Top 5 Reasons to Retire in St. Louis

If you’re from St. Louis, you don’t need someone to tell you that the city on the banks of the Mississippi River is a wonderful place to live at any stage of life. But even if you grew up there, you might not be aware that the Gateway to the West, like most of us, improves with age! If you look at the community through a senior’s eyes, you’ll discover it offers a variety of opportunities and amenities that make it one of the best places to retire and enjoy life.

Last year, Consumer Affairs ranked St. Louis as the second-best U.S. city to retire in, second only to Lincoln, Nebraska. Among the reasons cited were the moderate Midwestern weather, a comfortable standard of living, a cost of living that makes your money stretch farther, plenty of entertainment plus healthcare options that will make life enjoyable and worry free. Everything a senior could want is available within sight of the Gateway Arch.

Top reasons why St. Louis is among the best places to retire:

Affordability

While home prices have increased nationwide, St. Louis has been affected less dramatically than most American cities with a median home sale price of $207,000 in February of 2024, according to the Redfin real estate website, which is 49 percent lower than the national median. Redfin also reports that the cost of living in St. Louis is 11 percent lower than the average rate across the United States.

Tax Friendliness

Missouri has no state inheritance tax and doesn’t collect taxes on Social Security income unless a person has an annual income in excess of $85,000 or $100,000 a year for joint filers. Additionally, property taxes work out to about $880 per $100,000 of the value of your home, which is less than the national average. Seniors in Missouri are also eligible for a senior property tax credit that further reduces their tax bill. Income taxes in the state are moderate, ranging from 1.5 percent to 5 percent on a sliding scale. If you live in the St. Louis city limits, you’ll pay a 1 percent income tax there, too.

Health Care Availability

As we age, often our medical needs increase, which is why it’s a strong selling point that St. Louis is home to some of the best medical facilities and physicians in the country. You can find top providers in just about every specialty you can imagine with access to some of the best facilities and technology in the world. St. Louis also offers easy access to convenient medical clinics, making it an ideal place to receive preventative services and, in turn, one of the best places to retire.

Plenty of Entertainment and Exercise Options

St. Louis has a relatively high population of folks over the age of 65, which means it’s geared to provide the things you need from services to entertainment offerings. The region has an extensive network of walking and biking trails, a variety of excellent museums and a wealth of interesting historical sites to explore. It also offers many senior-geared programs and services which help keep our older loved ones feeling connected to their neighbors and communities, fending off loneliness and isolation.

In the middle of everything St. Louis has to offer, you’ll also find a wide variety of exceptional and appealing Independent Living and Assisted Living options by many different senior living, care and service organizations, including Bethesda. We can help your senior loved one live their best lives, feeling safe and confident in their surroundings while being free to enjoy fun and fulfilling opportunities.

Independent Living options are available across many desirable areas of the greater St. Louis region, including Bethesda Barclay House in Clayton, Bethesda Gardens and The Oaks in Kirkwood, Bethesda Orchard and Pacific Place in Webster Groves, Bethesda Terrace in Oakville, and Village North in Florissant. Assisted Living options can also be found at Bethesda Hawthorne Place in Kirkwood, which also offers Memory Care, and Charless Village in Oakville.

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have or set up a tour of our beautiful residences so you can find exactly what you or your loved one need. Contact Bethesda to find the senior living community for you!