What are the Benefits of Retiring in Texas?

Why retire in Texas? There are dozens of reasons: a low cost of living, friendly communities, and sunny days, to name a few. Our lower cost of living means your retirement dollar stretches further so you can really enjoy your retirement; the friendly community means you’ll easily make new friends, and those sunny days are perfect for perfecting your pickleball game, fishing at the neighborhood pond with your grandkids, or lounging by the pool. Texas has it all—and Hillwood Communities in Texas has the best places to retire in. Living at one of Hillwood’s Planned Communities—that’s how to retire in Texas!

5 Benefits of Retiring in Texas

1. Affordability

At a rating of 94.2, the cost of living in Texas is below the national average of 100, and quite a bit below states like Massachusetts (149.7), California (137.6), and New York (134.5). Our mild climate means you’ll save on heating bills (and expensive winter clothing). And the state of Texas has the fifth-lowest tax burden per capita, with no state income tax or state property tax (though county and other property taxes may apply), plus tax exemptions for veterans and homeowners over age 65. Housing is more affordable, too.

2. Mild Climate

Do you feel the cold more than you used to? It’s not your imagination. As we age, decreased circulation, thinner skin, a slower metabolism, and even certain medications really do make us more susceptible to the cold. One of the best reasons to retire in Texas is our comfortable climate.

3. Activities to Suit Every Style

All those sunny days mean you have lots of opportunities to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Texas boasts a wealth of outdoor recreation activities including golf courses, hiking and walking trails, world class sporting events, and outdoor festivals. Close to home, residents at Hillwood Communities can enjoy amenities like resort-style pools, sports courts, parks and walking trails right in the community.

And on those rare days when you’d like to be inside, you’re close to local boutiques, art galleries, world-class museums in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and top-notch shopping, restaurants, and entertainment in Frisco’s $5 Billion Mile.

4. Top-Notch Healthcare

One of the other great benefits of retiring in Texas is access to renowned medical centers, teaching hospitals, and research institutions, including Houston’s University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, ranked the number one cancer hospital in the United States. Baylor University Medical Center and Southwestern Medical Center (another top hospital in the country) are less than an hour’s drive from Hillwood Communities. There are also excellent healthcare facilities closer to home, with Medicare options widely available at affordable cost.

5. A Great Location for Travel (and Fun Near Home)

Hillwood Communities in North Texas are near the DFW International airport, where you can fly to all major cities in the continental United States within four-hours. You can also drive to dazzling downtown Dallas and fun-filled Frisco in under an hour.

Feel like a day trip? You can visit literally hundreds of attractions within an hour or two of the Hillwood Communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, including:

• Wineries, where you can taste the best wines North Texas has to offer
• Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where you can see a huge variety of wildlife roaming the range—all from the comfort of your car!
• Dinosaur valley state park, where you can walk in the tracks of dinosaurs.
• Turner Falls, OK, where you can explore a “castle,” or rent a cabin, or cool off in the mist from Oklahoma ‘s largest waterfall.

If you’re in the mood for a longer road trip, you can drive to Oklahoma City in under three hours, Austin in under four hours, and Houston in under five.

Retiring in Texas FAQs