Best Retirement Cities to Compare
Browse 500 top retirement cities across the U.S., ranked by affordability, taxes, healthcare, climate, and lifestyle.
Quick answer
Start with cost, healthcare, taxes, and climate risk
The best retirement city is not just the cheapest city. Shortlist places where your monthly budget, housing options, healthcare access, tax exposure, weather comfort, and family proximity all work together. Then use the comparison tool or retirement quiz to narrow the tradeoffs.
How should I compare retirement cities?
Compare monthly cost, housing, taxes, healthcare, climate risk, transportation, lifestyle fit, and proximity to family.
What makes a city good for retirement?
A good retirement city balances affordability, reliable healthcare, manageable taxes, safety, housing options, and the lifestyle you actually want.
Arizona retirement 2026 guide
Compare Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Prescott before choosing an Arizona retirement city
Arizona is attractive for retirees who want dry weather, low property taxes, and no state tax on Social Security, but the state is not one-size-fits-all. Phoenix and Mesa offer deep healthcare and airport access, Tucson is often more affordable, Scottsdale is higher-cost and resort-oriented, and Prescott trades desert heat for a smaller high-country feel.
AnchorageAK
CollegeAK
established retirement community
FairbanksAK
JuneauAK
Juneau city andAK
North LakesAK
Alexander CityAL
established retirement community
AnnistonAL
established retirement community
AthensAL
established retirement community
BessemerAL
ClayAL
established retirement community
CullmanAL
established retirement community
DaphneAL
established retirement community
DecaturAL
established retirement community
DothanAL
EufaulaAL
established retirement community
FairhopeAL
established retirement community
FlorenceAL
FoleyAL
established retirement community
Fort PayneAL
established retirement community
GadsdenAL
established retirement community
GardendaleAL
established retirement community
Gulf ShoresAL
HartselleAL
established retirement community
HueytownAL
established retirement community
HuntsvilleAL
IrondaleAL
established retirement community
JasperAL
established retirement community
LeedsAL
established retirement community
McCallaAL
established retirement community
MobileAL
MontgomeryAL
MoodyAL
established retirement community
Mountain BrookAL
established retirement community
Muscle ShoalsAL
established retirement community
OpelikaAL
OzarkAL
PelhamAL
Pell CityAL
established retirement community
Rainbow CityAL
established retirement community
SaralandAL
ScottsboroAL
established retirement community
SelmaAL
established retirement community
Spanish FortAL
SylacaugaAL
TuscaloosaAL
Vestavia HillsAL
established retirement community
ArkadelphiaAR
established retirement community
BatesvilleAR
established retirement community
Bella VistaAR
BentonAR
established retirement community
BlythevilleAR
established retirement community
BryantAR
established retirement community
CabotAR
established retirement community
CamdenAR
established retirement community
El DoradoAR
established retirement community
FayettevilleAR
Fort SmithAR
established retirement community
HarrisonAR
established retirement community
Hot SpringsAR
Hot Springs VillageAR
JacksonvilleAR
established retirement community
JonesboroAR
established retirement community
Little RockAR
LowellAR
established retirement community
MagnoliaAR
established retirement community
MalvernAR
established retirement community
MaumelleAR
established retirement community
Mountain HomeAR
North Little RockAR
established retirement community
ParagouldAR
established retirement community
Pine BluffAR
established retirement community
RussellvilleAR
SearcyAR
established retirement community
SherwoodAR
established retirement community
TexarkanaAR
established retirement community
Van BurenAR
established retirement community
West MemphisAR
AnthemAZ
Apache JunctionAZ
established retirement community
Bullhead CityAZ
established retirement community
Camp VerdeAZ
Casa GrandeAZ
established retirement community
Casas AdobesAZ
Catalina FoothillsAZ
established retirement community
ChandlerAZ
Chino ValleyAZ
established retirement community
CottonwoodAZ
established retirement community
FlagstaffAZ
FlorenceAZ
established retirement community
Fort MohaveAZ
established retirement community
Fortuna FoothillsAZ
established retirement community
Fountain HillsAZ
established retirement community
Gold CanyonAZ
established retirement community
Green ValleyAZ
established retirement community
KingmanAZ
established retirement community
Lake Havasu CityAZ
established retirement community
MaranaAZ
established retirement community
MesaAZ
New Kingman-ButlerAZ
established retirement community
Oro ValleyAZ
Paradise ValleyAZ
established retirement community
PaysonAZ
established retirement community
PhoenixAZ
established retirement community
PrescottAZ
Prescott ValleyAZ
established retirement community
SaddlebrookeAZ
established retirement community
SahuaritaAZ
established retirement community
ScottsdaleAZ
Show LowAZ
established retirement community
Sierra VistaAZ
established retirement community
Sierra Vista SoutheastAZ
Sun CityAZ
Sun City WestAZ
established retirement community
Sun LakesAZ
established retirement community
SurpriseAZ
Tanque VerdeAZ
TucsonAZ
Tucson EstatesAZ
established retirement community
Tucson MountainsAZ
Verde VillageAZ
YumaAZ
AlamoCA
established retirement community
Arroyo GrandeCA
established retirement community
AuburnCA
BanningCA
established retirement community
Beverly HillsCA
BlackhawkCA
established retirement community
CalimesaCA
established retirement community
Cameron ParkCA
established retirement community
CerritosCA
established retirement community
Diamond SpringsCA
Fair OaksCA
established retirement community
Grass ValleyCA
established retirement community
HealdsburgCA
established retirement community
La QuintaCA
Laguna BeachCA
established retirement community
Laguna WoodsCA
established retirement community
LarkspurCA
LincolnCA
established retirement community
Los OsosCA
established retirement community
MalibuCA
established retirement community
Morro BayCA
North AuburnCA
NovatoCA
established retirement community
Pacific GroveCA
established retirement community
Palm DesertCA
Palm SpringsCA
Palos Verdes EstatesCA
established retirement community
Rancho MirageCA
established retirement community
Rancho Palos VerdesCA
established retirement community
Rio VistaCA
established retirement community
SacramentoCA
San DiegoCA
San Luis ObispoCA
Santa BarbaraCA
SaratogaCA
Seal BeachCA
established retirement community
SonomaCA
established retirement community
View Park-Windsor HillsCA
Walnut CreekCA
established retirement community
West CarsonCA
established retirement community
ArvadaCO
established retirement community
BerthoudCO
established retirement community
Black ForestCO
established retirement community
BoulderCO
BroomfieldCO
Cañon CityCO
established retirement community
Castle PinesCO
established retirement community
CentennialCO
established retirement community
Cherry CreekCO
CliftonCO
Colorado SpringsCO
ColumbineCO
established retirement community
Dakota RidgeCO
DenverCO
DurangoCO
established retirement community
EdwardsCO
EnglewoodCO
established retirement community
FairmountCO
established retirement community
Fort CollinsCO
Fort MorganCO
established retirement community
FruitaCO
Glenwood SpringsCO
established retirement community
GoldenCO
established retirement community
Grand JunctionCO
established retirement community
GreeleyCO
Greenwood VillageCO
established retirement community
GunbarrelCO
established retirement community
Highlands RanchCO
established retirement community
Ken CarylCO
established retirement community
LafayetteCO
established retirement community
LakewoodCO
established retirement community
LittletonCO
established retirement community
Lone TreeCO
established retirement community
LongmontCO
established retirement community
LouisvilleCO
established retirement community
LovelandCO
established retirement community
MontroseCO
established retirement community
MonumentCO
established retirement community
PuebloCO
Pueblo WestCO
established retirement community
Security-WidefieldCO
Steamboat SpringsCO
established retirement community
SterlingCO
established retirement community
The PineryCO
established retirement community
WestminsterCO
Wheat RidgeCO
established retirement community
WindsorCO
established retirement community
AnsoniaCT
BethelCT
established retirement community
BridgeportCT
established retirement community
BristolCT
DanburyCT
DerbyCT
established retirement community
East HartfordCT
established retirement community
East HavenCT
established retirement community
GreenwichCT
established retirement community
HartfordCT
ManchesterCT
established retirement community
MeridenCT
MiddletownCT
established retirement community
Milford city (balance)CT
NaugatuckCT
established retirement community
New BritainCT
established retirement community
New HavenCT
New LondonCT
NewingtonCT
established retirement community
North HavenCT
NorwalkCT
established retirement community
NorwichCT
established retirement community
OrangeCT
SheltonCT
established retirement community
StamfordCT
TorringtonCT
established retirement community
Trumbull CenterCT
established retirement community
Wallingford CenterCT
established retirement community
WaterburyCT
established retirement community
West HartfordCT
established retirement community
West HavenCT
established retirement community
WethersfieldCT
WillimanticCT
established retirement community
Windsor LocksCT
WashingtonDC
well-educated communityestablished retirement community
BearDE
BrooksideDE
established retirement community
ClaymontDE
established retirement community
DoverDE
GlasgowDE
HockessinDE
popular with retireesestablished retirement community
MiddletownDE
MilfordDE
NewarkDE
Pike Creek ValleyDE
Rehoboth BeachDE
SmyrnaDE
established retirement community
WilmingtonDE
Bayonet PointFL
established retirement community
Bee RidgeFL
established retirement community
Boca RatonFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
Bonita SpringsFL
established retirement community
BradentonFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
Cape CoralFL
established retirement community
ClearwaterFL
Cocoa BeachFL
established retirement community
Cypress LakeFL
established retirement community
Daytona BeachFL
established retirement community
DunedinFL
EdgewaterFL
established retirement community
EnglewoodFL
EsteroFL
established retirement community
Fernandina BeachFL
established retirement community
Fort LauderdaleFL
Fort MyersFL
GainesvilleFL
GulfportFL
established retirement community
Hobe SoundFL
established retirement community
HudsonFL
established retirement community
IonaFL
established retirement community
JacksonvilleFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
Lady LakeFL
LakelandFL
LaurelFL
established retirement community
Liberty TriangleFL
Marco IslandFL
established retirement community
MiamiFL
established retirement community
Mount DoraFL
NaplesFL
New Smyrna BeachFL
established retirement community
North Fort MyersFL
North Palm BeachFL
OcalaFL
On Top of the WorldFL
established retirement community
OrlandoFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
Palmer RanchFL
PensacolaFL
Pine Ridge CDP (Citrus County)FL
Port CharlotteFL
established retirement community
Port St. LucieFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
Punta GordaFL
established retirement community
RotondaFL
established retirement community
SarasotaFL
SebastianFL
established retirement community
SeminoleFL
established retirement community
St. PetersburgFL
Sugarmill WoodsFL
established retirement community
Sun City CenterFL
established retirement community
TallahasseeFL
TampaFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
Tarpon SpringsFL
established retirement community
TavaresFL
established retirement community
The VillagesFL
VeniceFL
established retirement community
West LealmanFL
established retirement community
West Palm BeachFL
tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community
West Vero CorridorFL
established retirement community
WildwoodFL
established retirement community
ZephyrhillsFL
AlbanyGA
established retirement community
AmericusGA
established retirement community
AthensGA
AtlantaGA
AugustaGA
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance)GA
BainbridgeGA
established retirement community
Belvedere ParkGA
established retirement community
BrunswickGA
established retirement community
CairoGA
established retirement community
Candler-McAfeeGA
established retirement community
CantonGA
ConyersGA
CordeleGA
established retirement community
CovingtonGA
established retirement community
DublinGA
established retirement community
DunwoodyGA
EvansGA
established retirement community
FayettevilleGA
established retirement community
Fort OglethorpeGA
GainesvilleGA
LaGrangeGA
established retirement community
LilburnGA
established retirement community
MaconGA
Macon-Bibb CountyGA
established retirement community
MariettaGA
established retirement community
MartinezGA
MoultrieGA
Mountain ParkGA
established retirement community
North DecaturGA
established retirement community
Peachtree CityGA
established retirement community
PerryGA
RomeGA
established retirement community
RoswellGA
established retirement community
SavannahGA
SnellvilleGA
St. MarysGA
established retirement community
St. SimonsGA
established retirement community
ThomasvilleGA
established retirement community
TiftonGA
established retirement community
TuckerGA
established retirement community
VidaliaGA
established retirement community
WaycrossGA
established retirement community
Wilmington IslandGA
established retirement community
East HonoluluHI
established retirement community
Ewa BeachHI
established retirement community
HalawaHI
Hawaiian Paradise ParkHI
HiloHI
established retirement community
HonoluluHI
KahuluiHI
Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)HI
established retirement community
Kailua CDP (Honolulu County)HI
Kailua-KonaHI
KaiminaniHI
established retirement community
KaneoheHI
KapaaHI
KiheiHI
established retirement community
LahainaHI
established retirement community
MakahaHI
established retirement community
MakakiloHI
established retirement community
Mililani TownHI
established retirement community
NanakuliHI
established retirement community
Pearl CityHI
established retirement community
Royal KuniaHI
established retirement community
Urban HonoluluHI
WahiawaHI
established retirement community
WaianaeHI
established retirement community
Waihee-WaiehuHI
established retirement community
WailukuHI
established retirement community
WaimaluHI
Waimea CDP (Hawaii County)HI
WaipahuHI
established retirement community
WaipioHI
AltoonaIA
established retirement community
AmesIA
BettendorfIA
BooneIA
established retirement community
BurlingtonIA
established retirement community
CarrollIA
established retirement community
Cedar FallsIA
established retirement community
Cedar RapidsIA
ClintonIA
established retirement community
CliveIA
established retirement community
CoralvilleIA
established retirement community
Council BluffsIA
established retirement community
DavenportIA
Des MoinesIA
DubuqueIA
established retirement community
Fort DodgeIA
established retirement community
Fort MadisonIA
established retirement community
IndianolaIA
established retirement community
Iowa CityIA
JohnstonIA
Le MarsIA
established retirement community
MarionIA
established retirement community
MarshalltownIA
established retirement community
Mason CityIA
MuscatineIA
established retirement community
NewtonIA
NorwalkIA
OskaloosaIA
established retirement community
OttumwaIA
PellaIA
established retirement community
Pleasant HillIA
Sioux CityIA
SpencerIA
established retirement community
Storm LakeIA
established retirement community
UrbandaleIA
established retirement community
WaterlooIA
established retirement community
WaverlyIA
established retirement community
West Des MoinesIA
established retirement community
AmmonID
established retirement community
BlackfootID
BoiseID
Boise CityID
established retirement community
BurleyID
ChubbuckID
established retirement community
Coeur d'AleneID
EagleID
Garden CityID
HaydenID
Idaho FallsID
established retirement community
LewistonID
MeridianID
established retirement community
Mountain HomeID
established retirement community
NampaID
PocatelloID
established retirement community
Post FallsID
StarID
established retirement community
Twin FallsID
BloomingdaleIL
Burr RidgeIL
CantonIL
established retirement community
CentraliaIL
established retirement community
ChampaignIL
ChicagoIL
CrestwoodIL
established retirement community
DarienIL
established retirement community
East St. LouisIL
established retirement community
Fox LakeIL
established retirement community
FreeportIL
established retirement community
GalesburgIL
established retirement community
GlenviewIL
GodfreyIL
Highland ParkIL
established retirement community
HuntleyIL
established retirement community
KewaneeIL
established retirement community
Lake ForestIL
established retirement community
LincolnIL
established retirement community
LincolnwoodIL
MarionIL
MortonIL
established retirement community
Morton GroveIL
established retirement community
NapervilleIL
NilesIL
established retirement community
NorridgeIL
NorthbrookIL
Orland ParkIL
Palos HeightsIL
Palos HillsIL
established retirement community
Park RidgeIL
established retirement community
QuincyIL
established retirement community
ShorewoodIL
established retirement community
SkokieIL
established retirement community
SpringfieldIL
SterlingIL
established retirement community
StreatorIL
established retirement community
WestchesterIL
established retirement community
WilmetteIL
established retirement community
AndersonIN
established retirement community
AuburnIN
established retirement community
BedfordIN
established retirement community
BloomingtonIN
BlufftonIN
established retirement community
Cedar LakeIN
established retirement community
ClarksvilleIN
established retirement community
ConnersvilleIN
established retirement community
CrawfordsvilleIN
Crown PointIN
DyerIN
established retirement community
EvansvilleIN
established retirement community