To identify the best places to retire, U.S. News analyzed data for the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the USA to assess how well they meet Americans' retirement needs and expectations. Top criteria include the happiness of local residents, housing affordability, tax rates and healthcare quality. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Retire methodology.
#1 in Best Places to Retire
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, offers a balance between natural and commercial spaces that residents appreciate. Expansive farms rub elbo... more
#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 the Sunshine... more
#3 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 place for ret... more
#4 in Best Places to Retire
People are drawn to the Texas capital's music, outdoor spaces and cultural institutions. Austin was established along the Colorado ... more
#5 in Best Places to Retire
Known by nicknames like Blitzburgh and Steel City, Pittsburgh is on the verge of greater heights. Emerging from a dying steel indus... more
#6 in Best Places to Retire
Grand Rapids has an affinity for public art, and its craft brewery scene is one of the best in the nation. A scenic spot perched on... more
#7 in Best Places to Retire
Nashville is famous for the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, aka the Mother Church of Country Music, and twangy honky-tonks, b... more
#8 in Best Places to Retire
San Antonio is as comfortable as an old pair of jeans. It offers big-city amenities and world-renowned attractions coupled with a r... more
#9 in Best Places to Retire
Offering both big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area offers an interesting mix of Texas p... more
#10 in Best Places to Retire
Aptly named for its 38 stunning lakes, Lakeland is infused with Old Florida history and natural beauty. Remnants of Lakeland's past... more
