Top 12 Best Spots to Retire in the Midwest

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Population: 426,755

Share of population 65+: 13.6%

Cost of Living: 8.3% below the national average

Average Income for Households 65+: $42,732

Community Score: 59.7

State’s Tax Rating for Retirees: Least Tax Friendly

The Fort Wayne metro area’s affordability will not cost you in amenities. Despite being home to a nice collection of quiet neighborhoods, it also houses a thriving arts scene and hosts a number of festivals and events throughout the year, including the family-friendly Three Rivers Festival in the summers.

Indeed, the three local rivers—the St. Marys, the St. Joseph and the Maumee—are a main feature of the area, providing ample opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and cruising. More outdoor attractions: Fort Wayne is home to 86 parks and more than 90 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Fort Wayne is by no means a metropolis—the population of the city proper is 265,904—but if you ever feel the need for a small-town escape head two hours south to Richmond, the cheapest small town in America. Its claim to fame (other than being budget-friendly): Some of the earliest jazz records were recorded in Richmond by such greats as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.