One Of The Best Places For Retirees Is A Small Town In Alabama With Plenty Of Nearby Beaches
Nearly all of us look forward to retirement in some way, shape, or form. Whether it is having enough free time to focus on hobbies and passions, or having the flexibility to travel to new destinations and visit grandkids –- the list of possibilities is endless. Whatever your retirement vision board looks like, it's probably going to be adjusted to fit your budget and cost of living, which might necessitate a move to another city or state.
Florida and Arizona tend to be popular retirement destinations, but did you know that Alabama is actually one of the cheapest states to retire? Not only that, but there's actually a town in Alabama with a small population, low cost of living, and tons of beaches: Lillian. GOBankingRates named Lillian as one of only a handful of hidden coastal towns in the United States where retirees can live comfortably in 2025, and not have to stress about expenses.
The cost of living in Lillian
According to data from Best Places, a single person can live on $3,133 as a resident of Lillian, or $37,600 annually. These lower expenses are great for a retirees bank account. In fact, Lillian's cost of living –- including food, transportation, medical expenses, and taxes -– is 5.5% below the national average.
For anyone looking to purchase a home in Lillian, Zillow lists the average home price at $319,917, as of May 2025. Those who do not want the responsibility of home ownership can find fairly reasonable rents in Lillian, with RentHub highlighting that the average monthly rent was about $1,300 as of October 2024. Or, if you anticipate needing some extra care and help in your day-to-day living arrangements as you get older Alabama is one of a few states with the cheapest assisted living costs for seniors, costing about $4,267 per month.
Lillian is the place to retire with lots of things to do
No matter how much money you've saved up, or what investments you've cashed in post career, your lifestyle will ultimately determine your retirement success. Thankfully, in a place like Lillian, there is much to do, and none of it will drain your accounts or max out your credit cards.
Lillian allows for easy beach access complete with water sports, outdoor activities, and majestic natural surroundings. Places like Lillian Recreational Park, Lillian Public Beach, Barclay Beach, and Perdido Bay can offer an array of wildlife and scenery to take in — as well as calmer spots to relax in the weather of the Gulf Coast. If you are an active biker, hiker, or bird watcher, spend a day at the Swamp Complex nature preserve. If you never considered Alabama as a place to retire, Lillian might just be the coastal town that changes your mind.