2025’s Most Expensive Retirement Towns: 2 States Dominate List

New rankings from GOBankingRates feature plenty of ritzy, most expensive retirement towns retirement towns in one West Coast state and one Southeast state

Everyone knows California is not a cheap place to live—and it’s not a cheap place to retire, either.

In fact, according to a new GOBankingRates ranking released July 10 of the “30 Most Expensive Retirement Towns in America,” the five most expensive towns are all in the Golden State.

But interestingly, the most expensive city for retirement on this year’s list is a city that didn’t even crack the top 10 in the same rankings last year.

To determine the 30 most expensive retirement towns in the United States, GOBankingRates first isolated cities with populations over 25,000 and percentages of residents ages 65+ of at least 25%. Cost-of-living indexes were multiplied by average expenditure costs for retirees, and mortgage and rent costs were added to find the total cost of necessities for retired homeowners.

GOBankingRates used data from the US Census 2023 American Community Survey, Sperlings BestPlaces, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index, Zillow Observed Rental Index, and the Federal Reserve Economic Data to analyze the cost of necessities for retired homeowners and retired renters. The cities were sorted to show the highest cost of necessities for homeowners first.

In addition to claiming the top five on the list, California accounted for nine of the top 30 overall. But that was second to Florida, which despite not having a city rank in the top eight claimed a whopping 14 of the 30 spots on the “most expensive” list—including 10 of the final 11 towns making the list. Massachusetts had two of the top 10 and Arizona two of the top 14.

What follows is a closer look at the 15 most expensive retirement towns in America for 2025 based on the GOBankingRates rankings.

15. Bonita Springs, Florida

Bonita Springs is a city of 56,229 (2023) in southwest Florida known for its Gulf Coast beaches and parks, including secluded Little Hickory Island Beach Park, Bonita Beach Park, and Lovers Key State Park.

• % of population 65+: 43%
• Avg. home value: $609,650
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,328
• Average cost of healthcare (annual): $9,456
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $61,349

14. Prescott, Arizona

Prescott is a city of 47,757 in central Arizona with a rich history as a frontier gold and silver mining town. Downtown, historic Whiskey Row is known for its bars and live music venues.

• % of population 65+: 41%
• Avg. home value: $623,194
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $4,961
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $10,273
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $62,383

13. Palm Desert, California

Palm Desert is a city of 51,951 in California’s Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs. It’s home to country clubs, golf courses and shops. In the center, The Shops on El Paseo feature designer boutiques, plus restaurants and art galleries.

• % of population 65+: 37%
• Avg. home value: $642,854
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $4,936
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $6,926
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $62,572

12. Lincoln, California

Lincoln is a city of 54,538 in Placer County, California, part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. Located 10 miles north of Roseville in an area of rapid suburban development, it grew 282% between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing city over 10,000 people in the U.S. according to Wikipedia.

• % of population 65+: 27%
• Avg. home value: $656,147
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,293
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $8,139
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $64,059

11. Aventura, Florida

Aventura is a planned suburban city of 38,741 in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida, 15 miles north of Miami and part of the Miami metropolitan area. It is primarily known for its upscale shopping at Aventura Mall, the largest in Florida, and its luxurious residential areas, including high-rise condos and golf courses.

• % of population 65+: 26%
• Avg. home value: $666,041
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,372
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $8,250
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $65,914

NEXT PAGE: Towns 6-10

10. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts

The town of Barnstable—Cape Cod’s largest—comprises 60 square miles. Bordered by Cape Cod Bay on the north and Nantucket Sound on the south, Barnstable has seven villages (total population 49,709), each with its own distinct persona. Hyannis is Barnstable’s largest village, and the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod—welcoming planes, trains, buses and ferries to the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

• % of population 65+: 25%
• Avg. home value: $741,632
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,377
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $7,401
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $68,453

9. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Palm Beach Gardens is a city of 61,146 in Palm Beach County, Florida, approximately 80 miles north of Miami. As the home of the PGA headquarters Palm Beach Gardens offers world-class luxury golf resort experiences and high-end retail shopping districts, just a few miles inland from South Florida’s renowned beaches.

• % of population 65+: 31%
• Avg. home value: $759,350
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,417
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $8,012
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $70,601

8. Gloucester, Massachusetts

Gloucester is a coastal city of 29,959 on Cape Ann, in Massachusetts. It is primarily known as America’s oldest seaport and recognized for its rich maritime history, vibrant working waterfront, and connection to the fishing industry.

• % of population 65+: 26%
• Avg. home value: $800,820
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,417
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $7,029
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $71,334

7. La Quinta, California

La Quinta is a desert resort city of 39,081 in Riverside County, California. Located between Indian Wells and Indio, it is one of the nine cities of the Coachella Valley. It is known as the “Gem of the Desert” and is famous for its world-class golf, scenic desert landscapes, and vibrant arts and culture scene. It’s a popular destination for those seeking a desert getaway with year-round sunshine, hiking trails, and a charming village atmosphere.

• % of population 65+: 31%
• Avg. home value: $785,335
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $4,976
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $6,926
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $71,613

6. Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is a desert city of 244,394 (by far the largest on this list) in Arizona east of Phoenix. It’s known for its spa resorts and golf courses, including TPC Scottsdale. Farther north, trails wind through McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a desertscape of hills, rock formations and cacti. Downtown’s Old Town Scottsdale has 1920s buildings and 19th-century olive trees.

• % of population 65+: 26%
• Avg. home value: $954,919
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,120
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $7,338
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $81,525

NEXT PAGE: Towns 1-5

5. Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs, which ranked seventh on last year’s list of most expensive retirement towns, is a city of 45,218 in the Sonoran Desert of southern California, known for its hot springs, stylish hotels, golf courses and spas. It’s also noted for its many fine examples of midcentury-modern architecture. Its core shopping district along Palm Canyon Drive features vintage boutiques, interior design shops and restaurants. The surrounding Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.

• % of population 65+: 34%
• Avg. home value: $1,021,141
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $4,961
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $6,926
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $86,550

4. Cerritos, California

Cerritos, which ranked sixth on last year’s list of most expensive retirement towns, is a city of 46,797 in Los Angeles County. It is known for its sizeable Filipino, Korean, Indian, Chinese and Taiwanese populations, and for high-quality amenities, including a renowned library and performing arts center.

• % of population 65+: 25%
• Avg. home value: $1,086,360
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,129
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $6,878
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $91,644

3. Walnut Creek, California

Walnut Creek, which ranked as the second-most expensive retirement town last year, is a city of 69,152 in Contra Costa County, located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about 16 miles east of the city of Oakland. It is known for its vibrant downtown area, upscale retail and dining scene, and its proximity to natural attractions like Mount Diablo State Park.

• % of population 65+: 29%
• Avg. home value: $1,437,769
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,551
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $9,607
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $115,206

2. Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Rancho Palos Verdes fell from the most expensive city on last year’s list to the second spot in 2025. The coastal city of 39,980 in southern Los Angeles County is known for its nature preserve trails, its school district, as well as its high property values.

• % of population 65+: 26%
• Avg. home value: $1,928,908
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $5,452
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $7,156
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $144,381

1. Saratoga, California

The most expensive retirement town in the U.S. in 2025 is Saratoga, California, a city of 29,607 in Santa Clara County. Located in Silicon Valley, in the southern Bay Area, Saratoga is known for its wineries, restaurants, and historic landmarks like Villa Montalvo, Mountain Winery, and Hakone Gardens. Saratoga is more than just a beautiful place to live—it’s a lifestyle. This small city is also known for its top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods, and proximity to Silicon Valley. These factors create high demand—and prices.

• % of population 65+: 26%
• Avg. home value: $4,118,931
• Avg. cost of groceries (annual): $6,165
• Avg. cost of healthcare (annual): $8,544
• Homeowner cost of living (annual): $282,625

See the full GOBankingRates “30 Most Expensive Retirement Towns in America” rankings here.

SEE ALSO:

• 10 Most Expensive U.S. Retirement Communities
• 10 Cheapest and 10 Most Expensive States to Retire Early