9 Best Towns In The Ozarks For Retirees
Whether you seek natural beauty or a range of social and cultural offerings, you will want to consider retiring in the Ozarks region of the United States. Arkansas and Missouri promise proximity to lakes, rivers, and mountains, as well as world-class theaters and the convenience of urban amenities. With an affordable quality of life and highly-rated medical services, keep reading to discover the 9 best towns in the Ozarks for retirees.
Searcy, Arkansas
With a population of about 23,000, Searcy is buzzy and vibrant, yet still intimate and close-knit. It is a solid choice for retirement, given its smaller size but relative proximity to Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas. Searcy is also home to Harding University, a liberal arts college that is also the largest private university in the state. The university's Mental Health and Wellness Clinic is part of Harding's medical and counseling services offered to the Searcy community.
The historic Rialto Theatre is a beautifully renovated Art Deco cinema that shows a range of films daily, and Spring Park offers space to enjoy time outdoors, with pincic areas, walking trails, and a pavilion. The nearby Little Red River is also a popular spot for trout fishing and scenic views. White County Medical Center is right in town and the median listing home price in Searcy is around $250K, which is below the state average, making Searcy both affordable and practical for retirees.
Mountain Home, Arkansas
In Mountain Home, you will enjoy fresh air and pristine natural surroundings thanks to the nearby North Fork River, where you can float on a lazy afternoon, and Norfork Lake, an angler's paradise with a wide variety of fresh water fish. Alternatively, there is Bull Shoals Lake within an hour's drive. At slightly over 45,000 acres, it is the largest in Arkansas and offers plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, and relaxing at any number of its lakeside cabins and resorts. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Big Creek Country Club, open to non-members by reservation, is the premier club in north-central Arkansas.
Baxter Health offers a pain management clinic in town for chronic or post-op care, and Baxter Regional Health Center is a well-regarded leader in comprehensive health care. With a median listing home price of just $268,500, owning a home is within reach, and amenities such as Town & Country Supermarket, Harps Food Stores, or DG Market make Mountain Home both accessible and convenient.
Branson, Missouri
About 30 years ago, the legendary singer and television host Andy Williams moved to Branson and subsequently opened the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre. Although now closed, the landmark helped position Branson as a destination for quality entertainment. Today, Branson boasts more theater seats than Broadway's theater district in New York City, thanks to spots like The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts, a premier venue for world-class concerts and live performance.
The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure is both beautiful and educational, with a butterfly aviary and interactive discovery center, and the Pointe Royale Golf Course offers 18 holes of scenic fairways for players of all ages and abilities. Meanwhile, Cox Medical Center in Branson provides a full range of services, bringing quality medical care to your doorstep, and the median listing home price is below the state average at around $265,000.
Van Buren, Arkansas
Van Buren is a fun place to retire, especially considering the outdoor opportunities it offers. With the Arkansas River flowing through the town, and the beautiful parks tastefully positioned along it, including Lee Creek for boating and fishing, and Fort Smith just across the river, a retiree here has ample opportunities to enjoy nature at its purest and most pristine. Malco Van Buren Cinema shows new releases and boasts comfortable seats and a great sound system.
Ben Geren Regional Park is roughly 15 minutes down the road in nearby Fort Smith and boasts a disc golf course and bike trails for a more active experience. As for healthcare, Baptist Health Van Buren provides quality services, including over 100 beds and a Level IV trauma center. The median listing home price in Van Buren is about $265K.
Clarksville, Arkansas
It may not be a cosmopolitan metropolis, but what Clarksville lacks in urban fare, it more than makes up for through the several scenic hiking trails in the area and opportunities for building community and connection. With its prime location at the foot of the Ozark Mountains and near the Ozark National Forest, there is also Lake Ludwig just north of town for fishing, swimming, and boating, while Spadra Creek is lined with easy trails for walking or biking.
Meanwhile, the Clarksville Aquatic Center is open year-round with 8 lanes for swimming laps and a therapy pool, while the Summer Concert series draws residents and visitors alike to the Levee Stage downtown for free musical performances every Saturday, all summer long. With a median listing home price just below the state average and the highly rated Johnson Regional Medical Center right in town, there is lots to love about Clarksville.
West Plains, Missouri
West Plains is in south-central Missouri near the Arkansas state line, about 100 miles from Springfield. This small, beautiful town draws tourists from across the region, due in part to its proximity to the Ozark Trail, a network of hiking and bike trails that combine to cover about 400 miles of wildnerness. Just 8 miles from town, you will find a trailhead to the North Fork Section at Pomona, which links the Ridge Runner trail and the Devil’s Backbone Wilderness area. Meanwhile, Galloway Creek Nature Park offers nice walking trails, a stream, and comfortable benches for relaxing among 40 acres of forested green space.
In July, the town hosts a festival dedicated to Elvis Presley, with food vendors, contests and, of course, plenty of music. The festival doubles as a fundraiser for the Avenue Theater, a 1950s movie house turned community theater and an iconic landmark in West Plains. In terms of affordability and accessibility, the median listing home price in West Plains is around $240K, and Ozarks Healthcare provides in-home services as well as primary care and specialty clinics.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff has traditionally been called "the Gateway to the Ozarks." It is conveniently positioned between St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Ozarks. The historic Rodgers Theatre on Broadway hosts classic movies and live musical performances, and the Poplar Bluff Library offers a range of services, including support for reserach related to geneology and local history. You can also float down the Black River, or just sit by its banks and watch its ebb and flow.
Meanwhile, the Downtown Dog Park provides a safe space for your four-legged friends to socialize and get some exercise off leash. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Poplar Bluff was just under $200k, making it one of the more affordable towns on this list. On healthcare access, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is in town, while Mercy Hospital Stoddard is less than half an hour away in neighbouring Dexter.
Bolivar, Missouri
With Springfield just 25 minutes down the road, a retiree is at the doorstep of several cultural attractions and urban amenities; yet, you may rarely need to even hit the road. Bolivar itself is beautiful and convenient with plenty of shops and amenities without having to drive for hours. For example, Citizens Memorial Hospital, which has been serving area residents for over 40 years, is right at your doorstep.
If tired of being indoors, you can mingle with the swans and the peacocks at Dunnegan Memorial Park, snuggle up with a good book at the Polk County Library, or play a round of golf at the well-maintained Silo Ridge Golf & Country Club. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Bolivar was $269,900, which is well below the state average.
Heber Springs, Arkansas
With a name like Heber Springs, a life on the water is a given. Sandy Beach on Greers Ferry Lake features the largest public swim beach in the area on a lake that is commonly praised for being exceptionally clean and clear. If you are among the few for whom water holds no special draw, the epic hiking opportunities at Sugarloaf Mountain may pique your interest. Bridal Veil Falls has some short, easy trails to hike, although others can prove quite challenging for anyone up for more of an adventure.
Moreover, the highly rated Baptist Health Medical Center is at your doorstep, while White River Medical Center is less than an hour away in neighbouring Batesville. The median listing home price in Heber Springs was $327,000 in June 2025, which is slightly above the state average, but still good value considering all this town has to offer.
The Takeaway
Whether your idea of retirement is relaxation or adventure at its most epic, you will hardly find a region that fits the bill like the Ozarks. From parks and rivers to social services and affordable living, the Ozarks deliver nature at its most seductive and the region proves that retirement can be everything you've dreamed, and more.
