10 ‘Wealthiest, Safest’ Retirement Towns

GOBankingRates is back with another ranking of U.S. retirement havens fancied by wealthy seniors who value safety

Mesquite Nevada wealthiest and safest retirement towns — Wolf Creek Golf Course in Mesquite, Nev. Image credit: © Kristin Smith | Dreamstime.com

Retirement is… well, different for the wealthy. While affordability is a top priority for many Americans in deciding where to retire, the rich often opt for safer communities they deem worth a higher price tag.

In a new analysis published this week, researchers at GOBankingRates uncovered what they’re calling the 30 Wealthiest and Safest Retirement Towns In America.

The safest, wealthiest cities for retirees were determined by analyzing data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Only cities where at least 25% of the population was age 65 or more were included. Each city’s livability score was sourced from AreaVibes, along with the average single-family home value from the Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024.

GOBankingRates scored each “retirement town” across several categories including average retirement income (including IRAs, pensions, etc.), percentage of households with retirement income, violent crime rates and property crime rates (per 1,000 residents). For added context, average home values as of September 2024 were also analyzed. Cities with the best overall average score across all categories ranked highest.

Among the notable findings?

• Strong showing from Arizona: The Grand Canyon state claimed seven of the top 30 spots on the list, including the top spot—although it claimed no other spots in the top 10.

• Forget California and New York: The top three wealthiest and safest retirement towns are in Arizona, North Carolina and… surprise: Arkansas, respectively. California did have a strong showing overall, however, claiming 12 spots among the top 30 including one among the top 5.

• What happened to the Northeast? The Northeast doesn’t appear until spot No. 12, and only one other city in the region made the top 30.

• Or Florida? No cities in the popular retirement haven made the list.

What follows is a closer look at the 10 “wealthiest and safest” cities for retirement. To see more details about the complete top 30, visit the 30 Wealthiest and Safest Retirement Towns In America.

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