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AARP’s 2026 list names 10 U.S. communities that pair a high livability score with average monthly housing costs below $1,500, according to Travel + Leisure’s February 16, 2026 account. The communities are not ranked, and the article does not provide enough comparable cost or quality-of-life data to identify a single “best” choice for every retiree.
Which communities made AARP’s 2026 list?
The list spans 10 states. Travel + Leisure presents the communities alphabetically, not in rank order:
- Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
- Easton, Pennsylvania
- Harahan, Louisiana
- Longwood, Florida
- Montpelier, Vermont
- Richfield, Minnesota
- Savannah, Georgia
- Sheridan, Wyoming
- Tucson, Arizona
- Winterset, Iowa
These are communities identified as affordable retirement options, not necessarily the 10 cheapest cities in the country. The article gives no city-by-city ranking or consistent cost, healthcare, tax, or safety figures for all 10. Travel + Leisure’s February 16, 2026 account is the source for the list and its descriptions.
How did AARP identify the places?
Travel + Leisure reports that AARP combined a high livability score with average monthly housing costs below $1,500. AARP then consulted its state offices, visited the communities, and spoke with residents, according to the article. AARP’s report is quoted as saying that housing affordability matters to people considering where to live in later years, while quality-of-life features remain important.
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The published account does not define which housing costs were averaged, give the data year, explain the livability score’s components or weights, or describe the conversations with residents as a representative survey. The $1,500 figure is a threshold in the reported selection method—not a complete retirement budget or a verified estimate of what an individual would spend in any listed place.
What the article says about individual communities
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
The account highlights social life and healthcare in the combined Bloomington-Normal area. It reports 131 average “perfect-weather” days per year and says 90 percent of older residents in the area called it a “great place to live,” attributing both figures to an AARP study. The article does not specify the study year; for the resident figure, it also omits the sample size. These should be treated as figures reported by Travel + Leisure, not as independently verified or necessarily citywide findings. See the article’s account of Bloomington-Normal.
Savannah, Georgia
The article points to Savannah’s arts, music festivals, food, squares, museums, and access to Tybee Island as attractions. These are qualitative highlights, not a comparison of costs or services against the other communities. Travel + Leisure’s destination coverage describes these features.
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is described as having a historic downtown, small-town shopping, and hiking, biking, and ski trails. Travel + Leisure credits the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing for this description. Read the account of Montpelier.
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Easton, Harahan, and Longwood are named without comparable detailed profiles in the reviewed article. Richfield, Sheridan, Tucson, and Winterset are also included, but the article does not provide consistent city-level details for them. That lack of detail should not be read as evidence for or against any community.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide whether one fits your retirement budget
A low housing-cost threshold is a useful starting point, but it cannot show whether a place fits your household. Before shortlisting a destination, compare the expenses and circumstances that affect your own retirement:
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- Housing: Check current rents or home prices, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and likely maintenance costs. The reported threshold does not say which housing expenses were counted.
- Healthcare: Consider the providers, specialists, hospitals, pharmacies, and care options you would actually need, as well as how far away they are.
- Taxes: Review state and local taxes that may apply to your income, retirement benefits, property, or purchases. The list article does not compare tax burdens.
- Transportation: Assess whether you can get to appointments, groceries, and social activities without a car, and include transportation costs in your budget.
- Climate and daily life: Consider weather, recreation, accessibility, and the routines that matter to you. A single weather statistic cannot capture every person’s preferences or needs.
- Support network: Factor in family, friends, and community ties, including the cost and effort of staying connected if you move away.
Because the article does not publish a consistent dataset for all 10 communities on housing, healthcare, taxes, transportation, climate, or safety, it cannot establish which one will cost you least overall or suit your needs best.
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