Texas

Ready to retire? Consider living in these 10 Texas counties for your golden years

A late afternoon sun lights up Texas flags at the old Hood County Courthouse on the Historic Granbury Square Friday, March 19, 2021.
A late afternoon sun lights up Texas flags at the old Hood County Courthouse on the Historic Granbury Square Friday, March 19, 2021. dmontesino@star-telegram.com

Ready to retire? Texas is a good place to be.

Smart Assets recently determined the 10 best places to retire in each state based on tax-friendliness, medical care, and social opportunities. Texas’ state tax burden is below the national average of 16%, making it a great place financially for adults ready to retire, Smart Assets said.

Overall, 17% of all Texans are seniors. The state’s tax burden is around 15%, which isn’t far from other large states like California, which has a tax burden of around 16%, and Florida, which has a tax burden of 15%.

Texas is a big state, so you can imagine there are plenty of places to live. Whether you’re beginning your career and looking for a fast-growing city, or if you’re slowing down and want some quiet.

Here are the best places to retire in Texas for your bank account and your well-being.

The top ten counties for retirees in Texas. The lighter white colors are the worst places and then darker blue colors are the best.
The top ten counties for retirees in Texas. The lighter white colors are the worst places and then darker blue colors are the best. Screenshot from Smart Assets.

No. 1 Gillespie County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 2

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.75

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.2

  • Percent of seniors: 29%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 73

No. 2 Llano County

  • Tax Burden: 14%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 0.6

  • Recreation Centers per 1,000: 0.5

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.14

  • Percent of seniors: 37%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 66

No. 3 Kerr County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 2

  • Recreation Centers per 1,000: 0.5

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 27%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 63

No. 4 Kendall County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 2

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.6

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 19%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 62

No. 5 Lamar County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 1

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.3

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 19%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 54

No. 6 Hood County

  • Tax Burden: 16%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 1

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.5

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 25%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 53

No. 7 Burnet County

  • Tax Burden: 16%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 1

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.6

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 23%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 53

No. 8 Lavaca County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 0.6

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.3

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 23%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 53

No. 9 Montague County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 0.5

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.3

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.2

  • Percent of seniors: 22%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 52

No. 10 Victoria County

  • Tax Burden: 15%

  • Medicare Centers per 1,000: 1.6

  • Recreation Centers per 1,00: 0.4

  • Retirement Communities per 1,000: 0.1

  • Percent of seniors: 16%

  • Score on best place to retire index (out of 100): 52

Ella Gonzales
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.
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