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Home | Texas | Below Average Costs

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Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!

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Galveston, Texas

Funky, Friendly and Slightly Worn, Galveston Sits on Two Barrier Islands and Has Miles of Beaches

Spread across two barrier islands on Texas' eastern Gulf Coast, Galveston is a funky, slightly faded town with a history as a Mexican port and a gaming resort.

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The city has a friendly reputation, and residents have plenty to do. The Strand is the historic downtown area, and it has a wide variety of galleries, restaurants, and shops. It also is close to two major maritime museums and the city's wharves, which service both container and cruise ships. The 10 mile seawall is an excellent place to jog, walk, bird watch and fish. Seawolf Park is a memorial to the USS Seawolf, a WWII submarine. City celebrations include Mardi Gras and the Wild Texas Shrimp Festival. Galveston also supports an art center, a professional acting company and a symphony orchestra. The Offats Bayou neighborhood is the home of Moody Gardens, which has plant and wildlife exhibits, as well as the city's public golf course.

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The beaches are long and narrow with plenty of access points. The water sometimes has a brownish tint. The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and neighboring boardwalk are full of amusement rides, touristy eateries and kitschy souvenir shops.

Housing comes in all shapes and sizes, from waterfront stilt houses and condos to inland bungalows, ranch ramblers and cottages.

Population:  54,000 (city proper)

Age 45 or Better:   35%

Cost of Living:  2% below the national average

Median Home Price:  $398,000

Climate:    Galveston has a humid subtropical climate. Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, an winter temperatures are in the 50s, 60s and 70s. On average, the area receives 41 inches of rain per year.

At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients:  Yes

At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission:  Yes

Public Transit:   Yes

Crime Rate:   Slightly above the national average

Public Library:     Yes

Political Leanings:    Conservative

College Educated:    28%

Is Texas Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement?    Yes

Cons:    Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017 both caused flooding. It could happen again. The poverty rate is above the national average, and parts of town have seen better days.

Notes:  Despite these issues, people seem to enjoy Galveston very much. It has grown 10% during the last decade, and home prices have decreased 4% since a year ago.

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Recommended as a Retirement Spot?    Yes, although the neighborhood matters.

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Texas:

With a name based on a word used by Caddo Indians meaning "friends," Texas is the second biggest state by population in the country. It is estimated that 70% of residents live within 200 miles of Austin, the capital city.

Houston is the largest city, while Dallas-Fort Worth is the largest metropolitan area. Connecticut and Delaware could fit inside Texas' largest county - Brewster. The state is larger than all of New York, New England and Ohio combined.

In addition to the Caddo, the historical people of Texas include members of the Native American tribes of Apache, Choctaw, Tonkawa and Hasinai.

When Texas became the 28th state of the United States (1845), it adopted the official flag called the Lone Star Flag. Symbols include the Bluebonnet - the state flower.

Almost 10% of Texas is covered by forest. The state has nearly 24,000 farms, 90 mountains a mile or more high and is the nation's leading producer of natural gas, oil, wool, cotton, watermelons and rice. It also has the most airports of any state in the Union and is one of the most business-friendly states. Its culture has a blend of of Southern, Southwestern (Mexican) and Western influences.

Famous natives and residents include Mary Kay Ash, George W. Bush, Tommy Lee Jones and Joan Crawford.

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