Southern Living Names Arkansas Town Most Affordable to Retire

Southern Living recently published its 2nd annual list of the South’s Best Affordable Places to Retire for 2024.

😍Hot Springs Most Affordable Places to Retire

😍Reasons to Retire in Hot Springs

😍Plenty to See and Do in Hot Springs

Top 10 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the South

If you're about to head into your golden years Hot Springs, Arkansas was named one of the Top 10 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the South. This pick was made by the trusted financial news and education website Investopedia, which bases its results on economic and livability metrics like housing prices, median income, and access to recreation and cultural activities.

Hot Springs National Park was ranked No.7 of the Top 10 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the South with Charleston, West Virginia topping the list.

Hot Springs is the perfect size with a population of 37,930 offering retirees a simpler way of living with the amenities of a bigger city Little Rock less than an hour away. If you're a nature lover there are numerous hiking and mountain biking trails with awe-inspiring views of the Ouachita Mountains and surrounding lakes.

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If you love living the lake life there are three lakes to choose from Lake Ouachita an outdoor haven with an array of islands, and one of my favorites Lake Catherine for a more laid-back relaxed getaway, then there is Lake Hamilton probably the most popular lake for outdoor fun, boating and living.

While Hot Springs is designated a National Park, several other outstanding state parks within the region, offer something different. One of the highlights of this charming town is Bathhouse Row where visitors travel from all over the world to bathe in the hot natural thermal spring water. One of the bathhouses, Superior Bathhouse Brewery has been converted into a local brewery serving excellent craft beer and is the only brewery in a U.S. National Park.

The art scene in Hot Springs is alive and well with beautiful historic Art Deco buildings, arts and crafts, gallery walks, and hand-painted murals bringing this city to life every season of the year. The World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on Bridge Street is one of the most festive events with nationally known celebrities worldwide leading the parade. Retirees will love walking in the Garvan Woodland Gardens a stunning botanical garden or spending the day at Oaklawn Park home to the finest thoroughbred horse racing in the South.

Reasons to Retire in Hot Springs

• Median monthly housing costs start at just $810, that's 30 percent less than others across the South.
• The cost of living is 1 percent lower than the state average and 9 percent lower than the national average and utilities are about 8 percent less.
• Arkansas doesn't tax Social Security Benefits.
• Hot Springs offers a homestead property tax "freeze) program for residents eligible age 65 and older.
• Hot Springs Village, a retirement community just minutes from Hot Springs has been nationally recognized for years as one of the best places to retire.
• Three hospitals serve all your health and medical needs with top-rated physicians.

It's no wonder Hot Springs has become one of the Most Affordable Places to Retire in the South.  See the complete Southern Living Top 10 here.