Scarborough, Maine

Located about seven miles south of Portland, Scarborough is a safe and laid-back community, ideal for retirees seeking a more quiet life. Its proximity to Maine’s largest city gives seniors easy access to a thriving culinary scene, a wide array of cultural options, such as galleries and art walks, as well as major hospitals. 

With scenic views of Maine’s rocky coasts, Scarborough is a haven for outdoor activities like biking, bird-watching, and kayaking. Scarborough Marsh, a 3,100-acre estuary that happens to be the state’s largest salt marsh, is a tranquil place for all of the above. Scarborough also has a number of beaches, including Pine Point, Ferry Beach, and Higgins Beach. Residents can buy beach parking passes for easy access. 

Although Maine is known for its cold winters, Scarborough’s coastal location creates milder temperatures during that time of year, with pleasant and breezy summers. 

Piper Shores, a popular nonprofit life-care retirement community in the area, last year completed work on a $70 million independent living campus, an expansion of its continuing care options. 

Retirees don’t pay taxes on Social Security benefits in the state of Maine, and they’re allowed to deduct up to $35,000 in pension income.