Here’s Where You Should Retire, According to a New Report

Retirement is a totally new phase of life. When you’re no longer tied down to a job, a sea change of life can open up to you. From new hobbies to moving somewhere new, there are a ton of new decisions to make when you’re out of the workforce. But when it comes to the U.S., which cities are the best for retirees?

To find out, the Realtor.com team combed through home listings on their site and analyzed the percentage of listings that used keywords indicating a retiree-friendly community. The team “pulled together the median list prices for all U.S. cities over the past year,” and then looked through all different types of housing in those cities to “pinpoint the percentage of those listings that used keywords in the description that indicate a retiree-friendly community.” 

The report reveals that Sun City Center, Florida, was ranked the most retiree-friendly city in the United States. Located just 30 minutes from Tampa, the town is built around retirees, given that residents must be 55 or older to move in. (Realtor.com reports that the average age of residents there is 71, and that a whopping 84% of listings are “retiree-friendly.”) 

Although Florida is notorious for its high home insurance costs, you can expect to pay less than other Sunshine State residents thanks to the town’s comparatively lower homeowners association dues.

The second most retiree-friendly city was Green Valley, Arizona. Retirees can enjoy easy access to nature courtesy of the West Desert Trails preserve and the area’s many cycling routes, all of which lie an easy 30-minute drive to Tucson. 

The third most retiree-friendly city was King City, Oregon, which leapt up three places from its No. 6 ranking in 2023. An easy 20-minute commute into Portland, this Pacific Northwestern community’s 0% sales tax rate will help residents make the most of their retirement savings-wise.

Here are the 10 best U.S. towns to retire in right now, according to Realtor.com, listed with each region’s median age of resident and median home listing price:

1. Sun City Center, FL (71, $315,000)
2. Green Valley, AZ (74, $349,900)
3. King City, OR (63, $375,000)
4. The Villages, FL (73, $400,000)
5. Manchester, NJ (65, $309,000)
6. Monroe, NJ (56, $424,000)
7. Seal Beach, CA (61, $369,000)
8. Sun City, CA (58, $370,000)
9. Laguna Woods, CA (75, $409,900)
10. Whiting, NJ (69, $179,000)

You can check out Realtor.com’s full report here.