9 Best Towns In The Prairies For Retirees

In your sunset years, you don't want to slug it out in a drab, crowded place. You also don't want to continue dealing with traffic jams, the hectic pace, the endless rush to nowhere. Instead, consider escaping to the Prairie Region of North America, a vast expanse of beautiful wildflowers, wide-open skies, and some of the most glorious sunsets on the planet. Of course, the Prairie Region has also been referred to as the Breadbasket of the World. The best part is that houses are significantly more affordable here. You don't have to part with a fortune. But which spots stand out? Keep reading to discover the nine best towns in the Prairies for retirees.

Glendive, Montana

Glendive is a small, authentic town tucked between Montana’s badlands and the Yellowstone River. It is right off I-94, meaning retirees enjoy fantastic accessibility. It has cute little stores for shopping, museums to browse, such as Makoshika Dinosaur & Fossil Museum, and outdoor pleasure spots such as Makoshika State Park, where you can occasionally enjoy around a dozen hiking trails over beautiful landscapes. Bell Street Bridge is a cool and picturesque place to laze around, especially for the heart-stirring sunset views. If the weather permits, you can always drop a line for a yummy catch at the Yellowstone River.

Keep in mind that the median listing home price in Glendive was $245,000 in August 2025, a pocket-friendly price point that comes with access to the highly rated Glendive Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital that has been serving the Eastern Montana community since before the First World War. Consider that the August 2025 median for houses in Montana is $645,000.

Guthrie, Oklahoma

Guthrie boasts one of the largest contiguous Historic Preservation Districts in the United States. If you do not enjoy wandering through that delightful space, Guthrie has other features with which you can fall in love. Seniors have Mercy Hospital Logan County, a 25-bed critical access hospital with excellent facilities and equipment. It was recently named one of the country’s top 20 critical access hospitals for quality by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). You also have Liberty Lake, a shimmering beauty with trails around to explore. Moreover, with its gorgeous wooded views, Guthrie Country Club is an awesome spot to regularly practice putting and driving. In August 2025, the median listing home price in Guthrie was $340,000, which is just above the statewide median of $300,000 for the same period.

Dickinson, North Dakota

Often considered an affordable community to live in, a nice thing about Dickinson is that it is a college town. Therefore, expect a touch of vibrancy and diversity. It hosts Dickinson State University, whose story began on June 24, 1918. More than that, you are at the doorstep of the gorgeous Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which provides a delightful range of outdoor recreational opportunities. There is also Patterson Lake, a cool spot for some midweek fishing, and the adjacent Patterson Lake Recreation Area, a tranquil space ideal for walking and camping. In August 2025, the median listing home price in Dickinson was around $340,000, a strong competitor in the Prairies. Take note that CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson recently earned a gold award for rural stroke treatment, which speaks to its excellence in healthcare management.

Kearney, Nebraska

If you want to retire in a stimulating academic environment, the presence of the University of Nebraska at Kearney is enough to swing your decision one way or another. The Senior College provides a diverse curriculum of intellectually stimulating classes and special activities for folks 55 and older in Central Nebraska. On the flip side, outdoor lovers will enjoy fantastic access to the 310-mile Platte River, one of the longest rivers in the state. If that is not enough, several other options abound at places like Kea Lake, Yanney Lake, and the Kearney Reservoir.

Yanney Heritage Park, with its trails, observation tower, and incredible sunset views, bills itself as the “finest family park between Omaha and Denver.” In August 2025, Kearney's median listing home price was in the range of $350,000, almost the same as the statewide median. Still on positives, the award-winning CHI Health Good Samaritan has been serving area residents since 1924. It is one of several healthcare options.

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

We finally have a town with the word “Prairie” in it, and it lives up to almost all expectations, especially on matters related to retirement. Prairie du Chien is about an hour from both La Crosse and Dubuque, meaning you can always dash for all kinds of big-city amenities, including shopping, while still enjoying the peace and close-knit feel of small-town prairie living. Active retirees are a heartbeat away from Wyalusing State Park, which offers excellent hiking trails and equally excellent camp sites with gasp-inducing views, and Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit, a mind-rousing space with creeks for fishing.

There is La Riviere Park, a great place to ride or walk, and several other beautiful water bodies. In August 2025, the median listing home price in Prairie du Chien was around $240,000, an incredibly affordable price point, considering this is an outdoor paradise. On healthcare, Crossing Rivers Health provides a full spectrum of services, including 24-hour emergency care.

Great Bend, Kansas

With a fantastic public library, an airport, and senior-living communities such as the highly rated River Bend, Great Bend is a solid retirement option. You have the beautiful Brit Spaugh Park to occasionally take your grandkids to (it also has great areas to walk around), Cheyenne Bottoms Refuge, a natural sink filled with water and thousands of migratory birds, and the Arkansas River, a top-tier destination for catfish fishing. In terms of healthcare, the University of Kansas Health Systems - Great Bend Campus is at your doorstep. It is a 33-bed facility with an emergency room and has recently received a 4-star designation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The median listing home price in Great Bend was $200,000 in August 2025. It doesn't get better than this.

Milbank, South Dakota

Although known for baseball, Milbank has much more to offer. There are senior-living facilities like Peaceful Pines, scenic views at places like Lake Farley Park, and a welcoming, small-town atmosphere. Abbey of the Hills, with its wonderfully maintained walking paths, is a breathtaking retreat a few miles west of the city. It is a peaceful place to escape to and has lots of history. Water lovers have the Big Stone Lake, a recreational spot that doubles up as the source of the Minnesota River. Perhaps the best part is that the median listing home price in Milbank was less than $200,000 in August 2025, a price point that looks like a steal these days and is increasingly becoming rare. For any midnight emergency, you are at the doorstep of the highly rated Milbank Area Health Care Campus, a 25-bed critical access hospital.

Wahpeton, North Dakota

Wahpeton, pronounced “Waa-pet-on,” is home to the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), one of the oldest public two-year colleges in the United States. The town has safe neighborhoods, an airport, good schools, and a civic spirit. Keep in mind that you will have access to two medical clinics (Essentia Health and Sanford Health) while surgical procedures are performed at the nearby CHI St. Francis Health, a medical center in neighbouring Breckenridge, Minnesota. Chahinkapa Park, with its beautiful sculptures, is a fun place to visit with the whole family. For avid golfers, Bois de Sioux Golf Course is a fantastic 18-hole golf course with the front nine in North Dakota and the back nine in Minnesota. It has nice water features, rolling fairways, and a good amount of trees. The median listing home price in Wahpeton was approximately $250,000 in August 2025.

Blair, Nebraska

When considering a retirement destination, some spots may sound like Plain Janes, but they punch way above their weight. One of such spots is Blair, a small, slow-paced town with a peaceful and pastoral backdrop. Consider that Blair is right next to Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city. For perspective, in about 20 minutes, you will be sampling some of the best cultural attractions in the Prairie Region, especially at places like the Durham Museum.

The same holds for big-city amenities, including Nebraska Medical Centre, which boasts a U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals designation. Just the other day, the U.S. News & World Report ranked it the No. 1 in Nebraska for the 14th straight year. Other pleasure spots include the cascading Missouri River (for boating and fishing) and the swoon-worthy Black Elk Neihardt Park, a hidden gem with well-groomed trails and priceless views. Blair's median listing home price was just $335,000 in August 2025.

Settle Down In The Prairies

So, while the Prairie Region may lack the epic casinos of the West or the sugar-white beaches of Florida, its natural features, the sea of waving grass, the beautiful, rolling landscapes, and the blond, gold-colored views are all elements that are worth waking up to every day. Several towns that dot the region are small, charming, and enticingly slow-paced. You will find close-knit neighborhoods, friendly folks, and, if you choose carefully, epic outdoor adventure opportunities. Have your pick, and run to some corner of America, where life is still slow and laid-back.