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8 | Th e M Rep o RT themreport.com mdwell Have a penchant for stretching your pension dollars, but still want to find a comfortable place to spend your golden years? Here's a selection of cities where you can have a high time and still stick to a low-cost lifestyle. Then again, if you'd like to splurge a little (or a lot), each of these locales offers plenty of opportunities to go whole hog. Indianapolis, Indiana Cost of Living Percentage Below National Average: 12.8% Population 65 or older: 11.73% Median Home Sale Price: $127,900 Hot Home: About five miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Golden Hill neighborhood overlooking the White River seems a world away from the home of the 500. At $5.5 million, this 17,141-square-foot, eight-bedroom home built in 1906 might be the perfect place to spend your golden years. Recently renovated and sitting on 4.4 acres, it sports a two-story foyer with marble staircase (just in case you want to make a grand en- trance), an elevator (for those who want to avoid all those steps), a mother-in-law suite (for those who want to avoid ... well, you get the idea), and a four-car attached garage (not that you'd ever want to leave). Omaha, Nebraska Cost of Living Percentage Below National Average: 11.7% Population 65 or older: 11.61% Median Home Sale Price: $148,050 Hot Home: Yes, there are spectacular waterfront views to be had in landlocked Nebraska—especially if you have $3.5 million burn- ing a hole in your pocket. This custom-designed, 4,878-square-foot pent- house takes up an entire top floor and offers 360-degree views of the Missouri River and Omaha skyline. It's billed as a smart home, so maybe it can tell you where on its 2,000-square-foot private balcony you can catch the best vistas. As far as the city itself, Omaha is emerging as a regional healthcare hub, offers plenty options for volunteerism, and boasts a relatively rich cultural com- munity. Tulsa, Oklahoma Cost of Living Percentage Below National Average: 11.6% Population 65 or older: 13.56% Median Home Sale Price: $137,225 Hot Home: A sprawling French chateau in Tulsa? Mais oui, mon ami! Had Louis XVI been a Sooner, he would have lived in this $4.95 million, 17,389-square-foot manse. It features antique chandeliers, white oak and marble floors, a spa off the master bath, and the sort of exquisite appointments usu- ally reserved for the set of a Three Musketeers remake. For retirees, Tulsa offers a number of advantages. There's no state tax on Social Security income, no estate tax, and very low property taxes. Unemployment is also low, just in case you need to pick up some work to afford a Versailles-sized mortgage. Decatur, Alabama Cost of Living Percentage Below National Average: 10.8% Population 65 or older: 15.18% Median Home Sale Price: $128,660 Hot Home: This $1.84 million, 9,400-square-foot home puts a contemporary spin on old Southern charm. Its classic front gates, meticulously manicured gardens, Georgian columns, and tree-lined walkways lead to an interior that mixes modern conveniences with the stylized look recalling a bygone era. Sitting on the banks of Wheeler Lake along the Tennessee River, Decatur is known as "The River City." Retirees sailing into town may enjoy a visit to the city's landmark Cotaco Opera House, built in 1889. Corpus Christi, Texas Cost of Living Percentage Below National Average: 9% Population 65 or older: 13.44% Median Home Listing Price: $179,900 Hot Home: Interested in a Lone Star retirement homestead? Say "Howdy!" to the $2.55 million, 80-acre Sweet Bay Ranch. Here's a brush with Texas greatness: The property backs up to the legendary King Ranch. There's a 10-stall stable, a barn with a kitchen, office and 20-saddle tack room, and a 2,011-square-foot home that can run on wind and solar power. This is a working ranch, so you won't feel like you've been put out to pasture. And you certainly won't feel out of place. Corpus Christi is about 30 miles from Rockport, with a thriving population of retirees. You like beaches? The city is rimmed by them. Just watch out for the college kids during spring break. The Best Places Retire 1 2 3 4 5