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Home » 55+ » The 10 Best Places to Retire in Alabama

The 10 Best Places to Retire in Alabama

Beach ball on the Alabama coast

Alabama is a safe state, filled with striking scenery and historic charm. This incredibly affordable state allows retirees to invest in their lifestyle without stretching their budget. An Alabama retirement means getting to live in a little piece of heaven on the Gulf Coast.

NewHomeSource found the top ten cities to retire in Alabama. Find the perfect location and build a new home for your lifestyle, and start this exciting new phase in your life off with a bang.

Top 10 Cities to Retire in Alabama

Skip Ahead
1. Alabaster
2. Prichard
3. Gadsden
4. Talladega
5. Selma
6. Bessemer
7. Atmore
8. Center Point
9. Anniston
10. Birmingham
Common Questions About Retiring in Alabama
10 Healthiest Cities in Albama
Best Tiny Home Builders in Alabama
The Top 10 State Parks in Alabama
10 Best Places to Live in Alabama
How to Build a House in Alabama
The 10 Most Affordable Cities in Alabama
20 Most Affordable States in 2021
Your Guide to Closing Costs in Alabama
First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Alabama
Top 10 Safest Cities in Alabama

1. Alabaster

Photo of a creek near Alabaster, Alabama.

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12%

Median Home Value: $173,000

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 91

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 577

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 8

Alabaster is a safe, beautiful city to call home in your retirement years. Days can be spent enjoying the natural beauty of Buck Creek Trail, trying a new brew at Interstellar Ginger Beer & Exploration Company, or learning about history at the local museums!

2. Prichard

Waterfall in Gadsden, Alabama

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 17.4%

Median Home Value: $66,100

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 256

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 871

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6

Pritchard is a beautiful Mobile suburb that gives you easy access to a beachfront retirement, without the high price tags found in Florida and California. If you’re in the mood to enjoy the beautiful Gulf Coast during your golden years then Prichard is the perfect town to serve up an exciting and fun retirement. 

3. Gadsden

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 18%

Median Home Value: $73,600

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 365

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,365

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 4

Couch potatoes might not like retiring in Gadsden. This beautiful town in Alabama serves up something for everyone: an exciting cultural scene, beautiful natural scenery, and a really low cost of living! Take the first step to enjoying the retirement you always dreamed about when you find your retirement home in Gadsden.

4. Talladega

Talladega National Forest

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.5%

Median Home Value: $86,600

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 123

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 772

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6

You don’t have to like Nascar to enjoy retired life in Talladega! This town in Central Alabama offers up an affordable and fun community to call home, making living here an easy decision for anyone on a fixed income. Retirees looking to stay active and connected to nature should head over to the Talladega National Forest for amazing hiking.  

5. Selma

Building in Selma, Alabama

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.8%

Median Home Value: $87,300

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 300

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,219

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1

Selma is a historic city that offers up a great quality of life to retirees. You can connect with Selma’s important place in the nation’s history at the National Voting Rights Museum. Architecture lovers will love exploring the numerous picturesque buildings in Selma. No matter how you want to spend your retirement, you’ll love life in Selma. 

6. Bessemer

Skyline of Birmingham, Alabama

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 18.7%

Median Home Value: $86,500

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 769

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,348

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 9

Bessemer, AL is a thriving southwestern suburb of Birmingham, perfect for people looking to enjoy an urban retirement without the crowds or high cost of living. If you do decide to make Bessemer the starting place of your next adventure, be sure to check out the Bessemer Hall of History in addition to exploring Birmingham! 

7. Atmore

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.7%

Median Home Value: $94,300

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 102

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 443

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3

Atmore is a great town on the Alabama and Florida state line that lets retirees enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet during their golden years. This affordable community lets you kick back and relax, without having to worry about making a fixed income stretch to fix an untenable budget. 

8. Center Point

River near Anniston, Alabama

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 13.5%

Median Home Value: $97,800

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 161

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 463

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 8

Retirees will never get bored when they make their home in Center Point, AL. This fantastic Birmingham suburb lets you enjoy easy access to the city, while still surrounding you with beautiful scenery thanks to sites like Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.

9. Anniston

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 20.1%

Median Home Value: $97,600

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 627

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,585

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3

Anniston is a funky metropolitan area close to the Alabama and Georgia state line. Active adults will never run out of fun things to explore in Anniston, thanks to attractions like the world’s biggest office chair, the Anniston Museum of Natural history, and Longleaf Botanical Garden. No matter how you want to spend your retirement, you can live a life you love in Anniston. 

10. Birmingham

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.9%

Median Home Value: $91,100

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 3,964

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 13,018

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 10

Birmingham is a great city for retirees who want to invest in their dream life and their dream retirement. You can live the life you fantasized about while you spent your days in the office thanks to Birmingham’s low cost of living and amazing culture.

NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare, and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.

Common Questions About Retiring in Alabama

Is Alabama retirement-friendly?

Alabama is fairly tax-friendly to retirees. Income from social security and pensions are not taxed, and people over the age of 65 do not pay state property taxes. However, withdrawals from retirement taxes are fully taxed.

What is the average retirement income in Alabama?

The median retiree in Alabama has about $31,324 in retirement income.

Do seniors pay property taxes in Alabama?

Anyone over the age of 65 is exempt from the state portion of Alabama property taxes, though they may have to pay some county property taxes.

City Name People Over 65 Violent Crimes Property Crimes Access to Doctors Median Home Price
Alabaster 12.00% 91 577.00 8 $173,000
Prichard 17.40% 256 871.00 6 $66,100
Gadsden 18.00% 365 2,365.00 4 $73,600
Bessemer 18.70% 769 2,348.00 9 $86,500
Talladega 16.50% 123 772.00 6 $86,600
Selma 16.80% 300 1,219.00 1 $87,300
Birmingham 14.90% 3,964 13,018.00 10 $91,100
Atmore 16.70% 102 443.00 3 $94,300
Anniston 20.10% 627 1,585.00 3 $97,600
Fairfield 16.20% 217 801.00 9 $99,100
Center Point 13.50% 161 463.00 8 $97,800
Alexander City 18.40% 305 575.00 4 $101,700
Ozark 22.20% 145 589.00 4 $115,500
Hueytown 16.70% 71 505.00 9 $116,700
Albertville 13.20% 24 765.00 3 $120,100
Fort Payne 15.70% 42 419.00 3 $124,900
Sylacauga 16.70% 76 577.00 4 $131,600
Montgomery 14.30% 1,189 8,045.00 5 $121,200
Scottsboro 20.20% 190 642.00 2 $117,900
Mobile 16.50% 838 6,063.00 5 $123,600
Phenix City 12.60% 232 1,262.00 4 $129,000
Eufaula 19.20% 72 438.00 1 $128,100
Decatur 17.60% 225 2,201.00 5 $134,500
Florence 18.50% 205 1,598.00 4 $142,400
Irondale 14.10% 75 340.00 10 $142,500
Hartselle 17.40% 60 338.00 4 $148,600
Oxford 14.50% 66 889.00 3 $145,300
Saraland 16.00% 50 468.00 6 $149,000
Muscle Shoals 17.50% 86 780.00 4 $147,100
Calera 10.30% 267 412.00 5 $148,000
Jasper 18.40% 73 983.00 1 $150,300
Jacksonville 12.50% 88 454.00 5 $147,900
Millbrook 10.50% 45 715.00 5 $154,300
Troy 12.00% 295 905.00 2 $154,000
Opelika 14.30% 167 1,172.00 3 $151,300
Athens 18.10% 13 763.00 4 $161,400
Pleasant Grove 18.60% 15 115.00 9 $157,400
Prattville 14.90% 82 1,178.00 5 $162,700
Moody 14.70% 55 196.00 7 $162,200
Leeds 15.90% 81 391.00 8 $160,500
Gardendale 18.70% 94 335.00 8 $171,700
Foley 26.10% 51 777.00 2 $177,600
Enterprise 14.60% 125 768.00 5 $170,100
Pell City 19.00% 56 451.00 3 $183,800
Northport 14.30% 90 745.00 1 $177,200
Huntsville 16.10% 1,772 8,677.00 4 $182,900
Pelham 14.40% 36 389.00 9 $189,000
Helena 13.10% 62 128.00 9 $195,100
Daphne 16.60% 36 448.00 7 $201,400
Chelsea 12.50% 11 73.00 11 $232,700
Madison 11.40% 184 894.00 4 $253,000
Auburn 8.1 238 1,346.00 2 $266,200
Fairhope 23.40% 44 527.00 6 $299,200
Hoover 15.50% 114 1,922.00 9 $291,000
Homewood 10.10% 74 911.00 9 $347,800
Mountain Brook 18.10% 16 216.00 10 $628,800
City Name People Over 65 Violent Crimes Property Crimes Access to Doctors Median Home Price

Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.

Other Alabama Resources

10 Healthiest Cities in Albama

Best Tiny Home Builders in Alabama

The Top 10 State Parks in Alabama

10 Best Places to Live in Alabama

How to Build a House in Alabama

The 10 Most Affordable Cities in Alabama

20 Most Affordable States in 2021

Your Guide to Closing Costs in Alabama

First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Alabama

Top 10 Safest Cities in Alabama

sarah-scott-photo
Sarah Scott

Sarah graduated from Trinity University in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science. She writes blogs on new homes, decor, communities, and more for NewHomeSource. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her three cats.

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  1. Neil Rose

    December 10, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    We are looking to retire and work a little – me as an Accountant to prepare income taxes and my Argentine wife to get her green card and work in the medical field. She has platinum in her head so cannot take very hot for very long. Want to go to Tennessee, Alabama or North Carolina on $3000 total per month from social security and pension. Want to spend $1000 – $1200 on rent and utilities 2 bedroom. Please advise. Thanks.

    Reply

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