Top 30 Middle-Class Retirement Towns in U.S. 2024
GOBanking Rates ranks the best retirement havens with an eye toward affordability and quality of life
The idea of living in a “retirement town” alongside high numbers of fellow retirees with similar interests in a location good at catering to those interests is attractive to many near-retirees considering a move.
But many of these types of communities tend to be on the expensive side and it can be especially tough for middle-class retirees to afford them. With this top of mind, researchers at GOBankingRates uncovered America’s “Best Retirement Towns For The Middle Class.”
Their research team first identified all cities in the United States with a 65+ population of 25% or higher—as well as a minimum population of 10,000 people.
From there, the research zeroed in on “affordability,” looking at metrics such as average home value, annual cost of living and Social Security benefits. To ensure these towns also have a good quality of life, GOBankingRates also scored each location based on livability. Locations with the highest overall score, across all categories, received the highest ranking.
Among the key findings?
• Middle-class Americans will have the most success retiring in Arizona (5 of the top 30), Ohio (5 of the top 30) and Florida, which boasts 5 of the top 10 towns (11 of the top 30) on the list, including No. 1.
• Sun City West, Arizona, (which placed 3rd in the rankings) has the highest percentage of residents age 65 and older, at a startling 86.5%.
• Greenville, Ohio, (27th in the rankings) has the lowest overall annual cost of living of all the cities on this list, at $30,173. Naples, Florida, has by far the highest overall annual cost of living of the towns on the list at $69,932.
Read on to see the Top 30 Retirement Towns for the Middle Class.
30. Ormond Beach, Florida
• Household median income: $65,238
• Single family home average value: $399,777
• Annual cost of living: $48,401
• Average Social Security Benefits: $22,946
29. Hermitage, Pennsylvania
• Household median income: $66,922
• Single family home average value: $210,762
• Annual cost of living: $34,178
• Average Social Security Benefits: $24,091
28. Lyndhurst, Ohio
• Household median income: $84,697
• Single family home average value: $225,429
• Annual cost of living: $35,093
• Average Social Security Benefits: $22,809
27. Greenville, Ohio
• Household median income: $45,746
• Single family home average value: $159,902
• Annual cost of living: $30,173
• Average Social Security Benefits: $19,574
26. Mountain Home, Arkansas
• Household median income: $42,281
• Single family home average value: $224,906
• Annual cost of living: $34,449
• Average Social Security Benefits: $23,209
25. Pahrump, Nevada
• Household median income: $54,988
• Single family home average value: $350,128
• Annual cost of living: $44,349
• Average Social Security Benefits: $23,592
24. Kerrville, Texas
• Household median income: $58,797
• Single family home average value: $354,444
• Annual cost of living: $44,075
• Average Social Security Benefits: $21,751
23. Tavares, Florida
• Household median income: $54,271
• Single family home average value: $328,077
• Annual cost of living: $44,351
• Average Social Security Benefits: $23,898
22. Gold Canyon, Arizona
• Household median income: $83,654
• Single family home average value: $493,623
• Annual cost of living: $55,036
• Average Social Security Benefits: $32,475
21. North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• Household median income: $69,792
• Single family home average value: $506,656
• Annual cost of living: $54,861
• Average Social Security Benefits: $27,638
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