The 30 Best Towns to Move to for Retirement
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If you’re looking for the perfect place for you, your parents, or your grandparents to retire, you’re probably weighing important factors like affordability, pleasant weather, and popular amenities. You’ll be happy to know that, according to a U.S. News ranking of the top cities for retirees, plenty of stateside spots offer this trifecta of desirable traits. Click through to find out which 30 cities top the U.S. News list, then start planning your move to your retirement paradise.
Sarasota, Florida
Retirees and celebrities like Stephen King and Rosie O’Donnell have flocked to this southwest Florida city for its sunny skies, clean beaches, and cultural attractions that include the Sarasota Ballet and the Sarasota Opera. When wanderlust sets in, Tampa is a mere hour away, and Orlando is just two hours away.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Approximately 60 colleges are located within a 50-mile radius of Lancaster, making this Mid-Atlantic city an ideal destination for retirees with college-age children. While the kids are hitting the books, empty-nesters can enjoy bucolic farmlands and independent coffee shops as well as the region’s diverse population, ranging from professionals to farmers.
Related: The Best Tiny Towns in Every State
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio’s well-known attractions, from the Alamo Mission to the River Walk, are a draw for visitors of all ages. But it’s the low median home value (less than $140,000, according to Neighborhood Scout) and the average high temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit that attract—and keep—golden-agers.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wikimedia Commons via Rachel Kramer
If you can brave the cold winters, this northern city will reward you with entertainment in the form of craft breweries and public art displays. An affordable real estate market allows residents to pocket a cost savings of $56,386 annually on housing compared with the national average.
El Paso, Texas
The aptly named Sun City receives about 300 days of sunshine every year. The warm climate means retirees can comfortably venture outside the home for entertainment, including concerts at the Abraham Chavez Theatre, with its sombrero-shaped silhouette that makes it a dazzling architectural display in its own right.
McAllen, Texas
Wikimedia Commons via Joel Pacheco
McAllen’s parks, museums, and festivals, including the Palmfest International Folklife Celebration, make it an attractive retirement locale for nature lovers and culture seekers alike. Its low unemployment rate of 7.7 percent and status as a tourism destination in the American South also appeal to the semiretired seeking part-time work.
Daytona Beach, Florida
While Daytona Beach offers the young plenty of excitement, from races at the Daytona International Speedway to boogie-boarding at area beaches, it also allows for more low-key leisure activities. Popular pastimes for retirees in this coastal city include fishing at the pier and strolling along the boardwalk.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Steel City boasts an affordable median home value of $130,400, according to Zillow, making it one of the more reasonably priced markets in the country. Buying into the city for this relatively small sum puts residents within driving distance of countless theaters, museums, and historical venues, many of which offer discounts for seniors.
Related: 15 Places Every American Should Visit at Least Once
Austin, Texas
Austin’s proudly proclaimed reputation for being “weird” doesn’t deter retirees from flocking to the city. Given its sun-soaked setting, lack of state income tax, and abundance of historic and live music venues, there’s a lot for frugal and culture-seeking retirees to love about the offbeat Texas city.
Washington, D.C.
Just steps from the highest office in the land, retirees to our nation’s capital can avail themselves of scores of museums and historic sites, public parks, and world-class eateries. Particularly important for older folks, the city’s well-connected public transit, the Metro, allows residents to travel to all of these attractions sans car.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Urban and suburban landscapes peacefully coexist in this North Texas city beloved for its Tex-Mex restaurants and public parks. It’s the perfect destination for those who prefer to spend retirement sitting on the couch with their feet kicked up, watching the game—the city has a whopping six professional sports teams.
Houston, Texas
A median home price of $185,600, according to Zillow, coupled with inexpensive attractions that include the Miller Outdoor Theater and Eleanor Tinsley Park, help residents stretch their retirement funds. The budget-friendly delights of the city may even make it possible to occasionally break the dinnertime routine and eat out at one of 11,000 restaurants in the metroplex.
Related: 25 Tiny Towns to Visit for a Glimpse at How We Used to Live
Greenville, South Carolina
An uptick in manufacturing jobs has spurred the revitalization of this charming South Carolina town, but its appeal stretches far beyond working Americans. Seniors, too, are attracted by the city’s charms, including a pedestrian-friendly downtown that encourages them to hit local restaurants, shops, and museums like the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library.
Fayetteville, Arkansas
As one of America’s most budget-friendly cities, Fayetteville abounds with affordable attractions for retirees. Seniors can enjoy the best of Broadway without leaving town by visiting the Walton Arts Center on Dickson Street, or attending a show at TheatreSquared, a wildly popular destination for the arts community.
Related: 20 Beautiful Homes Hiding in America’s Most Affordable Cities
Fort Myers, Florida
For those seeking retirement in a mid-size city that feels like a small town, Fort Myers fits the bill. Seniors 60 and older, who account for a quarter of the city’s population, find plenty of opportunities to socialize in the pedestrian-friendly, restaurant-filled downtown, which has its own jam-packed social calendar.
Related: 12 Destinations You Should Actually Visit During the Off-Season
Des Moines, Iowa
Family-friendly and job-rich Des Moines is an attractive option for couples with small children. But once the kids have grown, empty-nesters can make a seamless transition into retirement by staying put in this city that the Census Bureau cites as the fastest growing in the Midwest.
Related: 7 Fictional Towns You Can Visit in Real Life
Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
Wikimedia Commons via Bz3rk
While the Raleigh-Durham area is home to Research Triangle Park, a high-tech hub, it’s also rife with opportunities to unplug, with attractions like Pullen Park, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and concerts at the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre. The 43 inches of annual rainfall ensure verdant green spaces throughout the region.
Charleston, South Carolina
Wikimedia Commons via Ymblanter
Retirees fit in easily in Charleston, where nearly a quarter of the population is above the age of 55. Once they plant roots in the charming coastal city, they’re treated to a smorgasbord of sights, sounds, and colors, from boat tours and Southern comfort food to the array of 13 pastel-colored row houses of Rainbow Row on Bay Street.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Retirees who appreciate a sense of the past will find much to admire in Philadelphia’s 336-year history, which is preserved in the 18th-century buildings and cobblestone paths of the town’s historic Old City. An affordable median home value of $144,600, according to Zillow, means that retirees can soak up the local color without breaking the bank.
Related: 20 Places with (Almost) Zero Crime
Orlando, Florida
Youngsters know Orlando as the land of Mickey and Disney princesses, but retirees value the city for another reason. The budget-friendly and state-tax-free metro area is strategically situated near an international airport—ideal for retirees who love to travel.