The 10 Best Retirement Towns if You Seek Warm Weather

We are in the heart of winter. Depending upon where you live you could be experiencing gray skies, snowy streets, and frigid temperatures. But that doesn’t have to be the case, especially for retirees.

According to Travel & Leisure, realtors find that when looking for a retirement destination, clients are asking for lower living costs, quality health care, a mild climate, and an active, connected community. Not surprisingly, most of these items can be found in southern states.

It compiled a list of the ten best places to retire in the South in 2026:

1. Athens, Georgia, offers retirees a charming, affordable lifestyle in a vibrant college town.
2. Dallas, Texas, has the “amenities of a big city but a lower cost of living.”
3. Peachtree City, Georgia, is perfect for leisure seeking seniors. Located south of Atlanta, “retirees can take advantage of all of the golfing, boating, and walking opportunities.”
4. Lexington, South Carolina, is ideal for those who love to fish and it’s highly affordable too.
5. Huntsville, Alabama, “combines Southern charm with a high-tech, forward-thinking atmosphere.”
6. Sarasota, Florida, is moderately priced for a coastal city known for white-sand beaches, world-class golf, boating, fishing, and cultural arts.
7. Lake Nona, Florida, has plenty of pleasant qualities, but its location close to Orlanda’s theme parks means the grandkids will always want to come visit.
8. Asheville, North Carolina, is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, but it also offers a vibrant arts scene.
9. The Villages, Florida, with a claim of “golf for life” offers retirees both amenities and activities.
10. Greenville, South Carolina, gives retirees a taste of all four seasons plus an incredible cultural and culinary scene.

It’s clear to see there are plenty of perfect places for retirement scattered throughout the South.

The Seniors Trust is committed to improving the financial well-being of older Americans through the passage of the Social Security Expansion Act. It will give retirees an immediate benefits increase of about $200 a month, a fair annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), increased minimum benefits, and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.