Retirees looking to enjoy Texas can find paradise with its modern amenities and pleasant climate, such as in these five cities that provide comfortable retirement living on a modest budget.
Texas offers something for every taste; be it playing golf and shopping in vibrant Dallas or relaxing on Galveston beaches. Everyone will find what they are looking for here!
1. McAllen
McAllen, Texas is one of the fastest-growing cities in America and features many free attractions to offer visitors. Boasting a unique mix of Hispanic and American cultures and history, along with an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities sure to please any visitor, McAllen is sure to entice any traveler or visitor.
McAllen stands out as an affordable place to live thanks to an average home price under $2,000,000 – perfect for retirees on a tight budget! Additionally, McAllen boasts numerous restaurants and shops where you can find authentic Mexican cuisine as well as American classics.
The Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas is an area abundant with wetlands and wildlife habitat, boasting several World Birding Sites as well as national and state parks that encourage nature photography, as well as photography-friendly ranches for nature photography enthusiasts. Bird watching is a favorite pastime here; visitors may join local birding clubs or attend the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival held each January for this popular pastime.
Shopping enthusiasts will delight in McAllen as there are over 50 retail shopping centers to explore, with La Plaza Mall as the premier destination and many smaller centers as well. Additionally, La Tiendas and McAllen Heritage Center can be found throughout the city.
McAllen offers plenty of activities and attractions designed to let loose and provide some entertainment, from museums and galleries to live theatre and music performances, restaurants and nightclubs offering fun nighttime options and much more!
2. San Antonio
San Antonio is an ever-evolving city that attracts many families, young professionals and retirees alike. This vibrant city provides much to those who call it home including excellent restaurants, charming boutique shops and an exciting calendar of fun events and happenings. Plus it has an affordable cost of living which makes San Antonio an attractive option for newcomers to Texas.
San Antonio’s Spanish colonial heritage can be seen throughout its landmarks, from landmarks like the Alamo to landmarks like River Walk and HemisFair Park’s 750-foot Tower of the Americas that overlook downtown – not forgetting attractions like San Fernando Cathedral, Institute of Texan Cultures at UTSA and Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum.
San Antonio reflects its Mexican and Spanish roots through its cuisine, featuring Tex-Mex dishes with their spicy jalapeo-based spice blend served alongside melted cheese and tortillas. Fajitas with marinated flank steak or chicken served alongside grilled vegetables are another local delicacy; margaritas, beer and iced tea beverages can also be found plentifully throughout San Antonio.
Residents in San Antonio look forward to the Fiesta San Antonio Festival, a 10-day festival honoring its diverse cultures and the heroes of Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto. Downtown area transforms with parades and live music during this festival; cowboy culture is honored at annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo; featuring multiple performances by top artists. San Antonio boasts several art galleries such as ArtPace, Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, Briscoe Western Art Museum Say Si (mentoring San Antonio’s artistic youth) and Southwest School of Art.
3. Houston
Houston stands out among Texas cities as an excellent blend of low bills and livability for retirees, offering both low bills and an excellent quality of life for older residents. Extending from Galveston Bay, this sprawling metropolis features an active performing arts scene, 19th century architecture in historic neighborhoods of its downtown district, as well as the world’s largest concentration of healthcare facilities – Texas Medical Center (2.1 square miles). Furthermore, NASA hosts its astronaut training and mission control complex here too!
Visitors to Houston will also enjoy attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, featuring events such as calf scrambles, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bar riding and other professional rodeo events. In addition, music concerts, food, carnival rides and other attractions are provided during this annual event. Those seeking something intellectual can wander through the Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden featuring works by Henri Matisse, Rodin and Ellsworth Kelly are available too.
Discovery Green, Houston’s 12-acre park, provides an idyllic escape from downtown Houston’s hectic atmosphere. Family-friendly events hosted each year at this family-oriented attraction highlight Houston’s diversity. Other nearby attractions include Downtown Aquarium, Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park and Health Museum which features interactive experiences such as exploring organs in your body — like its beating heart and 27-foot intestine!
Active adult homebuyers in San Antonio’s Texas Hill Country can find an assortment of single-family homes suitable for active adults in this community, which lies near Hill Country Retreat golf club and features many social activities, fitness classes and events that cater specifically to this age group.
4. El Paso
El Paso lies along the border between Texas and Mexico, offering visitors a vibrant mixture of cultures that makes for an exciting trip destination. Outdoor enthusiasts, art enthusiasts and history lovers will all find something to do in El Paso to make their visit worthwhile.
Franklin Mountains tower over this West Texas city, creating a striking background for an array of activities. Hikers and mountain bikers enjoy Franklin Mountain State Park’s 27,000 acres of trails for hiking and mountain biking; Indiana Jones enthusiasts can challenge themselves climbing McKelligon Canyon cliffs; bird lovers will delight in exploring wetlands that attract migrating species; Indiana Jones fans can test their climbing skills; bird lovers can observe bird migration.
El Paso Museum of Art is another outstanding attraction in the area, boasting an enthralling collection of over 7000 works spanning from 13th-century sculptures to American modernist masterpieces. Additionally, engaging workshops and presentations take place all throughout the year at this cultural hub.
El Paso’s economy is diverse and robust; from ranching livestock and cotton farming, to mineral extraction. El Paso boasts the nation’s third-largest copper smelter and refinery; Fort Bliss provides world-leading air defense training, while White Sands Missile Range (both located nearby in New Mexico) also bolster the city’s economic base.
Sports fans can catch a match at the University of Texas at El Paso football stadium, host of the Sun Bowl (second oldest college bowl game in America). Or take your family and visit Topgolf – El Paso’s latest attraction offering food, drink and an unforgettable round of golf all under one roof! This revolutionary venue has replaced traditional driving ranges as an enjoyable afternoon activity!
5. Austin
Austin, the epitome of Texas cool, is famous for music and much more. Offering world-renowned museums and unique shopping, as well as foodie delights such as Tex-Mex dishes and locally produced beers, Austin has something to satisfy everyone in this diverse city. Additionally, outdoor parks such as Barton Springs Pool provide space for relaxation.
If geology is your passion, Texas Memorial Museum should be on your must-visit list. With exhibits dedicated to geology, zoology and herpetology – including meteorite fragments you can touch as well as dinosaur bones displayed in their natural environments – there’s plenty for geologists here.
Other top sites to see include the Texas Capitol, where you can watch state lawmakers in session or take a tour that delves further into its rich history. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking or paddling along Town Lake; during peak season (May to October), 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost under Congress Avenue Bridge each night!
After exploring Austin’s many entertainment districts, make time for relaxation at Zilker Metropolitan Park. This expansive green space features endless lawns where you can lay back under a shaded oak or fly a kite – or spend the day at the waterside Auditorium Shores or Lady Bird Lake!
Austin offers plenty of budget-friendly housing options, from Downtown and Rainey Street to South Austin neighborhoods. Just keep your eye on real estate prices; these tend to be higher than in other Texas cities. If you are willing to commute a bit further out from Austin you might find more cost-effective homes there than within its limits.
