A Small College Town In Oklahoma With Tons Of Outdoor Adventure Is One Of The Best Places For Retirees

It's no question that the cost of living in the United States has skyrocketed in recent years. After all, inflation has been running rampant in the country since the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, with prices across the board up 23.3% cumulatively since before February of that year. This being the case, it probably will come as no surprise to hear that the cost of housing has not been immune to this. However, arguably nobody is more greatly affected by this circumstance than retirees who have limited sources of income. This is why it may be a good idea to check out how seniors can protect their retirement accounts from rising inflation.

With the cost of housing on the rise, if you've been considering relocating to a cheaper, more rural area of the country to live out your post-retirement years, the best place to do so may just be Lawton, Oklahoma, home of Cameron University. This small college town in the Sooner State has a below average cost of living compared to national averages, as well as a host of other awesome benefits that will allow retirees to thrive.

According to BestPlaces, the cost of living in Lawton Oklahoma is over 25% less than the national average. Not just that, but living in Lawton is also over 9% more affordable than the average cost of living in the state of Oklahoma as well. So if you are able to make a grand total of roughly $27,000 a year as a single person, that should be just enough to allow you to thrive in this small town, which, for reference, is over 50% less than required to live in the majority of places in the country. Outside of this, the average home price in Lawton is roughly $121,000. This is far less than the current average home price in the United States, which is about $416,000 as of the earliest figures available for 2025. It is also much more affordable than the average price to buy a house in the state of Oklahoma, which on average is around $208,000.

However, for those looking to rent instead, the numbers look even better. For starters, a studio apartment in Lawton is between $620 and $670 on average, compared to the U.S. national average for a studio apartment which is around $1,080. A 1-bedroom apartment, on the other hand, is going to cost around the same, while a 2-bedroom is between $810 and $870. Beyond this, groceries and gas prices are about 6% lower than the national average.

Now that you have a good idea of the cost of living benefits that come with residing in Lawton, Oklahoma, you may be wondering about the actual quality of life that the town provides as well. Despite the town's population of 90,000, there is plenty of access to top-tier medical care at either of Lawton's two hospitals. Also, for any retirees worried about the medicare price hike for seniors in 2025, it will probably also be good news to hear that healthcare costs in Lawton are also 7% lower than U.S. national averages. Beyond this, the town has plenty of different things to keep you busy, including restaurants and shopping centers.

However, the real kicker that comes with living in Lawton is the fact that it is surrounded by an abundance of beautiful nature. Lawton is home to 19 different parks as well as the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, which is a 59,000 acre plot of land designated for the preservation of a multitude of different American native species like buffalo, elk, and more.Now while a lot of this land is meant to preserve wildlife and thus is closed off to the public, there are still plenty of public areas within it where people can go hiking. Outside of this, there are also a handful of different lakes in the surrounding area which are great for various water activities like swimming, fishing, and more.