Forbes says Kentucky city is among top 25 best affordable places to retire in US
If you’re looking for a hidden gem to live out your golden years in, Lexington offers among the best value in the country when it comes to housing cost, taxes and overall quality of life.
That’s according to a recent analysis by Forbes, which looked at a slew of factors from doctors per capita to walkability and natural disaster risk for its 2025 edition of the best places to retire.
Kentucky often receives high marks as an affordable spot for retirees, including from another recent analysis by Retirement Living. The retirement research journal looked at the state’s favorable grocery and gas prices, tax rates and housing costs, finding it to be the seventh most affordable U.S. state to retire in.
Lexington itself has also received several nods from Southern Living and other national outlets as a top place to live in the South. U.S. News & World Report included it in its list of the best places to live in the country in 2024-25.
What makes Lexington one of the best places to retire?
According to Forbes, there are several factors that make Lexington attractive to retirees, and it isn’t just the picturesque horse farms that surround the city.
For one, Forbes lists the median home price here at $316,000, or 22% below the national median. Retirees can get a lot more house for much less than they can in Los Angeles, for example, where the median price for a home is $1 million.
Lexington’s overall cost of living is 9% below the national average. That puts it right in line with other places on the Forbes list, such as Greenville, South Carolina, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Apart from spring days spent at Keeneland sipping bourbon, retirees can enjoy a relatively low serious crime rate, a good climate with little air pollution, somewhat bikeable streets and an excellent ratio of primary care physicians per capita, according to Forbes’ profile of Lexington.
The Herald-Leader reached out to VisitLEX, the city’s official tourism bureau, for comment on the most recent recognition from Forbes.
“What makes Lexington a popular place to visit is also what makes Lexington such an attractive place to call home -- our hospitality; close proximity to nature, outdoor activities and world-renowned horse farms; the education, cultural and sporting events at the University of Kentucky; and our wonderful culinary and spirits establishments. There is something for everyone at every age in Lexington,” Mary Quinn Ramer, the president of VisitLEX, told the Herald-Leader via email Tuesday.
What’s the full list of the best places to retire in 2025?
Rather than assigning rankings, Forbes lists the 25 places in alphabetical order:
Apache Junction, Arizona
Athens, Georgia
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
College Station, Texas
Columbia, Missouri
Fargo, North Dakota
Greenville, South Carolina
Iowa City, Iowa
Lawrence, Kansas
Lexington, Kentucky
Lincoln, Nebraska
Madison, Wisconsin
Newark, Delaware
Pasco, Washington
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Raleigh, North Carolina
Rochester, Minnesota
San Antonio, Texas
Savannah, Georgia
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Spokane, Washington
Tucson, Arizona
The Villages, Florida
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
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This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM.