Retirement Living: Texas' 5th Oldest Town Is A More Affordable Destination For Seniors

Retirees often prize affordable living and quality of life, which makes Jefferson, Texas — founded in the early 1840s and located along Big Cypress Bayou — worth a look. You already get more value out of your money if you live in Texas, but Jefferson tends to cost even less than the state average across a number of categories. It also offers plenty of cultural heritage and boasts a number of affordable attractions, so you don't need to be considered 'upper class' by Texas standards to enjoy Jefferson in retirement.  

Jefferson's cost of living score, according to Best Places, is 19.8% lower than the national average. This score factors in housing costs plus those for food, transportation, taxes, health care, and other essentials. The site estimates that a single person would require $2,367 a month to live in Jefferson — that's 50.3% below the national average. If renting, $850 would cover the cost of an average two-bedroom unit in Texas' fifth-oldest town. This is 50.6% lower than the Lone Star State's average rent of $1,280 and 40.6% lower than the U.S. average of $1,430. Rent for a one-bedroom unit in Jefferson averages $710, with studios coming it at $640. 

Retirees wishing to buy a home might also appreciate the lower pricing. The cost of a typical home is $146,700 — 50.7% lower than an average Texas home ($297,600) and 71% below the national average home price, which is $512,800 as of 2025 according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Utilities are 1.4% cheaper in Jefferson compared to the U.S. average; groceries are 9% cheaper; and miscellaneous expenses, like clothing, restaurants, entertainment, and home repairs, cost 30.5% less.

Jefferson features stunning examples of Victorian architecture. So, not surprisingly, people flock to historic home tours, including the Jefferson Candlelight Tour of Homes during the Christmas season. Tickets bought far enough in advance cost $22.50 per person, with pricing then going up to $30 closer to the holiday. If bringing grandkids, children 12 and under are free.

When checking out books at the Jefferson Carnegie Library, you can enjoy the gorgeous architecture of this 1907 building, one of only five remaining libraries in Texas built with the support of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. If you like history, you may also appreciate visiting the Jefferson Historical Society and Museum. The adult entrance fee is $9, with a $2 discount for people aged 65 and up. Plus, the Scarlett O'Hardy's Gone With the Wind Museum claims to contain one of the largest private memorabilia collections from this blockbuster movie, with entrance fees costing $5. 

Warning! Jefferson has a reputation of being the most haunted town in Texas, which means that residents must deal with creepies, crawlies — and plenty of ghost tours. The Historic Jefferson Ghost Walk Tour costs $20 per adult. Besides possibly catching a glimpse a male apparition in a black trench coat in the Jefferson Hotel, you might also see a headless specter in the Excelsior House Hotel! Jefferson is also the Bigfoot Capital of Texas, with reported sightings going back more than 100 years. People can search for five Bigfoot statues hidden through town, including one by the Port Jefferson History and Nature Center. If you like the feel of Jefferson but prefer being closer to a large city, this small Texas town is another great place to retire — and it's less than a two-hour drive from Austin.