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Key Takeaways
- Housing costs vary dramatically across legendary TV towns—from $205,471 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, to $1.17 million in Pasadena, California.
- Retiree populations differ wildly: Mount Airy’s population is made up of 27% who are 65 and over, while Bozeman, Montana, skews younger at just 11%, meaning the availability of services for older adults and the community atmosphere varies significantly.
- Monthly rent spans from $949 in Mount Airy to $3,100 in Miami—a $2,151 difference that could mean an extra $25,812 annually to spend on retirement living.
You’ve watched “Yellowstone.” You loved “Parks and Recreation.” You binged “The Golden Girls.” But the towns where they take place aren’t just sets in Hollywood, but often real places where real people can find a retirement destination.
The costs vary significantly. A retiree in Mount Airy, North Carolina, which stood in for the fictional Mayberry in “The Andy Griffith Show,” might pay $949 monthly in rent. The same retiree in Miami would pay $3,100. Still, these places work as retirement destinations because the shows captured something genuine: the small-town community in Mount Airy, authentic winters in Roslyn, Washington, and year-round activities in Miami.
Mount Airy, North Carolina (Mayberry in ‘The Andy Griffith Show’)
Actor Andy Griffith grew up in this area, and producers based the fictional town of Mayberry directly on this small town in North Carolina. The show was filmed in Hollywood, but Mount Airy has transformed itself into a living memorial—visitors can tour the town’s barber shop and ride in a replica of the police cruiser featured in the series.
The median home costs $205,471. The average rent runs $949 per month—the lowest of all five locations. The cost of living is 15% cheaper than the national average. Property taxes are 0.55%, meaning a $200,000 home comes with about $1,100 in annual taxes.
Twenty-seven percent of residents are 65 years old or older. That means established services for older adults and a community more built around the needs of retirement.
CBS / Getty Images
Roslyn, Washington (Cicely, Alaska in ‘Northern Exposure’)
Roslyn, Washington, a former mining town, stood in for the fictional Cicely, Alaska, in “Northern Exposure,” which aired from 1990 to 1995. The show’s producers chose this 884-person town for its weathered buildings and heavy snow—they wanted an authentic Alaskan feel.
The median home cost in Roslyn is $458,238, while the average monthly rent is about $2,250. The cost of living is only 3% above the national average—considerably lower than the state average. Property taxes average 0.71%, which is about $3,250 annually on a median-priced home. That compares with the national average of $3,018 in 2024.
Bozeman, Montana (‘Yellowstone’)
“Yellowstone” films throughout Montana, with Bozeman appearing in downtown scenes. After season three, the production shifted almost entirely to Montana. The Chief Joseph Ranch near Darby, Montana, serves as a stand-in for the Dutton family home, and Bozeman’s homes spiked in price after becoming a popular destination for people relocating during the pandemic.
The median home costs $717,979, while the average monthly rent runs $2,706. The cost of living is 12% higher than the nation’s average. Property taxes are tiered: 0.76% on the first $400,000 of value, then 1.10% on amounts between $400,000 and $1.5 million. A median-priced home costs about $6,000 in annual property taxes.
Only 11% of Bozeman’s 55,042 residents are 65 or older. The town skews younger, attracting outdoor enthusiasts and remote workers. If you’re retiring but want an active, younger-minded community alongside world-class outdoor recreation, Bozeman might fit the bill.
halbergman / Getty Images
Pasadena, California (‘Parks & Recreation,’ ‘The Good Place’)
Pasadena City Hall’s Mediterranean Revival architecture served as Pawnee’s government building throughout the TV series “Parks & Recreation.” Interior hallway scenes were also shot there, although most indoor shots were filmed in soundstages.
The most expensive city on this list, the median Pasadena home costs $1,179,361, while the monthly rent averages about $2,700. Property taxes average 1.15% of assessed value, costing about $13,600 annually on a median home, among the added funds you’ll expend in a city whose cost of living averages about 65% higher than the national average.
ampueroleonardo / Getty Images
Miami, Florida (‘The Golden Girls’)
Miami remains synonymous with “The Golden Girls” decades after the show ended—and for good reason. The city’s older adult population tops 1.22 million and continues to grow as retirees chase the year-round warmth and active lifestyle the show captured.
The median home costs $578,128, while the monthly rent averages $3,100—the highest among these five locations. The cost of living runs 57% above the national average. Property tax rates hover around 2% of assessed value, so a median-priced home costs about $11,500 in annual property taxes.
