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This year’s Best Places to Retire list may surprise you. None of the typical beach-and-golf spots made the cut. The reason is simple. Most popular retiree destinations score surprisingly low in the factors that help guarantee a financially stable retirement, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

To help you find a secure place to spend your post-work years, Money limited the Best Places to Retire list to the 12 states ranked highest by the NIRS. The result: 9 winning towns that offer affordable living, great encore career opportunities, and plenty of amenities.