Best U.S. Food Towns For Retirees

Best U.S. Food Towns for Retirees

If you're a food lover of a certain age, Florida isn't the only retirement destination worth considering

#10 Boise, Idaho

Boise's dry climate, average cost of living, and average home price of $168,000 make it an affordable destination for the recently retired. The cultural center boasts a large pedestrian zone with sidewalk cafés and outdoor restaurants that have helped drive traffic to the area. Boise has won awards including "One of the Hottest Tech Cities" from Newsweek, and "Best Town to Live and Ride" by Bike Magazine. And, according to Food & Wine, the casual restaurant scene in Boise is thriving. Earlier this year Trader Joe's and Ruth's Chris Steak House set up camp in town, and the highly anticipated Eighth & Main building became home to new shops and eateries. Boise also has a historic Basque community, complete with restaurants offering generous all-inclusive dinners at modest prices.

"I think Boise's on the cusp of growing up, or graduating high school," says Russ Crawforth, owner of Boise's new The Mode Lounge. "I want my business to be part of that ... I want Boise to be a nightlife people talk about."

#9 Tulsa, Okla.

Tulsa, located in The Sooner State, offers some sweet savings for the retired. Social Security income isn't taxed by the state, property taxes are low, and state estate tax is non-existent. AARP calls it one of the Best Cities for Successful Aging, and the food scene plays a part in that; Tulsa is ranked number 15 overall for food affordability, and its 26 miles of paved cycling and walking trails are home to strips of attractive cafés. Downtown Tulsa features performing arts centers and restaurants that range in cuisine from Mexican to Japanese to New American and more. 

#8 Indianapolis

Indianapolis offers big-city living at small-city prices. It is ranked number 1 for the lowest average price of beer and wine in the country, and it offers retirees easy access to healthcare. The cost of living is 12.8 percent below the national average, so a dollar will go a long way here. That means you will be able to take advantage of the food transformation happening around town. Indianapolis was once comprised of a proliferation of chain restaurants and fast-food spots, but the city has started to see tremendous growth. For example, there is an increase in local farmers growing produce that is making its way to a burgeoning number of farm-to-table eateries. Indianapolis' commercial corridor borders two historic neighborhoods where an expanding food scene is a combination of long-standing local favorites that have been in business since the 1800s and new hotspots like chefs Mark Henrich and Danny Salgado's Revery, where upscale pub food includes moonshine-battered fish and chips and goat cheese salads with cinnamon toast.

#7 Tampa, Fla.

It wouldn't be a list about retirement without a mention of Florida. Tampa is the ideal retirement spot for those who want to be near the beach but still close to an urban cultural center. The median home value is $135,000, and the cost of living is nearly eight percent below the national average. The affordability is attractive not just to retirees, but to chefs looking to heat things up. Food trucks — which have seen a lot of action the past couple of years, thanks to the Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association — are a large presence here. This year, four James Beard Award semi-finalists were from Tampa Bay, too. Greg Baker of Tampa's Refinery and Chad Johnson of Tampa's SideBern's were nominated for the Best Chef: South category; Bern's Steak House received a nomination for Outstanding Restaurant; and Joey Redner of Tampa's Cigar City Brewing got the nod for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional. The budding craft beer scene in Tampa is also attracting young kitchen talent. "Great food scenes pop up around great beer scenes. As people get more refined taste in what they drink they get more refined taste in what they eat," said Baker.

#6 Pittsburgh

Considered one of the best small cities with a big food scene, Pittsburgh doesn't come up often in conversations about desirable dining or retirement destinations, but it should. Median home price is just $119,600, and retirees can take advantage of free public transportation to get around. Pittsburgh often lands itself on "Best Places to Live" lists in part because of the cost of living is eight-and-a-half percent below the national average. The big reason, we think, is because of its growing reputation as a cultural center. There are loads of great schools — including University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, and Carnegie-Mellon — and a growing downtown area full of diverse restaurants, many of which have rich Eastern European roots. Young chefs are flocking to the Rust Belt town to take advantage of the urban renewal and sustainable agriculture. "Easy living, affordable everything, and a burgeoning food scene: This is an area that will soon get attention on a national level," says Brandon Baltzley, a Chicago-based chef who has spent the past year in Pittsburg staging pop-up diners. 

#5 Salt Lake City

The cost of living in Salt Lake City is an impressive five percent below the national average. Abundant doctors and walkability make it attractive to an older population. Ranked number 19 overall on a list of the best food cities for your wallet, Salt Lake was named one of Zagat's "Up-and-Coming Food Cities" to watch. "While many regard this western town more for its skiing or religious ties, the burgeoning culinary scene is undeniably exciting, especially when it comes to the number of restaurants cooking local, with an emphasis on foraging," Zagat.com stated. Notable chefs like Scott Evans, Food & Wine Best New Chef and Iron Chef winner Viet Pham are helping to keep the city in the culinary spotlight. 

#4 Tucson, Ariz.

Tucson's food scene is a force to be reckoned with. Chefs like Chris Bianco have helped Tucson's restaurant renaissance bloom. He's the city's first pizza-slinging James Beard Award winner (Best Chef: Southwest 2003) and a favorite of publications like The  New York Times, Gourmet, and Vogue as well as stars including Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Andrew Zimmern, and Oprah. Bianco has helped lead the charge of Congress Street's conversion to a dining destination. There are a growing number of gourmet dining options as well as the countless options for casual food that you would expect from this city. The cost of living is four percent below the national average, and the above-average air quality and warm weather make it an oasis for outdoor activities like bike riding.

#3 Austin, Texas

Ranked #1 in wallet affordability, Austin, Texas, is one of the most attractive towns around when it comes to settling down. Money Magazine selected Austin as the number-two best big city to live in, and with its budding art presence, the University of Texas' proximity, and its reputation as the live music capital of the world, Austin never has a shortage of cultural events to partake in.  When it comes to food, Austin has something for everyone. It has one of the lowest grocery store costs in the country for at-home cooks; and let's face it, most of us can't dine out for every meal of every day, so knowing you can make an attractive, appealing, and affordable meal at home is always a plus. In terms of eating out, there is no shortage of diversity. "The growth has been dramatic in the last 15 years," said Cathy Cochran Lewis, executive director of the Austin Food & Wine Alliance. "Austin used to be just Tex-Mex and barbecue, but now it's so much more — chef-driven restaurants, food trailers with local, organic ingredients, over-the-top craft cocktails — anything you can imagine." Top Chef: Texas winner and 2012 James Beard Best Chef: Southwest winner Paul Qui calls Austin his home base, as does James Beard Award nominee and former Iron Chef competitor David Bull. The park-and-eat experience in Austin is considered one of the best in the country thanks to the 'personality-plus' food truck and trailer venues. 

#2 Omaha, Neb.

Coming in at number three in the Milken Institute's Best Cities for Successful Aging report, Omaha could be one of the most attractive retirement cities in the country. Unemployment is low, transportation is easily accessible and affordable, and the downtown and riverfront areas are revitalizing. The cost of Live in Omaha is 11.7 percent below the national average. Additionally, the median home value is at $131,400, and the tax burden is ranked number 21 in the country. The food scene is part of that revitalization; Omaha is ranked 36 overall for being a food-centric town that's still good for your wallet, and number three for overall affordability. Weekend craft brewery tours are common, and the city specialty, steak, means there is no shortage of authentic steakhouses surrounding the city. Livability named Omaha one of the best food cities in America. This is in part because of innovative chefs creating intriguing menus and a landscape of restaurants that range from high-end to comfort casual. Chefs Clayton Chapman of The Grey Plume and Jon Seymour at V. Mertz were both semi-finalists for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2013. Paul Kulik, chef at The Boiler Room, was a 2012 nominee. 

#1 Orlando, Fla.

Florida again. Orlando was rated the most economical city for food lovers according to WalletHub. There is an impressive ratio of gourmet stores, supermarkets, and restaurants per person (one for every 90 residents). The diverse tourist community that visits Orlando monthly means that the food here has to be of good value, too. It's not all Disney-themed. There are 10 James Beard finalists who make Orlando their home base. The culinary foundation even made its 2014 nominee announcement from Orlando because it considers Orlando to be "one of Florida's burgeoning culinary hubs." As for the financial aspect, the cost of living is low, home prices are affordable, and there is no state income tax. The weather is pretty close to perfect year-round, hence the growing number of farmers markets that contribute to the area's locavore food movement.