There are many benefits of retiring to Missouri, including affordability and variety that are literally right in the middle of everything. Here are some of the things that might make you decide to live in the Show Me State.
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- It's Affordable - Although Missouri ranked low overall as a place to retire, Bankrate gave Missouri high marks for low cost of living: 16th best in the nation. U.S. News & World Report listed St. Louis among its "Best Places to Retire for Under $40,000" and "10 Affordable Places to Rent an Apartment in Retirement." Housing costs were at $1,186 a month with a mortgage, $442 without, and the median monthly rent was $657. Median home cost in St. Louis itself was $98,400, and cost of living was 16.3 percent below national average, according to Sperling's Best Places. Springfield, the state's third-largest city made U.S. News & World Report's 2011 list of "10 Places to Buy a Retirement Home for Under $100,000."
- Highly Rated Health Care - Although health care overall in the state gets a low-average score from Bankrate, there are places where it excels. Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis ranked 14th in the nation in quality of geriatric health care, U.S. News & World Report says. MarketWatch says health care in Branson is above average with three regional hospitals, and health care quality is highly regarded in Kansas City.
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- Veteran Friendly - Federal and state assistance for veterans is accessible all throughout the state, and the active military maintains ties with veterans and veteran retirees as well. Whiteman Air Force Base has a volunteer-run office that helps retirees and their families keep up-to-date with the benefits for which they're eligible. Meanwhile, the Army's Fort Leonard Wood, seeking to keep its base housing occupied and rented during service cutbacks, offers base housing to service retirees and their families. Although military pensions are partially taxable in Missouri, that won't be true for long. The state has been chipping away at the percentage since 2010, and the tax on military pensions will be eliminated by January 1, 2016, says the state veterans' commission.
- Tax Friendly (Sort of)
 - Bankrate ranks Missouri 18th best in the nation as far as taxpayer-friendly rates. Some things are taxed that aren't in other states, but deductions are there if you look.
- Something for Everyone - From the metropolitan areas of St. Louis and Kansas City, to the farm country that makes up 95 percent of the state, Missouri has something to suit any lifestyle, says MarketWatch.
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