- 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
Fort Myers, Florida.
Shutterstock
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
Oklahoma City.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
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
Seattle.
Caroline Purser / Getty Images
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
Anchorage, Alaska.
Blue Poppy
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
Melbourne, Florida.
Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images
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
Port St. Lucie.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
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
Tampa.
John Coletti/Getty Images
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
Pensacola.
Bown Media/Shutterstock
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
Lexington.
aceshot1/Shutterstock
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
South Bend.
DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
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
San Francisco.
Nicholas Klein/Getty Images
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
Charleston.
Pgiam/Getty Images
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
Washington DC.
Orhan Cam/Shutterstock
- Population: 678,972
- 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
Green Bay.
JamesBrey/Getty Images
- Population: 105,744
- Percent of the population 65 years and over: 13.9%
- Median value of owner-occupied units: $172,700
- Median gross rent: $864
10. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Jacob Boomsma/iStock/Getty Images
- Population: 269,994
- Percent of the population 65 years and over: 14.7%
- Median value of owner-occupied units: $152,500
- Median gross rent: $904
9. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty Images
- Population: 911,311
- 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
Huntsville, Alabama.
Davel5957/Getty Images
- Population: 225,564
- 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
Jacksonville, Florida.
Edwin Remsberg/Getty Images
- Population: 985,843
- 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
Raleigh, North Carolina.
Kenny McCartney/Getty Images
- Population: 482,295
- 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
Boise, Idaho.
CSNafzger/Shutterstock
- Population: 235,421
- 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
Sarasota, Florida.
Suncoast Aerials
- Population: 57,602
- 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
New York City.
Alexander Spatari/Getty Images
- Population: 8,258,035
- 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
Virginia Beach.
Kyle Little
- Population: 453,649
- 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
Naples, Florida.
Shutterstock
- Population: 19,704
- Percent of the population 65 years and over: 54.6%
- Median value of owner-occupied units: $1,200,100
- Median gross rent: $1,601