a landable guide
Under $1,400 median rent, state income tax under 5%, real parks and weather. Cities where early retirement is financially viable.
By Karol Gajda
Early retirement runs on a very low annual spend. At a 4% withdrawal rate, every $1,000 of annual spending needs $25,000 in savings. A city at $1,100 rent saves roughly $24,000 a year in housing over a city at $3,100, which can add up to a decade of working life.
This list filters for rent under $1,400 and a state income tax rate under 5%, then ranks by parks, weather, and quality of life. You are retiring early, not moving somewhere you will merely tolerate.
01
Photo by Terrance Agar on Unsplash
AL · 412k metro
Mobile tops the early-retirement list: $1,302 median rent, a 5.0% state income tax, and 225 pleasant days. A low annual spend without a low quality of life.
$1,302
median rent / month
5.0%
state and local income tax
225
pleasant days a year
02
IN · 271k metro
Evansville lands second with $1,075 rent and a 3.0% state income tax, at 184 pleasant days. The withdrawal math gets a lot easier here.
$1,075
median rent / month
3.0%
state and local income tax
184
pleasant days a year
03
Photo by Michael Bowman on Unsplash
OH · 808k metro
Dayton takes third: $1,321 a month, a 4.0% state income tax, and 171 pleasant days.
$1,321
median rent / month
4.0%
state and local income tax
171
pleasant days a year
04
Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash
OH · 698k metro
Akron pairs $1,259 rent with a 4.0% state income tax and 152 pleasant days. Built to stretch a portfolio.
$1,259
median rent / month
4.0%
state and local income tax
152
pleasant days a year
05
Photo by Gage LaVergne on Pexels
LA · 414k metro
Lafayette earns its spot on the spend: $1,332 median rent, a 3.0% state income tax, 211 pleasant days.
$1,332
median rent / month
3.0%
state and local income tax
211
pleasant days a year
06
Photo by John Cheathem on Pexels
TN · 312k metro
Kingsport is the mid-list FIRE pick that holds up: $1,383 rent, no state income tax, 188 pleasant days.
$1,383
median rent / month
0%
state and local income tax
188
pleasant days a year
07
Photo by Chris Marlin on Unsplash
KY · 1.4M metro
Louisville clears the bar with $1,368 median rent, a 4.5% state income tax, and 181 pleasant days.
$1,368
median rent / month
4.5%
state and local income tax
181
pleasant days a year
08
Photo by Leo Escala on Unsplash
OH · 600k metro
Toledo keeps early retirement viable: $1,197 a month and a 4.0% state income tax.
$1,197
median rent / month
4.0%
state and local income tax
159
pleasant days a year
09
Photo by Justin Jones on Unsplash
MI · 473k metro
Lansing lands near the bottom of the ten and still works for FIRE: $1,259 rent, a 4.3% state income tax.
$1,259
median rent / month
4.3%
state and local income tax
153
pleasant days a year
10
Photo by Smithsonian on Unsplash
PA · 465k metro
York rounds out the list: $1,361 median rent, a 3.1% state income tax, 159 pleasant days.
$1,361
median rent / month
3.1%
state and local income tax
159
pleasant days a year
We rank by 50% affordability, 20% weather, 20% parks, 5% walkability, and 5% things to do, filtered to median rent under $1,400 a month and a state income tax rate under 5%.
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