There are some affordable great places to live, and a few special places of solitude where you can actually watch the stars at night. Many people are now opting to live in smaller cities and rural area rather than paying the high prices in the major cities.

For those thinking of retirement it no longer implies country club or beach resort living, but rather an active lifestyle in a safe, friendly, community that is rich in amenities. Many retirees are deliberately heading for college towns which are great places to live because they are family-friendly, lively communities with an abundance of activities ranging from sports, cultural activities, recreational activities and entertainment to high culture.

Retiring baby boomers looking for affordable living options where the rush hour lasts 5 to 15 minutes will be the next housing boom. Many towns are now touting the lower costs of living you are seeking in their quiet communities with unblemished surroundings, and rewarding lifestyles.
Arizona
Kingman, Arizona is a great place to retire - Not as hot as much of Arizona in the summer, but a wonderful escape from the snow and cold of the rest of the country in winter, you will enjoy Kingman.

Located in Mohave County, only 90 miles from Las Vegas for exciting entertainment, near large lakes for water recreation and fishing, with the Grand Canyoun an easy day trip. Dry climate with sunny days make this a perfect place to live.
Mohave County, Arizona - Mohave County contains part of the Grand Canyon National Park. The Colorado River forms the western boundary of Mohave County with an estimated 1,000 miles of fresh water shoreline along the Colorado River and Lakes Havasu, Mohave and Mead. The rivers and lakes offer fishing along with boating and other forms of water-oriented recreation.
Arkansas
Fayetteville - In the heart of the Ozarks known for bright fall foliage, fishing in clear mountain lakes, little crime, and one of the lowest costs of living in the nation, this could be your new town to live in.
Colorado
Loveland - Just 45 minutes from Denver and great skiing in the nearby mountains, Loveland is as attractive as its name. Both its older residential areas of single-family homes shaded by huge trees and the newer outlying neighborhoods that sprout from the prairie beckon visitors with spectacular mountain views and easy access to year-round outdoor fun.
Georgia
Athens - A vibrant city that defines sophisticated Southern culture. Just below the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains this university city of just over 100,000 residents offers visitors a unique blend of Southern heritage and contemporary entertainment.

There are two hospitals within five miles of the town center, and three golf clubs sit just beyond the city's perimeter. It also has a wide variety of entertainment includes six local theaters, wine tastings in the botanical gardens, and musical events.
Iowa
Iowa City - The main attraction is a widely held sense of the place as a safe haven with small-town friendliness. It is home to the University of Iowa, three medical centers and the university hospital for the best care in the region.

Home of the Hawkeyes of the Big-Ten football fame, and Senior College where retired professors teach everything from philosophy to digital photography. Art, music, vibrant literary scene, plus five live theaters, an annual jazz festival and a bustling downtown pedestrian mall.
Florida
Gainesville - It's a younger and more intellectually stimulating town than you'll find in most of Florida that has it all. The beautiful sunny weather, warm freshwater springs where you can swim and fish, and the Atlantic Coast beaches are just 60 miles away.
Sarasota, a small, civilized city on Florida's Gulf Coast with 35 miles of beaches, a temperate climate, golf courses and tennis courts aplenty, and good boating in the Gulf and Sarasota Bay.
Mississippi
Oxford - The City of Oxford is located in Lafayette County in the north central portion of Mississippi, approximately equidistant between St. Louis, Missouri and New Orleans, Louisiana. The city of rolling hills covers an area of 12.13 square miles and has a population of roughly 11,700. The City is the home of the University of Mississippi, which has produced 24 Rhodes scholars.
North Carolina

Asheville - This university town sits in the spot where the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains meet. A lively arts scene, short winters, excellent health care, and a dash of bohemian funkiness is attracted boomers on the move.

The downtown heart of the city has coffeehouses, antiques shops, bookstores, and galleries selling crafts by mountain artists. And civic activism is strong; you'll find impassioned groups working to foster Appalachian music and to protect national forests.
Raleigh -A dynamic cosmopolitan metropolitan area with Southern roots which is filled with happy residents that are quick to point out the many benefits of living in their area. And if you want even more they are three hours from the seashore and just as close to the mountains.

Home to 10 higher-education institutions and anchored by the high-tech and biotechnology facilities, this city has much to offer.
New Mexico

Las Cruces - Located at the crossroads of Interstate 10 and 25 and nestled in the fertile Mesilla Valley between the majestic Organ Mountains and the meandering Rio Grande, Las Cruces, New Mexico is quickly becoming a popular southwestern destination

It has inexpensive housing and sunshine almost 300 days a year. There are many senior programs including retired faculty from New Mexico State University that run a wide-ranging lecture series known as the Academy of Learning in Retirement. 72 holes of spectacular year-round golf, unique special events, historic attractions make this a wonderful place to live
Oregon

Ashland - Ashland is a pretty, small town...surrounded by gorgeous mountains, lazy creeks, and roaring rivers. It offers year-round professional theater and is home to Southern Oregon University's Learning in Retirement program. Ashland offers you the space to remind yourself who you truly are. They invite you to come see it, drink it in, soak it up, and indulge your senses.
South Carolina

Charleston - It is loaded with historic sites including Fort Sumter, antebellum homes, cobblestone streets, lush gardens and legendary charm, everything you've heard is true. A strong economy, nine colleges and universities, and a highly regarded health care community are part of the package, too. Nearby barrier islands, such as Edisto, bring tranquillity where you can actually find country lanes lined with old oak trees dripping with Spanish moss.
Texas

San Antonio - This city, founded on the banks of the San Antonio River, straddles two areas of the state: the coastal plain grassland prairie and Hill Country of rolling land dotted with oak and mesquite. It's a blend of terrain and cultures, sounds and flavors of Native Americans, Old Mexico, Germans, the Wild West, African-Americans and the Deep South mingle and merge.

And it's a bargain that no other major U.S. city can beat. Low cost of living coupled with a dynamic business environment and excellent medical facilities have created one of the country's fastest-growing cities.
Utah
Nephi - Beautiful country, pleasant people, and affordable homes. Numerous recreation opportunities can be found surrounding Nephi. Such things as Little Sarah, Yuba Lake, and the Mt. Nebo National Scenic Byway are just a few of the opportunities that await visitors to the area.
Massachusetts
Stoughton - Geographically located in the heart of Eastern Massachusetts. Just 30 minutes in either direction from the city of Boston, the city of Providence, Rhode Island and the beauty Cape Cod, thereby benefiting from the vibrance of city life and the tranquillity of a suburban community.

The Town has significant protected open space resources, including the Bird Street Sanctuary, water department lands, recreational fields and a municipal golf course. Stoughton has good access to the regional roadway network, being served by several state routes and 3 interchanges on Route 24. Stoughton also has access to regional transit, being served by bus from Brockton and MBTA Commuter rail at the station in downtown Stoughton. Stoughton is one of the regions most affordable, accessible towns.
Minnesota
Ortonville - Located in western Minnesota, people across the country have yet to discover this community of affordable housing with its sprawling lake and golf course. It has everything that is perfect for retiring.
Washington
Spokane - Located along the banks of the Spokane River, where the Columbia River Valley rises to meet the forests of the northern Rockies. With close to 200,000 people (400,000 in the metro area), Spokane is the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis. And with low utility costs, no income tax, and housing costs below national prices, it's a darn good buy.
Bellingham - This western find offers a refreshing change from the pressures of big city living. Situated on a bay along the Pacific Northwest coast between Seattle and Vancouver. A seaside marina, victorian historic districts, lush forests, freshwater lakes, and, to the east, snow-capped Mount Baker.