In its October-November print issue, AARP The Magazine highlights 10 great hometowns for anyone on a modest budget of $40,000 a year. (See the shorter online version here).
To create the list, the magazine teamed up with Sperling's Best Places, which focuses on quality-of-life research, to determine a livability index, factoring in metrics on housing affordability, access to work and recreation, transportation, healthcare, and safety. Each city on the list has a score above the average livability index score of 50.
Read on to check out 10 US cities where life is robust and affordable.
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Livability index: 65
Population: 115,300
Median housing price: $127,300
Sunny days per year: 188
Just one hour north of Milwaukee, you'll find this distinctly Midwestern town on the shores of Lake Michigan at the opening of the Sheboygan River, the area's main draw and a hotspot for surfing and sailing. Residents laud Sheboygan's free and affordable events and activities, including the annual Brat Days festival, a celebration of the city's most famous culinary export.
Eugene, Oregon
Livability index: 59
Population: 358,300
Median housing price: $222,000
Sunny days per year: 155
Nestled in the lush Willamette Valley, Eugene has "carefully cultivated its image as an outdoor-lover's paradise," according to AARP The Magazine. Its high concentration of nature mavens — including the area's college students and retirees — frequent farmers markets, vineyards, hiking and biking trails, museums, and galleries.
Cleveland, Ohio
Livability index: 56
Population: 2 million
Median housing price: $124,000
Sunny days per year: 166
Situated on the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland has experienced a cultural renaissance of late, led by growing populations of baby boomers and millennials alike. The city's robust art and music scene is complemented by lively nightlife and award-winning restaurants, not to mention a renewed excitement among NBA fans with the return of hometown hero LeBron James.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Livability index: 55
Population: 258,000
Median housing price: $208,200
Sunny days per year: 226
Though located in Florida's panhandle, Fort Walton Beach residents tend to run on island time and often listen to live outdoor music and lounge on the beach in their spare time. It's a relaxing yet active city thanks to surging tourism and nearby Eglin Air Force Base, which "generates 20,000 jobs and has a $1.4 billion impact on the local economy," according to AARP.
Abilene, Texas
Livability index: 51
Population: 168,600
Median housing price: $106,500
Sunny days per year: 243
Abilene is characteristically Texan: charming, authentic, and chock-full of good barbecue. Located two and a half hours outside of Dallas and home to the Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene is the site of Depression-era cultural gems, including the Paramount Theatre and the Grace Museum, as well as the Dixie Pig, the oldest restaurant in town, which serves a $5 breakfast.
Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee
Livability index: 56
Population: 308,000
Median housing price: $115,000
Sunny days per year: 201
Straddling Virginia and Tennessee, the city of Bristol sits at the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and is said to be the birthplace of country music. Live — and often free — bluegrass and country music events are a city staple, as are outdoor activities like boating, fishing, hiking, and golfing. Two times a year, residents gather at the local Bristol Motor Speedway for NASCAR events.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Livability index: 58
Population: 96,400
Median housing price: $191,800
Sunny days per year: 236
In Cheyenne, residents enjoy a small-town feel and a Wild West atmosphere. Perhaps unsurprisingly, cowboys and rodeos are a mainstay and uphold the city's roots. But the area is continually welcoming new and eager residents thanks to a growing technology sector, according to AARP. The low cost of living and Cheyenne's many parks and festivals keep daily life affordable.
Cañon City, Colorado
Livability index: 54
Population: 16,300
Median housing price: $146,700
Sunny days per year: 250
One hour South of Colorado Springs lies Cañon City, a quiet town that's a destination for adventurers who spend their days rafting, rock climbing, fishing, or hiking near the Arkansas River. The historic downtown district is slowly coming to life again, while Cañon City's main industry — about a dozen state and federal prisons in the area — keeps unemployment low and the local economy plugging along.
Rochester, New York
Livability index: 58
Population: 1.08 million
Median housing price: $126,600
Sunny days per year: 165
New York state's third-largest city hugs the Southern shore of Lake Ontario and boasts exceptional schools, libraries, art institutions, and parks, the most popular of which is Highland Park, the Frederick Law Olmstead-designed arboretum that hosts the annual Lilac Festival. And for more than 110 years, Rochester's Public Market has offered fresh produce, locally made food, and bargain merchandise to residents and visitors.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Livability index: 66
Population: 248,400
Median housing price: $202,000
Sunny days per year: 211
The largest city in South Dakota, Sioux Falls "ranks high on happiness measures, with abundant outdoor activities, a strong sense of community, and a friendly spirit," according to AARP, which says one of the city's best free activities is a Sculpture Walk. Plus, residents enjoy no state income tax and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
