8 Towns With Great Healthcare Where You Can Live on Nothing but Social Security

It doesn't matter whether you're trying to stretch your retirement savings fund as far as possible, or you're planning to live entirely off of Social Security benefits, it pays to retire to a town with a low cost of living. But along with looking at metrics like average rent and house payments, there's one major cost seniors should seriously consider before deciding where to retire: The cost of healthcare.

The average Social Security payment for individuals in 2025 is around $1,976, while the average couple receives around $3,089. Keep reading to learn about eight towns across the U.S. where retirees can find affordable housing alongside easy access to great healthcare options.

All average rental prices are pulled from Apartments.com while all median home price values came from Redfin, unless otherwise noted.

Average rent: $1,538

Median home price: $476,000

Boston is well known for its top-notch medical care facilities, including Massachusetts General Hospital, which is Harvard's teaching hospital. It's also the country's biggest medical research program based out of a hospital, which is ideal if you need experimental care.

The drive from Ayer to Boston takes just an hour or less depending on traffic. Even better, transportation costs in Ayer are 8.4% lower than the national average, so the commute won't cost you as much in Ayer as it would most places in the U.S.

Average rent: $1,289

Median home price: $369,450

Minnesota is home to one of the world-famous Mayo Clinic's three campuses. And, although the clinic itself is located in Rochester, cities across the state benefit from its expertise. In the smaller town of Zumbrota, for instance, Mayo Clinic care providers provide senior care to patients at local nursing homes.

Since long-term care facilities aren't covered by Medicare, it's important to plan ahead for the financial burden of a nursing home.

Average rent: $832 per month

Median home price: $125,000

The Midwest's low housing prices are a huge draw for seniors living on a fixed budget, especially those who own a home in a more expensive part of the country who are looking to downsize during retirement.

Garfield Heights is located just a few miles outside of Cleveland, which means residents have relatively easy access to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the best-rated academic hospitals in the world.

Average rent: $1,196

Median home price: $395,000

Phoenix hosts one of the prestigious Mayo Clinic's satellite campuses, which makes the affordable suburb of Apache Junction an ideal relocation spot for sun-loving seniors in need of good healthcare access. The town is located at the base of the Superstition Mountains, which add a beautiful backdrop to the outdoors-focused high desert town.

With plenty of senior communities, it's also a good place to keep your mental health high by surrounding yourself with good friends.

Average rent: $976

Median home price: $353,200

Like the Midwest, the South is notably more affordable for seniors living on a Social Security budget when compared to areas like the Pacific Northwest or East Coast. Thanks to top-notch medical facilities like Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center, it's a good choice for retirees that want easy access to world-class doctors and hospital grounds.

Additionally, healthcare costs almost 24% less in La Vergne than the rest of the country, and food costs nearly 22% less. You can enjoy a high-quality lifestyle in the area without paying high costs.

Average rent: $1,029

Median home price: $349,500

The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is a research hospital where doctors have been able to make huge strides in understanding conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Its ElderPlus program is a senior-specific, voluntary healthcare program that helps seniors stay healthy while keeping them connected with a flourishing community of peers.

Average rent: $845

Median home price: $205,000

North Carolina is known for its distinct culture, beautiful beaches, regional food, and — if you live in this suburb of Durham — access to healthcare services at Duke University Hospital. The geriatric medicine unit offers specialized services to help seniors prepare for surgery, stay physically active, and transition from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities.

Average rent: $1,279

Median home price: $152,000

New York City hosts a range of high-quality hospitals, and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital is among the best of the best. The hospital network has over 450 locations across the city and surrounding areas, and it partners with both Columbia University and Weill Cornell to bring you best-in-class healthcare.

If you can settle for the smaller space of a studio apartment, the average rent drops to $920 per month, which opens up your budget for more frequent site seeing in the Big Apple.

When it comes to your retirement, location really is everything, especially when it comes to local hospital networks and long-term care providers.

Whether you're on the cusp of retirement or you've already left the workforce, researching local hospitals, care providers, doctors, and pharmacies before relocating is a smart money move for seniors and soon-to-be-seniors alike.