10 Best Places to Retire in the Western U.S.

The decision of where—and whether—to move to a new location faces many people as they plan for their retirement. Some want to downsize, reduce their living expenses, or live in a place where they can enjoy their favorite activities. Retirees who are looking forward to spending their time surrounded by mountains, rivers, and wide-open spaces might consider America’s western states. This region meets many of those needs, especially for retirees who enjoy the outdoors, wildlife, beaches, and the Pacific coast.

To compile a list of the best places to retire in the western U.S., Investopedia gathered exclusive data for Travel + Leisure, analyzing factors such as cost of living, housing, transportation, health care, taxes, and access to arts, culture, and travel. These are 10 of the best cities and towns to retire in the West, in no particular order.

01 of 10

Pocatello, Idaho

Exterior of the performing arts center at Idaho State University — The L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Idaho State University, in Pocatello.
Courtesy of Idaho State University

Located in southeastern Idaho, Pocatello is the largest city in Bannock County, with a population of 58,606. Called the “Gateway to the Northwest,” Pocatello is set at an elevation of 4,462 feet above sea level, along the Portneuf River. The median home value in the county is $267,200, and the state of Idaho does not tax Social Security income—an advantage for retirees—although pre-tax withdrawals are taxable. Health care is available through 17 hospitals and 416 medical establishments in Bannock County.

With four distinct seasons, outdoor activities range from fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, perusing farmers markets, and concerts in the summer to skiing, snowboarding, and ice fishing come winter. At the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center, residents can enjoy theater, dance, and concerts, and Idaho State University offers continuing education opportunities, sports events, and entertainment.

Historic downtown Pocatello has well-preserved architecture dating to the late 1800s as well as restaurants, art galleries, antique shops, and bakeries. Salt Lake City International Airport is about two hours away.

02 of 10

Butte-Silver Bow, Montana

People listen to a concert at the Montana Folk Festival — The Montana Folk Festival, held each summer in Butte, features performances and demonstrations by musicians, dancers, and craftspeople.
Courtesy of Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

With a population of 36,077, Butte-Silver Bow is a consolidated city-county government located in southwestern Montana. A mining camp in the 1860s, Butte is still nicknamed the “Richest Hill on Earth” for its mineral deposits, including copper and gold. Housing is affordable, with a median home value of $209,700, and both Social Security income and withdrawals from pre-tax accounts are taxable. Two hospitals and 24 health care establishments are available to serve county residents.

Butte hosts the annual Montana Folk Festival, with events on multiple stages, delicious food, and art markets in full view of the northern Rocky Mountains. The World Museum of Mining, located on an actual mine yard, highlights Butte’s mining legacy, and the Mineral Museum on the Montana Tech campus displays agate, sapphire, copper, zinc, and more. Downtown has historic buildings, including Victorian homes, as well as restaurants and hiking trails. Butte is located halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks for convenient access to outdoor activities and beautiful places worth exploring.

03 of 10

Twin Falls, Idaho

A bridge over the Snake River in idaho — The Perrine Bridge spans the Snake River just north of Twin Falls, Idaho.
Getty Images

Located in southern Idaho in a county by the same name, Twin Falls has a population of 55,896. With a median home value in the county of $292,700, housing is generally affordable. Social Security is not taxable in Idaho, but the state taxes withdrawals from pre-tax accounts. Ten hospitals and 462 medical establishments provide health care in the county.

The College of Southern Idaho, a large community college is located in Twin Falls, and three state universities offer classes on the campus. The CSI Fine Arts Center provides theater, music, entertainment, and a speaker series for the enrichment of local residents.

The Twin Falls website points out the city’s 1,650 acres of parks and open spaces, including trails, playgrounds, ball fields, and pools. The Perrine Bridge over Snake River Canyon offers panoramic views, and the Snake River Canyon Rim Trail is a popular place for hiking and biking. Water sports at Centennial Waterfront Park and Dierkes Lake attract residents and visitors alike. Nearby is Shoshone Falls, one of the largest natural waterfalls in the country, even higher than Niagara Falls.

04 of 10

Pomeroy, Washington

With a population of 1,439, Pomeroy is the smallest of the 10 destinations on this list. The town celebrates its history and maintains links to its past through the collection of antique farm equipment at the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum and the Garfield County Museum. The quaint downtown National Historic District recalls the location’s history with buildings like the Seeley Theater and Opera House, the County Courthouse, and the Pomeroy Mercantile Building. The Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce sponsors several hometown-style events during the year, including Pioneer Day, the Garfield County Fair & Rodeo, and Spring Farming Days.

Buying a home in the area is generally affordable, with a median home value in the county of $214,200. Washington does not tax Social Security income or withdrawals from pre-tax accounts like IRAs or 40l(k)s. There’s one hospital in the county.

05 of 10

Omak, Washington

Aerial view of a small Washington state town — The town on Omak, in eastern Washington state.
iStockphoto/Getty Images

Located in north-central Washington, in the foothills of the Okanogan Highlands just 45 miles from the Canadian border, Omak has a population of 5,051, the largest city in Okanogan County. Residents’ health care needs are served by six hospitals and 64 medical establishments. The closest international airports are in Spokane and Kelowna—134 and 132 miles away, respectively. Housing is affordable, with the median home value in Okanogan County at $282,200. Plus, the state of Washington does not tax Social Security income or withdrawals from pre-tax accounts.

The agricultural area offers plenty of outdoor activities and a lively calendar of cultural events. During the summer, there are lakes, rivers, and beaches on the shores of Omak Lake for fishing, boating, and swimming. Nearby Conconully State Park and Bridgeport State Park have camping, hiking, boating, and wildlife spotting opportunities. Snowfall in winter brings skiing and snow sports. The annual Omak Stampede in August includes a carnival, a kids night, a Western & Native Art Show, and more. The Omak Film Festival and the Okanogan County Fair are popular events, and for more entertainment, there’s the Omak Performing Arts Center.

06 of 10

Great Falls, Montana

Named for five waterfalls on the Missouri River, Great Falls has a population of 60,414, making it the largest city in Cascade County. A popular tourist destination, Great Falls is located east of the Rocky Mountains, about halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. Outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, and swimming in the summer, and skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing during the winter. Downtown, there’s public art, restaurants, shops, and a lively schedule of events.

The median home value in Cascade County is $243,300, and health care is available through the county’s 12 hospitals and 185 medical establishments. Social Security income is partially taxable, and Montana taxes withdrawals from pre-tax accounts. The Great Falls International Airport is less than 10 miles away, making air travel convenient for residents and attracting visitors to events like the Montana State Fair and museums such as the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the C.M. Russell Museum of Western art.

07 of 10

Carson City, Nevada

Exterior of the Nevada State Museum in Carson City — The Nevada State Museum, in Carson City.
Courtesy of Travel Nevada

The capital of Nevada, Carson City has a population of 57,819. The city is just east of Lake Tahoe along the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A mecca for outdoorsy types, Carson City offers hiking trails, mountain and city biking, golf courses, and an array of water sports. It’s also conveniently located near excellent slopes for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snowshoe trekking in the winter months. The historic downtown features shops, restaurants, breweries, museums, and more.

The median home value in Carson City County is $426,700, and Nevada offers tax advantages, with no state income tax on Social Security income or withdrawals from pre-tax accounts. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is approximately 30 miles away, and Carson City is a short day trip from Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, Reno, and Fallon, where Frey Ranch Distillery offers tours and tastings. The annual Carson City Murals and Music Festival and Mark Twain Days Festival are favorite events for both locals and visitors.

08 of 10

Evanston, Wyoming

Murals and displays at a state park visitor center — A display in the visitor center at Bear River State Park, in Evanston, Wyoming.
Courtesy of Wyoming Office of Tourism

Evanston, located in the southwestern corner of Wyoming near the Utah border, has 11,822 residents. The city is set at an elevation of 6,749 feet, near the Wasatch Range, the Bear River Range, and the Uinta Mountains, which are known for alpine lakes, rugged terrain, wildlife, and, of course, breathtaking views. Camping, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking in the mountains, along with kayaking and fishing in the Bear River, are popular outdoor activities. In Evanston’s quaint downtown, residents enjoy shopping, dining, and historic buildings like the Uinta County Museum, which dates back to 1906.

The median home value in Uinta County is $255,400, and Wyoming residents enjoy tax-free treatment of Social Security income as well as withdrawals from pre-tax accounts. Two hospitals and 57 medical establishments provide health care for the county’s residents. Salt Lake City International Airport is a little over 80 miles from Evanston. Residents and visitors come out for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo during the annual Cowboy Days at the county fairgrounds.

09 of 10

Ontario, Oregon

View from a car window on a highway in Oregon — Signage along the road exiting Ontario, Oregon, a city on the state's eastern border with Idaho.
Joseph Haeberle for The Washington Post via Getty Images

With 11,907 residents, Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County. It’s located along the Snake River, on Oregon’s eastern border with Idaho, about halfway between Portland and Salt Lake City.

Known for the four rivers that converge there—the Snake, the Malheur, the Owyhee, and the Payette—the area offers kayaking, fishing, boating, and scenic beauty. Ontario’s walkable downtown, meanwhile, has restaurants, breweries, shops, galleries, and the Four Rivers Cultural Center. During the winter, nearby mountain resorts provide opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowmobiling along hundreds of miles of trails.

The median home value in Malheur County is $221,300, and in Oregon, Social Security income is exempt from state income tax. Withdrawals from pre-tax accounts are taxable. Two hospitals and 58 medical establishments provide health care in the county. The international airport in Boise is roughly 60 miles away.

10 of 10

Pueblo, Colorado

A riverwalk space in Colorado — The Pueblo, Colorado Riverwalk, along the Arkansas River.
Paul Brady/Getty Images

Located approximately 100 miles south of Denver along the Rocky Mountains, Pueblo has a population of 110,803. Denver International Airport is 120 miles away. The median home value in Pueblo County is $271,800, and both Social Security income and withdrawals from pre-tax accounts are partially taxable in Colorado. Health care is provided through four hospitals and 368 medical establishments in the county.

Pueblo’s downtown features the Riverwalk, where visitors can shop, dine, and view more than 60 pieces of art, or take a guided history cruise. Pueblo Zoo is home to about 400 animals representing 140 species. Rosemount Museum is set in a 37-room mansion built in 1893, and nearly all furnishings and art are original, giving visitors a glimpse of the past during guided tours. Fishing, sailing, boating, hiking, picnicking, and river tubing are popular activities at Lake Pueblo State Park.