12 New England Retirement Cities To Avoid at All Costs

Conventional wisdom says if you want to stretch your retirement dollars further, you should choose a home base that aligns with your budget. In New England, however, that could be challenging, as the region consistently ranks among the most expensive places to live in the country.

Cost isn't the only factor that may complicate retirement in certain New England cities. Harsh weather, heavy traffic, climate concerns, and more could also affect the day-to-day quality of life.

For these reasons, we recommend thinking twice before adding the following otherwise desirable, charming, and bustling cities to your list.

Rhode Island has ranked extremely low on lists of states to retire in recent years, with the major factor being affordability. Housing is especially fraught, as costs have risen faster here than in the rest of New England.

In addition, flood risk is a major problem in Providence for residents in certain areas. That could drive up home insurance costs, adding to the affordability crisis.

Large swaths of people, including retirees, have been leaving Boston for years for several reasons. At the top of the list is cost of living, as housing costs are sky high in Beantown. Taxes, health care and utility costs, and inflation have also driven residents from Boston.

Hard, long winters also make retirement challenging in Boston, as does some of the worst traffic in the nation.

Part of Mystic's charm has become part of the problem, as tourist traffic has overtaken certain neighborhoods, clogging the narrow streets with scores of pedestrians.

Rising sea levels are also causing flooding in popular tourist attractions and potentially other areas in the future. The cost of living is also 17% higher than the national average, according to Salary.com, mostly due to expensive housing, deterring budget-conscious retirees.

The unhoused population in Burlington shot up during the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn't improved in intervening years, impacting the city's parks and green spaces.

Meanwhile, construction in the downtown is disrupting the peace. Public safety is another concern, in part due to widespread substance abuse. Housing costs are also high at 30% over the national average, according to Apartments.com.

The Army Corps of Engineers was previously called in to help mitigate flooding from high tides and sea level rise in Kennebunkport. Storms are intensifying, so the problem isn't going away anytime soon.

Residents have reported foul odors coming from the Kennebunk River, which were due to wastewater deposits. These problems are in addition to a cost of living 19% above the national average, according to Salary.com.

There's a housing and labor crisis in Vermont that's pricing out workers and resulting in restaurant closures, making normal operations difficult. Local leaders even had to consider legislation to curtail short-term rentals that are exacerbating the problem.

This is in addition to a cost of living that's 32% higher than the national average in the year-round tourist hotspot. Retirees should seek more accessible, sustainable locales.

Hartford has such a problem with negligent landlords that the state is cracking down, taking steps to ensure they deal with vacant properties, substandard conditions for tenants, and code violations. Retiree renters beware.

Yet, a hot housing market is causing prices to soar, while poverty is still widespread. Hartford also needs fixes for its aging infrastructure, as well as economic woes due to a decline in corporate investment.

Tourism dominates Salem, particularly in the lead up to Halloween, pushing year-round residents out of restaurants and flooding streets with millions. Locals point out that the traffic issues don't end when tourists leave, either. This causes problems for folks already dealing with the city's affordability crisis.

Salem also has hot summers and cold, snowy winters, which is less than ideal for retirees seeking mild climates.

Newport's teachers and firefighters are being driven out of the coastal enclave due to skyrocketing housing costs, which, in turn, have driven up the city's unhoused population. Child poverty is also a major issue, more than nearly anywhere else in the state.

The sole public beach in Newport, Easton's Beach, is also eroding at an alarming rate, as noted by scientists, which may deter retirees seeking outdoor recreation.

The rate of poverty in Manchester is one of the highest in the state, where homelessness is a significant problem. Widespread substance abuse remains an issue as well, though rates have declined from their peak.

Locals have complained that traffic in Manchester seems to be getting worse, clogging local roads, while an ongoing housing affordability crisis is impacting the entire state.

Stamford has more traffic and congestion than anywhere else in Connecticut, where drivers waste 53 hours annually in the gridlock, according to Inrix.

The cost of living is 29% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe, making daily life difficult to afford. Mental health issues are on the rise in Stamford as well, with affordability being one cause.

This playground for the super rich has left its middle-class residents to struggle with food insecurity and near poverty, thanks to an exorbitant cost of living that's 132% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe.

Winters are cold, dark, and for some, depressing due to the weather and lack of tourism. Retirees may fare better in warmer, sunnier, and less expensive cities.

Retiring in New England is a dream for many, but not every popular city is a smart choice. High housing costs, harsh winters, traffic, and more could negatively impact your budget and quality of life.

Taking the time to research these factors could help you avoid money mistakes that strain fixed incomes and limit flexibility. By understanding which cities pose the biggest challenges, you could focus your search on places that support a comfortable, healthy, and stable retirement.