One Of The Best Places For A Retiree On A Budget Is Known As 'The City Of Roses'

This charming city in Georgia features the stunning Thomasville Rose Garden that contains more than blooming 1,500 rose bushes. People who retire in Thomasville, Georgia — located 17 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida and known as the "city of roses" — can stroll through this sunny garden and city, enjoying their walk in a climate that features an average of 231 sunny days per year. Plus, residents can revel in all this while benefiting from a lower cost of living. According to Best Places, life in this Southern town costs 21.4% less compared to the national average and is 16.8% lower than the average cost of living in the Peach State. A single retiree can live on $2,567 monthly, or $30,800 annually. Housing is 46.6% less expensive than the national average in Thomasville, with studio and one-bedroom apartments going for $770, so you won't be paying too much for rent in this town. Plus, Georgia offers you a tax break after the age of 50 in the form of reductions on property taxes.

The violent crime rate is low in Thomasville, sitting at 17.6, in contrast to the U.S. rate of 22.7. However, property crime is high in Thomasville; the city's rate is 81.2 compared to the national figure of 35.4. Quality healthcare also matters to people in retirement, and Thomasville benefits from services at the John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital, where the patient experience ranks above the national average, according to Healthcare Compare. Timeliness of care, however, lags when compared to other hospitals in Georgia and elsewhere in the United States. 

Quality of life matters in retirement, and downtown Thomasville provides the types of positive experiences appreciated during yesteryear, such as locally owned shops, restaurants, and historic buildings, many of which have been restored by the city. Seniors aged 65 and up can tour the Pebble Hill Plantation for $18. Built around 1825, and experiencing plenty of expansions and restorations, the three-story home features 16 bedrooms, 19 bathrooms and 24 fireplaces. The delightful 6,000-square-foot 1885 Lapham-Patterson House can be toured for $15. The home's ongoing renovations have resulted in intriguing architectural twists and turns. The Thomasville Center for the Arts, meanwhile, allows people to browse its galleries for free, hosts an annual Wildlife Arts Festival, and offers art classes for people of all ages.

For exercise, people walk the streets lined with trees, including magnolias and live oaks; the Big Oak, pictured above, is a notable local attraction. This magnificent tree was planted in the 1680s, and it now boasts a limb span of more than 165 feet and a 26-foot-plus trunk circumference. President Dwight Eisenhower photographed the tree on his visit to Thomasville after being captivated by its impressive dimensions and majestic beauty. 

If you like golfing, you will appreciate the Country Oaks Golf Course, while lovers of roses will gravitate to the city's Rose Show and Festival, which is held each year in April. Need to get away or expecting visitors? The Tallahassee International Airport is only 42.8 miles away. And, if you'd like to spend some quality time on the beach, many of Florida's coastal towns are not too far away.