This list of retiree-friendly cities has something for everyone on every budget.
You did it. You worked, you saved, you invested. Maybe you raised a family, put kids through college, and paid off your mortgage. Now you’re ready to retire from working full time.
Maybe you want to enjoy all the things you didn’t always have time for — more travel, more recreation, more reading, more volunteer work — whatever it is you’ve been itching to do.
Do you want sunny weather and beaches, outdoor dining, fishing, golfing, tennis, boating, horseback riding? Are you seeking nature, wide-open skies, hiking, biking, or kayaking, or do you prefer the excitement of a bustling city with a good airport nearby? Maybe you want to join a book club, go to the opera, theater, museums, antique shopping, or just walk to the farmers market in the morning. You want good healthcare, good quality of life and a place that will fit your budget and your lifestyle.
To compile this list of retiree-friendly cities, personal finance site WalletHub used a variety of data sources to compare 182 U.S. cities — including the 150 most populated, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across four key dimensions:
• Affordability, which includes cost of living, taxes, cost of in-home services and adult day health care
• Activities, which includes recreation centers, fishing, golf, museums, theaters, art galleries, book clubs, music venues, and volunteer activities
• Quality of life includes the share of population over 65, elderly friendly labor market, poverty figures, walk score, transportation for seniors, mild weather, crime and air and water quality
• Health care includes vaccination stats, number of health care facilities, doctors, dentists, nurses and physical therapists, elder suicide rate, life expectancy and quality of the public hospital system.
Each metric was scored and city scores were then averaged, resulting in the ranking.
So whether you’re done with shoveling snow and seek a mild climate, or you enjoy the winter white, four seasons, and cozy holiday season, this list has the cities where you can live your retirement good life.
1. Charleston, S.C.
Affordability rank: 21Activities rank: 15Quality of life rank: 75Health care rank: 48
The coastal South Carolina city is often high on the lists of best places to retire. TopRetirements.com describes it as a charming old city with central squares, parks and many new developments springing up for retirees. Charleston has a strong economy thanks to tourism and its nearby military bases. It is also becoming a prime location for technology jobs and corporations. The area enjoys mild winters and there are museums and festivals, seven hospitals and an international airport.
If you like fishing, Charleston has the most fishing facilities per capita, according to WalletHub.
The rankings are based on 182 cities.
2. Orlando
Affordability rank: 24Activities rank: 16Quality of life rank: 77Health care rank: 53
While retirees might be wary of Florida’s frequent hurricanes, Orlando’s inland location means it takes less of a hit. DisneyWorld has only closed six times for hurricanes in the last couple of decades, sometimes only for part of a day.
3. Cincinnati
Affordability rank: 98Activities rank: 3Quality of life rank: 66Health care rank: 49
Cincinnati may be the overlooked great city of the Midwest. It’s got major sports teams, museums, breweries, wineries, performing arts, recreation opportunities, great restaurants and an international airport, all in a relatively affordable city.
4. Miami
Affordability rank: 78Activities rank: 7Quality of life rank: 94Health care rank: 25
It’s hard to beat the weather and cosmopolitan lifestyle of Miami. It has lots of over-55 communities, sunny beaches and a big airport.
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5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Affordability rank: 87Activities rank: 12Quality of life rank: 52Health care rank: 31
Fort Lauderdale is another of the top fishing spots, according to WalletHub.
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6. San Francisco
Affordability rank: 160Activities rank: 2Quality of life rank: 22Health care rank: 18
If you can afford it, you’ll never get bored in San Francisco, which has ample recreation opportunities, great restaurants, and is among the cities on WalletHub’s list with the most museums.
7. Scottsdale, Ariz,
Affordability rank: 66Activities rank: 28Quality of life rank: 4Health care rank: 71
Of all the cities, Scottsdale has the second highest percentage of people aged 65 and over, behind Pearl City, Hawaii. It also ranks fourth for mild weather.
8. Wilmington, Del.
Affordability rank: 53Activities rank: 20Quality of life rank: 150Health care rank: 7
9. Tampa, Fla.
Affordability rank: 34Activities rank: 11Quality of life rank: 80Health care rank: 91
Tampa ranks among the top five cities for most fishing facilities per capita.
10. Salt Lake City
Affordability rank: 50Activities rank: 10Quality of life rank: 123Health care rank: 59
11. Casper, Wyo.
Affordability rank: 5Activities rank: 66Quality of life rank: 35Health care rank: 108
12. Minneapolis
Affordability rank: 136Activities rank: 4Quality of life rank: 71Health care rank: 20
13. Atlanta
Affordability rank: 49Activities rank: 5Quality of life rank: 128Health care rank: 114
Atlanta is one of five cities with the most museums per capita.
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14. Denver
Affordability rank: 89Activities rank: 19Quality of life rank: 65Health care rank: 69
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15. St. Petersburg, Fla.
Affordability rank: 34Activities rank: 39Quality of life rank: 28Health care rank: 87
St. Petersburg ranks among the top five cities for most fishing facilities per capita.
16. Boise, Idaho
Affordability rank: 74Activities rank: 67Quality of life rank: 17Health care rank: 39
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17. Cape Coral, Fla.
Affordability rank: 38Activities rank: 70Quality of life rank: 20Health care rank: 76
18. Las Vegas
Affordability rank: 27Activities rank: 9Quality of life rank: 96Health care rank: 171
19. Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Affordability rank: 83Activities rank: 102Quality of life rank: 19Health care rank: 45
20. Honolulu
Affordability rank: 165Activities rank: 8Quality of life rank: 2Health care rank: 55
21. Tempe, Ariz.
Affordability rank: 66Activities rank: 53Quality of life rank: 38Health care rank: 88
22. Madison, Wis.
Affordability rank: 139Activities rank: 34Quality of life rank: 5Health care rank: 11
23. San Diego
Affordability rank: 153Activities rank: 14Quality of life rank: 11Health care rank: 42
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24. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Affordability rank: 137Activities rank: 25Quality of life rank: 45Health care rank: 6
25. Cheyenne, Wyo.
Affordability rank: 9Activities rank: 154Quality of life rank: 43Health care rank: 93
26. Fargo, N.D.
Affordability rank: 31Activities rank: 159Quality of life rank: 87Health care rank: 15
27. New Orleans
Affordability rank: 88Activities rank: 6Quality of life rank: 164Health care rank: 86
28. Raleigh, N.C.
Affordability rank: 36Activities rank: 73Quality of life rank: 60Health care rank: 44
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29. Columbia, S.C.
Affordability rank: 11Activities rank: 79Quality of life rank: 110Health care rank: 104
30. Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Affordability rank: 32Activities rank: 90Quality of life rank: 93Health care rank: 99
See the full ranking of all 182 cities and the methodology for this study at WalletHub.
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