Best & Worst Places to Retire (2024)

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 2023 Retirement Confidence Survey, 64% of workers reported feeling at least somewhat confident that they will have enough money to retire comfortably, but only 27% 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 2022 planned to retire at age 66 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 45 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 “” ranking, too.

Table of Contents

Main FindingsAsk the ExpertsMethodology

Main Findings

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Best Retirement Cities

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Affordability	Activities	Quality of Life	Health Care
1	Tampa, FL	59.93	40	5	26	79
2	Scottsdale, AZ	59.87	61	20	6	24
3	Fort Lauderdale, FL	58.17	85	6	50	44
4	Orlando, FL	58.09	30	14	73	50
5	Miami, FL	57.47	75	3	94	61
6	Casper, WY	57.22	2	70	37	88
7	Denver, CO	56.99	82	11	71	39
8	Cincinnati, OH	56.29	107	4	66	47
9	Charleston, SC	55.93	17	28	78	112
10	Atlanta, GA	55.85	42	8	120	110
11	San Francisco, CA	55.74	163	2	23	37
12	St. Petersburg, FL	55.68	40	30	28	100
13	Wilmington, DE	55.66	44	34	154	13
14	Minneapolis, MN	55.43	136	9	62	15
15	Las Vegas, NV	54.75	24	7	104	167
16	Tempe, AZ	54.67	61	49	36	48
17	Boise, ID	54.56	54	69	16	32
18	Pittsburgh, PA	54.06	134	21	44	17
19	Columbia, SC	53.91	9	71	112	69
20	San Diego, CA	53.91	151	10	9	66
21	Cheyenne, WY	53.64	4	135	51	82
22	Missoula, MT	53.59	90	38	163	3
23	Cape Coral, FL	53.42	52	67	22	68
24	Madison, WI	53.34	140	43	8	16
25	Pembroke Pines, FL	52.95	79	105	15	64
26	Dover, DE	52.91	12	72	171	73
27	Columbia, MD	52.72	144	79	4	8
28	Richmond, VA	52.41	50	39	158	27
29	Honolulu, HI	52.31	166	13	2	103
30	Raleigh, NC	52.15	49	77	64	34
31	Salt Lake City, UT	52.13	59	15	168	77
32	Fargo, ND	52.12	38	166	99	7
33	Glendale, CA	52.11	154	44	5	25
34	Los Angeles, CA	52.03	156	18	13	80
35	Virginia Beach, VA	51.60	33	80	80	38
36	Colorado Springs, CO	51.58	37	82	39	70
37	Akron, OH	51.53	73	62	76	57
38	Washington, DC	51.24	169	1	63	109
39	Jacksonville, FL	51.15	16	61	108	125
40	Birmingham, AL	51.12	10	48	175	97
41	Sacramento, CA	50.94	115	37	25	99
42	Tucson, AZ	50.91	51	36	101	133
43	Knoxville, TN	50.77	3	87	140	150
44	New Orleans, LA	50.75	91	12	162	127
45	Chandler, AZ	50.51	61	89	56	60
46	Huntington Beach, CA	50.35	146	23	35	51
47	Phoenix, AZ	50.34	61	42	116	86
48	Port St. Lucie, FL	50.26	29	122	88	106
49	St. Louis, MO	50.23	81	16	181	89
50	Sioux Falls, SD	50.22	109	143	69	4
51	Overland Park, KS	50.13	117	127	34	21
52	West Valley City, UT	50.07	59	83	102	136
53	Hialeah, FL	50.05	75	106	27	108
54	Austin, TX	49.89	118	27	61	121
55	St. Paul, MN	49.84	135	32	89	31
56	Jackson, MS	49.83	23	108	147	90
57	Nashua, NH	49.74	121	111	83	12
58	Long Beach, CA	49.73	156	33	21	59
59	Tallahassee, FL	49.72	20	101	72	146
60	Bismarck, ND	49.70	116	155	40	14
61	Philadelphia, PA	49.68	143	31	49	42
62	Rapid City, SD	49.57	103	91	166	5
63	Mobile, AL	49.37	5	100	155	152
64	Columbus, OH	49.30	98	78	43	83
65	Peoria, AZ	49.19	61	99	93	92
66	Reno, NV	49.16	32	65	42	170
67	Lexington-Fayette, KY	49.16	89	156	14	22
68	Irvine, CA	49.15	146	46	32	30
69	Little Rock, AR	49.14	39	115	152	52
70	Portland, OR	49.08	162	17	77	65
71	Gilbert, AZ	48.95	61	136	46	58
72	San Antonio, TX	48.84	87	26	109	166
73	Charleston, WV	48.74	19	75	119	160
74	Baton Rouge, LA	48.67	70	40	153	114
75	Louisville, KY	48.66	95	59	59	124
76	Henderson, NV	48.64	24	116	10	173
77	Huntington, WV	48.63	6	150	139	158
78	Lincoln, NE	48.58	110	112	45	19
79	Portland, ME	48.52	159	24	47	85
80	Boston, MA	48.40	179	29	30	11
81	Nampa, ID	48.39	54	168	24	128
82	Durham, NC	48.22	86	131	123	9
83	Mesa, AZ	48.09	61	104	87	91
84	Billings, MT	47.93	84	163	126	10
85	Grand Rapids, MI	47.92	112	66	100	72
86	Norfolk, VA	47.68	33	84	133	115
87	Las Cruces, NM	47.50	57	157	57	153
88	Fremont, CA	47.43	163	102	3	35
89	Chesapeake, VA	47.37	33	152	70	75
90	Cedar Rapids, IA	47.37	131	147	31	41
91	Fort Worth, TX	47.32	101	73	55	122
92	Anaheim, CA	47.27	146	85	19	29
93	Nashville, TN	47.19	22	58	178	139
94	Glendale, AZ	47.13	61	93	121	84
95	Garden Grove, CA	47.09	146	54	38	63
96	Oakland, CA	47.06	160	35	95	40
97	Santa Clarita, CA	47.00	154	107	12	49
98	Juneau, AK	46.99	129	51	138	28
99	Cleveland, OH	46.95	106	52	151	46
100	Charlotte, NC	46.93	48	124	81	119
101	Manchester, NH	46.46	121	146	58	23
102	Buffalo, NY	46.26	132	47	111	98
103	Huntsville, AL	46.20	11	179	117	159
104	Chattanooga, TN	46.12	15	129	169	151
105	Anchorage, AK	46.11	114	81	106	54
106	Kansas City, MO	46.06	93	76	150	74
107	Dallas, TX	45.96	120	45	115	123
108	Winston-Salem, NC	45.82	46	151	53	132
109	Oceanside, CA	45.81	151	74	17	117
110	San Jose, CA	45.80	161	114	7	43
111	Albuquerque, NM	45.73	80	63	142	145
112	Aurora, CO	45.70	82	139	135	33
113	Milwaukee, WI	45.69	130	50	161	36
114	Newport News, VA	45.68	33	159	136	113
115	Memphis, TN	45.66	7	95	180	162
116	Plano, TX	45.63	142	97	29	55
117	Augusta, GA	45.61	13	169	86	177
118	Brownsville, TX	45.56	21	176	74	172
119	Santa Ana, CA	45.41	146	60	67	71
120	Shreveport, LA	45.29	31	170	145	111
121	Oxnard, CA	45.23	123	140	52	95
122	Oklahoma City, OK	45.21	47	92	157	135
123	Burlington, VT	45.05	174	57	131	2
124	Santa Rosa, CA	45.01	165	117	18	62
125	Houston, TX	44.97	94	56	159	137
126	Seattle, WA	44.96	180	25	33	56
127	Lewiston, ME	44.91	105	142	98	93
128	Pearl City, HI	44.90	166	165	1	138
129	Fort Wayne, IN	44.80	71	149	84	116
130	Omaha, NE	44.54	137	98	122	20
131	Rochester, NY	44.46	158	41	124	94
132	El Paso, TX	44.32	56	123	60	171
133	North Las Vegas, NV	44.28	24	154	85	174
134	Providence, RI	44.18	138	53	103	131
135	New York, NY	44.08	182	19	20	76
136	Montgomery, AL	44.06	1	158	164	180
137	South Burlington, VT	44.04	174	96	149	1
138	Fort Smith, AR	43.96	8	162	160	157
139	Worcester, MA	43.95	141	120	114	53
140	Indianapolis, IN	43.94	88	109	167	78
141	Fayetteville, NC	43.82	14	130	141	178
142	Toledo, OH	43.77	97	121	113	130
143	Moreno Valley, CA	43.65	96	181	110	148
144	Springfield, MO	43.45	77	128	177	101
145	Chula Vista, CA	43.21	151	164	11	81
146	Laredo, TX	43.14	28	173	91	181
147	Tulsa, OK	43.11	45	113	172	147
148	Modesto, CA	43.09	92	182	65	154
149	Chicago, IL	43.04	176	22	137	104
150	New Haven, CT	43.01	171	137	129	6
151	Columbus, GA	42.94	18	167	92	182
152	Grand Prairie, TX	42.87	125	145	41	140
153	Des Moines, IA	42.73	124	141	68	107
154	Corpus Christi, TX	42.56	53	119	143	168
155	Greensboro, NC	42.53	27	134	176	149
156	Salem, OR	42.44	99	160	127	129
157	Irving, TX	42.32	125	132	96	105
158	Riverside, CA	42.21	100	133	118	143
159	Gulfport, MS	42.09	43	88	179	179
160	Yonkers, NY	41.99	181	68	54	26
161	Jersey City, NJ	41.93	173	90	82	45
162	Ontario, CA	41.84	104	161	107	163
163	Garland, TX	41.75	125	148	48	134
164	Lubbock, TX	41.61	72	144	156	141
165	Arlington, TX	41.55	125	138	90	126
166	Warwick, RI	41.32	138	110	105	144
167	Amarillo, TX	41.18	78	172	128	164
168	Spokane, WA	41.06	119	125	148	118
169	Tacoma, WA	40.80	170	64	134	87
170	Fontana, CA	40.78	102	175	97	165
171	Fresno, CA	40.68	58	174	144	156
172	Aurora, IL	40.65	176	94	79	67
173	Baltimore, MD	40.43	144	55	174	120
174	Vancouver, WA	39.79	168	103	125	96
175	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	39.15	133	178	75	161
176	Wichita, KS	39.14	108	126	170	155
177	Bridgeport, CT	39.09	178	153	146	18
178	Detroit, MI	38.55	111	118	182	142
179	San Bernardino, CA	38.29	69	171	173	169
180	Bakersfield, CA	37.90	74	177	132	176
181	Newark, NJ	37.68	172	86	165	102
182	Stockton, CA	35.33	113	180	130	175

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

1. Brownsville, TX
2. Laredo, TX
3. Huntington, WV
4. Fort Smith, AR
5. Augusta, GA

Highest

T-177. New York, NY
T-177. San Jose, CA
T-177. San Francisco, CA
T-177. Honolulu, HI
T-177. Pearl City, HI

Best City vs. Worst City: 2x Difference

Brownsville, TX vs. Honolulu, HI

Annual Cost of In-Home Services

Lowest

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

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

Best City vs. Worst City: 3x Difference

Brownsville, TX vs. Bismarck, ND

% of Employed Population Aged 65 & Older

Highest

1. Plano, TX
2. Irving, TX
3. Burlington, VT
4. Overland Park, KS
5. Sioux Falls, SD

Lowest

178. Las Cruces, NM
179. Springfield, MO
180. Sacramento, CA
181. Detroit, MI
182. Gulfport, MS

Best City vs. Worst City: 2x Difference

Plano, TX vs. Gulfport, MS

Recreation & Senior Centers per Capita

Most

T-1. Chicago, IL
T-1. Philadelphia, PA
T-1. San Antonio, TX
T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. Honolulu, HI

Fewest

98. North Las Vegas, NV
99. Reno, NV
100. Gilbert, AZ
101. Madison, WI
102. Anchorage, AK

Best City vs. Worst City: 27x Difference

Chicago, IL vs. Anchorage, AK

Fishing Facilities per Capita

Most

T-1. Charleston, SC
T-1. Jacksonville, FL
T-1. Virginia Beach, VA
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Tampa, FL

Fewest

143. Cincinnati, OH
144. Tucson, AZ
145. Fresno, CA
146. Oklahoma City, OK
147. El Paso, TX

Museums per Capita

Most

T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Atlanta, GA
T-1. St. Louis, MO
5. Miami, FL

Fewest

174. Port St. Lucie, FL
175. Hialeah, FL
176. Chesapeake, VA
177. North Las Vegas, NV
178. Chula Vista, CA

Best City vs. Worst City: 88x Difference

Washington, DC vs. Chula Vista, CA

% of Population Aged 65 & Older

Highest

1. Pearl City, HI
2. Scottsdale, AZ
3. Cape Coral, FL
T-4. Honolulu, HI
T-4. Warwick, RI

Lowest

T-177. Austin, TX
T-177. Laredo, TX
T-177. Moreno Valley, CA
180. West Valley City, UT
181. Fontana, CA
182. Irving, TX

Best City vs. Worst City: 3x Difference

Pearl City, HI vs. Irving, TX

'Mild Weather' Ranking

Best

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

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 during 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

Carolyn M. Aldwin
Ph.D. – Professor Emerita, Human Development & Family Studies and Director, Gerontology Program – Oregon State University
Read More

Colin M. Slabach
Ph.D. CFP® – Clinical Assistant Professor, Finance and Taxation and Faculty Lead for the Masters in Financial Planning program, School of Professional Studies – New York University
Read More

Rui Yao
Ph.D., CFP® – Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Personal Financial Planning, Division of Applied Social Sciences – University of Missouri
Read More

Seth Priestle
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Finance, Real Estate, and Insurance and Risk Management, Carl H. Lindner College of Business – University of Cincinnati and Partner, Pension Corporation of America, Cincinnati, OH
Read More

Brian Starr
Provost at Oklahoma Christian University
Read More

Phil Stuczynski
Assistant Teaching Professor of Finance; Faculty Advisor - Intrieri Family Student Managed Fund – Penn State Behrend
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 45 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 “” 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 “” 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

Family Medicine Physicians per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Gerontologists per 10,000 Residents Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Dentists per 10,000 Residents: Half Weight (~0.93 Points)
Nurses per 1,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Physical Therapists per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Number of Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Suicide Rate for Elders: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Health Care Facilities per Capita: Full** Weight (~1.85 Points)
Quality of Public Hospital System: Full** Weight (~1.85 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.
Top-Rated Geriatrics Hospitals: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Share of Population Aged 65 & Older with a Disability: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Home-Care Facilities per Capita: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~1.85 Points)
Death Rate of Population Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~1.85 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, GreatNonprofits, Transportation For America, U.S. News & World Report, Tax Foundation, Yelp, Meetup, Walk Score, AARP, GolfLink, Genworth Financial, Meetup and WalletHub research.

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