If you’ve found yourself wondering which are the best places to retire in the US, you’re not alone. Unless you’ve been a digital nomad, where you reside is usually determined (at least in part) by your job. But when it comes time to retire and the chains of employment are released, the possibilities of where to spend your golden years can feel endless.
It’s a decision that is both thrilling and daunting: Snow or sun? Rural or urban? Stay close to home or retire abroad? Of course, there are also less-fun factors to consider (taxes and healthcare, we’re looking at you) when choosing between the best retirement destination to drop anchor in.
“Location is crucial in determining where Americans choose to retire, as it significantly influences their financial stability, access to healthcare, and overall quality of life,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo tells Condé Nast Traveler, adding that cost of living, tax rates, climate, and recreation availability are crucial factors. While many “seek affordable areas that allow them to maximize their fixed incomes,” others prioritize access to high quality healthcare “as health concerns often become a priority heading into retirement,” he explains.
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 golf courses, 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.
