One of the best parts of another year coming to an end is getting to read U.S. News and World Report’s annual 'Best Places' rankings. As 2020 comes to a close, the 2020-2021 'Best Places to Retire' list has been published. Four Floridian cities swept the top four spots, so, future retirees will definitely want to keep their eyes on the Sunshine State.
To identify the best places to retire in the United States, 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. Based on this data, here are the top 10 cities to retire in:
10) Melbourne, Florida
9) Miami, Florida
8) Asheville, North Carolina
7) Ann Arbor, Michigan
6) Ocala, Florida
5) Lancaster, Pennsylvania
4) Naples, Florida
3) Port St. Lucie, Florida
2) Fort Myers, Florida
1) Sarasota, Florida
Not only did Sarasota and Naples make the top 10 best places to retire, but they also rank in the top 25 in U.S. News and World Report’s round-up of the best places to live in the U.S. Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S. News, told People that Americans' experiences during the ongoing pandemic have affected this year's rankings. “After a prolonged period of staying at home, people are taking a critical look at where they live, and many are looking to find a place they can feel happier, afford more or pursue new opportunities,” he explained. “The Best Places rankings can help people examine the details they consider important in a larger community as they seek a house with a bigger yard or a spot that makes it easier for the whole family to quarantine safely together.”
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