When it’s time to retire, a lot of older adults migrate south for warmer climates, cheaper housing, and lower taxes.
While southern cities like Naples and Fort Lauderdale often dominate as destinations for retirees, the Midwest has emerged as a favorable landing spot — at least, according to WalletHub.
WalletHub looked at 182 cities and ranked the best places for retirees based on four key measures: activities, affordability, healthcare, and quality of life. Each of those four categories was weighted equally, however, other relevant metrics were used inside each category and weighted differently. For example, adjusted cost of living was weighted higher than annual cost of in-home services within the affordability category.
“Rounding out the top 10 are cities that balance affordability, access to quality care, and vibrant lifestyles,” WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo told Business Insider. “These locales all tend to offer a mix of mild weather, strong local economies, and plenty of ways for retirees to stay active and connected.”
Unsurprisingly, Florida accounted for nearly half of the top 10 for best cities, while California took up more than half of the spots for the worst cities to retire in.
“On the flip side, the bottom 10 cities face challenges that make retirement less appealing. San Bernardino, California; Stockton, California; and Rancho Cucamonga, California, rank among the lowest because of their high costs of living and weaker healthcare access,” Lupo said.
Southern cities had a healthy showing in the top 10, but the Midwest also had a diverse selection of cities toward the top.
“Minneapolis, which ranks third, stands out for its strong healthcare system, active senior community, and welcoming job market for older adults,” Lupo said.
Here are the 10 best and 10 worst cities to retire in, according to WalletHub. Median listed home prices are from Realtor.com.
The 10 best cities for retirees
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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10. Casper, WY
Casper, Wyoming.
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Affordability rank: 1
Healthcare rank: 74
Median listing home price: $345,000
9. Madison, WI
Madison, Wisconsin.
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Affordability rank: 107
Healthcare rank: 8
Median listing home price: $420,000
8. Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Affordability rank: 104
Healthcare rank: 50
Median listing home price: $295,000
7. Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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Affordability rank: 79
Healthcare rank: 47
Median listing home price: $599,000
6. Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, Georgia.
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Affordability rank: 66
Healthcare rank: 56
Median listing home price: $370,000
5. Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida.
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Affordability rank: 45
Healthcare rank: 106
Median listing home price: $469,900
4. Miami, FL
Miami, Florida
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Affordability rank: 76
Healthcare rank: 26
Median listing home price: $625,000
3. Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Affordability rank: 96
Healthcare rank: 13
Median listing home price: $329,000
2. Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Affordability rank: 116
Healthcare rank: 40
Median listing home price: $1,100,000
1. Orlando, FL
Orlando, Florida
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Affordability rank: 5
Healthcare rank: 14
Median listing home price: $385,000
The 10 worst cities for retirees
Newark, New Jersey.
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10. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
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Affordability rank: 175Healthcare rank: 11Median listing home price: $360,000
9. Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon.
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Affordability rank: 127Healthcare rank: 146Median listing home price: $485,000
8. Pearl City, Hawaii
Pearl City, Hawaii.
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Affordability rank: 180Healthcare rank: 104Median listing home price: $622,000
7. Fontana, California
Fontana, California.
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Affordability rank: 172Healthcare rank: 147Median listing home price: $669,000
6. Fresno, California
Fresno, California.
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Affordability rank: 125Healthcare rank: 144Median listing home price: $410,000
5. Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
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Affordability rank: 156Healthcare rank: 134Median listing home price: $419,900
4. Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California.
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Affordability rank: 113Healthcare rank: 169Median listing home price: $420,000
3. Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rancho Cucamonga, California.
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Affordability rank: 163Healthcare rank: 128Median listing home price: $799,000
2. Stockton, California
Stockton, California.
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Affordability rank: 133Healthcare rank: 157Median listing home price: $454,900
1. San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California.
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Affordability rank: 157Healthcare rank: 174Median listing home price: $515,000