One Of The Best College Towns For Retirees Is A Place In Texas In The Rio Grande Valley

Texas is turning out to be a premier destination for retirees, so long as you think big while sticking to small college towns. While buying a house in certain Texas cities will definitely cost you, one particular city in the Rio Grande Valley could be the perfectly affordable option for retirees: Edinburg, Texas. 

This under-the-radar region is filled with things to do. For nature lovers, the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands has trails conducive to bird watching that will take also you to athletic fields and the Edinburg Municipal Park. If culture is more your thing, take in a little local history at the Museum of South Texas History, the South Texas Motorcycle Museum, or even the Planentarium where you contemplate your place among the stars. Or, for those that might want to spend their retirement on the golf course, the Los Lagos Golf course has you covered.

While entertainment is certainly important, you're probably wondering how much the lifestyle in a place like Edinburg is ultimately going to cost you. Aside from being located in one of the several states without income tax, Edinburg, Texas shines in two particular categories that might make you, and your wallet, happy.

An especially important perk to living in Edinburg is its generally more affordable housing costs. The median value of a home in Edinburg was $174,800 in 2023, with an average monthly mortgage costs of $1,602 per month. For comparison, the median cost of housing in the state of Texas was $2,012 with a mortgage. If you plan on renting, it's definitely an affordable option with an average of $968 per month in Edinburg versus the state average of $1,339 per month. 

The significant difference in housing prices between the state level and Edinburg is similarly seen in the average household income of the people living in the Edinburg area. For example, the median household income in Texas in 2023 was $76,292, which is almost $18,503 higher than Edinburg's median household income of $57,789. Something else to consider is that, according to 2023 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Edinburg has a population of around 106,000 people, with 9.4% of that population aged 65 years or older. With that said, if Edinburg feels too small for you, it might be worth considering another — slightly larger – great Texas college town for retirees.

One often-forgotten major expense to remember when planning for retirement is healthcare. Aside from visits with doctors and access to decent medical facilities, you might also need to think about access to homecare or assisted living facilities in your older years. This is another area where Edinburg might be a good choice for you. Per a Place for Mom, the median monthly cost of assisted living in the state of Texas is $5,412. However, assisted living costs average $3,988 per month in Edinburg, which is a significant financial difference for those living on fixed incomes.

Of course, community should also be a part of your healthcare plan. Social isolation leading to loneliness can have severe health impacts for seniors, including depression, cognitive decline, and high blood pressure. So even if you're the vision of health, you may want to consider living in an independent community with other retirees. Independent living facility costs in Texas cost, on average, $2,691 a month which is on the low end of costs across all 50 states.