What’s better than Christmas or your birthday?
Your last day at work… ever.
And then it hits you, one of the happiest problems you’ll have, where do you want to spend your retirement? Every day at the beach and golf course or maybe a city close to family and friends.
What you need is a list of the best places to retire in the United States. And that’s what you’ll find here.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at the things people generally like about retirement — weather, things to do, affordable living, and the ability to travel — for the biggest cities in America.
No need to say thank you. Least we could do now that you’re hanging them up and headed home.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Retire In The United States For 2025
Well, that went as we’d expected — Miramar is the best place to retire in America. Not a surprise to see Florida and California at the top.
While Florida dominates the top ten and California and Arizona make appearances on the back half of the top twenty, some smaller cities also make the cut.
For more on the top twenty, read on. Or if you’re not looking to retire any time soon, check out:
The 10 Best Cities To Retire In The USA
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 135,986
Median Income: $86,109
Average Home Price: $420,300
Average Rent: $1,954
More on Miramar: Data | Real Estate
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 125,273
Median Income: $67,521
Average Home Price: $248,000
Average Rent: $1,487
More on Palm Bay: Data | Real Estate
Crime continues to be a growing issue in parts of Clearwater. The downtown area used to be very pleasant, unfortunately it has been taken over by the Scientology cult groups. It’s a real shame. The beach, however, is truly fantastic…gorgeous white sand….outstanding! We moved after living near the downtown Clearwater area after 25 years. We still go back to visit each year.
Favorite place, Costco. Lot’s of good restaurants….the nations #1 Beach!
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 117,075
Median Income: $64,440
Average Home Price: $326,100
Average Rent: $1,539
More on Clearwater: Data | Real Estate
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 106,412
Median Income: $87,171
Average Home Price: $433,600
Average Rent: $1,967
More on Davie: Data | Real Estate
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 114,500
Median Income: $139,326
Average Home Price: $1,156,900
Average Rent: $2,678
More on Carlsbad: Data | Real Estate
Coral Springs is a suburban neighborhood, surrounded by commercial properties. In other words, it is a small city. It is an expensive place to live. There are hardly any violent crimes. It is safe to walk around at any time. The main crimes are burglaries, shoplifting, or car theft. The police are very active to ensure that suspicious people are questioned. Traffic laws are enforced strictly.
It gets real hot and humid in May until September. It rains hard almost every day in the summer time. There are many insects that live in the grass and could crawl or fly into your residence.
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 133,962
Median Income: $90,643
Average Home Price: $502,700
Average Rent: $1,951
More on Coral Springs: Data | Real Estate
I absolutely love West Palm Beach Florida! It is one of my favorite vacation spots in the US. I always feel so relaxed and at ease when sitting on the beautiful beaches. The water is gorgeous and the sand is perfect. There is just enough around for shoppingentertainment to not get bored, but not too much that you feel overwhelemed.
My favorite place is of course the beach itself. I have tried mutliple beaches there and not a single one has disappointed. Public or private you are going to find yourself having an amazing time.
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 119,508
Median Income: $69,261
Average Home Price: $369,800
Average Rent: $1,709
More on West Palm Beach: Data | Real Estate
There is crime everywhere you go but Port St. Lucie seemed to be low to moderate. The schools were awful. There are plenty of beaches, restaurants and some fun places to visit nearby.
The schools in Port St. Lucie are terrible. Coming from the north, I am used to schools being extremely helpful when my kids were struggling. Whether it was putting in place an IEP or just extra help. In Port St. Lucie their IEP options are limited. They believe that “pushing a child into their grade level” will help more than pulling them out and slowing down the learning. Pushing in means that a child who struggles to work on grade level work is kept in their grade level instead of working up to their grade level. This way of teaching causes added pressure and stress on a child. It does not help their confidence at all. I actually had to move back up to Pennsylvania because they were unable to help my child.
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 220,453
Median Income: $78,137
Average Home Price: $327,700
Average Rent: $1,781
More on Port St. Lucie: Data | Real Estate
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 275,030
Median Income: $105,173
Average Home Price: $697,400
Average Rent: $2,122
More on Chula Vista: Data | Real Estate
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Population: 143,499
Median Income: $113,105
Average Home Price: $1,036,600
Average Rent: $2,214
More on Torrance: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In The US
To create our list of the best cities in America to retire, we used Saturday Night Science.
Step one was to limit our analysis to all the cities in America with over 100,000 people. This left us with 266 cities nationwide.
For these 266, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Things to do per capita (Museum, Libraries, and Colleges)
- Crimes per capita (lower is better)
- Distance to closest airport
- Median age (higher is better)
- Median rent (lower is better)
- Weather (Warmer and less rainy)
- Cost of living (lower is better)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 266, with the lowest number being the best for retirees.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Miramar, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best to retire — a place for you to start your second career.
We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities to retire to in America.
Summary: The Best Cities To Retire Around The United States
After measuring the kinds of things that retirees crave, we arrived at this set of the best places to retire in the US. And while Florida and California don’t dominate the list, we take that as a sign we figured out the hidden gems you should be considering.
The best cities to retire in the United States are Miramar, FL, Palm Bay, FL, Clearwater, FL, Davie, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Coral Springs, FL, West Palm Beach, FL, Port St. Lucie, FL, Chula Vista, CA, and Torrance, CA.
My plan now for retirement? Find a nice place in one of these low costs of living areas near a lake and set up shot — but maybe closer to the equator than not.
And for those playing at home, here’s a look at the “worst” cities in America to retire:
- Fargo
- Lansing
- South Bend
For more reading, check out:
Best Cities To Retire In The United States For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Medin Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miramar, FL | 135,986 | $86,109 | $420,300 | $1,954 |
| 2 | Palm Bay, FL | 125,273 | $67,521 | $248,000 | $1,487 |
| 3 | Clearwater, FL | 117,075 | $64,440 | $326,100 | $1,539 |
| 4 | Davie, FL | 106,412 | $87,171 | $433,600 | $1,967 |
| 5 | Carlsbad, CA | 114,500 | $139,326 | $1,156,900 | $2,678 |
| 6 | Coral Springs, FL | 133,962 | $90,643 | $502,700 | $1,951 |
| 7 | West Palm Beach, FL | 119,508 | $69,261 | $369,800 | $1,709 |
| 8 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 220,453 | $78,137 | $327,700 | $1,781 |
| 9 | Chula Vista, CA | 275,030 | $105,173 | $697,400 | $2,122 |
| 10 | Torrance, CA | 143,499 | $113,105 | $1,036,600 | $2,214 |
| 11 | Sugar Land, TX | 109,735 | $137,511 | $406,600 | $1,939 |
| 12 | Thousand Oaks, CA | 125,676 | $134,367 | $951,200 | $2,580 |
| 13 | Simi Valley, CA | 125,769 | $117,703 | $753,500 | $2,513 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | 1,385,061 | $104,321 | $848,500 | $2,223 |
| 15 | Carrollton, TX | 132,741 | $99,115 | $353,600 | $1,674 |
| 16 | Cary, NC | 176,686 | $129,399 | $525,200 | $1,621 |
| 17 | Allen, TX | 107,684 | $129,130 | $429,900 | $1,877 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | 446,663 | $59,390 | $475,200 | $1,657 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach, CA | 196,010 | $119,885 | $1,047,300 | $2,424 |
| 20 | Surprise, AZ | 149,519 | $93,371 | $396,000 | $1,917 |
| 21 | Plano, TX | 287,339 | $108,649 | $440,600 | $1,792 |
| 22 | Frisco, TX | 210,238 | $146,158 | $595,400 | $1,902 |
| 23 | Goodyear, AZ | 102,891 | $101,814 | $441,900 | $1,848 |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | 242,169 | $107,372 | $709,900 | $1,910 |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | 278,123 | $103,691 | $469,800 | $1,806 |
| 26 | Garden Grove, CA | 170,603 | $90,166 | $765,500 | $1,971 |
| 27 | Tampa, FL | 393,389 | $71,302 | $375,300 | $1,567 |
| 28 | Gilbert, AZ | 271,118 | $121,351 | $518,600 | $2,028 |
| 29 | Santa Clarita, CA | 229,021 | $119,926 | $721,000 | $2,486 |
| 30 | Menifee, CA | 107,020 | $89,183 | $487,200 | $2,052 |
| 31 | St. Petersburg, FL | 260,646 | $73,118 | $331,500 | $1,542 |
| 32 | West Covina, CA | 107,436 | $98,570 | $712,300 | $2,153 |
| 33 | Roseville, CA | 152,438 | $117,354 | $630,600 | $2,099 |
| 34 | Quincy, MA | 101,361 | $95,711 | $598,100 | $1,998 |
| 35 | Peoria, AZ | 194,338 | $93,403 | $429,400 | $1,743 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | 324,523 | $88,654 | $465,000 | $1,750 |
| 37 | Elk Grove, CA | 177,221 | $122,229 | $603,400 | $2,180 |
| 38 | Corona, CA | 158,839 | $106,438 | $656,500 | $2,136 |
| 39 | Fremont, CA | 228,518 | $176,350 | $1,289,400 | $2,905 |
| 40 | Oceanside, CA | 172,542 | $93,724 | $702,000 | $2,207 |
| 41 | Sunnyvale, CA | 153,455 | $181,862 | $1,816,600 | $3,065 |
| 42 | Orange, CA | 138,723 | $116,945 | $900,700 | $2,252 |
| 43 | Mckinney, TX | 202,314 | $120,273 | $439,500 | $1,841 |
| 44 | Pasadena, CA | 136,462 | $103,778 | $1,045,000 | $2,218 |
| 45 | Murrieta, CA | 111,621 | $109,780 | $606,900 | $2,330 |
| 46 | El Cajon, CA | 104,909 | $66,478 | $632,800 | $1,790 |
| 47 | Escondido, CA | 149,913 | $84,477 | $663,500 | $1,922 |
| 48 | Charleston, SC | 152,014 | $90,038 | $469,100 | $1,632 |
| 49 | Centennial, CO | 107,386 | $128,167 | $626,700 | $2,061 |
| 50 | Naperville, IL | 149,424 | $150,937 | $509,900 | $1,852 |
| 51 | Pearland, TX | 125,983 | $112,470 | $330,900 | $1,759 |
| 52 | Sandy Springs, GA | 107,198 | $101,593 | $583,900 | $1,789 |
| 53 | Carmel, IN | 100,501 | $134,602 | $455,500 | $1,607 |
| 54 | Santa Clara, CA | 129,239 | $173,670 | $1,527,900 | $2,985 |
| 55 | Los Angeles, CA | 3,857,897 | $80,366 | $879,500 | $1,879 |
| 56 | Virginia Beach, VA | 457,066 | $90,685 | $366,300 | $1,649 |
| 57 | Irvine, CA | 308,160 | $129,647 | $1,115,400 | $2,893 |
| 58 | Stamford, CT | 135,806 | $107,474 | $614,300 | $2,207 |
| 59 | Clovis, CA | 122,719 | $100,360 | $453,300 | $1,662 |
| 60 | Mesa, AZ | 507,478 | $78,779 | $364,300 | $1,478 |
| 61 | Santa Rosa, CA | 177,216 | $97,410 | $685,000 | $2,084 |
| 62 | Inglewood, CA | 105,575 | $71,029 | $744,300 | $1,725 |
| 63 | Ontario, CA | 178,347 | $82,806 | $568,000 | $1,916 |
| 64 | Hayward, CA | 159,201 | $113,775 | $820,700 | $2,360 |
| 65 | Temecula, CA | 110,404 | $117,840 | $640,400 | $2,297 |
| 66 | Round Rock, TX | 124,288 | $97,187 | $383,700 | $1,713 |
| 67 | Fullerton, CA | 141,278 | $104,219 | $859,600 | $2,124 |
| 68 | Lewisville, TX | 128,313 | $85,002 | $350,200 | $1,572 |
| 69 | El Monte, CA | 107,066 | $64,484 | $626,000 | $1,677 |
| 70 | Fontana, CA | 211,921 | $98,187 | $558,500 | $1,733 |
| 71 | Yonkers, NY | 209,529 | $81,816 | $478,000 | $1,730 |
| 72 | Anaheim, CA | 344,553 | $90,583 | $771,700 | $2,082 |
| 73 | Mcallen, TX | 143,789 | $60,165 | $173,800 | $1,017 |
| 74 | Downey, CA | 111,793 | $87,400 | $728,500 | $1,892 |
| 75 | Vacaville, CA | 102,085 | $108,580 | $596,700 | $2,227 |
| 76 | Richardson, TX | 118,269 | $96,257 | $405,600 | $1,825 |
| 77 | El Paso, TX | 678,147 | $58,734 | $171,700 | $1,041 |
| 78 | Concord, CA | 124,260 | $109,195 | $755,900 | $2,226 |
| 79 | Lynn, MA | 100,905 | $74,715 | $472,600 | $1,612 |
| 80 | Chesapeake, VA | 251,153 | $94,189 | $359,100 | $1,523 |
| 81 | Grand Prairie, TX | 198,564 | $78,889 | $272,200 | $1,470 |
| 82 | Alexandria, VA | 156,788 | $113,638 | $696,800 | $2,031 |
| 83 | Sparks, NV | 109,106 | $86,979 | $455,900 | $1,651 |
| 84 | New York, NY | 8,516,202 | $79,713 | $751,700 | $1,779 |
| 85 | Irving, TX | 255,036 | $79,641 | $287,300 | $1,517 |
| 86 | Broken Arrow, OK | 115,919 | $85,220 | $229,300 | $1,240 |
| 87 | Fort Worth, TX | 941,311 | $76,602 | $277,300 | $1,412 |
| 88 | Oakland, CA | 438,072 | $97,369 | $924,700 | $1,917 |
| 89 | Laredo, TX | 255,949 | $63,264 | $182,400 | $1,001 |
| 90 | Long Beach, CA | 458,491 | $83,969 | $762,200 | $1,803 |
| 91 | Bellevue, WA | 151,199 | $161,300 | $1,203,100 | $2,505 |
| 92 | Austin, TX | 967,862 | $91,461 | $512,700 | $1,655 |
| 93 | Sterling Heights, MI | 133,473 | $78,429 | $260,700 | $1,267 |
| 94 | Midland, TX | 133,998 | $91,169 | $298,600 | $1,407 |
| 95 | Arvada, CO | 122,835 | $113,396 | $600,800 | $1,802 |
| 96 | Santa Ana, CA | 311,639 | $88,354 | $657,800 | $1,975 |
| 97 | Antioch, CA | 115,759 | $94,256 | $607,400 | $2,241 |
| 98 | Pomona, CA | 148,391 | $78,869 | $569,600 | $1,738 |
| 99 | Boston, MA | 663,972 | $94,755 | $710,400 | $2,093 |
| 100 | Wilmington, NC | 118,578 | $63,900 | $350,300 | $1,311 |
Retire Places By State
Best Places To Retire In Alaska
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