
Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2020-21
To identify the best places to retire, U.S. News analyzed data for the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. to assess how well they meet Americans' retirement needs and expectations. Top criteria include the happiness of local residents, housing affordability, tax rates and health care quality. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Retire methodology.
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Sarasota, FL
#1 in Best Places to Retire
Warm temperatures year-round, award-winning beaches and a thriving arts and cultural scene have made Sarasota a go-to... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.6
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 6.2
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6.4
- Overall Score
- 7.6
- Housing Affordability
- 6.2
- Health Care
- 6.4
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Fort Myers, FL
#2 in Best Places to Retire
For many years the Southwest Gulf Coast's population had little growth and remained somewhat isolated from the rest of... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 6.5
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 5.9
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- 6.5
- Health Care
- 5.9
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Port St. Lucie, FL
#3 in Best Places to Retire
Port St. Lucie is nestled along Florida's Treasure Coast, along the state's southeast side, about halfway between Miami... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 6.3
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6.2
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- 6.3
- Health Care
- 6.2
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Naples, FL
#4 in Best Places to Retire
Nestled between the edges of the Everglades and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico sits Collier County, home to Naples... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 5.4
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- 5.4
- Health Care
- 6
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Lancaster, PA
#5 in Best Places to Retire
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, offers a balance between natural and commercial spaces that residents appreciate. Expansive... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 6.5
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 9.2
- Overall Score
- 7.4
- Housing Affordability
- 6.5
- Health Care
- 9.2
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Ocala, FL
#6 in Best Places to Retire
Known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” Ocala maintains deep equestrian roots even as the area evolves into a diverse... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.3
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 7.7
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6.4
- Overall Score
- 7.3
- Housing Affordability
- 7.7
- Health Care
- 6.4
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Ann Arbor, MI
#7 in Best Places to Retire
Ann Arbor is a city of contrasts. It is at once rural and urban, sporty and smart, outdoorsy and high-tech... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.2
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 5.9
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 8.3
- Overall Score
- 7.2
- Housing Affordability
- 5.9
- Health Care
- 8.3
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Asheville, NC
#8 in Best Places to Retire
Hailed as "The Land of the Sky," Asheville, North Carolina, is often considered by outsiders to be a delightfully... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 7.2
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6.3
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Housing Affordability
- 7.2
- Health Care
- 6.3
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Miami, FL
#9 in Best Places to Retire
Dubbed "The Magic City," Miami is one of the most vibrant metro areas in the U.S., and it's well on its way to becoming... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 5.5
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6.4
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Housing Affordability
- 5.5
- Health Care
- 6.4
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Melbourne, FL
#10 in Best Places to Retire
Troves of urbanites, families, professionals and retirees enjoy Melbourne, Florida, one of the Space Coast's most... Read More- Overall Score
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Housing Affordability
- Housing Affordability
- 6.8
- Health Care
- Health Care
- 6.1
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Housing Affordability
- 6.8
- Health Care
- 6.1