Best Small Towns in the South for Retirement

This uber-Southern town is slow-moving and drenched with character and charm. You'll love all the historic architecture—some 200 buildings here are on the National Register of Historic Places—not to mention the crepe myrtles, azaleas, and famed median of magnolia trees. Aberdeen is a social little town, with lots of opportunities for retirees to get involved. And it offers an attractive cost of living. aberdeenms.org

Lucky you with the Barter Theatre’s professional plays, bluegrass/local music, Virginia Creeper Trail (mostly flat) for pedaling, and a community college to keep the median age down. Your visitors can stay at the Martha Washington Inn, c. 1835. visitabingdonvirginia.com

Rekindle your inner rock’n roller in this town known for its music scene. Sign up for classes at the University of Georgia’s lifelong learning center (no tests, no grades). Also: golf, biking, and Georgia Bulldog everything. visitathensga.com

Football rules this rural Alabama town, where the university set mingles happily with locals—including retirees who love the golf, arts, and culture offered on “The Plains”—and who enjoy the excitement and energy of those Tigers. Worth it for Acre’s pimiento cheeseburger alone. auburnalabama.org

Mountain living your way. Watch hikers start (or finish) the Appalachian Trail at its southernmost point; hop the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway; or tube down the Toccoa River. exploregeorgia.org

"Haverty-grace" sits on the banks of the Susquehanna River with its decoy, maritime, and history museums (General Lafayette visited town several times). Retirees come here for the waterfront views, local festivals, and Pete Dye golf. havredegracemd.com

With its own Carnegie Hall, professional theater, and good shopping/good eating, this town balances its mountain culture with the sophistication of The Greenbrier resort just down the road. visitlewisburgwv.com

This one’s for you, Nature Boys and Girls. The Great Smoky Mountains will embrace you on all sides in a cozy little town that offers happy helpings of Appalachian culture. smokymountains.org

Discover a town that’s a little Cajun, a little country, and a real cultural melting pot. It has a beautiful National Historic Landmark District to boot. In “NACK-a-tish,” enjoy local specialties like mudbugs (crawfish) and meat pies; plunge into activities ranging from Bayou Pierre Alligator Park to the famed Christmas Festival. Northwestern State University is here too. And if some of the scenery looks familiar, you must be a fan of Steel Magnolias, which was filmed here. nachitochesla.gov

This coastal Carolina charmer combines architecture and history with outdoors—from famed Tryon Palace to boating, golfing, and antiquing. Just don’t ask for a Coke; Pepsi was born here. If you enjoy an active lifestyle and love a coastal environment, put New Bern on your list of towns to check out. visitnewbern.com

Being on the Eastern Shore could be enough. But you also get to enjoy an old-time movie theater and vibrant arts scene. And you can kayak to a winery. Just imagine the possibilities. onancock.com

John D. Rockefeller loved it here 100 years ago, and you’ll be equally enchanted with the beach, the historic downtown, and The Casements, Rockefeller’s former winter home, now the city’s Cultural Center. You can almost hear the roar from neighboring Daytona Beach, birthplace of NASCAR. visitflorida.com

Bragging rights: this UNESCO Creative City is acclaimed for its quilts and artistic leanings. Add bird watching, fishing, hiking, and boating to the offerings of this lively river burg, which marks the spot where the Tennessee and Ohio converge. There’s a burgeoning restaurant scene here that makes it easy to plan a night out. paducah.travel

This four-mile barrier island was made for lazy crabbing and Pat Conroy novels. Hang out in a locally made hammock, or tee off on one of the Grand Strand’s fabled golf courses, just a putt or two away. pawleysisland.com

Golf. All day, any day. Almost everyone speaks Eagle-Birdie-Bogey here. The equestrian scene is just as strong. vopnc.org

The town between Bentonville (Crystal Bridges Museum of Art/ Walmart’s birthplace) and Fayetteville (University of Arkansas) is the most mellow of the three—you will be, too. Hiking and biking are big here, and Rogers has the kind of historic storefronts that make for a retro main street vibe. visitrogersarkansas.com

Here’s another college town (Texas State) to keep you young. The San Marcos River and nearby Guadeloupe River await; glass bottom boat rides are available, along with fishing, tubing, paddling, and other get-wet opportunities. toursanmarcos.com

It’s hard to resist a place nicknamed “Flowertown in the Pines.” The Annual Flowertown Festival, awash with azaleas, is beautiful every April. You’re near enough to Charleston for city amenities but nestled in a slow-go pace with lots of Southern history and charm. visitsummerville.com