Warm Gulf winters, some of the safest numbers of any small city in America, a walkable historic downtown and beaches — without big-city traffic.
Honest caveat: Gulf hurricane & storm-surge risk — its one weak spot.
Lakeside small-town charm at 184 ft elevation — inland, so no storm surge. Violent crime well below the US average; cost of living near the national average.
Honest caveat: hot, humid summers. *Total crime runs high on paper, driven by shoplifting in the festival-tourist downtown.
The smallest of the four — German heritage, wineries and Hill Country scenery. Crime below the national average, drier heat, and no hurricanes.
Honest caveat: coolest winters of the four (Jan low 36°F, occasional freeze); Main Street gets weekend tourist traffic.
An artsy bayside town on Mobile Bay with mild Gulf winters, crime numbers among the lowest of any small city in America, and a walkable, flower-lined downtown — no big-city traffic anywhere in sight.
Honest caveat: Gulf hurricane corridor, and one of the rainiest spots in the US (~66 in/yr) — hot, humid, wet summers.