Another day, another “best cities to retire” ranking. Money published in November its determination of the best places to retire in the United States, combing through 47,500 data points to consider suitable destinations for older Americans.
Related: ‘Best Places to Retire in the U.S.’ List has a New No. 1
It emphasized cities with higher quality-of-life factors, like better weather and the share of the population older than 50, lower cost of living, more affordable housing options, and health and safety amenities. It excluded any city where the crime rate was more than double the national average, the median household income was less than 85% of the state’s, and the population was less than 50,000. It also looked for diverse cities, resulting in a total of 1,890 large, safe, diverse, moderately well-off potential retirement destinations.
Madison, Wisconsin
Population: 256,000
Population 50-plus: 28.2%
Days of sunshine a year: 185
Median home price: $292,000
Largo, Florida
Population: 83,000
Population 50-plus: 48.4%
Days of sunshine a year: 244
Median home price: $211,000
Lower Merion, Pennsylvania
Population: 62,000
Population 50-plus: 43.9%
Days of sunshine a year: 205
Median home price: $500,000
Franklin, Tennessee
Population: 84,000
Population 50-plus: 36.5%
Days of sunshine a year: 208
Median home price: $495,000
Boise, Idaho
Population: 234,000
Population 50-plus: 34.1%
Days of sunshine a year: 210
Median home price: $335,000
Lakewood, Colorado
Population: 154,000
Population 50-plus: 38.6%
Days of sunshine a year: 245
Median home price: $392,000
Asheville, North Carolina
Population: 94,000
Population 50-plus: 35.8%
Days of sunshine a year: 212
Median home price: $328,000
How do these rankings compare with other lists?
Related: 2020’s Best and Worst Places to Retire
There’s clearly a reason for Florida’s reputation as a haven for retirees. Cities in the Sunshine State appeared on lists by Money, U.S. News & World Report and WalletHub multiple times. Miami, Orlando and Tampa were included by both U.S. News & World Report and WalletHub, while Money set its sights on Largo, across the bay from Tampa.
A less obvious choice is Asheville, North Carolina. Money and U.S. News & World Report both included it in their accountings of the 10 best places for retirees.
Honorable mention: WalletHub saw fit to count Denver among its top 10 cities for retirees for its strength in senior-friendly activities, while Money listed Lakewood, a suburb of Denver – just as sunny, a little more affordable and without the high density of the Mile High City proper.
Danielle Andrus works as an editor for The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®). Over the past 15 years, she has worked in various capacities, including writing and editing. Andrus has worked for several notable publications and outlets and spent more than seven years as the executive managing editor at ALM Media, publisher of Investment Advisor magazine and ThinkAdvisor.com. Before that, she was online editor for Summit Professional Networks, where she oversaw newsletter development for four magazines, including Benefits Selling, Senior Market Advisor, Boomer Market Advisor, and Bank Advisor.
