10 ‘Wealthiest, Safest’ Retirement Towns

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

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.

NEXT PAGE: Cities 6 through 10

Wealthiest and Safest Retirement Towns 6-10

10. Huntley, Illinois

The Village of Huntley, located in suburban Chicago’s Golden Corridor at the crossroads of Interstate 90 and Route 47. Safety is a huge priority in Huntley with an overall crime rate that is 92.9% lower than the state of Illinois. It has a population of 28,269 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.42
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.19
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $30,962
• Single-family average home value: $400,135
• Livability score: 73

9. Prescott, Arizona

This city in central Arizona is known for its historic Whiskey Row downtown with bars and live music venues, and Watson Lake, home to hundreds of bird species, and a circuit of trails runs among the granite boulders dotting its shore. It has a population of 47,757 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.51
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.42
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $40,660
• Single-family average home value: $614,569
• Livability score: 72

8. Lincoln, California

Lincoln is a city in Placer County, part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. It grew 282% between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing city over 10,000 people in the U.S. at the time. It has a population of 54,538 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.43
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.91
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $47,966
• Single-family average home value: $646,552
• Livability score: 67

7. Mesquite, Nevada

Mesquite is a city in Clark County, adjacent to the Arizona state line and 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas on Interstate 15. Known for exceptional golf courses and upscale casinos and spas, it has a population of 22,786 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.89
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.97
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $39,396
• Single family average home value: $406,306
• Livability score: 76

6. Centerville, Ohio

Centerville is a city in Montgomery County. A core suburb of Metro Dayton, it is known for its beautiful neighborhoods, historic downtown, and an impressive collection of early stone houses, earning it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. It has a population of 25,754 (2023). 

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.47
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.01
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $36,275
• Single-family average home value: $329,817
• Livability score: 84

NEXT PAGE: Cities 1 through 5

Wealthiest and Safest Retirement Towns 1-5

5. Georgetown, Texas

Located 30 miles north of Austin, Georgetown is known as the “Red Poppy” capital of Texas for the red poppy wildflowers planted throughout the city. Georgetown’s Red Poppy Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, is held in April each year on the historic square. It has a population of 96,312 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.59
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.71
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $46,886
• Single-family average home value: $442,904
• Livability score: 83

4. Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Rancho Palos Verdes is a coastal city located in south Los Angeles County. It ranked as America’s richest retirement town in 2024 with a median household income of $166,747. It has a population of 39,980 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.18
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 8.48
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $72,238
• Single-family average home value: $1,913,039
• Livability score: 58

3. Bella Vista, Arkansas

Bella Vista is a city in Benton County which has taken advantage of the natural setting within the Springfield Plateau of the Ozark Mountains since first established in 1917 as a summer resort destination. It has a population of 32,368 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.48
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.81
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $32,209
• Single-family average home value: $336,590
• Livability score: 65

2. Pinehurst, North Carolina

Pinehurst, known formally as The Village of Pinehurst, is a village in Moore County known as a golfer’s paradise. Pinehurst’s economic health is robust, with higher-than-average income levels compared to other parts of the state. The median household income is considerable, suggesting a stable and affluent community. It has a population of 18,449 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.43
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.40
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $50,351
• Single-family average home value: $542,557
• Livability score: 73

1. Oro Valley, Arizona

Oro Valley, incorporated in 1974, is a suburban town located 6 miles north of Tucson, in Pima County. It is home to the Tohono Chul Park—deemed “One of the World’s Ten Best Botanical Gardens” by Travel+Leisure magazine. It has a population of 48,311 (2023).

• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.57
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.41
• Ages 65+ average retirement income: $52,098
• Single family average home value: $525,380
• Livability score: 81

SEE ALSO:

• 10 Most Expensive U.S. Retirement Communities

• Big Changes in U.S. News 2025 ‘Best Places to Retire’ List