Best & Worst Places to Retire

Adam McCann, Financial WriterSep 6, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Sep 6, 2022

After putting in decades of hard work, we naturally expect to have financial security in our golden years. But not all Americans can look forward to a relaxing retirement. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2022 Retirement Confidence Survey, 7 in 10 workers reported feeling at least somewhat confident that they will have enough money to retire comfortably, but fewer than 3 in 10 said they were “very confident.”

If so many American workers are worried about their financial future, what other options provide a pathway to a comfortable retirement? For some, the only solution is to keep working. According to Gallup polling, workers in 2021 planned to retire at age 64 on average, compared to age 60 in 1995. The alternative? Relocate to an area where you can stretch your dollar without sacrificing your lifestyle.

Retirement isn’t all about the money, though. Retirees want to live in a place where they enjoy safety and access to good healthcare, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ideal city will also have lots of ways to spend leisure time, along with good weather.

To help Americans plan an affordable retirement while maintaining the best quality of life, WalletHub compared the retiree-friendliness of more than 180 U.S. cities across 46 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the cost of living to retired taxpayer-friendliness to the state’s health infrastructure.

If you’re considering retiring out of state, make sure to check out WalletHub’s “Best & Worst States to Retire” ranking, too.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Retirement Cities

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Affordability	Activities	Quality of Life	Health Care
1	Charleston, SC	58.97	21	15	75	48
2	Orlando, FL	58.23	24	16	77	53
3	Cincinnati, OH	57.88	98	3	66	49
4	Miami, FL	57.37	78	7	94	25
5	Fort Lauderdale, FL	57.21	87	12	52	31
6	San Francisco, CA	56.81	160	2	22	18
7	Scottsdale, AZ	56.69	66	28	4	71
8	Wilmington, DE	56.62	53	20	150	7
9	Tampa, FL	56.32	34	11	80	91
10	Salt Lake City, UT	56.07	50	10	123	59
11	Casper, WY	55.95	5	66	35	108
12	Minneapolis, MN	55.78	136	4	71	20
13	Atlanta, GA	55.03	49	5	128	114
14	Denver, CO	54.65	89	19	65	69
15	St. Petersburg, FL	54.55	34	39	28	87
16	Boise, ID	53.90	74	67	17	39
17	Cape Coral, FL	53.86	38	70	20	76
18	Las Vegas, NV	53.55	27	9	96	171
19	Pembroke Pines, FL	53.37	83	102	19	45
20	Honolulu, HI	53.09	165	8	2	55
21	Tempe, AZ	53.02	66	53	38	88
22	Madison, WI	52.99	139	34	5	11
23	San Diego, CA	52.82	153	14	11	42
24	Pittsburgh, PA	52.74	137	25	45	6
25	Cheyenne, WY	52.60	9	154	43	93
26	Fargo, ND	52.60	31	159	87	15
27	New Orleans, LA	52.38	88	6	164	86
28	Raleigh, NC	52.27	36	73	60	44
29	Columbia, SC	52.26	11	79	110	104
30	Port St. Lucie, FL	51.92	32	90	93	99
31	Richmond, VA	51.78	55	33	137	65
32	Missoula, MT	51.75	92	43	167	4
33	West Valley City, UT	51.73	50	82	104	101
34	Los Angeles, CA	51.70	140	23	9	80
35	Hialeah, FL	51.50	78	100	27	57
36	Dover, DE	51.46	14	72	172	133
37	Birmingham, AL	51.11	8	48	176	107
38	Glendale, CA	51.00	143	54	3	26
39	Sioux Falls, SD	50.86	101	132	67	3
39	Nashua, NH	50.86	113	97	68	12
41	Overland Park, KS	50.83	117	124	41	14
42	Washington, DC	50.73	169	1	54	105
43	Grand Rapids, MI	50.60	116	40	79	51
44	Akron, OH	50.50	80	64	88	63
45	Virginia Beach, VA	50.49	44	94	56	58
46	Knoxville, TN	50.35	4	93	134	157
47	Colorado Springs, CO	50.21	40	88	36	109
48	Huntington Beach, CA	50.16	143	30	30	34
49	Portland, ME	50.16	167	22	23	37
50	Tucson, AZ	50.12	59	41	86	139
51	Reno, NV	50.11	42	65	26	159
52	St. Louis, MO	50.06	58	29	168	70
53	Jackson, MS	50.01	16	110	129	111
54	Gilbert, AZ	49.83	66	95	44	100
55	Sacramento, CA	49.58	119	45	24	89
56	Chandler, AZ	49.57	66	86	50	95
57	Charleston, WV	49.50	17	81	108	150
58	Huntsville, AL	49.39	2	171	118	147
59	Lincoln, NE	49.28	115	92	40	19
60	Bismarck, ND	49.24	108	146	33	33
61	Nashville, TN	49.08	18	46	179	116
62	Philadelphia, PA	49.07	152	26	47	41
63	Boston, MA	49.01	178	21	25	10
64	Irvine, CA	48.99	143	44	34	30
65	Huntington, WV	48.99	10	155	135	151
66	Austin, TX	48.78	125	27	62	117
67	Norfolk, VA	48.59	44	83	114	79
68	Jacksonville, FL	48.57	15	60	148	140
69	Portland, OR	48.53	168	13	76	60
70	Long Beach, CA	48.46	140	52	14	52
71	Columbus, OH	48.39	99	74	49	94
72	Columbia, MD	48.32	150	108	21	8
73	Anaheim, CA	48.23	143	76	12	22
74	St. Paul, MN	48.12	135	37	101	27
75	Rapid City, SD	48.06	96	119	170	9
76	Durham, NC	47.79	57	156	116	17
77	Mobile, AL	47.77	3	138	152	164
78	Cleveland, OH	47.75	105	35	151	68
79	Las Cruces, NM	47.63	41	148	120	146
80	Louisville, KY	47.56	111	50	63	119
81	Fremont, CA	47.54	160	123	1	21
82	Henderson, NV	47.47	27	125	7	176
82	Garden Grove, CA	47.47	143	57	37	50
84	Peoria, AZ	47.34	66	107	90	138
85	Charlotte, NC	47.32	37	130	82	96
86	Oakland, CA	47.22	160	31	100	24
87	Chattanooga, TN	47.20	13	114	166	145
88	Tallahassee, FL	47.18	20	140	83	158
89	Brownsville, TX	47.10	22	178	70	153
90	Phoenix, AZ	47.07	66	59	127	121
91	Little Rock, AR	46.94	43	113	154	110
92	Baton Rouge, LA	46.94	61	38	156	160
93	Manchester, NH	46.93	113	139	39	46
94	San Antonio, TX	46.84	82	51	107	152
95	Cedar Rapids, IA	46.73	132	145	29	43
96	Mesa, AZ	46.64	66	111	85	123
97	Seattle, WA	46.62	180	17	32	29
98	Milwaukee, WI	46.55	127	36	157	56
99	Buffalo, NY	46.51	129	47	103	77
100	Oklahoma City, OK	46.39	48	78	145	122
101	Lexington-Fayette, KY	46.39	94	161	13	81
102	Burlington, VT	46.32	171	58	105	2
103	South Burlington, VT	46.24	171	56	132	1
104	Laredo, TX	46.22	26	170	95	166
105	Kansas City, MO	46.03	65	77	165	84
106	Chesapeake, VA	46.00	44	172	46	92
107	Santa Clarita, CA	45.94	143	116	8	90
108	Fort Worth, TX	45.94	109	75	55	134
109	San Jose, CA	45.93	159	115	6	32
110	Santa Ana, CA	45.77	143	55	61	64
111	Oxnard, CA	45.77	131	137	53	72
112	Augusta, GA	45.73	12	169	89	179
113	Plano, TX	45.70	130	120	31	62
114	Memphis, TN	45.64	6	99	180	168
115	Dallas, TX	45.59	128	42	115	113
115	Santa Rosa, CA	45.59	164	122	15	40
117	Glendale, AZ	45.50	66	101	121	120
118	Billings, MT	45.44	81	147	174	23
119	Newport News, VA	45.41	44	160	111	125
120	Nampa, ID	45.36	74	175	78	154
121	Rochester, NY	45.33	158	32	117	66
122	Moreno Valley, CA	45.25	97	181	106	129
123	Albuquerque, NM	45.24	85	71	138	143
124	Fort Wayne, IN	45.13	56	135	84	141
125	North Las Vegas, NV	45.08	27	133	81	178
126	Anchorage, AK	45.07	102	80	160	47
127	Shreveport, LA	45.04	25	174	140	124
128	Aurora, CO	44.99	89	142	130	35
129	Lewiston, ME	44.94	120	136	58	78
130	Winston-Salem, NC	44.90	54	141	113	98
131	Montgomery, AL	44.83	1	149	161	181
132	New York, NY	44.79	182	18	16	73
133	Fayetteville, NC	44.65	23	126	141	177
134	Juneau, AK	44.29	118	61	178	28
135	Houston, TX	44.27	95	62	155	137
136	Tulsa, OK	44.24	39	96	153	149
137	Grand Prairie, TX	44.16	121	143	42	135
138	Fort Smith, AR	44.13	7	162	162	165
139	Pearl City, HI	43.96	165	166	18	85
140	Toledo, OH	43.90	91	118	112	127
141	Indianapolis, IN	43.88	86	104	171	83
142	Riverside, CA	43.76	106	134	59	126
143	Des Moines, IA	43.75	126	127	74	82
144	El Paso, TX	43.52	60	163	57	161
145	Gulfport, MS	43.41	30	98	175	180
146	Omaha, NE	43.37	138	89	119	38
147	Ontario, CA	43.31	112	152	99	155
148	Providence, RI	43.00	156	49	102	118
149	Chula Vista, CA	42.99	153	167	10	54
150	Springfield, MO	42.77	63	117	182	131
151	Oceanside, CA	42.76	153	103	64	74
152	Modesto, CA	42.57	93	182	73	156
153	Garland, TX	42.57	121	150	51	132
154	Chicago, IL	42.54	175	24	144	102
155	Amarillo, TX	42.53	64	157	122	175
156	Worcester, MA	42.49	142	105	159	36
157	Fresno, CA	42.09	62	168	133	144
158	Corpus Christi, TX	42.04	76	106	143	172
159	Yonkers, NY	41.84	181	68	48	13
160	Irving, TX	41.77	121	131	98	115
161	Columbus, GA	41.67	19	158	146	182
162	Greensboro, NC	41.65	33	151	177	142
163	New Haven, CT	41.42	170	121	147	5
164	Bakersfield, CA	41.07	52	165	131	174
165	Jersey City, NJ	41.07	174	91	72	61
166	Arlington, TX	41.03	121	144	91	128
167	Fontana, CA	40.94	110	177	97	169
168	Salem, OR	40.80	100	179	125	136
169	Warwick, RI	40.65	156	109	109	106
170	Tacoma, WA	40.52	163	69	126	103
171	Aurora, IL	40.21	175	84	92	75
172	Spokane, WA	40.06	133	129	142	97
173	Lubbock, TX	39.71	84	153	158	163
174	Wichita, KS	39.49	104	128	169	148
175	Baltimore, MD	39.31	150	87	139	130
176	Vancouver, WA	39.18	177	85	124	67
177	Detroit, MI	38.70	107	112	181	162
178	Stockton, CA	38.21	103	173	136	167
179	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	38.10	134	180	69	170
180	San Bernardino, CA	37.81	77	176	173	173
181	Newark, NJ	37.66	173	63	163	112
182	Bridgeport, CT	37.21	179	164	149	16

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Adjusted Cost of Living

Lowest

Lowest
1. Brownsville, TX
2. Laredo, TX
3. Fort Smith, AR
4. Amarillo, TX
5. Jackson, MS

Highest

Highest
T-165. San Jose, CA
T-165. Pearl City, HI
T-165. Honolulu, HI
T-165. New York, NY
T-165. San Francisco, CA

Annual Cost of In-Home Services

Lowest

Lowest
1. Brownsville, TX
2. Laredo, TX
3. Shreveport, LA
4. Jackson, MS
T-5. El Paso, TX
T-5. Corpus Christi, TX

Highest

Highest
T-176. Minneapolis, MN
T-176. St. Paul, MN
178. San Jose, CA
T-179. Portland, OR
T-179. Vancouver, WA
181. Bismarck, ND

% of Employed Population Aged 65 & Older

Highest

Highest
1. Plano, TX
2. Irving, TX
3. Sioux Falls, SD
4. Burlington, VT
5. Columbia, MD

Lowest

Lowest
178. Columbus, GA
179. Peoria, AZ
180. Lewiston, ME
181. Detroit, MI
182. Gulfport, MS

Recreation & Senior Centers per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Philadelphia, PA
T-1. Chicago, IL
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. Washington, DC
5. Los Angeles, CA

Fewest

Fewest
97. Madison, WI
98. Durham, NC
99. St. Louis, MO
100. Lexington-Fayette, KY
101. Kansas City, MO

Fishing Facilities per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Charleston, SC
T-1. St. Petersburg, FL
T-1. Fort Lauderdale, FL
T-1. Juneau, AK
T-1. Tampa, FL

Fewest

Fewest
138. Pittsburgh, PA
139. Henderson, NV
140. Fresno, CA
141. Oklahoma City, OK
142. El Paso, TX

Museums per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. St. Louis, MO
T-1. San Francisco, CA
4. Atlanta, GA
5. New York, NY

Fewest

Fewest
173. Port St. Lucie, FL
174. Santa Clarita, CA
175. Hialeah, FL
176. Chesapeake, VA
177. Chula Vista, CA

% of Population Aged 65 & Older

Highest

Highest
1. Pearl City, HI
2. Scottsdale, AZ
3. Cape Coral, FL
4. Warwick, RI
5. Hialeah, FL

Lowest

Lowest
178. Laredo, TX
179. Moreno Valley, CA
180. West Valley City, UT
181. Fontana, CA
182. Irving, TX

'Mild Weather' Ranking

Best

Best
1. Glendale, CA
2. Riverside, CA
3. Bakersfield, CA
4. Scottsdale, AZ
5. Henderson, NV

Worst

Worst
T-178. Providence, RI
T-178. Warwick, RI
180. Rochester, NY
181. Buffalo, NY
182. Juneau, AK

Ask the Experts

People plan for retirement at various stages of their lives. But regardless of age, planning ahead can certainly help. To expand the discussion, we asked a panel of experts to share their advice on various factors that prospective retirees should consider as well as retirement-friendly measures for city leaders. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

What financial factors should retirees take into consideration when deciding where to retire?
What are some tips for living on a fixed income in retirement?
What is the biggest mistake that people make when planning their retirements?
What percentage of income should you aim to replace in retirement?
In planning for retirement, what life expectancy should the average person use to make sure they have saved enough?

Ask the Experts

Tamara L. Wolske
MS, MPhil, CPG, CSA – Program Director & Assistant Professor in Aging Studies; Affiliated Faculty, Center for Aging & Community; Certified Senior Advisor®; President, Indiana Geriatrics Society – University of Indianapolis - College of Health Sciences, Interprofessional Health & Aging Studies
Read More

Jacquelyn Kung
DRPH, MBA – CEO, Senior Care at Activated Insights and Fellow, Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program (HAPF), Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research, Columbia University Medical Center
Read More

Kathy Black
Professor of Aging Studies – University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus
Read More

Mary Anne Taylor
Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Psychology and Institute for Engaged Aging – Clemson University
Read More

Steven Lee
Ph.D. – Executive Vice President, George James & Associates and Lecturer, Finance, Real Estate and Law Department, College of Business Administration – California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Read More

J.B. Watson
Ph.D. – Nonfiction Writer (Aging/Religion/Higher Ed) & Emeritus Faculty (Sociology), Department of Anthropology, Geography, & Sociology – Stephen F. Austin State University
Read More

Methodology

To help Americans find the best cities to spend their golden years, WalletHub compared the retirement-friendliness of 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across four key dimensions: 1) Affordability, 2) Activities, 3) Quality of Life and 4) Health Care.

We evaluated those dimensions using 46 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for retirement. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities. Data for metrics marked with two asterisks (**) were available at the state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

With cost being a significant factor in retirement, our analysis assumes retirees will rely on a fixed income. The lower their expenses, the better retirees will fare in a particular city.

Affordability – Total Points: 25

Adjusted Cost of Living: Triple Weight (~10.00 Points)
Taxpayer-Friendliness: Full** Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Tax Rates by State” ranking.
Retired Taxpayer-Friendliness: Full** Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures taxation on retirement income, property and purchases, as well as special tax breaks for seniors.
Tax-Friendliness on Estate or Inheritance Tax: Full** Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures where a state has or does not have inheritance tax.
Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Half Weight (~1.67 Points)
Annual Cost of Adult Day Health Care: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Activities – Total Points: 25

Recreation & Senior Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Fishing Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Public & Municipal Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Note: This metric refers to public and municipal golf courses within 10 miles of city center.
Museums per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Theaters per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Art Galleries per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Book Clubs per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.19 Points)
Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Bingo Halls per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Availability of Adult Volunteer Activities: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Recreation-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.38 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.

Quality of Life – Total Points: 25

Share of Population Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Elderly-Friendly Labor Market: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Age-Friendly Community: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the “AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities” list.
Share of Population Aged 65 & Older Living in Poverty: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Share of Population Aged 65 & Older Living Alone: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Walk Score: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Share of Population Aged 65 to 79 with Poor Transit Access: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Mild Weather: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
Caring Community: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Caring Cities in America” ranking.
Strength of Elder-Abuse Protections: Full** Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections” ranking.
Violent-Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Property Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Air Quality: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Water Quality: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of drinking water violations from Community Water Systems per 100,000 Residents.

Health Care – Total Points: 25

Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~3.23 Points)
Family Medicine Physicians per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Gerontologists per 10,000 Residents Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Dentists per 10,000 Residents: Half Weight (~0.81 Points)
Nurses per 1,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Physical Therapists per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Number of Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Suicide Rate for Elders: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Health Care Facilities per Capita: Full** Weight (~1.61 Points)
Quality of Public Hospital System: Full** Weight (~1.61 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.
Top-Rated Geriatrics Hospitals: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Share of Population Aged 65 & Older with a Disability: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Home-Care Facilities per Capita: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)
Death Rate of Population Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~1.61 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Council for Community and Economic Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Environmental Protection Agency, County Health Rankings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Trust For Public Land, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Charity Navigator, Transportation For America, U.S. News & World Report, Tax Foundation, Yelp, Meetup, Walk Score, AARP, GolfLink, Genworth Financial, Meetup and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

Questions & Answers(19 questions)

Where was Wilmington, NC ranked?

Upvotes

I wonder why Crime Rate is always missing in these 'best to retire' articles? It's very important.

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what is prescott az ranked

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Was The Villages, FL included in this study?

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How does newport beach, CA. rank ?

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Will a similar survey be available for city populations less than the minimum required to be considered for this list? Eg. , Missoula, MT

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No consideration taken for weather or politics?

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Why is St Augustine, Fl, not in the mix?

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Can you provide the full list for Adjusted Cost of Living? Or perhaps the source(s) for that value?

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Why weren't crime rates considered, since they severely impact a retirement decision?

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