9 Best Places To Retire In Missouri

If you are about to retire, don't just follow the crowds to Florida or California. The Show Me State may not have the sugar-white beaches of Florida, the terrifying beauty of Colorado, or the curvaceous coastline of California, but you will enjoy a wide, open space to roam (and stargaze), relish some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, and, best of all, get a decent, neighborly spot for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere. Looking for specific recommendations? Starting with Ste. Genevieve, discover the nine best towns to retire in Missouri below.

Ste Genevieve

Although a bit small, the oldest settlement west of the Mississippi River has a big and charming personality with lovely people and stunning sunsets. Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital is a highly fancied community jewel built around what retirees need most: high-quality services and personable care. The hospital first opened its doors on April 9, 1969, meaning it has been serving area residents for more than 55 years. There is the Ste. Genevieve Golf Club, whose well-maintained course is a player-friendly 18-hole, Par 72 layout characterized by fairways lined with beautiful pine trees.

Movie lovers are not left in the cold, either. The Orris Theatre in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is a historic venue that has been transformed into a hub for live entertainment. Meanwhile, outdoor venues include the Mighty Mississippi River, as well as the Mark Twain National Forest in the town's backyard. The median listing home price in Ste. Genevieve sits around $230,000 (according to Zillow), just under the state median list price of $280,000.

Branson

Branson is beautifully positioned in the Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri. In the 1950s and 1960s, "hillbilly" theaters, kitschy museums, and outdoor musical acts started popping up along the town's main drag, the well-known Highway 76. In the 1990s, a "Sixty Minutes" segment declared Branson as "the live music capital of the universe," catapulting it into the vacation magnet it is today. From Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction to the world-famous Titanic Museum to the phenomenal Silver Dollar City, the entertainment and cultural scene here is incredibly epic and difficult to find anywhere else.

Surprisingly, Branson's neighborhoods are quiet and leafy. Table Rock State Park, just to the southwest of town, is a well-established campers and hikers destination. With Cox Medical Center in town, a median home listing price of approximately $250,000 is almost irresistible.

Eldon

Eldon is a small community that treats everyone like family. It has a magnetic hometown vibe that most retirees crave, as well as almost all the basics for comfort and convenience. For those with kids or grandkids, Eldon lures families for fun in the water at the adorable Eldon Aquatic Center, which has won several Lake Sun Readers' Choice Awards. If seeking memory care and assisted-living support, a place like Rock Island Village will save the day.

Meanwhile, Eldon Golf Club offers an 18-hole championship course that takes full advantage of the natural terrain and has previously been voted Best Overall Public Golf Club in Lake of the Ozarks, as well as a 2009 Reader's Favorite. As for healthcare, Lake Regional Hospital is just a 20-minute drive away in Osage Beach. Recently, it was nationally recognized for excellence in stroke care, marking its 10th consecutive year of bagging the honors. The median listing home price in Eldon is around $240,000, significantly lower than the statewide median.

Crystal City

There is a lot of wisdom in retiring in a neat, laid-back town with a relaxing atmosphere, provided you are close to a big city, where you can quickly dash for cultural attractions, a larger shopping scene, and entertainment. Fortunately, Crystal City is a quiet suburban community conveniently positioned within an hour of St. Louis. Crystal City North Park is a cool place for leisurely walks or a picnic with the whole family, while Crystal Oaks, among several other assisted-living facilities in the area, provides appropriate services for vulnerable empty nesters.

Mercy Hospital Jefferson is a 251-bed acute care facility in nearby Festus with a 24-hour emergency room and a full range of diagnostic, preventive, and restorative health care services. There is also the Crystal Highlands Golf Club, where you can regularly practice your swings. The average Crystal City home value is around $220,000 (Zillow does not indicate the median price point).

Cameron

Retirees rave about the opportunity to enjoy the small-town feel in Cameron, and the chance to access a larger cultural scene like Kansas City in less than an hour. Cameron is a family-friendly community with a municipal band that offers free concerts in McCorkle Park each year beginning Memorial Day, then each Thursday evening through the first Thursday in August. There is the 58-bed Cameron Regional Medical Center, which has a reliable emergency room, the family-owned Village of Cameron Senior Living, and, for golfing addicts, the Veterans Memorial Golf Course, the first 18-hole golf course in Missouri when traveling South on I-35.

Outdoor lovers have over 500 acres of wilderness at Wallace State Park, as well as plenty of recreational opportunities at Recreation Park, where families gather to spend quality time in nature. The median listing home price in Cameron is approximately $245,000, significantly lower than the statewide median.

Kennett

Kennett is tucked away in the southeast region of Missouri and is mostly known for agriculture and music. On the one side, the area is the biggest producer of cantaloupe, watermelon, cotton, and rice in the state, while on the other is a rich music heritage, especially because of its association with celebrities like Sheryl Crow and Trent Tomlinson. A local farmer's market supplies tables here with fresh produce, while places like Kennett Palace Theater occasionally offer comic relief through various forms of entertainment.

Piggott Health System, a 25-bed hospital in nearby Piggott, Arkansas, has methodically added multiple telemedicine service lines and offers a range of specialty services. There is also the Kennett Country Club, a solid option for golfers in the area, and St. Francis Park Senior Living. The median listing price in Kennett is around $125,000, a pocket-friendly price point that comes with access to the frothing waters of the St. Francis River.

Washington

Washington is a friendly town with young and old families that bustles with a historic downtown, cute little shops to pick up your necessities, great restaurants for a spontaneous brunch, and modest local nightlife. There are festivals to look forward to (like OxFest Music Festival), a farmers’ market, and the furious waters of the Missouri River, a phenomenal water body with plenty of recreational opportunities. The cherry on top is that St. Louis is just under an hour. On healthcare, Mercy Hospital Washington has received numerous recognitions for its exceptional services in the area, including being named one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

There is Homestead At Hickory View, which offers wellness programmes tailored for residents aged 55 and older. For live-stage entertainment in the area, the Riverside Players are at hand. Finally, homes in the area fetch a median listing price of around $325,000, only slightly higher than the statewide median.

Sedalia

Sedalia is a well-known historic town with a vibrant population of about 22,000 residents. Since 1899, this neighborly community has hosted the Missouri State Fair, which draws almost 400,000 festival-goers to the State Fairgrounds to mark a lifelong tradition. Meanwhile, art lovers have world-class centers like the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, a mind-rousing space that houses nine exhibition galleries on three levels. Inside the venue is an impressive maze of fine art pieces comprising sculptures, paintings, ceramics, and drawings.

There is Bothwell Regional Health Centre, a community gem that has been recognized for the Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award, and Essex in Sedalia, which offers compassionate care in a family-style setting. Sedalia Country Club, which sits on more than 140 acres away from the town's hassle and bustle, features an 18-hole course, a restaurant, a bar, and a private swimming pool. The median listing price for homes in Sedalia is wallet-friendly, at approximately $215,000.

Clinton

Clinton, Missouri, is a close-knit community with the endearing small-town vibes many retirees are looking for and a strong sense of support that runs from one citizen to the next. The town events, like Olde Glory Days, are designed as perfect memory-makers. At over 50,000 acres, the nearby Truman Reservoir is the largest flood control lake in the state and has a national reputation for crappie and bass fishing. Meanwhile, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare has more than 60 highly-trained medical specialists who provide a full range of specialized services, including cardiology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and urology.

There is Jefferson Gardens Assisted Living, and the well-groomed Clinton Country Club, where you can meet fellow golfers and exercise your limbs. For movies and neighborhood outings, B&B Theatres Missouri Cinema 6 will meet or exceed your expectations. The median listing home price in Clinton is around $205,000, which is lower than the statewide median.

So, with just a decent telescope and a pair of binoculars, and a heart that enjoys wide-open skies and life-changing sunsets, your golden years in Missouri are poised to be epic. And the best part is that the Show Me State is unbelievably affordable. You can snap up an amazing home and remain with a modest amount for all kinds of year-round adventure. But you have to be intentional, to know where to look.