https://www.walkscore.com/methodology.shtml says that amenities within 5 minute walk / 0.25 mile are given maximum points, while those 30 minute walk / 1.5 mile away are given no points.
If your walking speed and range differ from those assumptions, then walkability for you may be better or worse than what that web site suggests, and relative rankings of different locations can change.
Burlington, VT, is pretty expensive, at least compared to someplace like Greensboro, NC.
So interesting to see some votes for Piedmont Triad area. My S lives in Burlington and works in Winston-Salem. I never really thought of it as a place to retire, but we recently drove around WS and really liked it - so who knows, we could end up there to be close to him! Would love to hear more about WS from those who have knowledge of it. (We are very familiar with Burlington/Elon and somewhat with Greensboro.)
One of our kids graduated from University of North Carolina School Of the Arts. That school offers a LOT of cultural things for the community…music, theater, dance, art. The small downtown is darling…nice restaurants and growing. We liked the neighborhood our son lived in a LOT.
Wake Forest Medical Center is there, a first rate hospital. It’s not far from Greensboro either. Lots to do in the area.
In addition, it’s a shortish drive to the mountains…or the ocean.
We liked the climate. Yes…summers are hot and humid…but they do have four seasons…unlike a lot of southern areas.
The people we met were friendly. I could see lots of volunteer opportunities!
Another idea to make things more affordable is to work on side hustle like a property that contains or where you could build an airbnb type unit. Several of my extended family members have airbnb units they rent at their residence and the revenue make easily covers their monthly mortgage.
Thanks @thumper1. My S works for Forsythe County EMS, so we know all about Wake Baptist and the health care options. I did not know about UNC School of the Arts, however!
@mominva - S has lived in Burlington for 3 years, and the ice really hasn’t been a problem. Maybe once per winter, and it doesn’t last long. Certainly a lot better than the snowstorms we get here in PA! They actually had a big snow this winter (8"), but it was mild the next day and melted quickly. The biggest issue is that they don’t have the equipment to deal with it, so it can bring things to a halt for awhile. Being from the north, S was the only one in his townhouse community with a snow shovel. He got major brownie points by shoveling his neighbors’ front walks!
We are on a bus line that connects us with 3 downtowns, a large college campus, and major shopping and health facilities via a short ride. There is a trail and a couple of parks nearby. Walk score though is below 30. 
So do not dismiss a place just because it has a low walk number. Look at all options.
My thought on the walkability score is that if I get to the point where I can’t drive, I probably am not going to be able to walk and carry my groceries home easily, either. Just something I’ve been mulling over as I look at places. I’ve lived in both – house in the suburb with a zero score (or darned close), and an apartment with a score in the mid-90s. I think good bus service would be more important to me than a grocery I could walk to.
This happened to come across my Facebook feed today.
19 Places Liberals Can Retire As Expats For $200K
https://moneywise.com/a/ch-ra/10-places-where-you-can-retire-for-200k/p-19?t=19+Places+Liberals+Can+Retire+As+Expats+For+%24200K
How does one find out a house’s walkability number?
https://www.walkscore.com/methodology.shtml and type an address into the box. (The page describes the methodology.)
Actually, I posted the wrong link in #28. This is the correct one:
https://www.mywinston-salem.com/neighborhoods/
My son lived in Ardmore. It was so nice. Mixed ages…lots of medical And nursing students from WF. Very very convenient to some great shopping.
Not really walkable to stores or the like…but very close.
Nice, small but not too small mixed craftsman style houses.
Someone mentioned Springfield MO - my sister lives there - in a very nice new sfr 3br 2 ba for about $125,000 - so yes - very affordable housing. But I don’t care for the weather or the political/religious climate.
I’m still hoping for retirement at the beach - downsize to a 2bd condo and 1 car. We will be heavily dependent on SS and one small pension. But I think if we are debt free, it could work.
If you’re willing to ride one of those cool upright bikes with baskets, you can ignore the walk score and figure out the bike score instead. My house has a terrible walk score, but I’ve lived here for thirty years and I can bike easily to the grocery store, downtown and shopping areas. I can walk to the grocery store, in fact.
I WISH my taxes were $7K. Try double plus for me. Plus, a husband who refuses to consider downsizing.
Self driving cars will make the walk score irrelevant by the time I retire.
So fun to look at those ex-pat links!
I’m in a liberal neighborhood, liberal city, hour from Boston, an 88 walk score. Near enough to the water. But the rest is $$ (car insurance, contractor stuff, various services.) And take a look at what U classes cost. The hospitals are great, I don’t want to move a little further out and get stuck with an average hospital. And right now, the weather’s knocked out power all over. My street was ok, but my block was out for a while.
But there’s a sameness around me, a slowness to embrace change, that’s driving me nuts. Statistically, parts of New England are very diverse, but everyone right around me has the same politics, intellectual interests and concerns. “Senior” things (learning coops, etc,) are full of…sorry, but seniors. Be careful what you wish for. Looking at Zillow doesn’t really tell you.
Right now, I’m less focused on severe old age than from now to then. I’d love coastal Maine. I just looked at a bit of Maryland’s Eastern Shore (friend’s moving to a small college community there.) But undecided. For now, ideal may be longer respites in other areas, then coming back here.
We do occasionally rent the 3rd fl to professors who just come in midweek to teach. Easy.