Exploring the Best Places to Retire in the US will become necessary as you approach your retirement age. There are many factors to weigh when deciding where to live out your golden years, including local tax rates, housing costs, and quality of life. When you set to retire, You have the liberty to search for places best suit their interests and budgets, but the challenge is to identify such places.
Leaving the workforce is an important milestone, and many retirees choose to mark it by moving somewhere new. There are many factors to weigh when deciding where to live out your golden years, including local tax rates, housing costs, and quality of life. To help reduce your search, Based on these criteria listed above and more, we have pinpointed some places in the United States that are one of the Best Places to Retire in the US especially the top 15 of them.
TOP 15 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Selecting the Best Places to Retire is quite tasking but however, To identify the best places to retire, We analyzed data for the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. to assess how well they meet Americans’ retirement needs and expectations. Top criteria include the happiness of local residents, housing affordability, tax rates, and health care quality. Below is the list of the Best Places to Retire in the US.
1. Lancaster
- Location: Pennsylvania
To begin with, one of the oldest inland towns in the United States and the former capital city of Pennsylvania, Lancaster occupies the first spot on our list. With increasing house affordability, access to different varieties of healthcare, and overall happiness of its resident has earned this place to be ranked among the Best Places to Retire in the US as well as one of the Cheapest Places to Retire in the USA. in addition, Lancaster is home to numerous historic sites which attracts tourist from all over the world.
2. Fort Myers
- Location: Florida
Looking for another Best Place to Live in the US 2021, then you should add Fort Myers to your list. The place is known to have an increase in desirability and happiness among residents and also because there is no state income tax in Florida at large and this advantageous for retirees with taxable income sources. Fort Myers is located along Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Caloosahatchee River making it an ideal place for retirees who enjoy fishing, boating, or relaxing at the beach.
3. Sarasota
- Location: Florida
Another Best Place to Retire in the US is Sarasota in Florida. The place has beautiful landscapes and structures housed within the gorgeous community and also accommodates some of the best beaches, good weather which is always warm. Interestingly, the place has good houses at affordable rates housing with a median home price of $239,100 for people age 60 and older, also, there is no state tax income in Florida state. not a surprise it is among the Best Places to Retire in USA 2021.
4. Austin
- Location: Texas
Undoubtedly, Austin, the state capital of Texas is one of the Best Places to Retire in the USA 2021 and Best Quality of Life Cities US. The city is characterized by live music and cultivated quirky culture. Though the home prices can be high yet it is cheaper when compared with other coastal cities having similar facilities. Persons older than 65 can take advantage of the six credit hours tuition-free at the University of Texas—Austin, more so, the city is home to various tech companies including Apple, Dell, IBM, and Samsung, as well as quality healthcare services provided in the place.
5. Pittsburgh
- Location: Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh another city in Pennsylvania to make the fifth spot on the best places to retire in the us list. Home to numerous historical sites and home to numerous sporting events in the country. like other cities that we have enlisted so far, Pittsburgh also provides quality healthcare that is affordable for retired persons; there are more than a few colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh, which gives room for retirees to take classes or enjoy sporting events. More so, retirees residing in this place enjoy free public transport either on the bus or train. Top of that is the low housing rate which is affordable and it is just $142,800 for persons from age 60 and above.
6. Grand Rapids
- Location: Michigan
This beautiful city is known for its artistic nature and display of artworks each fall through downtown. Thus, this city is a good place for retirees with an interest in art to retiring just like Pittsburgh is for sports retirees. There are many healthcare facilities to choose from and are affordable. More so, Retirees can enroll for a volunteer role at a museum, such as the Grand Rapids Art Museum or the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
7. Nashville
- Location: Tennessee
The capital of Tennessee made it to the list as one of the Best Places to Retire in the US. This place qualifies for a spot on the list looking at the cost of living making it one of the Cheapest Places to Retire in the USA. Also, retirees will benefit from the very low taxes (no taxes on earned income except for dividends and interests) offered in this place. Nashville is known to be a stronghold of country music and the city also supports a sports team, these provide retirees with a whole lot of other things to do. Not forgetting, access to quality healthcare.
8. San Antonio
- Location:
There is no way we can live San Antonio out of the list of places to retire especially when the city offers an affordable living scene and a cost of living that is 14% below the national average. This is a good offer for retirees who want to live in a major city without stress, not just that, the city also provides reasonable housing prices that are appreciating. There are other things to enjoy while in this city including great restaurants, golf courses, and local attractions.
9. Dallas-Fort Worth
- Location: Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth may come as a surprise to you for making the list, however, upon considering the affordable cost of living for a large metro area, we can’t but include this place on this list. The median rent for retirees is around $993 per month while the median home price for people age 60 and above is $200,500. Also, there are no state income Tax charges in the state of Texas, which is a good deal for retirees as well as diverse affordable healthcare options. Dallas-Fort Worth is undoubtedly one of the Best Quality of Life Cities US, especially for retirees.
10. Lake Land
- Location: Florida
Taking us further is Lake Land, another place in Florida to make our list of best places to retire in the us. Many retired persons are drawn to this city because of its affordable waterfront property which is $146,500 for those that are age 60 and older. The weather is also friendly which retirees leaving in Lake Land enjoy hot and humid summers, and also pleasant and mild winter. lake land
11. El Paso
- Location: Texas
El Paso is an incredibly friendly city with great cuisine and great entertainment and it is continually gaining prominence as one of the Places in the US to retire. The city scored well on the happiness metric, thanks to the majority of its residents that attested that they love the place and often feel motivated to achieve their goals. Retirees are drawn to the low housing rate available in this place with a median home price is just $107,600.
12. Washington DC
- Location: Washington DC
The nation’s capital comes in at the 13th spot on our list. Many may argue about its enlistment on our list but we can’t turn a blind eye to some of the amenities provided in the city that are beneficial to retired persons. Public transportation is discounted for retirees age 65 and older; also, the federal government and its contractors offer a wide variety of employment opportunities.
13. Daytona Beach
- Location:
Daytona Beach is another interesting place worth enlisted as a place to retire. The place is filled with life and a lot of relaxing activities that most retirees can enjoy. Median home price for people age 60 and above is $185, 300. There are quality healthcare services delivered by Halifax Health Medical Center of Daytona Beach and Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is also affordable. The absence of state income tax is another factor to consider especially for retirees who still want to work part-time jobs.
14. San Diego
- Location: California
San Diego is undoubtedly one of the best places to retire. Though home prices for persons from age 60 and above are quite high at $560,200, yet there are other reasons why this place is rated among the places you ought to consider to retire. Pleasant weather round the year with convenient access to the Pacific Ocean. Quality healthcare and many more make this place an interesting place to retire.
15. Raleigh & Durham
- Location: North Carolina
Raleigh and Durham close the curtain on our discussion coming at the last spot on our list. The city is home to outstanding research universities which are Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina making this place a highly educated community. Retirees can further their education in any of these institutions at a reduced price. A good environment that is friendly with interesting recreational centers.
Best places to retire in the us
Explore the best cities to retire in the U.S. based on the number of retirees, weather, and access to healthcare and entertainment. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, and other data sources. Here are the best 15 places to retire in us:
- Lancaster
- Fort Myers
- Sarasota
- Austin
- Pittsburgh
- Grand Rapids
- Nashville
- San Antonio
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Lake Land
- El Paso
- Washington DC
- Daytona Beach
- San Diego
- Raleigh & Durham
Best & Worst States to Retire in the US
| Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Affordability | Quality of Life | Health Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 61.09 | 4 | 6 | 28 |
| 2 | Colorado | 60.94 | 13 | 16 | 5 |
| 3 | Delaware | 58.69 | 5 | 29 | 22 |
| 4 | Virginia | 58.61 | 11 | 7 | 23 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 57.49 | 24 | 18 | 6 |
| 6 | Montana | 57.35 | 12 | 22 | 15 |
| 7 | Idaho | 57.28 | 16 | 11 | 25 |
| 8 | Utah | 57.11 | 21 | 4 | 26 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 56.33 | 37 | 3 | 2 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 56.29 | 30 | 1 | 9 |
| 11 | Wyoming | 56.19 | 14 | 13 | 29 |
| 12 | Missouri | 54.64 | 20 | 36 | 12 |
| 13 | South Dakota | 54.04 | 22 | 26 | 18 |
| 14 | South Carolina | 53.18 | 3 | 37 | 41 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 53.14 | 19 | 24 | 34 |
| 16 | Iowa | 52.68 | 34 | 8 | 8 |
| 17 | Arizona | 52.49 | 15 | 28 | 35 |
| 18 | Hawaii | 52.40 | 38 | 30 | 1 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 52.24 | 32 | 15 | 16 |
| 20 | Vermont | 51.39 | 48 | 5 | 3 |
| 21 | Michigan | 51.33 | 31 | 21 | 17 |
| 22 | Ohio | 51.10 | 25 | 23 | 31 |
| 23 | Nebraska | 50.55 | 36 | 19 | 10 |
| 24 | Nevada | 50.44 | 7 | 39 | 40 |
| 25 | Alaska | 49.79 | 39 | 33 | 4 |
| 26 | Georgia | 49.33 | 9 | 42 | 42 |
| 27 | Alabama | 49.20 | 1 | 45 | 48 |
| 28 | California | 48.98 | 29 | 31 | 30 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | 48.86 | 44 | 2 | 19 |
| 30 | Indiana | 48.85 | 26 | 34 | 37 |
| 31 | Washington | 48.75 | 43 | 10 | 7 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | 48.64 | 35 | 12 | 32 |
| 33 | Maryland | 48.37 | 41 | 9 | 14 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 48.27 | 8 | 46 | 43 |
| 35 | Tennessee | 48.16 | 2 | 49 | 47 |
| 36 | Kansas | 47.84 | 27 | 32 | 39 |
| 37 | Maine | 47.71 | 46 | 14 | 11 |
| 38 | Arkansas | 47.54 | 6 | 48 | 45 |
| 39 | Oregon | 47.02 | 42 | 20 | 13 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.47 | 17 | 44 | 44 |
| 41 | Illinois | 45.88 | 40 | 27 | 21 |
| 42 | Texas | 45.85 | 28 | 40 | 38 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 44.35 | 47 | 25 | 20 |
| 44 | West Virginia | 44.12 | 18 | 41 | 50 |
| 45 | Kentucky | 43.78 | 23 | 43 | 46 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | 42.85 | 45 | 38 | 24 |
| 47 | New Mexico | 42.68 | 33 | 47 | 36 |
| 48 | Mississippi | 41.88 | 10 | 50 | 49 |
| 49 | New York | 41.86 | 49 | 17 | 27 |
| 50 | New Jersey | 37.41 | 50 | 35 | 33 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
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Conclusion on the Best Places to Retire in the US
As you have seen on our list, it is glaring that the majority of the Best Places to Retire in the US are located in Florida. The reason has been that retirees can easily get affordable homes, enjoy low taxes and high ratings for happiness and desirability. Thus, if you are planning on retiring soon, then you can check out this article and make your choice of where you will like to retire.