The Best Small Town In Minnesota For Seniors
As the county seat of Mower County, Austin, Minnesota, sits beside the Cedar River in the state’s quiet southeastern corner, and it’s an easy town to picture yourself settling into. Affordability is a big part of the appeal, especially when typical home prices land well below Minnesota’s median of $331,667. Austin also keeps life enjoyable with a few genuinely appealing perks, from comfort-food favorites like Kenny’s Oak Grill and Piggy Blue’s Bar-B-Que to easy strolls along the Cedar River. In short, if you want your savings to stretch without giving up on all the fun, Austin checks a lot of the right boxes.
The Numbers Are on Your Side
Living in Austin has proven to be a wise financial choice for seniors, as money tends to stretch farther here than elsewhere in the state. The Economic Research Institute says Austin’s living costs are 11% below the U.S. average and 7% below the average for Minnesota towns. The clearest example of this cost-of-living discrepancy happens when potential new residents consider housing.
Data from Zillow shows typical home sale prices in Austin sit around $192,867. Minnesota’s average home price hits $331,667, nearly 42% more than what seniors find in the small community of Austin. Those who rent do just fine too, since data from Zillow's Rental Manager indicate that typical monthly payments in Austin are around $975, putting it among the cheapest places for renters statewide. Minnesota’s average monthly rent is $1,550, a difference of over 37%.
Mayo Clinic Located Nearby
Retirees are reassured that, moving to Austin, quality medical care is available at all hours and from a name trusted across the United States. The Mayo Clinic Health System campus sits right on 1st Drive NW, connected to the internationally known network of facilities and part of the reason that the state of Minnesota rates first in healthcare facilities per capita. Here in Austin, this facility offers a wealth of services that would appeal to an aging resident, from emergency and ICU services to inpatient surgery, vascular surgery, geriatric primary care, orthopedics, cardiology, and endocrinology. When even more specialized care is necessary, Mayo Clinic’s Rochester hub is only 45 miles on U.S. Highway 218.
Bites That Might Make Up Your Mind
Even beyond the quality amenities and the lower cost of living, Austin offers residents a lot in the way of food. Several cuisines appear across the board, despite this community's smaller size.
Kenny's Oak Grill is one of the highest-rated restaurants in the whole town on platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor. The restaurant is open every day except Tuesday, starting at 7 AM, and is right in the middle of everything on Oakland Ave. This is diner fare with southern-style comforts and nods to the region’s staples like cheese curds, walleye entrees, and their signature peanut butter and chocolate pie.
Most people might not think of high-quality barbecue cuisine when you get up into the northernmost states in the Midwest, yet Austin delivers with some highly touted smoked meats at Piggy Blue’s Bar-B-Que right on Main Street. Everything about this restaurant seems plucked from a bustling avenue in Memphis, Kansas City, or Austin, Texas. From the bourbon taters and the smoked chicken to the local nod to SPAM® with the SPAM Poh’ Boy Sandwich, this is a memorable and affordable place to eat.
Something You Can Only Find in Austin
Only in Austin will you find the official SPAM® Museum on 3rd Avenue. In this 14,000-square-foot facility, visitors are guided through the impressive history of Hormel Foods Corporation, from its founding in 1891 to the invention of SPAM in 1937. Among the highlights of the exhibits is a letter written by General Dwight Eisenhower from World War II, speaking on how pivotal and vital this canned meat product has been to the war effort. Best of all, admission is free, making it one of the places many people carve out time in their itineraries to see.
Nearby Towns to Explore After the Move
Albert Lea
Twenty-three miles west of Austin, Albert Lea comes into view alongside Interstate 90. Sitting right in the middle of town, Fountain Lake draws people in with a smooth walkable trail hugging its edge. This path links up with the Blazing Star State Trail, thirteen miles of quiet pavement winding across open farmland. Over on Bridge Avenue, visitors glimpse days long gone by at the Freeborn County Historical Museum. This small village of buildings is frozen in time, including a schoolhouse, a blacksmith, and a stocked general store. This is literally stepping back into 1800s Minnesota.
Rochester
Rochester is the third-largest city in Minnesota, so having it close to Austin is quite a valuable asset. For starters, this is where the Mayo Clinic's main campus and primary center are located, offering the full range of resources, disciplines, and skilled professionals beyond Austin’s satellite campus. The city is full of dining, shopping, and entertainment hubs, all connected with both a climate-controlled skyway and an underground walkway, both of which are invaluable during the bitter winter seasons here or when the weather becomes unfavorable. Diving into the history of one of the city’s most famous residents, check out the Mayowood Museum, which celebrates the life of Dr. Charles H. Mayo at his former home, which offers guided tours from April to December across the immaculate property.
The Case for Austin
Minnesota has long been recognized as one of the most affordable and senior-friendly states for retirement, with a cost of living several percentage points below the national average. Places like Austin take this affordability and connectivity even farther by helping savings and fixed incomes stretch farther without compromising access to great dining, healthcare, and nearby communities for exploration and entertainment. Austin’s placement within a reasonable drive of the Twin Cities and Rochester makes it even more convenient as a retirement community.
