Forget Boston, Retire To This New England State Capital With Pretty Beaches Nearby

If you're retiring from a high-flying career in Boston, you may not be ready to give up the cultural perks of living in an urban center known for its intellectual life — even as you prepare to leave the 9-to-5 rat race behind. Perhaps the idea of retiring to Florida or Arizona leaves you colder than an East Coast winter. If so, then consider downsizing your urban idyll by moving just 50 miles south, to the artsy, charming city of Providence, Rhode Island. Combining small-city real estate prices with a college town's sophisticated charm and culture, the city known as Rhode Island's "Creative Capital" could be the winning move once you no longer need access to Boston's high-powered employment economy.

Providence doesn't always make top retirement lists based purely on statistics. Rhode Island is one of the few states to tax Social Security benefits, for example, and property taxes are high. But for a certain type of urban-minded retiree, Providence hits the sweet spot. Many of its charming neighborhoods are walkable, a quality that retirees who may one day give up driving value immensely. The Providence culture scene, thanks to the presence of nearly a dozen colleges, is top-notch. Providence also ranks in the top 20 cities in America for diversity, while Rhode Island ranks among the top 20 states on America's LGBTQ+ Equality Index. 

And just because you're not headed for Florida's palm tree-lined sugar-sand shores, that doesn't mean you can't have your day at the beach. Rhode Island is sometimes called the "Ocean State" for its over 400 miles of scenic coastline. It's commonly said that every Rhode Islander lives within a 30-minute drive of the water.

Culturistas will find Providence an intriguing retirement destination. Vogue praised the city for "its unique blend of blue-collar charm and refined Ivy League sophistication, where historical elegance meets a quirky creative spirit." It owes its foodie scene to the presence of Johnson & Wales University, long known for its culinary programs. On the quirky side, the city is home to some of the East Coast's best vintage shopping, and for sophisticates, it is also one of the best antiquing capitals in America. And if you think you'll miss Boston's intellectual aura, Ivy League Brown University lends Providence academic clout.

Much like Boston, Providence is a city of walkable neighborhoods. For a little bit of everything Bostonians love, but with lower real estate prices, the Elmhurst neighborhood offers access to a library, parks, restaurants, shops, and a community garden. Pasta and pizza-lovers can rejoice in the fact that Providence is home to one of America's most underrated Little Italys, in the historic Federal Hill neighborhood. In artsy College Hill, you can stroll along Benefit Street, one of the most charming cobblestone streets in America.

CNN has called Providence "America's most artsy city." That reputation is due in part to the famous Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the world's top art schools. Fun fact: The Talking Heads met each other as students at RISD. The RISD Museum has a vast collection of over 100,000 artworks, so there is always something new to see, with free days and discounted admission for seniors. The Providence Performing Arts Center, in a historic 1920s movie palace, hosts touring Broadway shows and concerts. The bustling Riverwalk brims with shops and restaurants, not to mention the stunning WaterFire art installation, with 100 bonfires blazing upon the water.

It's no secret that Rhode Island is famous for its spectacular beaches, making it an ideal retirement spot for sun and sand-worshipers. The state's 400 miles of coastline include the Atlantic Ocean and the shores of picturesque Narragansett Bay. The good news for retirees is that you won't have to compete with 9-to-5ers flocking in from Boston on weekends, but can enjoy them on weekdays, when they're substantially less crowded.

Residents can get a season pass for Rhode Island's wonderful state beaches for $30 (it's double that for non-residents), but seniors get it for just $15. The pass is good all summer, roughly from Memorial Day to Labor Day (exact dates depend on the beach). Outside of those dates, parking is free, but the restrooms and lifeguard stations are closed. A local favorite 18 miles south of downtown Providence is pretty Goddard State Beach, with lifeguard-protected beaches for swimming, a golf course, and plentiful hiking trails.

If you're a surfer dude or dudette bummed out by the high cost of retirement living in California, know that Rhode Island is home to a year-round surf culture with its share of hard-core senior citizen practitioners. There are over 30 known surf spots in the state. "When it's good ... It's one of the best places to surf in America," writes one Redditor. "The coastline is gorgeous, and uniquely New England." Facebook user and Rhode Island surfer Lynn DeLima took up the sport at age 63, and at 65 writes, "I'm hooked."