9 Cost-Effective Retirement Towns In Alabama
You can put it down to the poetry of a good end, but there is a reason the retirement period is called the golden years. You will finally be free, free from the brutality of tight schedules and a breakneck pace that seldom lets you breathe. Although all of us want to retire to a beautiful place with exceptional outdoor beauty and top-notch amenities, it often boils down to how much you can afford. Lucky for all of us, Alabama has something of all three. Long heralded as among the most affordable states to retire, Alabama should be at the top of your list. Starting with Eufaula, discover below 9 cost-effective retirement towns in Alabama.
Eufaula
Even if you love beautiful buildings, Eufaula’s extensive collection of antebellum architecture will not be the only feature claiming your attention. A mellow lifestyle, a pocket-friendly cost of living, and a hypnotizing lake culture are other aspects you won’t wish to miss out on. Eufaula is set along the Chattahoochee River and sits on the rustic shores of the Walter F. George Lake, known by some as the "Big Bass Capital of the World." Other fantastic outdoor playgrounds include the nearby Lake Point State Park, which has some lovely hiking trails to explore, and Eufaula Wildlife Refuge, a quiet place to mingle with the wood stork and other endangered species. The Gardens of Eufaula is a senior living community in a comfortable environment, while Medical Center Barbour (MCB), located in town, is a state-certified acute care facility. According to Zillow, the median listing price in Eufaula is $269,567, way below the statewide median of $314,000
Fort Payne
First, Fort Payne is just about an hour southwest of Chattanooga, which implies fantastic access to big-city amenities and cultural attractions. It is also between Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain, allowing for outdoor recreational opportunities to keep a retiree in excellent physical shape. There’s the nationally famous DeSoto State Park, a mesmerizing expanse surrounded by rushing waterfalls, peaceful trails, and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers, and the Little River Canyon National Preserve, home to one of the most spectacular landforms in the world. On healthcare access, DeKalb Regional Medical Center is in the area and recently earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. Once in a while, you can kill time at the Alabama Fan Club and Museum, which keeps lots of memorabilia about the famous music group Alabama. The median listing price in Fort Payne is $285,400.
Monroeville
Monroeville is widely associated with acclaimed novelists Harper Lee and Truman Capote, and, because of its literary heritage, is touted as the Literary Capital of Alabama. Therefore, it suits those who prefer an intellectually stimulating environment with refinement and high culture. Residents often look forward to the Monroeville Literary Festival, which features activities focused on art, music, and literature. There’s the Vanity Fair Golf & Tennis Club, a great place to regularly play golf and chat with neighbors, the Old Courthouse Museum, which often serves as the site of a special adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, and Monroe County Hospital, which has been serving area residents since 1962. The Alabama River is also not far from town and is a decent spot to occasionally reel in a largemouth bass. The median listing price in Monroeville is $244,917, significantly below the statewide median.
Bessemer
There’s probably no better time to capitalize on the low price points in Bessemer than this moment. According to the latest data, the town’s median listing price is just $183,417, a steal even by Alabama standards. The icing? Birmingham, Alabama’s third-largest city, is a 15-minute drive away. UEAB Medical West, an affiliate of the UAB Health System, offers a wide range of diagnostic, surgical, medical, and emergency services. Its freshly opened facility has a new surgical and endoscopy suite, including robotic surgery and state-of-the-art imaging technology. With places like the Woodward Golf & Country Club, an 18-hole beauty with lovely views, Terrace Oaks Care and Rehabilitation Center, a tremendous long-term care facility with competent staff, and the Bessemer Premiere 14 Promenade, a lively venue for a mood-lifting matinee, life here should be full of enjoyable adventures. Also, DeBardeleben Park has benches to sit on and people-watch, and nice walking trails to explore. Just to be sure to find a place close to the Bright Star, Alabama's oldest family-owned restaurant still going strong after over 100 years!
Cullman
Reputed to be one of the fastest-growing communities in the state, Cullman is not just about popping businesses and ubiquitous high-rises. Its outdoor beauty is well-established, and it offers access to several fun spots, including the beautiful Smith Lake, which spans more than 20,000 acres. Moreover, Cullman checks all the boxes for good infrastructure and access, especially with its location just off Interstate 65. There’s the Terri Pines Country Club, a beautiful course with an awesome on-site restaurant, and The Forty Acre Wood, a magical place with tons of loops and overlapping trails, most of which are well-maintained and easy to follow. Bear in mind that you can occasionally mingle with ducks at Sportsman Lake Park, or turn back the wheels of time at Cullman County Museum. If feeling under the weather, Cullman Regional is at your doorstep and has received several American Heart Association Achievement Awards. Houses in Cullman fetch a median listing price of $299,600.
Enterprise
Enterprise is a small, nice place with a big presence of military families, especially because of its proximity to Fort Rucker, a crucial facility established in 1942 to help support US Army efforts in World War II. It is quiet and peaceful, yet within minutes of the needful stores and supplies. There’s Serenity South Senior Living at Enterprise, which provides compassionate care and vibrant community-living for empty nesters in the area, and Medical Center Enterprise, a 131-bed facility offering specialist services and reliable emergency services. You can occasionally tee away an afternoon at the Enterprise Country Club, a heartwarming space of sylvan splendor that boasts an exquisite 18-hole golf course surrounded by mature trees. During the holidays, you can take your grandkids to feed goats at Two By Two Petting Zoo, while the nearby Lake Tholocco offers boating, skiing, and swimming opportunities the rest of the year. The median listing price of houses in Enterprise is $289,967.
Florence
Florence is in the Shoals area, a soothing place with a relaxing atmosphere. You will find houses on the bluffs overlooking the Tennessee River, historic homes in the city's downtown area, and a modest touch of life and vibrancy. Keep in mind that Florence is an outdoor lover's dream. Florence Golf & Country Club, whose history dates back to the 1930s, was designed by Chris Burns, an inductee into the Alabama-NW Florida Chapter’s Hall of Fame. The Tennessee River flows through the town, and the University of Alabama, where you can pick an interesting course or teach one or two courses as an adjunct lecturer, sits among several swoon-worthy green spaces, including Wilson Park, a great place to walk around with a loved one. Shoals Community Theatre is another community gathering place that can transform a boring day into one filled with belly-shaking laughter. The median listing price in Florence is $289,600.
Jasper
Jasper welcomes retirees with a sign reading “flourish with us,” and flourish, you will. From a cost-effective median listing price of $226,629 to the interesting hand-painted mule statues found throughout Walker County, to Memorial Park, Jasper’s oldest and largest, this Alabama jewel is small but fitted with all the necessary cogs that make a retirement town hum. Take note that the Jasper Senior Activity Center (JSAC) runs educational programs and classes designed to improve retirees’ quality of life, while Sonny's Family Fun Center, which provides go-carts and scenic greens, offers unforgettable experiences to grandkids. Lewis Smith Lake is right in your backyard, as is the Clear Creek Recreation Area, a great place for swimming and camping. With Birmingham just 30 minutes down the road, there’s no need to worry about healthcare access or cultural attractions. Still, Walker Baptist Medical Center is right at your doorstep.
Hamilton
One of Hamilton’s best retirement appeals is the fact that it offers direct access to Interstate 22 (I‑22), meaning you can dash to nearby cities like Tuscaloosa on a whim. Ramp University, a Christian university with a history that dates back to 1998, has chosen Hamilton as its home, as well as a community college, while the meandering presence of the Buttahatche River mixes with a hospital with round-the-clock emergency services. North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton, which has previously received the 5-star rating from Hospital Compare, provides 24/7 inpatient and emergency care, plus many other services. Bankhead National Forest, with its primitive campgrounds and beautiful horse-riding trails, is just 30 minutes to the east. Other outdoor fun spots include Sam R. Murphy Wildlife Management Area, a great place to hunt, and Marion County Lake, a 37-acre recreational site just a heartbeat away from town. The median listing price in Hamilton is a cost-effective $249,667, significantly below the statewide median.
So, if you are about to pull the plug on your work life and are looking for a cost-effective location to plant your roots, the Cotton State has several features any retiree will find irresistible. Alabama is incredibly affordable, meaning you don’t have to save for 40 years to squeeze yourself into a tiny room. Also, consider that Alabama fully exempts Social Security retirement benefits from income taxes. Add pleasant weather, awesome scenery (including the sugar-white Gulf Coast beaches in the south), and friendly communities where people treat each other as part of a family, and you have a state that should be crowing about its retirement credentials.
