Some Western towns have home values below the national average. Remote locations can add specialty-care travel costs, while state tax rules can shift the budget.
In February 2026, three Western communities on the list had average home values below the national figure cited in the ranking. The gap can help a retirement budget, but medical travel and fewer cultural options may add costs. AARP's comparison of retirement destinations also weighs housing alongside health care and recreation. It considers social engagement and access to services, too. In Knoxville, Iowa, the comparison gives an average home value of $211,086, 43% below the U.S. average, as of August 31. The AARP comparison describes the locations as combining lower home prices with amenities that support aging well.
Investopedia included nine Western destinations in its 100 Best Places to Retire in 2026. Casper and Cheyenne are in Wyoming, as is Evanston. Juneau is in Alaska. The Washington destinations are Omak and Pasco, along with Pomeroy, Spokane and Vancouver. The ranking weighed cost and health care access. Lifestyle also figured into the evaluation. Its Western-state pool included Alaska and California, Colorado and Hawaii, Idaho and Montana, Nevada and Oregon, Utah and Washington, plus Wyoming.
The home-value figures show how sharply costs can vary. Evanston's average was $304,759 in February 2026. Pomeroy came in at $251,522, while Casper's average was $301,892. All three were below the cited national average of $360,591. Vancouver and Juneau had higher home values, which can raise housing expenses for retirees.
The figures cover home values alone; they do not provide a full household budget. Retirees still need to account for their own housing needs and health care use. AARP's Livability Index takes a broader view, weighing health care and recreation. It also considers social involvement and access to services alongside housing costs.
State taxes can change the arithmetic. Washington and Alaska have no state income tax, which may help retirees keep more income. Washington does levy a capital gains tax, but the source says it does not apply to gains from retirement plans. The state's effective property tax rate is 0.75%, described as modest for homeowners on fixed incomes. Sales taxes take a larger bite: Tax Foundation put Washington's average combined state and local rate at 9.57% in mid-2026, among the five highest rates nationally, in its midyear state sales-tax data.
No state income tax does not guarantee a low-cost retirement. Higher home values in places such as Vancouver and Juneau can offset some of the benefit. Public transit in Vancouver and Pasco may help hold down certain transportation costs, though the source gives no dollar estimate for those savings.
Medical access depends on location. Every destination has a local hospital system and other medical facilities, but smaller or more isolated places such as Juneau and Pomeroy have fewer options. A retiree who needs specialty care may have to travel, adding costs that a low home value cannot capture. AARP's examples show the range of local amenities: it describes a hospital and Veterans Affairs clinic in Knoxville, Iowa. In Lincoln, it identifies CHI Health Nebraska Heart as a specialized cardiac facility.
Daily routines can affect the budget, too. Western towns may put outdoor recreation within easy reach, while smaller communities can have fewer arts and entertainment options. Regular trips to galleries or theaters could add to a household's costs. A related comparison of arts access and housing costs appears in another retirement comparison. This Western group puts particular emphasis on distance to care and state tax treatment.
Washington accounts for five of the nine destinations. Its lack of a state income tax is one factor, alongside the towns' placement in a ranking that weighed cost and medical access. Lifestyle also counted. The state's capital gains tax has a specific retirement-plan exception: gains from pensions are excluded. The same treatment applies to 401(k)s and IRAs.
For housing data context, the U.S. Census Bureau scheduled publication of the 2025 American Community Survey one-year estimates for October 29, 2026, according to its release calendar.
