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
What’s the best place to retire in Texas? Fredericksburg 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 Fredericksburg 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 2026
/10
Population: 11,419
Median Income: $64,534
Median Home Price: $517,758
Median Rent: $1,386
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Fredericksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,901
Median Income: $99,190
Median Home Price: $330,156
Median Rent: $1,240
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Santa Fe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 24,755
Median Income: $62,102
Median Home Price: $351,636
Median Rent: $1,086
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Kerrville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,236
Median Income: $34,436
Median Home Price: $113,142
Median Rent: $956
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Robstown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,972
Median Income: $86,712
Median Home Price: $249,418
Median Rent: $1,141
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Angleton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,326
Median Income: $68,400
Median Home Price: $277,442
Median Rent: $1,152
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Lockhart: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,466
Median Income: $58,000
Median Home Price: $145,131
Median Rent: $846
Distance to Closest Airport: 31 miles
More on Levelland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 31,137
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $1,301,364
Median Rent: $3,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Southlake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,707
Median Income: $48,676
Median Home Price: $132,639
Median Rent: $934
Distance to Closest Airport: 2 miles
More on Alice: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 53,424
Median Income: $55,631
Median Home Price: $320,624
Median Rent: $1,298
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Galveston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Lone Star State for 2026
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 230 places from across the state.
For these 230, 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 230, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Fredericksburg, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 Fredericksburg.
The best places to retire in Texas are Fredericksburg, Santa Fe, Kerrville, Robstown, Angleton, Lockhart, Levelland, Southlake, Alice, and Galveston.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Humble
- South Houston
- Stafford
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Texas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fredericksburg | 11,419 | $64,534 | $517,758 | $1,386 |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 12,901 | $99,190 | $330,156 | $1,240 |
| 3 | Kerrville | 24,755 | $62,102 | $351,636 | $1,086 |
| 4 | Robstown | 10,236 | $34,436 | $113,142 | $956 |
| 5 | Angleton | 19,972 | $86,712 | $249,418 | $1,141 |
| 6 | Lockhart | 15,326 | $68,400 | $277,442 | $1,152 |
| 7 | Levelland | 12,466 | $58,000 | $145,131 | $846 |
| 8 | Southlake | 31,137 | $250,001 | $1,301,364 | $3,501 |
| 9 | Alice | 17,707 | $48,676 | $132,639 | $934 |
| 10 | Galveston | 53,424 | $55,631 | $320,624 | $1,298 |