Active Aging Presented by Public Health Seattle-King County
Retirement can pose many overwhelming questions, especially when it comes to where you want to spend some of the most relaxing and rewarding years of your life.
Fortunately, there’s a rich selection of retirement locales that will fit your interests and price point. Let’s talk about the top 10 U.S. cities for retirees today.
Overall Best Place to Retire: Orlando, FL
This destination earned the top spot on WalletHub’s meticulously researched list of the best places to retire, nabbing major points for quality of life.
Of course, Orlando retirees have access to amazing theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios. They’ll also find plenty of recreation centers, parks, spectator sports, and aquatic activities in this top retirement locale.
While Orlando doesn’t have the lowest cost of living, the state has no income, estate, or inheritance tax, making this area extra attractive for retirees. Plus, older Orlando residents will find reasonable elder care costs and exceptional geriatric hospitals.
Best Desert Destination: Scottsdale, AZ
Retiring to this Northeast Phoenix suburb will put you in good company – Scottsdale’s population is more than 25% seniors, and Niche.com named Scottsdale its top retirement spot of 2024.
Scottsdale does have a higher cost of living than the rest of the country or state, so retirement here is an investment. Still, if you’re ready to fully embrace a Southwest lifestyle, Scottsdale offers an embarrassment of world-class golf courses and endless opportunities to hike, float, and offroad through the desert.
Best Budget Pick: Minneapolis, MN
If the Midwest isn’t on your retirement radar, it probably should be. Minneapolis offers a lower cost of living than the national average and reasonable housing costs, but retirees will find a lot of bang for their buck here.
While Minneapolis was WalletHub’s third-best retirement destination of 2024, a separate study from the company found that Minnesota has the best healthcare system in the country right now.
Another major study named Minneapolis 2024’s happiest city in the country thanks to its outstanding selection of parks, lakes, and trails, easy-access public transit system, and overall affordability.
Best for PNW Retirees: King City, OR
If you’re set on retiring in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a perfect community for you just 12 miles out of Portland. While it’s since opened up to all ages, King City was created in the 1960s as a 55-and-up senior living community, and the town’s median age is still 63.
It doesn’t hurt that 81% of its listings have retiree-friendly amenities, and King City also offers access to great culture and health care in nearby Portland, the King City Golf Course, the adjacent Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, and an enticing 0% sales tax rate.
Best for Beach Access: Sun City Center, FL
Sun City Center landed the No. 1 spot on Realtor.com’s retirement picks for good reason. The 55+ community is nestled right between Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota, putting residents close to world-class Gulf Coast beaches.
The community isn’t a splurge for retirees — in fact, Sun City Center boasts the lowest homeowners association dues in the area, and its average property prices fall well below the national average. Since it’s designed for retirees, Sun City Center comes with a huge list of local amenities, and the whole community is navigable by golf cart.
While we talked in depth about 2024’s top five U.S. cities for retirement, these five options are well worth considering as you ponder a big move:
- Best for Outdoor Living: Casper, WY: Casper is a nature lover’s paradise. The affordable Wyoming town is halfway between Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Teton National Park and offers fantastic access to hiking, skiing, and fishing.
- Best for Big City Proximity: Manchester Township, NJ: If New York City or Philadelphia sounds appealing but not wallet-friendly, consider Manchester’s incredible array of retirement communities and amazing access to medical care.
- Best Major City: Pittsburgh, PA: If you’re looking for a larger city at an affordable price point, consider Pittsburgh’s low cost of living, higher-than-average number of physicians, excellent hospitals, and exceptional access to nature and culture.
- Best Suburban Pick: The Woodlands, TX – Named one of the best places to live in Texas, this Houston suburb is family-dense and ideal for everything from luxury shopping to getting outside.
- Best for a New Adventure: Miami, FL: Multiple national publications picked Miami as a top retirement spot for 2024 thanks to its incredible museums, beaches, golf courses, fishing facilities, international food, and art scene.
Relocating in retirement is the perfect way to make the most of your golden years, and each of these top retirement destinations will help you do just that!
Active Aging is presented by Public Health- Seattle & King County. Public Health- Seattle & King County recognizes the important and untold stories of innovation, service, and sacrifice by the Black community and supports efforts to improve equity and achieve social justice. We want everyone to get health insurance and access health care. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/health for health insurance, flu and COVID-19 testing locations.
