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The best small towns for retirement

John Brady
Founder, Topretirements.com
  • Attractions of a Norman Rockwell-esque community can seem like a relaxing alternative
  • The ease of making social connections is another attraction of small-town life
  • Some small towns are beautiful and charming in their own right%2C not just as retirement communities

Moving to a small town is a very appealing option for many Baby Boomers as they approach retirement. After battling the traffic and hassles of suburban living during their working days, the attractions of a Norman Rockwell-esque community can seem like a relaxing alternative.

One of the main reasons people like small-town living is the ability to walk downtown for the necessities of life, without having to get in the car. The charming colonial town of Old Saybrook, Conn., has a great example of a walkable downtown. Here, it's easy to find a home or condo here that's just a short walk to the many downtown restaurants and shops. Many neighborhoods' residents can stroll to where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound.

The ease of making social connections is another key attraction of small-town life. Port Townsend, Wash., offers a strong sense of community. Its citizens, many of them artists, share a well-deserved pride in their beautiful Victorian setting.

Some small towns are downright beautiful. A charming environment that's hard to beat is found at Beaufort, S.C., the "Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands" near Hilton Head. Tourists enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through the extensive historic district canopied with Spanish moss.

Easy access to recreation is another factor that retirees consider.

While you might not think of culture as a typical small-town draw, many towns offer the rich cultural life desired by Baby Boomers. Mount Dora, Fla.,has i multiple cultural venues, with two theaters, including the Mount Dora Center for the Arts, plus many festivals and events on the Town Square.

Old Saybrook

This charming old town of about 10,000 residents, founded in 1635, combines New England history, a vital downtown, pristine beaches and a friendly, small-town feel. Located where the Connecticut River flows into the Long Island Sound, Old Saybrook was one of Connecticut's original three English colonies. Strategically important, it has the ruins of a fort built during the French and Indian War. Yale University was established here before moving to New Haven in 1716. Old Saybrook's most celebrated resident was Katherine Hepburn.

Beaufort, S.C., was proclaimed the nation's Happiest Seaside Town earlier this year, by Coastal Living Magazine.

Beaufort, S.C.

The Old South lives on in the quaint seaside charm of Beaufort (pronounced b'yoofurt). This popular retirement community of 11,000 was discovered by the Spanish in 1514 and lies in the Sea Islands or "Low Country" area of South Carolina.

Mount Dora

Dora exudes a comfortable Southern charm and hospitality. This central Florida lakefront community is nestled amid gentle hills, orange groves and Live Oak trees. Its elevation of 184 feet makes it Florida's equivalent of a mountain-top town. Laid out around a large square, the downtown has shopping, excellent antiquing and a rich cultural life with many festivals.

Port Townsend

This Pacific Northwest town is on the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, just across Puget Sound from Seattle. Port Townsend was a thriving port settlement, but unfortunately, the Union Pacific Railroad bypassed it. This event left the town with an incomparable stock of great Victorian buildings and houses that were never "remodeled." Most of Port Townsend is preserved as a national historic district. It has an incomparable setting on the water and with views of the Cascade Mountains to the east and the Olympic Mountains on its west.

Evergreen

Evergreen is an affluent suburb 15 miles west of Denver with access to Bear Creek Canyon. It was originally a summer resort for wealthy folks from Denver and beyond, including presidents Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt. The population is slightly above 9,000. Downtown Evergreen includes a mix of historic buildings and local businesses.

Topretirements.com is a USA TODAY content partner offering news and features on the best retirement communities. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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