25 Great US Cities and Towns for LGBT Retirees

By Dave Hughes, RetireFabulously.com

This article is an excerpt from Dave Hughes’ new book, The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You.

When it comes to choosing a place to live during retirement, LGBT people want the same things that everyone else wants – safety, reasonable prices, agreeable climate, cultural and recreational amenities, and good healthcare.

However, LGBT people have a few additional factors to consider. Those include how tolerant an area is, the presence of a gay community, and healthcare providers that are welcoming towards LGBT people. Sadly, instances where LGBT patients are treated poorly and same-sex partners are denied visitation rights or decision-making rights in hospitals and nursing homes are still all too common.

In addition to considerations such as low cost of living and low taxes, LGBT people tend to value cities with strong LGBT communities, higher levels of acceptance, and the presence of non-discrimination laws.

Cities famous for their prominent LGBT communities, such as New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC are also very expensive.

In the not-too-distant past, there weren’t many other places that could be considered LGBT-friendly. Most places where everyone else flocked for retirement were definitely not places where LGBT people could live openly and comfortably.

Today, a substantial majority of Americans support marriage equality, open military service, and employment non-discrimination. There will always be intolerant folks, but their numbers continue to decline.

What that means for LGBT people is there is a much broader range of choices for where to live. In researching the LGBT friendliness of communities all over the country, I have learned that most cities (even smaller ones) have pride festivals, LGBT film festivals, and other hallmarks of an LGBT community.

These cities offer an excellent combination of affordability, culture, community, and LGBT friendliness that you may wish to consider. They are presented in no particular order.

Austin, Texas

Austin is a diverse, liberal oasis in an otherwise politically conservative state. However, it’s worth noting that Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio all scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s latest Municipal Equality Index (MEI) ratings and have significant LGBT communities.

The city is home to the state government, the University of Texas, and many high-tech and pharmaceutical companies. Austin is famous for its live music scene, with more music venues per capita than any other US city. Austin is one of the most rapidly growing cities in the country, but many residents hope to preserve the city’s quirky and artsy culture with the motto, “Keep Austin Weird.” Winters are mild, but summers are very hot and often humid. According to a recent Gallup poll, Austin has the third-largest percentage of LGBT residents in the country.

Atlanta, Georgia

Most areas of the Deep South aren’t particularly welcoming of LGBT people, but Atlanta and neighboring DeKalb County offer a cosmopolitan environment with plenty of art, music, and culture. There’s a bustling bar and restaurant scene and community groups for all interests. Several neighborhoods, such as Midtown and Avondale Estates, have numerous businesses that serve the LGBT community. And if your retirement plans include travel, the huge Hartsfield-Jackson airport offers direct flights to hundreds of domestic and international destinations.

Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona has a reputation of being politically conservative, but the state has now moved to the center. Most areas of Phoenix are quite welcoming of LGBT people. LGBT retirees will probably prefer some of Phoenix’s well-preserved historic neighborhoods or the nearby suburbs of Tempe, Chandler, or Ahwatukee. Phoenix has grown rapidly over the past several decades, and so has its gay community, foodie scene, and cultural options. Winters are delightful, but you’ll want to have access to a pool to enjoy the hot summers.

Tucson, Arizona

If the Phoenix metro area is too large and spread out for your tastes, consider Tucson. This metro area of 700,000 has plenty of arts and culture thanks to the University of Arizona, a somewhat slower pace, and beautiful mountains on all four sides. Tucson, and much of southern Arizona, is more liberal than most other areas in the state.

Orlando, Florida

This central Florida city may be best known for Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, and other tourist attractions, but there is much more to Orlando than just its theme parks. Orlando has a well-established gay community and several popular gentrified neighborhoods such as Thornton Park, Lake Eola Heights, and Colonialtown. The cost of living, house prices and tax rates are particularly low in Orlando. And if you are hoping that many of your friends will visit after you retire, the proximity to the ubiquitous theme parks can’t hurt.

Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida

When you think of popular gay destinations in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and Key West are usually the first cities that come to mind. But they’re expensive. Tampa and nearby St. Petersburg offer larger-city amenities at a much lower cost. The Ybor City neighborhood in Tampa, a National Historic Landmark District, is growing as a gay neighborhood. South Tampa hosts the Tampa Pride festival and is home to numerous LGBT venues and businesses. St. Petersburg hosts the largest LGBT pride festival in the state as well as world-class museums and a growing art scene.

Columbus, Ohio

Home to one of the largest universities in the country and numerous corporate headquarters, Columbus is well-educated, open-minded, cultured, and definitely LGBT-friendly. German Village, just south of downtown, is quaint neighborhood that is popular with gays and lesbians, while the Short North area just north of downtown is home to numerous galleries. Columbus has a thriving jazz scene, and there are plenty of music and theatre performances offered at Ohio State and downtown. The winters can be harsh, but the low cost of living and real estate make the area easily affordable.

Salt Lake City, Utah

It may seem surprising that the same city that is home to the world headquarters of the Mormon Church is also home to the seventh largest per-capita LGBT population in the US, according to a recent Gallup poll. Salt Lake City, which elected a lesbian mayor in 2016, is an island of liberal, progressive thinking with a thriving gay community. Winters are cold, but there is world-class skiing nearby as well as the famous Sundance Film Festival in nearby Park City.

Dallas, Texas

For many years, Dallas has had a strong, vibrant LGBT community centered around the Oak Lawn neighborhood and, more recently, the Bishop Arts District. The Turtle Creek Chorale has been one of the country’s best-regarded men’s choruses for decades. Dallas is home to the Cathedral of Hope, the largest LGBT church in the world. The cost of living, house prices, and taxes are all relatively affordable in Dallas.

Denver, Colorado

The Denver area is home to the nation’s ninth largest per-capita LGBT population, as well as a thriving LGBT and cultural scene. If you enjoy the mountains for hiking, skiing, or breath-taking beauty, the Denver area is hard to beat. Since real estate in Denver itself is a bit pricey, you may wish to consider nearby Aurora, where the cost of living is slightly lower and the median house price is significantly less than in Denver.

Portland, Oregon / Vancouver, Washington

In the past couple decades, Portland, Oregon has become one of the trendiest destinations in the US, both for the Millennial generation and for the LGBT community, which is the second-largest per-capita in the country. Portland has mild winters and beautiful summers, but it’s rainy throughout most of the year. Portland also has expensive real estate and Oregon has a relatively high tax burden, so a more economical option would be to settle across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington, where the median house price is significantly lower. This option allows you to live in Washington, where there is no state income tax, and shop in Oregon, where there is no sales tax.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh has been working hard for the past couple decades to modernize and revitalize itself as a great place to live, and the results are starting to show. While still not a gay mecca (its MEI is score 90 but it suffers with regard to LGBT-friendly hospitals), it scores better than average in cost of living, real estate, healthcare, and crime rate.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas has the lowest MEI score of these cities, with a still-respectable 87. Cost of housing is average, but all other metrics are good. Las Vegas offers lots of sunshine and warm temperatures in a desert environment very similar to Phoenix. Las Vegas isn’t for everyone, but if the retirement lifestyle you desire includes lots of entertainment and shows, this may be the place. Las Vegas has several nice suburbs to the south.

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Most lists of top retirement destinations focus on medium to large cities. For LGBT retirees, as well as many others who prefer places with diverse populations with thriving arts and culture scenes, larger cities usually have the most to offer. Larger cities also provide more options for medical care and senior support services.

If you prefer the more relaxed pace of small town living but still hope to find an inclusive and welcoming community with a fun, artsy ambiance, you’re in luck. Here are several smaller LGBT-friendly towns with big personalities that are worth your consideration as retirement destinations.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is artsy, progressive, scenic, and it is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the southeast. If you love the mountains and milder weather, Asheville is worth a look.

Outdoors, you can enjoy canoeing, hiking, bird watching, and mountain biking. Book lovers will enjoy perusing the extensive new and used offerings at Downtown Books and News and Battery Park Book Exchange. The city has roughly 500 restaurants and the River Arts District with over 150 studios and galleries. Houses and cost of living are a bit higher than most of North Carolina, but it’s probably worth it. Winters are mild and weather patterns closely mirror US averages.

Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington scores a perfect 100 on the MEI, and Indiana University offers many cultural opportunities. It has a good gay community with an annual Pridefest and an LGBT film festival. The surrounding area is beautiful, with mountains, forests, lakes, and the large Brown County State park for outdoor recreation.

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is a very pleasant, livable, and affordable city. It’s home to both the state capital and the University of Wisconsin. Madison scored 100 on the MEI and is highly rated for healthcare. The city is safe and very walkable. There are plenty of fitness centers and outdoor opportunities, but it gets very cold in winter.

Northampton, Massachusetts

This town in western Massachusetts was once dubbed “Lesbianville, USA” by the National Enquirer, because it has long been a welcoming, inclusive place for LGBT people. The area has a thriving creative community with arts and film festivals throughout the year.

Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla offers an LGBT-friendly, welcoming college-town vibe. The Walla Walla Valley is famous for its many vineyards, and there are about a dozen small breweries and distilleries in the area. The weather is sunny and dry, and there are beautiful mountains nearby.

Eugene and Corvallis, Oregon

Eugene and Corvallis, home to Oregon’s two largest universities, offer a smaller and more affordable option to Portland.

Bisbee, Arizona

During its copper mining heyday in the early 1900s, Bisbee was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Today this town of 5,575 in the southeast corner of Arizona has transformed into a vibrant, quirky town with interesting shops, a thriving arts and music scene, and remarkably well-preserved 1900-era architecture. There are dozens of unique local restaurant choices and western-style saloons. You’ll see plenty of rainbow decals in the windows.

Real estate prices and overall cost of living are well below national averages, and temperatures are moderate year-round. When you need to venture to a larger city, Tucson is 80 miles to the northwest. Bisbee was voted ‘America’s Best Historic Small Town’ by USA Today readers.

One downside to Bisbee is it’s hilly. If you advance to the point where walking up steps or steep inclines is challenging, your ability to move about freely may become limited. Streets are narrow and parking is limited; Bisbee is definitely a walking town.

Saugatuck / Douglas, Michigan

The adjacent towns of Saugatuck and Douglas, on the shore of Lake Michigan, have a combined year-round population of about 2,000. But these towns can swell to three times that size during the summer season. Saugatuck’s Oval Beach has been named one of the top 25 beaches in the world by Conde Nast and the nearby sand dunes are visually stunning. Between the two towns, there are over 140 LGBT-owned or friendly shops, galleries, restaurants and lodging options.

While Saugatuck and Douglas thrive during the summer months, winters are cold and annual snowfall is over six feet. Median house prices are approximately $300,000, which makes this area a more expensive choice. When you need a big city, Grand Rapids is just 40 miles away. It might make more sense to live in Grand Rapids and visit Saugatuck.

Yellow Springs, Ohio

This small, woody town of 3,500 about 20 miles east of Dayton earned its reputation as a liberal oasis during the hippie movement of the 1960s. Today, its small downtown is lined with shops, galleries, and a tiny long-standing art film theater, many of which sport rainbow flags and decals. Homes are inexpensive, the cost of living is low, and there’s plenty of hiking to enjoy in nearby Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park. When you need big city amenities, Dayton is nearby and Columbus and Cincinnati are both about an hour away. Yellow Springs experiences typical Ohio winters with below-freezing temperatures and an average annual snowfall of over two feet.

Moab, Utah

Moab is a small, isolated town in eastern Utah, situated between the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, both renowned for their stunning natural beauty. The area thrives on outdoor adventure and is popular with mountain bikers, hikers, and whitewater rafters. Downtown Moab offers an interesting array of restaurants, galleries, and shops. The town began to establish its reputation as an LGBT-welcoming place several years ago when over 500 of its 5,000 residents turned out to participate in Moab’s first-ever Pride parade and festival. Now, the town stages annual events including A Day in the Park, the Visibility March, and Gay Adventure Week. House prices and cost of living are close to the national averages. Since Moab is situated in an arid high desert region, it experiences chilly winters and warm summers with light annual precipitation and snowfall.

However, Moab is remote. The nearest large city, Salt Lake City, is over 230 miles away.

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It’s worth noting that many of these cities (Phoenix/Tempe, Tucson, Austin, Columbus, Madison, Eugene, Corvallis, and Bloomington) are home to large universities, which offer cultural amenities and adult learning opportunities that are beneficial to retirees.

In the wonderfully diverse United States of America there is truly something for everybody, and there are certainly some great places for you. Your Retirement Utopia is the place where you will best be able to enjoy doing all the things you want to do day-to-day, in pleasant and welcoming surroundings, in a place you can afford.

Dave Hughes is the creator of RetireFabulously.com, a retirement lifestyle website that will help you envision, plan for, and enjoy the best retirement possible. He is the author of three books, Design Your Dream Retirement, Smooth Sailing into Retirement, and The Quest for Retirement Utopia.