Whether you’ll still be working for decades or you’re counting down the days until your last on the job, it’s never too soon to start thinking about retirement. For some people, the dream of living out their golden years comes with a relocation, so what’s the best place to retire? That’s what new research from The Motley Fool talked to thousands of retirees about.
- The site surveyed 2-thousand retired Americans to find out what matters most to them at this stage.
- It reveals their top preferences are quality of life (31%), healthcare access and quality (15%), housing affordability (13%), crime and safety (12%), weather and climate (12%), state and local taxes (11%), and non-housing affordability (6%).
- These factors were used to determine the best places to retire nationwide.
- The top three were all in Florida, with Fort Lauderdale landing at number one.
- It gets a high score of 78 for quality of life and an 88 for climate, thanks to its average of 264 sunny days a year. But it can be pricey, leading to a cost of living score of 64 and tax score of 62.
The Top 10 Best Places To Retire In The U.S. For 2026
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Quincy, Florida
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Miami, Florida
- Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Source: USA Today
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