If you’ve ever daydreamed about the best places to retire in the US, you’re in good company. If you’re like most people, career demands dictate where you plant your roots for most of your life—then, once retirement rolls around and you no longer have to worry about a daily commute or company requirements, the possibilities are suddenly endless. Now it’s time to choose your next address, but where to start?
The decision comes with a mix of excitement and questions: Do you want endless sunshine or snowy winters? Small-town charm or big city amenities? Stick close to family or retire abroad? And beyond lifestyle preferences, there’s a slew of practical considerations that play a major role in narrowing down your options—think healthcare, cost of living, and taxes.
To help folks strike the perfect balance for their personal needs, WalletHub has released its annual Best & Worst Places to Retire list—a ranking of 182 cities across the US (including the 150 most populated US cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state) based on affordability, activities, quality of life, and healthcare.
Each of the four metrics takes several factors into consideration. “Affordability” looks at adjusted cost of living and taxpayer-friendliness (among others); “activities” looks at museums, theaters, book clubs, and art galleries per capita; “quality of life” looks at weather and strength of elder abuse protections; and “healthcare” looks at quality of public hospitals and life expectancy.
Unsurprisingly, Florida continues to prove itself as a retiree hot spot, occupying 5 slots in the top 15, just like last year. The Sunshine State’s consistent presence at the top of the ranking is understandable, given its favorable tax policies and wealth of recreational activities—not to mention that year-round sunny weather.
Despite Florida’s strong showing, the list really runs the gamut of both geography and demographics. (In case you’re wondering, WalletHub ranked San Bernardino, California, as the “worst” city for retirees, followed by three other California cities: Stockton, Rancho Cucamonga, and Bakersfield.)
Read on for the 15 best places to retire in the US, according to this year’s WalletHub study—with supporting data we’ve pulled from the US Census Bureau, Zillow, city governments, and the demographic data firm Best Places. Use it all to help decide where you’d like to hang your hat in your golden years… or, more accurately, park your vintage convertible. (Hey, you deserve it.)
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publication date.
