It’s that time of your life when you deserve an indefinite vacation — retirement. And while it might seem like a miracle, you’re ready to hang up your hat and stirrups. So the question becomes, where should you retire? The answer, of course, is one of these Texas towns.
If Florida is too beachy and California is too West Coast, then there is another state that many people consider for retirement living. Texas. That’s right, this southern state is perfect for retirement. It is affordable, has amazing weather, and is a retirement hub for other like-minded older individuals. You may not have luscious green grass in Texas, but you can make a decent cactus garden, ride horses, and eat delicious BBQ.
You might assume the best place to retire is a big city like Austin or Houston. But the reality is a little more nuanced. We dug into the recent Census and FBI Crime data to determine the safest, most affordable places in Texas that still offer plenty to do on the weekends — which is everyday for a retiree.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Texas For 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Texas? Santa Fe is the best place to retire in Texas. This city won first place for retirement because of its low cost of living and its proximity to bigger cities.
Want to see how your favorite Texan city stacked up? Read on to find out and learn more about how we determined the best of the best cities in Texas for retirement.
Why did Santa Fe take the top spot? And where are Houston and San Antonio?
For more Texas state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Texas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Texas
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Texas
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Texas For 2025
/10
Population: 12,828
Median Income: $95,815
Median Home Price: $290,200
Median Rent: $974
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Santa Fe: Data
/10
Population: 11,254
Median Income: $57,474
Median Home Price: $442,800
Median Rent: $1,364
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Fredericksburg: Data
/10
Population: 24,532
Median Income: $59,431
Median Home Price: $272,700
Median Rent: $1,075
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Kerrville: Data
/10
Population: 10,630
Median Income: $168,309
Median Home Price: $612,700
Median Rent: $0
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on Fair Oaks Ranch: Data
/10
Population: 10,222
Median Income: $39,124
Median Home Price: $89,500
Median Rent: $920
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Robstown: Data
/10
Population: 19,597
Median Income: $83,981
Median Home Price: $187,400
Median Rent: $1,072
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Angleton: Data
/10
Population: 16,058
Median Income: $54,802
Median Home Price: $162,000
Median Rent: $920
Distance to Closest Airport: 86 miles
More on Gatesville: Data
/10
Population: 25,347
Median Income: $60,821
Median Home Price: $167,800
Median Rent: $1,161
Distance to Closest Airport: 65 miles
More on Denison: Data
/10
Population: 13,803
Median Income: $104,551
Median Home Price: $271,500
Median Rent: $982
Distance to Closest Airport: 78 miles
More on Lumberton: Data
/10
Population: 31,044
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $957,500
Median Rent: $3,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Southlake: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Lone Star State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Texas to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Lone Star State — 1687 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 229 places from across the state.
For these 229, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 229, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Santa Fe, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Texas.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Texas Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Texas goes to Santa Fe.
The best places to retire in Texas are Santa Fe, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Fair Oaks Ranch, Robstown, Angleton, Gatesville, Denison, Lumberton, and Southlake.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Humble
- Katy
- South Houston
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Texas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | 12,828 | $95,815 | $290,200 | $974 |
| 2 | Fredericksburg | 11,254 | $57,474 | $442,800 | $1,364 |
| 3 | Kerrville | 24,532 | $59,431 | $272,700 | $1,075 |
| 4 | Fair Oaks Ranch | 10,630 | $168,309 | $612,700 | $0 |
| 5 | Robstown | 10,222 | $39,124 | $89,500 | $920 |
| 6 | Angleton | 19,597 | $83,981 | $187,400 | $1,072 |
| 7 | Gatesville | 16,058 | $54,802 | $162,000 | $920 |
| 8 | Denison | 25,347 | $60,821 | $167,800 | $1,161 |
| 9 | Lumberton | 13,803 | $104,551 | $271,500 | $982 |
| 10 | Southlake | 31,044 | $250,001 | $957,500 | $3,501 |