WASHINGTON (October 1, 2013) — Each year, AARP The Magazine hits the highway and travels across the country to discover the most desirable locales for people over 50. This year, our team of experts took the challenge a step further – to uncover the best places to live on a mere $30,000 that offer great eats, fun freebies, sporting opportunities and a fulfilling experience for older Americans.

“Our readers are interested in living their best lives without spending a fortune," said Robert Love, Editor in Chief of AARP The Magazine. "Each year we aim to find new locations packed with affordable opportunities appealing to the 50+ audience and these are some of the places where this is happening.”

The ten cities selected by AARP The Magazine as the most livable, budget-friendly places in the United States, where 50+ Americans can live in comfort, no matter the size of their savings account are: 

Bangor, ME

Daytona/Deltona/Ormond Beach, FL

Erie, PA

Grand Rapids, MI

Greenville, SC

Louisville, KY

Pocatello, ID

Pueblo, CO

Sherman/Denison, TX

South Bend, IN

Five of these cities are featured in the October/November issue of AARP The Magazine (in homes October 1^st), and the full list is available online now at www.aarp.org/magazine.  

In determining the 2013 list, AARP The Magazine looked at a number of financial factors – including median prices for homes, property taxes and mortgage – as well as the intangibles such as wallet-friendly entertainment and the best local eateries. The following offers a glimpse into why each of our top ten made the final cut:

Bangor, Maine
Median home price: $110,400
Median property tax: $1,303
Great eating: Pop in to Geaghan’s for Sunday breakfast; Maine blueberry pancakes cost $5.59.
Favorite freebie: Every summer the American Folk Festival brings three days of free music to the Waterfront.

Daytona/Deltona/Ormond Beach, Florida
Median home price: $108,900
Median property tax: $1,161
Great eating: Try Tia Cori’s Tacos on North Beach in Daytona; tacos start at $1.50, margaritas are $4.
Favorite freebie: The Art League of Daytona Beach

Erie, PA
Median home price: $106,600
Median property tax: $1,899
Great eating: Don’t pass on the pierogis at Dubrowski’s Deli and Restaurant, where there are seven varieties of the ¼ pounders
Favorite freebie: The 75-foot observation deck at Presque Isle State Park

Grand Rapids, MI
Median home price: $114,200
Median property tax: $1,830
Great eating: Hoist a craft beer at HopCat, currently ranked the nation’s No. 1 brew pub
Favorite Freebie: The international ArtPrize competition brings world-class art downtown

Greenville, SC
Median home price: $127,600
Median property tax: $753
Great eating: Munch on a petit pain for 65 cents at Legrand Bakery
Favorite Freebie: Parking on Main Street, trolley rides, downtown Wi-Fi and admission to the Greenville County Art Museum

Louisville, KY
Median home price: $128,200
Median property tax: $1,116
Great eating: Swing by Muth’s Candies to savor the Bourbon Balls and famous Modjeskas, a marshmallow-caramel treat named after a 1920s Polish actress
Favorite Freebie: Yoga classes offered in Cherokee, Shelby and Rubel parks

Pocatello, ID
Median home price: $127,500
Median property tax: $1,179
Great eating: Try a latte and hear live music at the Co Ho
Favorite freebie: Self-guided walking tours downtown offer an up-close look at historic buildings and architectural landmarks

Pueblo, CO
Median home price: $102,600
Median property tax: $765
Great eating: Known for the distinctive Mira Sol green chile peppers that grow here, the city is famous for its sloppers—a cheeseburger slathered in green chili.
Favorite freebie:  Take in all three miles of the Pueblo Levee Mural Project‚ which holds a Guinness Book of World Records’ distinction as being the world’s largest continuous painting

Sherman/Denison, TX
Median home price: $79,400
Median property tax: $1,158
Great eating: BBQ fans swear by the traditional pulled-pork sandwich at the Cackle & Oink
Favorite freebie: Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge boasts an impressive 338 species of birds, 36 species of mammals, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 61 species of fish

South Bend, IN
Median home price: $82,500
Median property tax: $846
Great eating: Cheeseburgers at CJ’s Pub are so beloved they’re even sold in area supermarkets
Favorite freebie: Campus tours of Notre Dame, including its famous Grotto, Basilica of the Sacred Heart and “Touchdown Jesus”

Additional information on AARP The Magazine's 2013 list of the Best Places to Live can be found in the October/November issue or online at www.aarp.org/magazine.

About AARP The Magazine
With nearly 34 million readers, AARP The Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through health and fitness features, financial guidance, consumer interest information and tips, celebrity interviews, and book and movie reviews. AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is published bimonthly in print and continually online. Learn more at www.aarpmagazine.org.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

Media Contacts:

Michelle Alvarez, AARP, 202.434.2555, malvarez@aarp.org
Brenae Leary, Coburn Communication, 646.633.4971, Brenae.Leary@coburnww.com