The 24 best places to retire in the US, where people are happier, taxes are lower, and life is relatively affordable

• U.S. News and World Report released its annual list of the best places to retire in America.

• It scored 150 US cities on their happiness, affordability, taxes, healthcare, and more.

• Cities in the South and Midwest dominate, but some pricier metros residents love also made the list.

In 2020, as Daniel Mehalek started to think about life after his career in sales for Fortune 500 companies in the Chicago area, he bought a home in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Mehalek said that while homeowners’, flood, and car insurance costs are higher in his chosen corner of the Sunshine State — north of Naples on Florida’s west coast — other expenses, including taxes and gas, are lower than in Illinois.

Most of all, he added, he and his wife are excited about the nice weather and laid-back lifestyle.

“We thought that in retirement, one of the things that we, along with neighbors, do is go by the beach and watch the sunset,” Mehalek told Business Insider earlier this year. “We wanted to have an area that is calm, relaxing, and going to be safe.”

Mehalek made a popular choice. Naples, Florida, ranked No. 1 on U.S. News and World Report’s new list of the best places to retire. The publication scored 150 large cities based on six factors: affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, job market, and healthcare quality. Most of the top 25 spots — including Virginia Beach, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Huntsville, Alabama — are in the South, a region that tends to have a lower cost of living.

In a departure from prior years’ list methodologies, happiness was weighted the most, with affordability close behind.

“What we found this year is retirees seek a destination that will not only stretch their dollar, but is also a place for enjoyment,” said Dawn Bradbury, assistant managing editor for real estate at U.S. News.

Prioritizing happiness means some more expensive places ranked higher on the list of best places to retire. Washington, DC, came in 12th, while San Francisco landed the 14th spot. New York City, which finished sixth last year, jumped up to third, getting a boost from its high scores in happiness, healthcare, and desirability.

Take Jim and Ellen Diamond, a retired couple in their 80s who were living in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, a suburb of New York City. They loved visiting so much that they decided to move there.

The Diamonds chose a luxury senior and assisted-living facility in Midtown Manhattan, swapping their four-bedroom house for a one-bedroom apartment. They were fine with giving up space because the city’s convenience made this stage of their lives much easier.

“Being here has eliminated a lot of tasks, like having a car and having it repaired,” Jim Diamond told Business Insider in 2023. “There are a few stores we can walk to and get groceries.”

Below are the 24 best places to retire in the US, according to U.S. News and World Report. The data for each city comes from the most recent US Census Bureau statistics.

24. Fort Myers, Florida

Population: 97,372

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 22.4%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $318,900

Median gross rent: $1,322

23. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Population: 702,767

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 13.1%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $196,700

Median gross rent: $1,012

22. Seattle, Washington

Population: 755,078

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 12.8%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $879,900

Median gross rent: $1,945

21. Anchorage, Alaska

Population: 286,075

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 12%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $363,800

Median gross rent: $1,405

20. Melbourne, Florida

Population: 86,890

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 21.5%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $247,300

Median gross rent: $1,303

19. Port St. Lucie, Florida

Population: 245,021

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 21.4%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $292,900

Median gross rent: $1,684

18. Tampa, Florida

Population: 403,364

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 13%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $333,200

Median gross rent: $1,422

17. Pensacola, Florida

Population: 53,724

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 20.2%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $248,100

Median gross rent: $1,150

16. Lexington, Kentucky

Population: 320,154

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 14.2%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $247,900

Median gross rent: $1,065

15. South Bend, Indiana

Population: 103,395

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 13.7%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $113,800

Median gross rent: $935

14. San Francisco, California

Population: 808,988

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 16.7%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $1,348,700

Median gross rent: $2,316

13. Charleston, South Carolina

Population: 155,369

Percent of the population 65 years and over: 16.3%

Median value of owner-occupied units: $438,900

Median gross rent: $1,517

12. Washington DC

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 12.6%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $705,000

• Median gross rent: $1,817

11. Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 13.9%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $172,700

10. Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 14.7%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $152,500

9. Charlotte, North Carolina

• Percent of the population 65 years and over:10.7%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $312,800

• Median gross rent: $1,399

8. Huntsville, Alabama

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 16.2%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $236,300

• Median gross rent: $1,020

7. Jacksonville, Florida

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 14.4%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $243,000

• Median gross rent: $1,281

6. Raleigh, North Carolina

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 11.4%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $347,000

• Median gross rent: $1,371

5. Boise, Idaho

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 15.2%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $401,800

• Median gross rent: $1,223

4. Sarasota, Florida

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 29.6%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: 372,000

• Median gross rent: $1,417

3. New York, New York

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 15.5%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $732,100

• Median gross rent: $1,714

2. Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 15%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $343,700

• Median gross rent: $1,568

1. Naples, Florida

• Percent of the population 65 years and over: 54.6%

• Median value of owner-occupied units: $1,200,100

• Median gross rent: $1,601

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