Best Places to Live: 7 Cities For Retirement

It may seem like there’s never been more interest in the topic of retirement than now. As the generation of Baby Boomers is nearing the respectable age, we see the increasing amount of articles on the retirement-related themes. In view of this, we decided to make the most out of the data and insider’s information we have and round up a list of best cities to retire.

With so many beautiful and welcoming places in the country, it was a hard choice to make. There had been a crowd of factors weighed before we were ready to name our top seven. We chose to pay special attention to such factors as tax climate, cost of living, housing options, climate, and size of a city. This way, we narrowed the search down significantly and now here it is – the guide to help you navigate through the hundreds of options and choose the greatest spot for a restful life. Now it’s time to put the talks aside and reveal what is the best city to retire in 2020. It’s never too early to plan your retirement.

Charleston, SC

A post shared by Charleston SC official account (@explorecharleston) on Apr 15, 2017 at 4:58am PDT

State tax climate for retirees: tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 86.50 out of 100
Weather: 209 sunny days per year
Population: 132,609

The second largest city in South Carolina, Charleston is considered a place for perfect summer getaway (which is a reason to believe that it’s also the best city for retirement). It’s got everything to be named a perfect spot for the aged. Located on the coast, it is a great place to be if you love long walks with a view. Enchanted by the spirit and romantic of an island? Ten minutes and you’re in the appealing village of Sullivan’s Island.

What’s more, Charleston boasts fabulous Southern cuisine, nation’s best golf resorts, and distinctly modern art scene. And above all, this city won’t make you feel like a lavish spender – a favorable tax climate, affordable cost of living, and relatively low real estate prices are all at your disposal.

Orlando, FL

A post shared by Visit Orlando (@visitorlando) on Mar 14, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

State tax climate for retirees: most tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 79.53 out of 100
Weather: 233 sunny days per year
Population: 270,934

In case you don’t know, Florida is a well-recognized retirement mecca of the US – and there are solid reasons for that. The state is considered the most tax-friendly for retirees, it is exceptionally affordable in terms real estate, and, above all, it’s sunny almost every day there. Speaking of Orlando in particular, the city is a good choice to make since it’s got plenty of health-care facilities, dozens of green parks, and numerous active adult communities. What else would the best city to retire need?

If you’re anything like the majority of retirees, chances are that you’d prefer sunny states over foggy and snowy ones. In case that’s true, we’ve got amazing news for you: if you choose to strike roots in Florida, the winter will never come (unless we’ll keep acting kind of crappy in regards to climate change issue). Anyway, Orlando looks like a perfect location for your slow years, so waste no time and take your pick.

Tampa, FL

A post shared by Michael McDermott (@michael96mcd) on May 4, 2017 at 4:14am PDT

State tax climate for retirees: most tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 75.75 out of 100
Weather: 246 sunny days per year
Population: 369,075

The mere fact of listing two cities of Florida in a row points unambiguously to one thing – the state is called the mecca of retirement not for nothing. Florida looks and feels like heaven, and you don’t have to go over budget to feel an above-the-average comfort of life if you choose to settle down there.

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Called the second best place for retirement in the US, Tampa deserves the great reputation it has. Ranked high for health care facilities and the overall quality of life, the city of Tampa might be a location of choice if you’re looking for a combination of a big city dynamic and a laid-back lifestyle of the South. It’s sunny, affordable, and boasting lots of charming beaches –  what more could one ask for?

Pittsburgh, PA

A post shared by VisitPITTSBURGH (@visitpittsburgh) on Dec 27, 2016 at 6:06am PST

State tax climate for retirees: tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 82.96 out of 100
Weather: 160 sunny days per year
Population: 304,391

They say that kids and old folks have much in common. If that’s true at least to a certain extent, then Pittsburgh is one of the greatest cities for approaching your advanced years. Wonder why? Because we’ve already researched the best cities for raising kids, and Pittsburgh was one of our top choices. But in case you need more evidence, you’ll find it right below.

Pittsburgh is safe and secure, walkable and bikeable, delicious and diverse. Locals might not have as many sunny days as people in Tampa or Orlando, but the most well-read population and must-see views sure compensate for this small climate inconvenience. And the icing on the cake is that Pittsburgh boasts affordable housing no matter renting or buying we’re talking about. Isn’t it what the best city to retire should be all about?

New Orleans, LA

A post shared by Visit New Orleans (@visitneworleans) on Apr 23, 2017 at 3:40pm PDT

State tax climate for retirees: most tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 80.13 out of 100
Weather: 216 sunny days per year
Population: 389,617

Another destination to settle in after the day you call it quits is New Orleans. And don’t be fooled by the fact that the city is mostly famous for its loud street parties and gambling. As studies show, New Orleans is one of the top locations for winding down in the retirement years. Wonder why? Let’s say, for many reasons.

At the outset, it’s mostly warm and sunny all the year round. Plus, the city is big enough to feel vibrant but small enough to be suitable for a slow life. And there is an additional perk: living here is massively cheaper than in many major cities in the country. And it applies to housing, dining, entertainment, and virtually anything you can think of (unless it’s something completely off the wall like holding a home party with a real Panda as a special guest or flying over the city in the pink helicopter).

Nashville, TN

A post shared by Nashville Tennessee (@visitmusiccity) on Apr 15, 2017 at 3:18pm PDT

State tax climate for retirees: most tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 76.43 out of 100
Weather: 208 sunny days per year
Population: 654,610

If for some weird and unfair reason you think that Nashville does not deserve your consideration, we’re here to debunk the myth. And let us start by asking one simple question: how many cities you know have the full-size reproduction of the Pantheon? Yeah, that legendary building located in Greece. Don’t be too quick to answer, take your time. Having hard times dusting off your knowledge in Geography? It’s ok if you cannot come up with an answer because Nashville is the one and only place in the world (except for Greek Athens, obviously) that can pride itself on this matter.

What’s more, Nashville is the largest city listed in this rating. It means this place can be your best bet if you’re looking for a cheaper and slower place to live but are not ready to wave-off the vibes and energy of a big city. The bottom line is that Nashville is probably one of the best cities to retire these years.

Tucson, AZ

A post shared by Visit Tucson (@visittucson) on Jan 29, 2017 at 5:26pm PST

State tax climate for retirees: tax-friendly
Cost of living index: 63.87 out of 100
Weather: 286 sunny days per year
Population: 531,641

If both your body and mind crave sunbeams and warmth, choose Tucson and you won’t be on the losing side. With as much as 286 sunny days per year, Tucson outshines even Orlando and Tampa, which is not an easy task to complete. If the perfect weather is not enough reason for you to call it the best city to retire, keep reading.

Some call it a perfect place for living a simple life, others state that its biggest perk is a moderate humidity and low pollution. Some tell it’s remarkably cheap to live there, while others find it hard to decide whether the city is more of a runner’s heaven or a biking paradise. But whatever way you slice it, one thing remains clear: Tucson might be exactly what you need when it’s time to slow down a little and enjoy life a bit more.

To Wrap it Up

We hope our list helped you make a decision or at least kick-started your search with destinations to consider. Whatever is your case, feel free to leave your comments or suggest other cities if you believe we’ve missed mentioning a great spot in this category. And make sure to share your post with people you know (because it’s a polite way of sending people to the cities you’d like to have friends in). We narrowed your choice down, the rest is up to you: which one will be your personal best city for retirement?

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