Virginia: Martinsville
Martinsville is similar to Oil City when it comes to their retired population, having the same percentage, but if you’d like to live in a different state other than Pennsylvania, maybe Virginia will be the one to charm you. There are a few differences, the main one being that while they don’t tax the social security benefits, the state does tax your retirement income. This isn’t that much of an issue when you look at how much cheaper you could get a home for here: the average price is around $98,800.
That makes the town a bit more affordable, and if you’re looking at healthcare costs, they’re pretty even between these two cities. The one thing that may put you off may be the crime rate, which goes up to 28.4 per 1,000 people. But when your savings aren’t that plentiful, you shouldn’t discard this charming town just based on that.
I’d MUCH prefer any of the numerous tropical expat destinations! The would not only be less expensive (possibly significantly less), but nicer weather than any of these places.
Exactly Tom,
Check out the Philippines…you WILL love it.
What part of Philippines Island you are referring.
Cibu Philippines my ndice lives there pretty cheapp
But if you don’t have medical coverage there you burn thru $$$ flying to and from the US! Defeats the purpose of living out of the US!
You can receive excellent medical care in the Phillipines for what most US citizens pay for co-pays here.
I spent a month in the Philippines in January 2024. It is unbelievably cheap. Not half of the cost of living in the U.S., more like a tenth.
But the downside is older American men are not appreciated there. Many come to the country to take advantage of poor provincial Filippina girls. And the locals disdain them as carpet baggers. If you don’t mind having random strangers sneer at you from time to time then have at it. Me? I couldn’t stand it. I felt like an unindicted, accused criminal being judged guilty every day. By a bunch of people who knew nothing about me except that I was obviously an older American man.
I’ll leave them to their ignorance, prejudice and stupidity. I want none of it.
Never been there myself but I have heard that exact story, however, my neighbor did bring back and marry a Filipino Woman and it worked out fine.
Have you heard of a LBFM?
The point here is AFFORDABLE, not best weather. Warm climates are mire exoensive which is fine if you like the weather and can afford it.
I agree, I’ve spent the last few years planning for my retirement in the Philippines. Of all the places I’ve looked into this is the most sensible in my opinion.
😎👍 you are right. Doubt any US state is double as a retirement destination without savings.
Pennnsylvania can eat you up with school taxes. Being a commonwealth, the whole state is broken up into townships. So much waste and duplication of services it more than makes up for not taxing social security or retirement income. The school tax is the killer. The state has more tax collectors than the entire country combined.
Renters in PA do not pay school taxes!
Its in your rent
Renters do pay school taxes, just indirectly. The rental amount by landlords includes the amount paid for taxes. You still pay the taxes in your rent, but do not get the tax deduction.
AMEN Karl! In some places you will find that you and your wife/husband/SO will both pay the school tax. Then they have this weird thing that if you break even on your state taxes, you still owe $10.00???? I still haven’t figured that out yet.
It depends on the municipality….I live in PA (Harrisburg) and it varies quite a bit depending on the city or township you live in. For example, the property taxes in the city of Harrisburg are quite high, and they are generally high in Dauphin county. But just across the river, on the West Shore, minutes from Harrisburg, property taxes are a lot less. In Hampden and Silver Springs Twps. the property taxes are very reasonable, and both are lovely communities. PA also has a property tax rebate for low income senior citizens. I will be receiving a $1200.00 rebate this year, and if I lived in Hampden Twp. that would make my property taxes very low. So if you are going to move to PA, get a list of the property tax millage rates for the different communities you are interested in before you start looking at houses.
i live in pa and don’t pay school taxes because i’m a renter. my rent ($810/month) includes heat, water, trash, recycling & sewer. my apt. is on 2 floors and pretty spacious.
I retired in Brazil. Free health care which includes unlimited doctor´s visits, hospitalizations, transplants, free hearing aids and cataracts surgery, affordable medicine and many is free.
save places to live with high security, great climate and extremely nice people. You can live well on your Social Security income.
Nowhere is it mentioned about culture, health care, cost of food or gas. Based on your study, I’d rather live in my 40ft Class A motor home.
Move away from Pennsylvania..They tax you for everything and their taxes are outrageous….
Agree! I get so ticked off with the school taxes and the work tax. I’m 63 and have never had a kid in a PA school. It’s ridiculous. THEN, I pay my state and local taxes and break even to the penny only to be told I have to pay $10 more for work tax. WTH????
Exactly what we did ED. Sold the house in Lebanon county, bought a 38 ft 5th wheel and truck and took off fulltime for 23 years, mostly out west in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona. Worked in the summer and played in the winter. Now we live in eastern Tenn where there’s no state income tax, and no tax on interest and dividends. Property taxes are ridiculously low. Warmer here too.
I think if I had no more ties to keep me here, I’d take a chance on learning a new language. I’ve got a substantial retirement buffer and quite frankly I’m not sure how much worse it could be in another country. The flippin’ idiots that have systematically boxed millions of decent people into thinking about making this jump because of their naivete in believing the stupid, greedy, mismanagement and lies they’ve been fed, all because they’ve convinced enough of us they were elected and know what’s best. Excuse me but no, I don’t want to drink that Kool-aid any longer.
I’ve spent the better part of my life living abroad and traveling. I strongly recommend people looking to jump do a lot of research and then go to a place where you can get an extended visa for 90 to 180+ days to check the place out. There are a number of countries that have these types of visa specifically for older folks looking to retire. There are also a number of countries that don’t require a visa if you’re an American Citizen. They will allow you to come and stay for up to 180 days, or more, to check out the living/retirement situation. Personally, I don’t recommend the Philippines, Malaysia, or Thailand. They’re nice places to visit, but I wouldn’t want to retire there. Portugal, Italy, and Spain all have some nice places that won’t bleed you dry.
In Nebraska you get to pay 500 dollars a year to license your 6 year old GMC while in surrounding states it would be 15 to 35 or 45 dollars. Do not try to register your vehicle in other states or the people will get you unless your an illegal looking to rob you blind.
Central WA State, Moses Lake great place to live, growing but safely. 26,000 for now. People friendly, willing to help others, many of all ages, races, ethnic groups living here. No one has a superior attitude. Sales tax is all for WA State. No income tax and each time it is proposed, voters shut it down.
5 hr drive to the Pacific Ocean beaches, 2 hrs drive east to Spokane. 300+ days of sunshine. Winter snow measured in inches, usual is 3″. Hot Summers, but 90s average. Dry climate. Most storms pass on by and no major storms.
I have lived in Grant County, WA since 1972. Come visit, check us out this Summer.
New houses being built and older homes, lots to choose from at low pricing.
Check out the Moses Lake website. Moses Lake, a better place to work, play, live.
I could never live in a hot and humid state. I am active and not a chair rocker don’t want to live in an air conditioned box. Cold weather states with snow are the only ones I would ever concider since again I am active with fall and winter activities. Also could not live in the city, love rural living.
I spent 2 weeks on Negros Island and loved it! Much cooler than Manila for example and cleaner.
In Nebraska the home of the corn single mom, tattooed, supper plus sized, rusty mini van wheelen, welfare loven whoes we are taxed to support these loosers. Yes, the corn people let the crooks & murders & rapest out of jail so we get to live in fere for the children of the corn.
I live in Egypt and love it-housing and food are affordable, health care is good and affordable. Also the people are very nice. If you live in Cairo, there is a large expat community although I prefer living among the locals.
have you learned to speak Egyptian?