Looking for a city to retire? Look below.

MONEY Magazine's six picks for terrific retirement towns on the water.

• 1. Dunedin, Fla. Pros: Less crowded and less expensive than many towns on the Atlantic side of the state. Cons: Hurricanes are possible. Just a few miles north of Clearwater and 20 miles west of Tampa, Dunedin (pronounced dun-eed-in) was settled by Scotsmen in the late 19th century. Morning rush hour is a steady flow of walkers, joggers and bikers cruising the 37-mile Pinellas Trail or heading over the causeway to Honeymoon Island State Park, a 385-acre recreation area with four miles of beach and more than two miles of nature trail.

• 2. Beaufort, S.C. Pros: Great medical care -- the local hospital is affiliated with Duke University. Cons: Taxes can take a bite out of your savings. When Hollywood movie scouts need the quintessential southern setting, they frequently call on Beaufort. Tucked among South Carolina's Sea Islands, this 300-year-old town with antebellum mansions and moss-covered oaks has been the backdrop for such blockbusters as Forrest Gump, Prince of Tides and The Big Chill.

• 3. Sequim, Wash. Pros: Water, mountains, culture and a small town all at once. Cons: The Pacific is a tad nippy for a swim. Located two hours north of Seattle, Sequim (pronounced skwim) offers a lower cost of living and an easier pace than its burgeoning neighbor to the south. For about $300,000, you can get a three-bedroom house there.

• 4. Durango, Colo. Pros: Outdoor paradise with mild four-season weather. Cons: Home prices aren't cheap. If you don't think of Colorado as having much water, you clearly haven't been to Durango. Its name originates from the Basque word for "water town," thanks to the mighty Animas River, which flows almost parallel to Durango's Main Avenue. Vacationers flock here to kayak, wield their fly-fishing gear or simply take in water views (either from the town's 14,000-foot peaks or from the network of shady parks that abut the river).

• 5. St. Joseph, Mich. Pros: Great medical care; lots to do. Cons: Winter winds off the lake can be mighty chilly. Long, sandy beaches, clear blue water, brilliant sunsets ... in Michigan? You bet. The stretch of Lake Michigan coastline that hugs the western border of the state has all the charm of the seashore, only without the stinging jellyfish, blanket-to-blanket crowds and impossibly high home prices. While lots of appealing little towns dot this "Riviera of the Midwest," St. Joseph -- with its vibrant year-round community, topnotch medical care and proximity to Chicago -- stands out.

• 6. Marble Falls, Texas Pros: Plenty of affordable property right near the water. Cons: Summer temperatures can hit the triple digits. Until recently, this little town in the hill country 47 miles northwest of Austin was a well-kept secret. But word has leaked out of the Lone Star State that this area isn't just a refuge from high home prices. With its gently rolling terrain, stately trees, colorful wildflowers and -- increasingly -- vineyards and fine cuisine, it's a little piece of Provence in the big ole state of Texas.

LONG LIFE

• Montgomery County, Md. No. 1 Best Place for a Long Life Towns include: Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Calverton, Colesville, Fairland, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Montgomery Village, North Bethesda, North Potomac, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton-Glenmont, White Oak Life expectancy at birth: 81.31 years Two top-ranked hospitals (Suburban and Naval, both in Bethesda) help make affluent, educated Montgomery County No. 1 for longevity.

• Story County, Iowa No. 2 Best Place for a Long Life Towns include: Ames Life expectancy at birth: 81.02 years The Story begins in the city of Ames, on the campus of Iowa State University. The school's Memorial Union Workspace program offers classes and studio space to the public, including programs in pottery, music, and -- yes -- basket-weaving. Also on campus, the nationally respected Reiman Gardens is open seven days a week and offers a butterfly garden, as well as indoor and outdoor botanical exhibitions.

• Fort Smith, Ark. No. 1 Best Place for Affordable Homes Median home price (2007): $87,000 Median family income: $51,939. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the town is surrounded by the Arkansas River and its tributaries, where thrill-seekers go white-water rafting or canoeing. Three- or four-bedroom houses hover around $200,000. Waterfront properties are pricier: A house with river frontage starts around $500,000 for a four-bedroom, three-bath home and can range into the millions.

• Des Moines, Iowa No. 2 Best Place for Affordable Homes Iowa's capital city, the second-largest on our list, is for folks who crave a city lifestyle. Catch a ballgame, explore the zoo, stroll through an art museum, or see your favorite band perform at the Wells Fargo Arena. Originally founded as Fort Des Moines in the 1800s, the city has ballooned into a thriving metropolis. Stroll down the picturesque riverwalk to nearby shops and restaurants, or head to Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs, for a ballgame. A small downtown condo overlooking the river costs around $130,000.

Toughest retirement

Austin, Texas: Hard Time Getting a Doctor who Takes Medicare Anchorage, Alaska: Fewest Fellow Seniors Bridgeport, Connecticut: Highest Taxes Washington, DC: Most Poor Seniors Rhode Island: Least Older Men Provo, Utah: Most Youthful Population Queens, New York: Violence and the Boulevard of Death Connecticut: Deficient Nursing Homes Your Kids’ House Green Valley, Arizona: Trouble in a Sheltered Community Corpus Christi, Texas: Hottest Feeling City Riverside, California: Declining Property Values

Retirement should be the best of times; but it could be the worst of times if you choose the wrong place to live out the remainder of your life. If safety is a concern, examine crime statistics; you don't want to be looking over your shoulder when you're taking a power walk. Taxes are also a concern if you're living on a fixed income. Some states, like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, have no personal income tax, and sales and property taxes vary from location to location.