What is a good state to move to for retirement and for semi-isolation?

6//7/26 | Maga2017

[MAGA2017]

I'm hoping to retire within the next 7-10 years. Maybe even sooner if possible. I have zero interest in living in an assisted living community or anything like that.

I'm hoping buy some land in a rural area, at least 10 acres or so. I want to build my own little cabin and basically just be left alone. I honestly don't know if I can truly be off-grid. I will have a vehicle so I'll probably go the nearest town every so often for food and supplies. I can get batteries and power them via solar or a with a gas generator. Maybe get a propane stove. So I'll have some creature comforts. I want to have a wood stove for heat.

I currently live in WA state. I do like scenery and climate here but I would prefer to be in a red state. I'm tired of idiots in charge here, the taxes, etc.

The states I'm thinking of are: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas and Wyoming.

I'm curious what people here think are the best states for this kind of life. Does anyone here live in these states? What are the pros and cons? Thank you.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: cabin; property; retirement; rural; vanity

[StAnDeliver]

"If you like hot and are willing to live at least 15 miles from the coast, Florida has plenty of uninhabited space with plenty of solar power and cheap land."

This. Florida or Alabama, back up 30-50 miles off the Gulf coast and you can own a freaking 40-acre farm (mules not included) for what it would take you to homestead 2 acres in Montana or Idaho.

[Karoo]

northern mtns of NC - conservative and beautiful; also it is cool in summer

[AnotherUnixGeek]

You can live in semi-isolation in pretty much every state, but for the specific requirements you list, either AZ or NV seem like good bets.

[ThanhPhero]

Việt Nam is a really fine place to retire.

[Poser]

“Wyoming gets hot in spring or summer, “

The average daytime high temperature from mid May to October is 92 degrees here in Port Charlotte, Florida. Overnight is usually low to mid 80s in June, July, August and September. The advantage of Wyoming is that it cools off after dark. So... Yes, it gets hot for many days in the summer in Wyoming, but it doesn’t stay that way for weeks.

Of course, my only Wyoming experience is the three weeks of August that surround Sturgis bike week. I found it refreshing after July is SW Florida.

[Brian Griffin]

Some states will help pay Medicare premiums if your income is low.

Remember a new Democratic administration will try to make red states blue by dumping Third World refugees into them. Ask a Springfield, OH resident how that works out.

Refugee resettlement agencies know where the lower cost places are.

[Poser]

“This. Florida or Alabama, back up 30-50 miles off the Gulf coast and you can own a freaking 40-acre farm”

The trees in SW Florida make lousy firewood, but who wants a fire when it’s 93 degrees anyway?

[bort]

Try east Tennessee. Beautiful mountains, inexpensive land, low taxes, plenty of room, close proximity to Smokey Mountain National Park, mild temperatures and great hunting and fishing. Lots of historical sites within driving distance and you’re not too far from civilization. Only drawback is lack of diversity.

[Brian Griffin]

https://www.atoztheusa.com/montana/solar.html

https://images.worldtradepress.com/resources/energy/solar/map_pv_us_january_may2004.jpg

[mythenjoseph]

Checkout Brownsville Junction Maine, I bought up there years ago and I absolutely loved it...got the house for 25k cash (a little fixing up but no police / no one bothers ya / If you want to run to Dover-Foxcroft its not far / broadband is good for internet as its an old railroad town and they run the cable along the R.R. tracks....its cold but water is awesome and wildlife everywhere...cheap living without giving up the great comforts our past generations gave us.

[Fledermaus]

Tennessee

Lots of land. Access to smaller cities and towns.

West Tennessee west of Jackson is nice.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Stay away from “Red” states, they are circling the financial bowl

???

[BradyLS]

Did you say _stay away_ from _red_ states?

[voicereason]

I would vote for Tennessee.

No income tax,pretty easy ability to green-belt a land parcel for reduced property taxes (agricultural), you can still find some decent land prices. Thats’s where I’m planning on heading. Just stay East of Nashville for the mountains.

[Labyrinthos]

Arizona is not one large, hot, dry desert. It has five climate zones depending upon elevation, latitude, and topography (https://www.arizonan.com/relocating-to-arizona/climate/). Flagstaff, for example, is situated in pine forests and is the fifth snowiest city in the USA. Eastern Arizona is mostly mountainous pine forests. The USDA agricultural zones range from 5b to 10a. Downtown Tucson might be 110 degrees, while Summerhaven — a mere 40 miles to the northeast — is in the mid-70s. Indeed, Arizona has at least 14 “mile high” cities (https://familydestinationsguide.com/scenic-mountain-towns-arizona/).

[Brian Griffin]

When I checked a few years back the most expensive construction on a home an unlicensed person could do in Florida was $75,000.

[voicereason]

It’s sure pretty out there, but the state is a mess. Couldn’t get me to move back there for any amount. Too many NY’ers and NJ’ers screwing it up. Not too mention Philly sucks too.

[DIRTYSECRET]

28 responses in 40 minutes on a Sunday afternoon. Congrats. You got everyone here wanting to help you out. Me-I can only live for 2 years any where b4 the wanderlust sets in. Hawaii offers island fever-not good. Great for a summer or winter. New England is perfect in the fall. The Greek Islands-rent a room in Piraeus for 6 summer months and spend half of them checking out the rest of them. At some point you will want to ‘sleep in your own bed’. For a US road tripper getting used to the same mattress helps as the seasons change. Buy a van. Join 1000 Trails. Life will be good.

[AZJeep]

Second Arizona.
Low taxes, good weather, still not liberal, and lots of semi-isolation in rural AZ.
Especially in Northern Arizona, you can buy land even for $500-$1000 per acre.
There are many mountains and other nature wonders and there are lots of places where you need jeep to get to.
There are also huge areas without cell coverage over here.
The main problem is to make sure you have Water.
In some places, they drilled 4000 feet deep without finding any!
Having water delivered, as some do, is costly and cumbersome.
Solar is OK in AZ for remote places.
Septic can be arranged.

[doorgunner69]

Hope you like cold weather in those places.

Surviving the winter off-grid might be an issue.