The Town Files

The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S., scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Snowmass Village, CO.

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Numbers match the ranking.
The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes1. Snowmass Village, COscore 1002. Ketchum, IDscore 1003. Belfast, MEscore 1004. Village of Oak Creek (Big …score 1005. Yountville, CAscore 1006. Camden, MEscore 1007. Bar Harbor, MEscore 1008. Sisters, ORscore 1009. Cayucos, CAscore 10010. Mount Shasta, CAscore 10011. New London, NHscore 10012. Bristol, MEscore 10013. Boothbay, MEscore 10014. Stowe, VTscore 9915. Waterbury, VTscore 9916. Shandaken, NYscore 9917. Randolph, VTscore 9918. Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CAscore 9919. Ojai, CAscore 9920. Lake Wildwood, CAscore 9921. Johnson Lane, NVscore 9922. Wellfleet, MAscore 9923. Rockport, MEscore 9824. Searsport, MEscore 9825. Cambria, CAscore 98

  1. 50Cape Elizabeth, Maine

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    9,535 people · Cumberland County · median home $731,600 · income $145,821 · Jan low 16°F · 69 in snow

  2. 49Woodstock, Vermont

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    3,005 people · Windsor County · median home $582,000 · income $120,938 · Jan low 7°F · 78 in snow

  3. 48Blue Hill, Maine

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    2,792 people · Hancock County · median home $399,500 · income $80,377 · Jan low 11°F · 72 in snow

  4. 47Tiburon, California

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    9,146 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $232,969 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

  5. 46Provincetown, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,318 people · Barnstable County · median home $959,000 · income $158,125 · Jan low 22°F

  6. 45Carmel Valley Village, California

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    4,524 people · Monterey County · median home $1,275,500 · income $156,161 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

  7. 44Provincetown, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,664 people · Barnstable County · median home $902,200 · income $136,904 · Jan low 22°F

  8. 43Port Ludlow, Washington

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,959 people · Jefferson County · median home $635,600 · income $96,103 · Jan low 38°F · 2 in snow

  9. 42Waimea, Hawaii

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    9,904 people · Hawaii County · median home $677,400 · income $100,198 · Jan low 68°F · 0 in snow

  10. 41Jacksonville, Oregon

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,020 people · Jackson County · median home $649,200 · income $90,341 · Jan low 33°F · 3 in snow

  11. 40Little Compton, Rhode Island

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    3,616 people · Newport County · median home $783,400 · income $134,750 · Jan low 24°F · 38 in snow

  12. 39St. Helena, California

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,430 people · Napa County · median home $1,647,700 · income $148,750 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

  13. 38Minden, Nevada

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,442 people · Douglas County · median home $586,000 · income $99,904 · Jan low 19°F · 22 in snow

  14. 37Cape Neddick, Maine

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,037 people · York County · median home $684,400 · income $108,412 · Jan low 14°F · 70 in snow

  15. 36Angwin, California

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,633 people · Napa County · median home $708,100 · income $117,500 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

  16. 35Rockport, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    6,992 people · Essex County · median home $746,100 · income $96,250 · Jan low 18°F · 50 in snow

  17. 34Camden, Maine

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    5,232 people · Knox County · median home $520,600 · income $82,344 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

  18. 33Bandon, Oregon

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,321 people · Coos County · median home $503,200 · income $48,187 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

  19. 32Rockport, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 94th percentile

    5,010 people · Essex County · median home $748,200 · income $86,250 · Jan low 18°F · 49 in snow

  20. 31Nevada City, California

    Retirement: 95th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,152 people · Nevada County · median home $677,400 · income $75,792 · Jan low 35°F · 15 in snow

  21. 30Gardnerville, Nevada

    Retirement: 95th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    6,211 people · Douglas County · median home $487,300 · income $62,267 · Jan low 19°F · 22 in snow

  22. 29Waldoboro, Maine

    Retirement: 95th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,154 people · Lincoln County · median home $274,900 · income $69,107 · Jan low 15°F · 69 in snow

  23. 28Friday Harbor, Washington

    Retirement: 95th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,613 people · San Juan County · median home $570,400 · income $80,378 · Jan low 37°F · 6 in snow

  24. 27Madawaska, Maine

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,797 people · Aroostook County · median home $158,300 · income $55,666 · Jan low 3°F · 99 in snow

  25. 26Montauk, New York

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    4,318 people · Suffolk County · median home $1,356,600 · income $142,961 · Jan low 28°F · 26 in snow

  26. 25Cambria, California

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,678 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $930,200 · income $99,147 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

  27. 24Searsport, Maine

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,649 people · Waldo County · median home $224,400 · income $64,303 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow

  28. 23Rockport, Maine

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,644 people · Knox County · median home $469,000 · income $86,979 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

  29. 22Wellfleet, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,566 people · Barnstable County · median home $855,300 · income $117,938 · Jan low 26°F · 23 in snow

  30. 21Johnson Lane, Nevada

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    6,409 people · Douglas County · median home $764,100 · income $121,458 · Jan low 24°F · 14 in snow

  31. 20Lake Wildwood, California

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,158 people · Nevada County · median home $551,800 · income $85,771 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

  32. 19Ojai, California

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    7,637 people · Ventura County · median home $1,016,200 · income $82,656 · Jan low 35°F · 0 in snow

  33. 18Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    6,259 people · Marin County · median home $1,445,600 · income $200,761 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

  34. 17Randolph, Vermont

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    4,774 people · Orange County · median home $278,700 · income $76,758 · Jan low 7°F · 81 in snow

  35. 16Shandaken, New York

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,866 people · Ulster County · median home $346,100 · income $66,031 · Jan low 12°F · 105 in snow

  36. 15Waterbury, Vermont

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,331 people · Washington County · median home $447,200 · income $103,917 · Jan low 8°F · 126 in snow

  37. 14Stowe, Vermont

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,223 people · Lamoille County · median home $647,800 · income $93,618 · Jan low 6°F · 235 in snow

  38. 13Boothbay, Maine

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,003 people · Lincoln County · median home $342,100 · income $60,320 · Jan low 14°F · 70 in snow

  39. 12Bristol, Maine

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,834 people · Lincoln County · median home $406,400 · income $100,750 · Jan low 15°F · 70 in snow

  40. 11New London, New Hampshire

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    4,400 people · Merrimack County · median home $554,100 · income $107,773 · Jan low 13°F · 85 in snow

  41. 10Mount Shasta, California

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,223 people · Siskiyou County · median home $330,200 · income $47,917 · Jan low 27°F · 89 in snow

  42. 9Cayucos, California

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    2,505 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $1,011,900 · income $87,235 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

  43. 8Sisters, Oregon

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,064 people · Deschutes County · median home $631,100 · income $94,524 · Jan low 21°F · 26 in snow

  44. 7Bar Harbor, Maine

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    5,089 people · Hancock County · median home $538,400 · income $77,180 · Jan low 15°F

  45. 6Camden, Maine

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,850 people · Knox County · median home $498,800 · income $78,788 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

  46. 5Yountville, California

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,436 people · Napa County · median home $802,200 · income $80,342 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

  47. 4Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), Arizona

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    6,128 people · Yavapai County · median home $741,100 · income $80,878 · Jan low 34°F · 26 in snow

  48. 3Belfast, Maine

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    6,938 people · Waldo County · median home $340,900 · income $67,679 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow

  49. 2Ketchum, Idaho

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,555 people · Blaine County · median home $824,000 · income $93,046 · Jan low 8°F · 102 in snow

  50. 1Snowmass Village, Colorado

    Retirement: 100th percentile · Tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950: 100th percentile

    3,096 people · Pitkin County · median home $1,729,900 · income $102,959 · Jan low 9°F · 171 in snow

Price vs ranking

Median home value vs ranking, U.S. towns0255075100$37K$341K$645K$948K$1252KMedian home valuePercentile
Orange squares are the 50 towns on this list; green dots are other towns on The Town Files in the U.S..

More U.S. rankings

Same ranking, other places

Methodology. We ranked 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S. (2020 Census population; towns with 2,500+ people have pages so far). Lifestyle measures are The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025), shown as percentiles. The combined score is the average of the percentiles shown for each town; a town must be above the middle on every one. Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: