“Epoch Times, December 2, 2024 News:”
“In the ‘hot spots of American real estate,’ there are many readers and viewers above the age of forty. Given the significant number of older audience members, this edition will once again focus on retirement cities in the United States. Every year, various organizations evaluate the most retirement-friendly cities, such as US News, realtor.com, WalletHub, among others. However, this time, I will attempt to identify the strongest retirement cities from several of these reports!”
“Many organizations, when searching for retirement cities, have their own rating criteria. WalletHub, a financial company, analyzes data from various sources including the US Census Bureau, the Community and Economic Research Council, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Tax Foundation to assess the retiree-friendliness of densely populated American cities. They rate cities in four main categories: cost of living, city activities, quality of life, and healthcare, each category worth 25 points for a total of 100.”
“At realtor.com, their researchers also analyze the median listing prices of all cities in the United States along with median age data from the US Census Bureau. They identify communities that are particularly friendly to retirees and rank them based on the highest percentage.”
“Additionally, in ‘US News & World Report,’ data from 150 large cities in the United States is analyzed, focusing on the needs of those approaching retirement and those already of retirement age, typically ranging from 45 to over 60 years old.”
“They assign each city a retirement score, which is a weighted average of six indicators, calculated on a 10-point scale for both the overall retirement score and individual indicator scores. These six indicators are: affordability, happiness, satisfaction, retirement taxes, the job market, and healthcare quality.”
“The weight of each indicator is determined by an online survey conducted by ‘US News & World Report’ in August 2024 among the respondents matching the age group. Participants were asked to select from a predefined list of options to indicate which attributes of a retirement destination were most important to them.”
“According to the 2024 survey, the happiness index is the primary consideration factor for retirees at 27%; the affordability index ranks second at 25%; followed by the healthcare index at 15%; then the retirement taxes index at 13%; satisfaction index at 12%; and the job market index at 8%.”
“Further explanation reveals that the ‘happiness index’ represents residents’ satisfaction with important aspects of daily life, including crime rates, happiness levels, air quality index, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national risk index, to measure a city’s safety, environment, and resilience after disasters.”
“The second is the ‘affordability index,’ which represents the related costs of housing and living in the city, divided into two data sets: housing affordability index, which examines the burden of housing costs on residents; and the price parity index, which measures the affordability of various aspects of life compared to the national average.”
“The third is the ‘healthcare index,’ which utilizes data from the ‘US News’ best hospital rankings to assess the availability of top-tier healthcare in each city, evaluating facilities’ quantity, quality, and accessibility. It specifically excludes children’s hospitals in cities to avoid affecting the measurement accuracy.”
“The fourth is the ‘retirement taxes index,’ measuring the tax-friendliness of each city toward retirees. A comprehensive retirement tax score is created based on sales tax and income tax indices because different states in the United States have vastly different methods of taxing housing, sales, regular incomes, and crucial Social Security incomes…”
“The fifth, ‘satisfaction index,’ represents Americans’ interest in retiring in a specific city. To determine this, ‘US News’ conducted an online survey asking 3,500 Americans aged 45 and above to choose from the cities under analysis. Additionally, evaluations were done on weather temperatures and dining venues to gauge a city’s livability.”
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“Lastly, the ’employment index,’ unsurprisingly, has the lowest weight, as retirement often implies not working, but for many Americans, retirement does not mean completely exiting the labor market. Hence, living in a community with ample full-time or part-time job opportunities might also be crucial. Some individuals need the focus of work, while others still need to work to sustain their basic living expenses. This index references the unemployment rate and the average salary in the area.”
“From the perspectives of the three aforementioned organizations, the ranking by ‘US News’ appears to be the most comprehensive and consideration-heavy. Therefore, let us first look at their latest list of the top ten retirement cities in 2025, with Naples, Florida, receiving the highest score.”
“Why did Naples rank first? Local real estate brokers stated that Naples boasts pristine natural beaches, world-class golf courses, year-round sunshine, top-notch medical facilities, vibrant landscapes, and a variety of dining and shopping options, all enhancing the quality of life for retirees…”
“However, it is essential not to overlook that Naples has been a frequent occurrence zone for hurricanes over the years, and housing costs are not low, with a median list price of nearly $750,000. Nevertheless, these factors have not deterred retirees from moving there, demonstrating that Naples is indeed a dream destination to live, with happiness levels surpassing affordability by far…”
“The second spot goes to Virginia Beach, Virginia; the third to New York City; the fourth to Sarasota, Florida; the fifth to Boise, Idaho; the sixth to Raleigh, North Carolina; the seventh to Jacksonville, Florida; the eighth to Huntsville, Alabama; the ninth to Charlotte, North Carolina; and the tenth to Fort Wayne, Indiana.”
“Overall, these retirement-friendly cities feature attractive natural landscapes, cultural venues, shopping centers, and restaurants, offering activities such as boating, skiing, or horseback riding. Some even provide tax incentives, while others boast relatively low housing prices. Among the top ten, Jacksonville and Fort Wayne have the lowest housing prices, while New York City tops the list, followed by Naples.”
“However, is Naples truly the strongest retirement city? Let’s look at realtor.com’s rankings for 2024. The top spot is Sun City Center, Florida, offering warm weather, beaches, and proximity to major cities. With 84% of housing options suitable for retirees and a median age of 71, the median list price is only $315,000…”
“Nevertheless, for our Chinese ethnic group, Sun City Center has a fatal drawback—an age restriction, requiring residents to be over 55. So, if you wish to live with your children and grandchildren or have them visit you for the summer, sorry, that would violate the community’s age regulations. Hence, you can only visit your children but not reside with them in Sun City Center.”
“The second place goes to Green Valley, Arizona, with many retirees living there, lower housing prices than the national median, particularly appealing to retirees who enjoy outdoor activities, offering golf courses, pickleball courts, swimming pools, hiking trails, and neighboring Tubac, a town filled with art galleries and studios, making it an excellent choice for those with an artistic inclination.”
“The third is King City, Oregon; the fourth is The Villages, Florida; the fifth is Manchester, New Jersey; the sixth is Monroe, New Jersey; the seventh is Seal Beach, California; the eighth and ninth are Sun City and Laguna Woods in California, respectively; and the tenth is Whiting, New Jersey.”
“This series of lists share a common feature—affordable housing costs, mostly below the national median housing price, especially Whiting, New Jersey, with a median list price of only $180,000 and not far from New York City and Philadelphia, a wooded countryside town.”
“Lastly, let’s examine WalletHub’s retirement list. The top spot for the best list in 2024 is Orlando, Florida. Located in central Florida, Orlando, has been hailed as a tourist destination and retirement haven. Besides having no income tax, it offers numerous leisure activities, including art galleries, fishing facilities, music venues, special game nights, travel, and dance classes catering to residents aged 55 and above.”
“In terms of affordability, Orlando ranks ninth on WalletHub’s list. According to RentCafe data, the city’s cost of living is only about 1% higher than the state average, roughly on par with the national average.”
“The second spot goes to Miami, still in Florida. However, Miami’s affordability is subpar, nearly 20% higher than the national average. Yet, the area boasts rich activities, second only to San Francisco in California. While its quality of life may not match Orlando’s, Miami excels in healthcare, placing it just behind Orlando with a slight difference.”
“The list also includes Minneapolis, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Scottsdale, Cincinnati, St. Petersburg, Casper, and Atlanta.”
“Finally, although there are no overlapping cities in the top ten of the three lists, it is evident that Florida is consistently highlighted and dominates the rankings. Particularly in South and Central Florida, multiple cities appear in different lists, making this area one of the most potent retirement spots in the United States…”
“However, those wishing to live here must be cautious of hurricane threats. In recent years, hurricanes have become more destructive, making homeowners’ insurance a major headache, necessitating careful consideration for those looking to relocate.”