Best Counties to Retire to in Texas

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Best counties to retire to in Texas

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

To find the best counties to retire to in Texas based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Texas.

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#25. Stephens County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,278
- Median household income: $54,695
- Median home value: $105,700
- Top places to live: Breckenridge (B)

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#24. Burleson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 18,327
- Median household income: $72,888
- Median home value: $174,000
- Top places to live: Caldwell (A), Somerville (B+), Snook (B+)

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#23. Marion County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 9,631
- Median household income: $47,447
- Median home value: $110,500
- Top places to live: Jefferson (B)

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#22. Trinity County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 13,850
- Median household income: $51,663
- Median home value: $110,100
- Top places to live: Trinity (C+), Groveton (B+)

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#21. Young County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 17,963
- Median household income: $63,723
- Median home value: $165,300
- Top places to live: Olney (B+), Graham (B), Newcastle (B)

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#20. Robertson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 16,973
- Median household income: $66,250
- Median home value: $172,700
- Top places to live: Hearne (C+), Franklin (A-), Calvert (A-)

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#19. Kendall County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 46,971
- Median household income: $110,498
- Median home value: $489,800
- Top places to live: Boerne (A), Comfort (B-)

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#18. Jasper County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 32,807
- Median household income: $49,919
- Median home value: $125,900
- Top places to live: Jasper (C+), Buna (B+), Sam Rayburn (B)

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#17. Morris County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 12,014
- Median household income: $55,082
- Median home value: $110,200
- Top places to live: Daingerfield (B), Omaha (B+), Lone Star (B)

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#16. Rains County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 12,505
- Median household income: $64,874
- Median home value: $214,900
- Top places to live: Point (B-), East Tawakoni (B-), Emory (C+)

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#15. Bandera County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 21,589
- Median household income: $69,703
- Median home value: $249,800
- Top places to live: Lakehills (B), Bandera (C+)

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#14. Brown County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 38,294
- Median household income: $55,305
- Median home value: $149,900
- Top places to live: Early (A-), Brownwood (B+), Bangs (A-)

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#13. San Augustine County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 7,889
- Median household income: $46,338
- Median home value: $83,500
- Top places to live: Broaddus (B), San Augustine (C+)

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#12. Henderson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 83,658
- Median household income: $63,955
- Median home value: $189,600
- Top places to live: Malakoff (B+), Athens (B+), Seven Points (B)

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#11. Kerr County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 53,166
- Median household income: $67,927
- Median home value: $285,100
- Top places to live: Kerrville (A-), Ingram (B-)

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#10. Runnels County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 9,880
- Median household income: $63,490
- Median home value: $103,700
- Top places to live: Ballinger (B+), Winters (B-), Miles (A)

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#9. Brewster County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (A), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,464
- Median household income: $52,612
- Median home value: $216,000
- Top places to live: Alpine (A), Marathon (B+), Study Butte (unavailable)

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#8. Haskell County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 5,390
- Median household income: $54,044
- Median home value: $92,000
- Top places to live: Haskell (A-), Stamford (B), Rochester (B)

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#7. Fayette County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 24,783
- Median household income: $76,541
- Median home value: $271,100
- Top places to live: La Grange (B), Schulenburg (B), Flatonia (B+)

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#6. Llano County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 22,011
- Median household income: $65,636
- Median home value: $322,300
- Top places to live: Horseshoe Bay (B+), Llano (B), Kingsland (B-)

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#5. Hood County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 64,198
- Median household income: $86,802
- Median home value: $281,300
- Top places to live: DeCordova (A), Pecan Plantation (B), Granbury (B-)

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#4. Eastland County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 17,846
- Median household income: $51,741
- Median home value: $121,700
- Top places to live: Cisco (A-), Eastland (B), Carbon (B)

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#3. Aransas County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 24,449
- Median household income: $61,754
- Median home value: $236,800
- Top places to live: Rockport (B), Lamar (B), Fulton (B)

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#2. Coleman County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,765
- Median household income: $52,364
- Median home value: $91,200
- Top places to live: Coleman (B), Santa Anna (B)

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#1. Wood County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 46,094
- Median household income: $62,524
- Median home value: $195,100
- Top places to live: Mineola (B+), Quitman (B+), Winnsboro (B+)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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