The 10 best retirement cities in the U.S.
When planning for retirement, the first questions are usually financial: how much you'll need each month, when you can afford to retire, when to start taking Social Security benefits, and whether your savings will last. These are all the right questions to work through with a financial professional.
But once the numbers start taking shape, the next question usually turns to location—where do you actually want to be? Where you retire is one of the most consequential decisions you'll make, and it can be one of the most personal. Your choice can have a significant impact on your finances, your access to healthcare, your daily quality of life and how close you are to family and friends.
What are the best cities for retirement? It depends.
Looking at the desirability of a city for retirement based on affordability and livability is a great place to start, but even the cities that check all the ranking boxes might not be the best fit for you personally. What these national rankings can do is put cities on your radar that you've never heard of or never considered.
The 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Places to Retire rankings evaluated more than 850 U.S. cities using six measures: quality of life, affordability, healthcare quality, retiree taxes, job market and, new this year, population and migration patterns for residents ages 55 and older. The weighting of those factors was determined by surveying adults ages 45 and older about what matters most to them when considering where to retire. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, quality of life ranked above affordability as the most heavily weighted factor—a shift that may reflect where your own priorities are heading too.1
How we picked the best cities for retirement
The U.S. News rankings gave us a strong research foundation, but our list reflects additional layers of consideration. We looked beyond the data to ask questions that matter specifically to pre-retirees: Are there parks, trails and greenways that support an active daily life? Does the city have walkability, for a lifestyle that feels genuinely livable? Is there a top-tier trauma center nearby if something goes wrong?
Proximity to that level of care matters more than most retirement guides acknowledge—in a true emergency, response time can be as consequential as the quality of care itself.
Every city on this list earned its place through a combination of national ranking data, healthcare infrastructure and outdoor access. Some are cities you already know, while others may surprise you. All of them have a story worth considering.
The top 10 best cities for retirement
#1. Ann Arbor, MI
Few cities offer world-class cultural amenities the way Ann Arbor does: museums, performing arts and a walkable downtown. The University of Michigan anchors the city with a well-respected Level I trauma center. With more than 160 parks, the Border-to-Border Trail and the Huron River corridor, Ann Arbor gives outdoor enthusiasts plenty of reasons to stay active.
#2. Tampa, FL
Tampa delivers the Sun Belt retirement lifestyle: warm weather, waterfront living and no state income tax. Tampa General Hospital is the only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma center in Florida, a rare designation that speaks to the depth of emergency care available. The city has a vibrant arts and dining scene, professional sports and miles of waterfront parks and trails
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#3. San Antonio, TX
A city that consistently earns its place on retirement lists. The 15-mile River Walk greenway connects neighborhoods, restaurants and cultural attractions throughout a genuinely walkable city. University Hospital anchors the region with a Level I trauma center and there’s no state income tax. Add in a warm climate, a rich cultural heritage and a cost of living that remains reasonable for a major metro: San Antonio makes a compelling case.
#4. Pinehurst, NC
Coming in at #64 on the 2026 U.S. News Best Places to Retire, Pinehurst represents something increasingly rare: a community recognized as the golf capital of the world that has maintained the feel of a small town. The region's proximity to Raleigh brings access to Duke University Hospital's Level I trauma center, and North Carolina's steadily declining income tax rate makes the financial picture increasingly attractive.
#5. Naples, FL
Ranked #18 on the 2026 U.S. News Best Places to Retire, Naples has long been a preferred destination for retirees who want the full Florida experience. This Gulf Coast city brings: more than ten miles of beach, the Gordon River Greenway, easy access to the natural beauty of the Everglades and no state income tax. NCH Healthcare System is widely regarded as one of the region’s leading healthcare providers, and retirement-age residents make up a significant share of the population—making Naples a community that genuinely appeals to the traditional retirement lifestyle.
#6. Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis earns its place on this list with: a nationally recognized park system ranking from the Trust for Public Land, the Chain of Lakes trail network and miles of accessible green space woven throughout the city. A high concentration of specialists, gerontologists and senior-focused services makes Minneapolis a well-supported city for aging in place. The winters are real, but so is everything else Minneapolis brings to the table.
#7. New York City, NY
New York City makes this list for the same reasons it consistently appears on lists everywhere: the energy, the access and the infrastructure. World-class healthcare is anchored by NYU Langone, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian. Central Park and an extensive borough-wide parks system anchor a city where arts, culture, dining and public transportation put everything within reach without a car. The financial tradeoff is real: housing costs are among the highest in the country, but few cities offer this much in return.
#8. Midland, MI
Midland claimed the #1 spot on the 2026 U.S. News Best Places to Retire, and if you haven't heard of it yet, that's part of the point. Located about 80 miles north of Lansing, this small Michigan city earns its ranking with: affordability, low taxes and a high quality of life. Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest (home to America's longest treetop canopy walk) give outdoor enthusiasts a genuinely distinctive backyard, and MyMichigan Medical Center provides Level II trauma care close to home.
#9. Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga carries a distinction no other city on this list can claim—it is America's only National Park City. That designation reflects a community deeply committed to outdoor living: from the 13-mile Tennessee Riverpark greenway connecting downtown to the surrounding neighborhoods, to Stringers Ridge, a 92-acre urban wilderness with sweeping city views. With a revitalized downtown and genuine affordability, Chattanooga stands out as one of the more compelling up-and-coming retirement destinations in the South.
#10. Providence, RI
Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design give the city a cultural richness that most cities its size simply don't have, and the walkable neighborhoods offer the kind of street-level life that usually requires a major metro price tag. The food scene is nationally recognized, Roger Williams Park provides 435 acres of green space in the heart of the city and Providence ranks among the safest cities for retirees in the country. For those willing to look beyond the obvious choices, it may be one of the most interesting cities on this list.
Finding the right fit
Where you retire will shape your daily life in ways that go beyond any ranking. The cities on this list represent a range of lifestyles, climates and price points—because the right retirement city is rarely the same for any two people. The cost of living, your proximity to quality healthcare and the lifestyle that a city supports can all factor into how far your retirement income stretches and how much you feel comfortable spending.
It’s worth having a retirement location conversation with your financial professional, and our retirement income & expense calculator can help you and your financial professional map out what retirement could look like in any of the cities on your list.