Where’s the best place to retire? It can be an overwhelming question. There are so many factors to consider: cost of living, weather, access to health care — and, of course, proximity to one’s grandkids. The list goes on and on.
Luckily, ConsumerAffairs has offered some answers. The research and news platform analyzed 165 urban areas and put together a list of America’s most retirement-friendly cities. The criteria included affordability, crime rates, the availability of parks and cultural activities, walkability and many other concerns — all of which are relevant when deciding where to spend one’s golden years.
“It’s a big decision,” said Mark Huffman, a writer and retirement expert for ConsumerAffairs. “There are so many factors, and if you’re not considering them, you can easily make a mistake.”
Today a growing number of Americans start their retirement in a new state. The moving company United Van Lines found that of all the interstate moves it handled last year, 20% were by new retirees. More than 234,000 newly retired Americans moved to another state in 2022 — 4% more than in 2021, according to Hire a Helper, a moving services booking company.
So the question of where to retire is increasingly important. But it’s not just a matter of data. Some retirement advisors say it’s crucial to visit a place before deciding to move there.
“Feel is so important,” said Monica Dwyer, vice president of Harvest Financial Advisors in West Chester, Ohio. “Does it feel like home? Is there a community there that you could really become intertwined with? Is it the kind of place that has people who share your same values and ideals? Community is so incredibly important as a determinant of longevity and a healthy lifestyle.”
Read more: As prices rise, more retirees are moving to other states
But before clients start traveling across the country, studies like ConsumerAffairs’ offer a quick primer on where to look. Huffman hopes readers will find the rankings helpful.
“I hope that they consider some things that they might not have considered,” he said. “If you just pick a name out of a hat, you could move somewhere where they don’t have a hospital and they have one grocery store in town, and it charges insanely high prices.”
Below are the five best cities to retire in, according to ConsumerAffairs: