7 Best Alabama Towns For Retirees

The southern state of Alabama combines attractive options for the current or future retiree. With warmer weather, affordable home prices and costs of living, and proximity to the US Gulf Coast, the state has a lot to like. Alabama also offers a diversity of natural and cultural settings, from the southern Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plains leading to the ocean. Beyond the state's larger, often more expensive cities, such as Huntsville or the state capital of Montgomery, smaller towns offer bigger savings — and a pleasant style of living, too. Places like the seven best Alabama towns for retirees deserve a serious look as a potential retirement destination.

Alabaster

South of Birmingham and north of Montgomery, the small town of Alabaster offers a balance of smaller-town rhythms within easy reach of city conveniences. For seniors needing medical care nearby, the Shelby Baptist Medical Center includes an emergency room, a general hospital, and a specialty practice for those with cardiovascular issues. Other medical options abound in Birmingham, considered a major healthcare hub. For visiting friends and family, Alabaster's list of outdoor and other activities runs long. Buck Creek Park lies in the heart of town, while the Ballantrae Golf Club awaits a short drive northeast. Nature fans will find their bliss at Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Reserve, south of town.

Bessemer

Southwest of Birmingham, the town of Bessemer offers numerous senior-care options. Jess Lanier Manor features independent living, for a lighter level of overall care, while Oaks on Parkwood has a full gamut of options for seniors of varying needs. Visiting families, especially those with young grandchildren, will appreciate Bessmer's diverse options for all-ages play. Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure have warm-weather facilities for swimming, with water slides, and pavilions so parents can stay in the shade. The Legacy YMCA, a large facility in town, has indoor and outdoor pools, a weight room, and programs for kids and adults alike. The Frank House Golf Course will appeal to more active seniors.

Daphne

Set on Mobile Bay, just east of the town of the same name, Daphne is a coastal delight for retirees who want a waterside lifestyle. The town boasts a half-dozen senior care facilities, according to SeniorHousingNet.com, a website. The town is big on outdoor attractions, including Village Point Park Preserve, May Day Park, and Rock Creek Golf Club — all of which sit along the water, hugging Mobile Bay.

For visitors, Daphne is an easily accessible place. The town sits along I-10, which runs along much of the US Gulf Coast. Even carless visits are convenient: Amtrak's Mardi Gras service, restored after a 20-year hiatus following Hurricaneo Katrina, will re-open in August, serving Mobile and other nearby cities.

Florence

In Alabama's northwest corner, the small town of Florence puts senior care first. No fewer than 14 care sites operate here, according to SeniorHousingNet, including several options listed as affordable at low incomes. For healthcare, the North Alabama Medical Center is one of many sites available in town.

Florence sits along the Tennessee River, giving this place a touch of nature, and history, that have long been tied to the river's flow. Fresh-air fans will enjoy McFarland Park, with its riverside views; the Wilson Dam Waterfall roars nearby and makes for a great family outing (and selfies). For some culture you can sing along to, grandparents can take the kids and grandkids to Muscle Shoals, just across the river, where Fame Studios invited history-making soul music artists. The birthplace of pioneering disability advocate Helen Keller is also here.

Gulf Shores

Set at land's very end, the town of Gulf Shores, along the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America), presents another waterside retirement option. The town's senior-care sites include Haven Memory Care, which specializes in looking after those with Alzheimer's and other memory-affecting conditions. Medical support here includes several locations of the Baldwin Health network, featuring primary as well as urgent care facilities.

Gulf Shores should be an easy place to get the grandkids to visit. Set along some of the Gulf's best beaches, the town welcomes vacationers, and full-time beach bums. Active families will enjoy the nearby Gulf State Park Campground. For the truly adventurous, grandparents can drop off family members at the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a rugged preserve along the coast itself.

Opelika

In east-central Alabama, the small town of Opelika splits the distance between Birmingham and Atlanta, Georgia, to the northeast. The town's handful of senior care sites provide ample choice for those needing support in their silver years; most of them are listed as low-income or affordable. The East Alabama Medical Center network runs a range of care sites across town, including ones sometimes affiliated with Auburn University, just southwest of here.

Opelika offers several options to keep grandkids entertained. City Park, also called Monkey Park, does not in fact house monkeys on its grounds — but it does have playgrounds, green spaces, and walking trails. Floral Park includes a place to bring one's dog, making ideal for families visiting grandparents while bringing pets from home. Northeast of town, the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center offers a big indoor pool, and exercise classes, for swimmers of all ages.

Valley

On the Alabama-Georgia line, the small town of Valley boasts four senior living sites in and near town. These offer a range of services, and in particular, Sylvia Word Manor, in downtown Valley, is affordable at low-income levels. Valley also features rigorous medical care through the East Alabama Medical Center-Lanier group of services, based right in town.

Valley is a great choice for the senior hoping to make nature a part of retirement. The town's place along the Chattahoochee River means that waterside charm, and dramatic sites like Riverview Dam, are never far away. The natural site offers walking trails in all seasons, and swimming in warm weather.

Alabama's Small Towns Are Ideal For Retirement

As these places suggest, Alabama's smaller towns offer everything a retiree could desire for their post-career lives. Nearly all the towns listed above have diverse, top-notch health options that other small towns can only envy. Places like Alabaster and Daphne have their own health facilities, with the added benefits of closeness to options in larger towns like Birmingham and Mobile. For seniors expecting to host family, kid-friendly sites like those near Bessemer, Florence, and Opelika should make convincing loved ones to come visit an easy task. from the mountains in the north, to the coastal horizons along the Gulf Coast, Alabama's options for retirees often come in supportive, beautiful small towns like these.