10 Best Retirement Cities In America

Pittsburgh
Median home price: $106,000  
After decades of declining population and diminishing jobs, Pittsburgh has turned the tide with help from the University of Pittsburgh's vast health care network, a slew of start-ups and tech companies and people willing to pay its low buy-in price for high returns on dining, entertainment and overall character. Its affordable arts offerings include one of the nation's great symphony orchestras and the Andy Warhol Museum, while its dining ranges from steak-and-french-fry-stuffed Primanti Brothers sandwiches and Iron City beer to scores of diverse eateries in the Strip District and traditional German-style brews from local brewers such as Penn Brewery. With not one but three beautiful, bridge-spanned rivers to boat on, the Steel City has a lock on great reasons to live there. In the warmer months, you can take the incline railroad to for great views, go lawn bowling on the green or catch the Pirates at the most beautiful baseball stadium in America at PNC (PNC) Field. Ticket demand has been dampened by years of futility, but an average ticket price of $16.11 isn't bad for views of the bridges over Pittsburgh's three rivers or even a late-season look at this year's playoff contenders.  

Asheville, N.C.
Median home price: $198,000  
Want to go whitewater rafting and biking? Asheville and its surrounding rivers and mountains are willing to oblige. Want to go hear some music? The city's teeming with buskers, venues and festivals. Want a beer? Take your pick from a growing number of local brewers that will soon include Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Oskar Blues. Looking for architecture that will take your breath away and health care that will give it back? The Art Deco buildings downtown, Victorian architecture in Montford and the Gilded Age homes of the Vanderbilts will keep you busy as the sprawling Mission Health System keeps you safe. That's a lot of amenities for a such a small cost of living.