10 Best Places To Retire In Texas
Although it has its issues, Texas is among the best places to retire for several reasons, including its wild and free landscape, its wide open skies and views that go on forever, and its massive parks with winding trails and tumbling rivers. You will find small, charming towns and, of course, Big Bend National Park, often referred to as Texas' Gift to the Nation. If that's not enough, Texas is one of a handful of states that does not charge income tax, meaning more of your check can go to epic outdoor adventure. After considering several factors, we reveal below the best towns in Texas to retire.
Lufkin
Lufkin is a welcoming town in the Piney Woods region of eastern Texas. It is close to the Angelina River, a meandering beauty named for a woman who served as a guide and translator for native people and European explorers in the 1700s. Besides a strong sense of community, you will love the beautiful parks in the area, including the award-winning Ellen Trout Zoo, which is home to over 700 animals, and the scenic trails that traverse the pine-speckled Angelina National Forest. Speaking of forests, there is the Texas State Forest Festival, a family-friendly, forest-themed annual event that features thrilling competitions, yummy festival food, and fun carnival rides.
But if your life revolves around golf, the Crown Colony Country Club has been rated as one of the top 10 golf courses in the Lone Star State. The median listing home price in Lufkin was $273,800 in August 2025, way lower than the statewide median of $364,500. Finally, for any stubborn flu, St. Luke’s Memorial has earned numerous prestigious awards, including as one of the 100 best hospitals for Coronary Interventions.
Nacogdoches
If you are about to retire, those in the know will advise you to look for a vibrant college town with lots of culture, a modicum of diversity, and youthful energy. Nacogdoches, pronounced NAH-coh-DOE-chess, hosts the highly fancied Stephen F. Austin State University, whose history dates back to the 1920s. Because of how it blends big-town activities with a small-town feeling, this Texas jewel makes retirement quite an enjoyable experience. From Lake Nacogdoches to the tumbling waters of the Angelina River to the annual Azalea Trail, which draws photographers from several corners of the state, there is a lot to love about this underrated gem.
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital has always stood as a beacon of healthcare excellence in deep East Texas, and is the only IAP Level III Trauma Center in the region. The median listing home price in Nacogdoches was $282,200 in August 2025, only 77% of the state median.
Mineola
With places like Mineola, no one should ever claim that bigger is better. Although home to just about 5,000 residents, Mineola punches far above its weight. From Lake Country Playhouse, which offers live performances in a family-friendly atmosphere, to the peaceful Mineola Nature Preserve, an outdoor playground that offers lovely walking trails, ample opportunities to see wildlife (such as alligators), and beautiful scenery, to compassionate assisted-living facilities like the Community Care Center of Mineola, this town will effortlessly meet or exceed your expectations.
There is also Lake Holbrook, a glittering beauty northwest of town, and the nearby CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital‑Tyler, regularly recognized by Healthgrades as among America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Joint Replacement Award. Do you have to break the bank? It doesn’t look like it. The median listing home price in Mineola was $299,500 in August 2025, way lower than the statewide median of $364,500.
Alpine
With living costs that are way below the national average, beautiful weather, and a strong sense of community, Alpine is another top contender for the best place in Texas to retire. And you will think it is purposefully fine-tuned for empty nesters because it goes overboard. Sul Ross State University’s 93-acre main campus, which overlooks Alpine, is a major asset. Widely regarded as the birthplace of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Sul Russ offers an incalculable benefit to retirees in the Alpine area, including access to a library and recreation department.
However, many people consider the highly regarded Big Bend Regional Medical Center as a major factor in their choice of retirement venue. The hospital has a fantastic senior care program with a unique approach to lifestyle and wellness, and a Senior Circle, where anyone can sign up for different educational health classes. You can always explore the Museum of the Big Bend or sit with a gripping read at the centrally located Alpine Public Library. In September 2025, the median listing home price in Alpine was $299,000.
Athens
Even if you don’t like hamburgers (Athens bills itself as the original home of the hamburger), you will still have several non-culinary delights to hook you to Athens, a beautiful town with a strong local community that lays claim to the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World” title. You have immediate access to UT Health Athens, which earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, and the East Texas Arboretum, whose lovely hiking trails run through the beautiful native Texas landscape. Golfers can enjoy 27 holes on the Ross Course at Athens Country Club, among other club benefits for an affordable membership fee.
Another crucial amenity is the Arabella of Athens, which offers assisted living and memory care suites in a landscaped setting. In September 2025, the median listing home price in Athens was $349,300, modestly lower than the statewide median. Just don’t overlook Lake Athens, one of the best little bass fishing lakes in Texas.
Seguin
Seguin is a Texas jewel associated with what many consider to be the oldest still-standing concrete structure west of the Mississippi: The historic Sebastopol House. The house is a conspicuous Greek Revival constructed in 1856 using limecrete, a mixture of local gravel and lime developed by Seguin chemist John Esten Park. The area around Seguin is one of the largest pecan producers in Texas, which means eating delicious pecan treats is part of your retirement package. Bauer Park’s amenities include a covered picnic pavilion and a short sidewalk loop, while Central Park features an Art Deco 1930s fountain, an eye-catching bronze statue, granite historical markers, and Victorian gas lamps.
There's also a library, the aptly named Riverview Park, which features a disc golf course and well-maintained trails, and the frothing waters of the Guadalupe River. Retirement here comes with the comfort of being just 30 minutes from San Antonio, the second-largest city in Texas, with some of the best hospitals in the state. The median listing home price in Seguin was $287,000 in August 2025.
Brownwood
The presence of the 136-year-old Howard Payne University already establishes Brownwood as a retirement hot spot. Retirees are welcome to chase after new and old interests, taking courses in subjects from chemistry to poetry. A regional airport opens up travel beyond driving distance, including locations like New Orleans. The well-established Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood has been a staple of the town since 1969, offering top of the line medical care, and the unbelievably beautiful Lake Brownwood State Park, just 20 minutes down the road, offers a different care for the spirit. From rustic cabins to excellent hiking trails, there's no excuse for brooding indoors. If that's not enough, Flat Rock Park & Campground is also a lovely place to take a refreshing plunge, while Fabis Park is the go-to spot for primitive camping. In August 2025, the median listing home price in Brownwood was just $259,000.
Stephenville
Stephenville is a self-styled “Cowboy Capital of the World,” meaning life here is fun, wild, and free. More professional rodeo athletes may have lived in Stephenville than in any other town of similar size in the U.S. Another reason to tip your hat for Stephenville is because of the presence of Tarleton State University, an academic landmark that opened its doors on September 4, 1899. It brings tons of culture, diversity, and vibrancy to the area, keeping life from getting too stale.
Jaycee City Park features paved walking paths, a stocked fishing pond, and hosts the summer Concerts in the park, while the nearby Proctor Lake Park offers a shimmering beauty and yummy waterfront views. Also, there's the phenomenal Dinosaur Valley State Park, a relaxing place with interesting dinosaur tracks and a swimming hole. Finally, a pocket-friendly median listing price of $360,000 comes with access to Texas Health Stephenville, which has previously received a 5-star rating for patient experience among nearly 3,500 hospitals.
Denison
Although Abilene is widely associated with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and has the Presidential Museum, Denison is the birthplace of Eisenhower, one of the most decorated generals in the history of the continent. The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site in Denison is an informative and nostalgic space with period furniture, clothing, and appliances. Lake Texoma, a spellbinding water wonder on the wings of town, has been aptly called the Striper Capital of the World. There's Waterloo Park, which offers caves, fishing ponds, and beautiful scenery, and Munson Park, which features one of the most adorable disc golf courses in North Texas.
Denison also brims with amenities. For example, Texoma Medical Center is right in town and has been recognized for the Patient Safety Excellence Award for 2025 and 2024. The cherry on top is that you get all these at a price point that many will jump at. The median listing home price in Denison was just $259,000 in August 2025, way below the statewide median.
Huntsville
What if we informed you that there's a growing community in the heart of the Piney Woods of Texas with friendly folks, wonderful food, and an iconic public university with a history that dates back to 1879? You can get a spot in Huntsville where you wake up to the chirping of birds, and enjoy a phase of life that is quiet but full of adventure. Huntsville State Park offers access to Lake Raven, while the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Complex, part of Sam Houston State University, honors the memory of an indefatigable champion of Texas independence, and the first president of the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston National Forest is a cool place for non-motorized boating, and in the same vein, Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area offers awesome camping and kayaking opportunities. With Houston just an hour away and a median listing price of $290,000, Huntsville is the ultimate retirement jackpot.
With places like Texas, you don't have to squeeze yourself into a tiny apartment or endure the searing pain of endless concrete jungles. Texas is wide and wild, fun and free. No wonder it is called God's Own Country. Everything is bigger here, including the Big Bend National Park, an isolated outdoor beauty that embodies what’s so captivating about West Texas. By and large, the Lone Star State is affordable, which means you can grab yourself a decent home at a fraction of what you would in other places, and remain with a tidy amount for epic adventure.
