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Key Takeaways
- Thanks to low housing, food, and overall living costs, Natchez, Mississippi, earned a spot on Investopedia’s 2025 list of the 50 best cities to retire.
- Retirees receive tax-free Social Security benefits and retirement account withdrawals, as well as access to almost 200 local health care providers.
- The town offers rich cultural attractions, historic sites, and easy access to nearby cities, making it a lively yet affordable retirement spot.
Deep in the heart of Southwest Mississippi lies Natchez, a town of fewer than 14,000 people. Natchez has good health care options, low taxes, and a rich cultural history that could make it an ideal spot to spend your golden years.
Its affordable cost of living propelled it to a spot on Investopedia’s list of the top 50 cities to retire in.
Cost of Living in Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez residents enjoy an affordable lifestyle. The average home price is $116,220, the average monthly housing costs are $592, and the monthly food costs for a household with two adults and no children are $577.
Natchez residents benefit from Mississippi’s retirement-friendly taxes, which exclude Social Security benefits and IRA or 401(k) withdrawals.
Tip
To learn more about how we created this list of 50 best places to retire, read our methodology.
Access to Health Care
Nearly 200 doctors and clinicians practice within a 15-mile radius of Natchez. The area has 73 health care establishments, which include doctors’ offices, dentists, and outpatient centers, as well as three major hospitals, including one in Natchez and two 10 miles away.
Tim Graham / Getty Images
Lifestyle and Recreational Activities
Natchez offers a variety of cultural and recreational activities. It has dozens of restaurants, cafes, and pubs serving everything from fresh seafood and international cuisine to Southern favorites.
Throughout the year, Natchez hosts multiple events—including:
- An annual golf tournament
- Balloon festival
- Musical performances
- Plays at the Natchez Little Theatre
- A weekly farmers’ market
The town also has multiple historic sites, such as beautifully preserved antebellum homes, more than a dozen cultural heritage sites, and year-round lectures hosted by the Natchez Historical Society.
Natchez lies at the southernmost end of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a scenic highway that extends almost 450 miles through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. If weekend getaways are more your style, you’ll find Mobile, Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Civil War town of Vicksburg, Mississippi, within easy driving distance.
Tip
Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Jackson, Mississippi, is located just over 110 miles from Natchez. For domestic flights, head to Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, around 90 miles away.
The Bottom Line
Natchez offers low living costs, solid health care options, and tax-free Social Security and pension withdrawals, making it an affordable and appealing place to retire.
