illinois; (7) Parma Heights, Ohio; (8) Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and (10) Huntington, Indiana.
Only one Florida city ranked in the top 50. At No. 39, Vero Beach is the most budget-friendly for retirees, with an average cost of living of $47,249.
Sixteen Ohio cities received mentions in the top 50, the most out of any state. They are Broadview Heights (#2), Mayfield Heights (#4), Berea (#6), Parma Heights (#8), Brecksville (#12), Avon Lake (#15), Willowick (#19), Norwalk (#21), Perrysburg (#25), Aurora (#26), Rocky River (#30), Vermilion (#33), Bedford (#35), Bay Village (#38), Trenton (#41) and Brunswick (#47).
Lumberton was the only Texas city in the ranking. The town ranked at No. 48 with an annual cost of living of $40,087.

Take a look at which cities ranked among the 50 safest and most affordable places to retire in America. Plus, see which 50 suburbs ranked as the nation’s wealthiest in 2025.

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1. Columbus, Indiana

Average home value: $273,372
Total cost of living annually: $38,795
Livability: 76
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.829
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.135

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2. Broadview Heights, Ohio

Average home value: $408,610
Total cost of living annually: $48,151
Livability: 78
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.015
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.051

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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

3. Auburn, Indiana

Average home value: $265,953
Total cost of living annually: $37,523
Livability: 70
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.211
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.071

4. Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Average home value: $229,834
Total cost of living annually: $35,615
Livability: 78
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.981
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.202

5. Savannah, Georgia

Average home value: $326,504
Total cost of living annually: $43,694
Livability: 81
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.203

6. Berea, Ohio

Average home value: $235,291
Total cost of living annually: $36,065
Livability: 78
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.746
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.224

7. Pingree Grove, Illinois

Average home value: $375,707
Total cost of living annually: $47,013
Livability: 66
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.580
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.088

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8. Parma Heights, Ohio

Average home value: $212,619
Total cost of living annually: $34,929
Livability: 71
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.320
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.293

9. Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Average home value: $162,264
Total cost of living annually: $32,548
Livability: 68
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.111
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.372

10. Huntington, Indiana

Average home value: $188,801
Total cost of living annually: $32,660
Livability: 68
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.474
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.471

11. Bedford, Indiana

Average home value: $202,358
Total cost of living annually: $34,023
Livability: 79
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.523
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.505

12. Brecksville, Ohio

Average home value: $462,225
Total cost of living annually: $51,476
Livability: 77
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.062
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.071

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13. Yorktown, Indiana

Average home value: $237,185
Total cost of living annually: $36,291
Livability: 69
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.202
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.508

14. Worcester, Massachusetts

Average home value: $439,049
Total cost of living annually: $52,392
Livability: 80
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.165

15. Avon Lake, Ohio

Average home value: $442,174
Total cost of living annually: $50,072
Livability: 83
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.904
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.191

16. Orono, Maine

Average home value: $305,065
Total cost of living annually: $42,150
Livability: 71
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.028
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.475

17. Lowell, Indiana

Average home value: $325,067
Total cost of living annually: $44,054
Livability: 76
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.014
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.263

18. Dyer, Indiana

Average home value: $355,817
Total cost of living annually: $45,635
Livability: 77
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.440
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.123

19. Willowick, Ohio

Average home value: $189,557
Total cost of living annually: $33,002
Livability: 83
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.910
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.639

20. Murrysville, Pennsylvania

Average home value: $352,544
Total cost of living annually: $45,772
Livability: 73
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.322
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.242

21. Norwalk, Ohio

Average home value: $200,953
Total cost of living annually: $32,704
Livability: 79
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.117
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.408

22. Lindenhurst, Illinois

Average home value: $345,484
Total cost of living annually: $45,372
Livability: 75
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.536
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.349

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23. Saint John, Indiana

Average home value: $449,261
Total cost of living annually: $52,410
Livability: 71
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.291
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.242

24. Troy, Illinois

Average home value: $316,517
Total cost of living annually: $43,265
Livability: 78
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.603
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.089

25. Perrysburg, Ohio

Average home value: $330,759
Total cost of living annually: $42,791
Livability: 90
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.466
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.277

26. Aurora, Ohio

Average home value: $443,095
Total cost of living annually: $50,618
Livability: 73
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.805
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.168

27. Campton Hills, Illinois

Average home value: $655,128
Total cost of living annually: $66,062
Livability: 67
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.464
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.093

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28. North Augusta, South Carolina

Average home value: $256,686
Total cost of living annually: $38,844
Livability: 69
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.094
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.341

29. Berkley, Michigan

Average home value: $302,447
Total cost of living annually: $42,125
Livability: 91
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.432
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.336

30. Rocky River, Ohio

Average home value: $438,707
Total cost of living annually: $50,068
Livability: 88
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.187
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.235

31. Manhattan, Illinois

Average home value: $387,934
Total cost of living annually: $48,343
Livability: 67
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.924
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.367

32. Minooka, Illinois

Average home value: $363,755
Total cost of living annually: $47,975
Livability: 70
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.328
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.077

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33. Vermilion, Ohio

Average home value: $250,808
Total cost of living annually: $36,872
Livability: 77
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.596
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.466

34. Independence, Kentucky

Average home value: $316,956
Total cost of living annually: $44,297
Livability: 70
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.160
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.269

35. Bedford, Ohio

Average home value: $154,497
Total cost of living annually: $30,617
Livability: 69
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.407
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.627

36. Homer Glen, Illinois

Average home value: $502,392
Total cost of living annually: $56,109
Livability: 65
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.769
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.163

37. Grovetown, Georgia

Average home value: $301,223
Total cost of living annually: $42,594
Livability: 72
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.981
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.550

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38. Bay Village, Ohio

Average home value: $398,489
Total cost of living annually: $47,432
Livability: 81
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.283
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.505

39. Vero Beach, Florida

Average home value: $375,154
Total cost of living annually: $47,249
Livability: 79
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.724
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.454

40. Hibbing, Minnesota

Average home value: $153,935
Total cost of living annually: $30,292
Livability: 77
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.660
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.628

41. Trenton, Ohio

Average home value: $275,124
Total cost of living annually: $39,830
Livability: 70
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.572
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.857

42. Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania

Average home value: $200,493
Total cost of living annually: $34,928
Livability: 73
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.347
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.869

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43. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Average home value: $522,443
Total cost of living annually: $57,786
Livability: 88
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.080
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.159

44. Oregon, Wisconsin

Average home value: $493,364
Total cost of living annually: $54,534
Livability: 79
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.789
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.423

45. Smithfield, Utah

Average home value: $455,957
Total cost of living annually: $52,608
Livability: 73
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.656
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.530

46. Trenton, Michigan

Average home value: $240,102
Total cost of living annually: $38,629
Livability: 86
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.424
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.339

47. Brunswick, Ohio

Average home value: $313,124
Total cost of living annually: $42,001
Livability: 78
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.834
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.658

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48. Lumberton, Texas

Average home value: $272,554
Total cost of living annually: $40,087
Livability: 74
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.894
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.489

49. Jefferson, Georgia

Average home value: $410,831
Total cost of living annually: $49,156
Livability: 74
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.566
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.361

Luminoisty-images.com / Shutterstock.com

50. Cary, Illinois

Average home value: $368,077
Total cost of living annually: $48,504
Livability: 70
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.769
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.111

Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.

Methodology: Using the FBI’s 2024 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement, the property and violent crime rates (per 1,000 residents) were calculated for each location listed. The safest 500 cities were identified. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the national average expenditure costs for retired consumer units were calculated for each location. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each location. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. Places with populations under 10,000 were removed. The property crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the expenditure cost was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the safest and most affordable places to retire in America. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 19, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Safest and Most Affordable Places To Retire in America

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