These cities made Kiplinger's most recent list of great places to retire. Each has a small-town feel with big-city amenities.

WINCHESTER, VA.

Population: 27,543

Median home price: $192,000

Old Town Winchester, the city's recently renovated pedestrian mall, features more than 30 restaurants and bars, serving up everything from sushi to Jamaican cuisine. On Saturdays from May through October, the Old Town Farmers' Market offers produce and baked goods from area farms.

Four new active-adult communities in the Winchester area offer homes and apartments at just under $300,000 to $500,000 or more. Retirees can also find one-level, single-family homes ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. Condominiums start at about $125,000. In 2012, the top-rated Winchester Medical Center completed a $161 million project that expanded emergency services and added beds.

Located 75 miles from Washington, D.C., Winchester experiences all four seasons, but winters aren't as fierce as they are farther north. Every April, residents of all ages turn out for the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, an 88-year-old celebration of the area's apple-growing heritage.

The area surrounding Winchester is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Residents can kayak and fish in the Shenandoah River or hike in Shenandoah National Park. Local farms feature days for you to pick your own produce, including strawberries, apples and pumpkins.

Virginia doesn't tax Social Security benefits. It has no estate tax or inheritance tax. Seniors age 65 and older who meet income limits can deduct up to $12,000 each from state income taxes.

COLUMBIA, MO.

Population: 115,276

Median home price: $112,000

Columbia, Mo., has three institutions of higher learning within its boundaries. That means lots of bookstores, restaurants, indie films and other amenities that keep both college students and full-time residents entertained and informed. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Missouri -- a university-based, noncredit program for adults 50 and older -- offers courses on everything from Missouri's role in the Civil War to how to use your iPad. )Columbia's hospitals are top-rated and offer rehab facilities as well as geriatric and other specialty services.

Columbia is a great place for active retirees. The 4.7-mile Nature and Fitness Trail, popular with walkers, bikers and joggers, cuts through the city and connects to Katy Trail State Park, a rails-to-trails conversion that stretches for 185 miles.

The median home price in Columbia is well below the national median. There are more than a dozen retirement communities in the area, with more under construction. Other senior-friendly residential options include condos and single-level homes in planned communities.

Most retirees don't have to pay state taxes on Social Security benefits and can deduct part of their retirement benefits. Missouri has no estate or inheritance tax.

(Sandra Block is a senior associate editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.)