The U.S. is on the verge of a massive surge of retirement in the coming years. As of 2016, 14.3% of the population was aged 65 or older. That figure is expected to rise to over 20% in the next decade.
The rapidly-aging American population is currently changing the face of our economy, creating urgent need for new medical services, retirement communities, and recreational facilities and activities. For those millions of retiring Americans who are looking to find a place to live out their post-work years, a warm climate is often enough.
There are, however, many other considerations that seniors are keeping in mind when choosing a place to retire. 24/7 Wall St. identified the best cities for older Americans to retire based on an index of a dozen measures.
We included in our analysis the concentration of recreational facilities such as golf courses and bowling alleys, the presence of doctors and dentists, and retirement income. We also rewarded areas with already high concentrations of seniors, as they are likely indicative of older residents there finding peers and facilities tailored to them.
Based on these factors, 24/ Wall St. ranked the 30 best cities for older Americans.
Click here to see the best cities for older Americans.
Click here to see our methodology.
Source: Kevin Rutherford / Flickr
30. Barnstable Town, MA
> Share of population 65+: 27.9% (top 10%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 70.3
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 99.9 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $32,576 (top 10%)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
29. Appleton, WI
> Share of population 65+: 13.0%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 95.6 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 69.6
> Average retirement income: $20,693 (bottom 25%)
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Source: Phillip Stewart / Flickr
28. Casper, WY
> Share of population 65+: 12.8%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 125.3 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 72.8
> Average retirement income: $21,979
Source: Thinkstock
27. Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
> Share of population 65+: 18.8% (top 10%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 58.6
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 82.8
> Average retirement income: $18,722 (bottom 25%)
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Source: Thinkstock
26. Fond du Lac, WI
> Share of population 65+: 16.5%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 71.1
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 54.8 (bottom 25%)
> Average retirement income: $19,068 (bottom 25%)
Source: Thinkstock
25. Ames, IA
> Share of population 65+: 10.5% (bottom 10%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 166.7 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 70.0
> Average retirement income: $30,159 (top 25%)
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Source: Randy Stern / Flickr
24. Grand Forks, ND-MN
> Share of population 65+: 12.9%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 60.2
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 109.0 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $27,218 (top 25%)
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Source: Thinkstock
23. Columbia, MO
> Share of population 65+: 10.3% (bottom 10%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 187.5 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 111.0 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $27,008 (top 25%)
Source: Thinkstock
22. Morgantown, WV
> Share of population 65+: 12.4% (bottom 25%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 99.3 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 101.9 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $22,237
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Source: Anh Luu / Shutterstock.com
21. St. Cloud, MN
> Share of population 65+: 13.2%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 96.5 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 85.4
> Average retirement income: $20,428 (bottom 25%)
Source: mattckaiser / Shutterstock.com
20. Eau Claire, WI
> Share of population 65+: 14.6%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 94.4 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 109.8 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $20,018 (bottom 25%)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. Duluth, MN-WI
> Share of population 65+: 17.0% (top 25%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 69.4
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 101.4 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $20,832 (bottom 25%)
Source: jdwfoto / Shutterstock.com
18. Pittsfield, MA
> Share of population 65+: 21.1% (top 10%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 52.2
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 113.5 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $24,120
Source: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States / Wikimedia Commons
17. Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA
> Share of population 65+: 17.9% (top 25%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 92.1 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 141.6 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $17,523 (bottom 10%)
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Source: Thinkstock
16. Dubuque, IA
> Share of population 65+: 16.1%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 89.8 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 78.3
> Average retirement income: $18,444 (bottom 10%)
Source: self / Wikimedia Commons
15. Sheboygan, WI
> Share of population 65+: 16.2%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 53.4
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 57.2 (bottom 25%)
> Average retirement income: $18,292 (bottom 10%)
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Source: Paul Sableman / Flickr
14. Carbondale-Marion, IL
> Share of population 65+: 15.5%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 66.5
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 102.0 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $28,751 (top 25%)
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Source: Thinkstock
13. Springfield, IL
> Share of population 65+: 15.9%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 87.4 (top 25%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 115.4 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $31,332 (top 10%)
Source: Thinkstock
12. Wausau, WI
> Share of population 65+: 15.9%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 69.5
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 90.7 (top 25%)
> Average retirement income: $18,537 (bottom 10%)
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Source: Thinkstock
11. Jefferson City, MO
> Share of population 65+: 14.7%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 64.2
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 59.1
> Average retirement income: $22,660
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wclaphotography/
10. Lima, OH
> Share of population 65+: 16.0%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 66.1
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 73.3
> Average retirement income: $21,182
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Source: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com
9. Grand Island, NE
> Share of population 65+: 15.3%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 76.4
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 65.4
> Average retirement income: $19,041 (bottom 25%)
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Source: Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock.com
8. Madison, WI
> Share of population 65+: 12.5% (bottom 25%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 154.1 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 112.6 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $28,360 (top 25%)
Source: Thinkstock
7. La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
> Share of population 65+: 15.3%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 119.1 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 132.9 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $20,613 (bottom 25%)
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Source: Thinkstock
6. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
> Share of population 65+: 15.7%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 74.9
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 81.8
> Average retirement income: $18,915 (bottom 25%)
Source: Thinkstock
5. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
> Share of population 65+: 14.6%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 65.2
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 53.0 (bottom 25%)
> Average retirement income: $18,361 (bottom 10%)
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Source: Thinkstock
4. Ann Arbor, MI
> Share of population 65+: 11.8% (bottom 25%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 118.9 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 174.7 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $28,981 (top 25%)
Source: Thinkstock
3. Sioux Falls, SD
> Share of population 65+: 11.8% (bottom 25%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 142.3 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 102.5 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $22,963
Source: Thinkstock
2. Iowa City, IA
> Share of population 65+: 10.7% (bottom 10%)
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 116.5 (top 10%)
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 163.5 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $25,766
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Source: cjohnson7 / Wikimedia Commons
1. Rochester, MN
> Share of population 65+: 14.8%
> Fitness centers per 100,000 people 65+: 62.7
> Physicians per 100,000 people 65+: 175.1 (top 10%)
> Average retirement income: $26,217
Methodology
To identify the 20 best cities for older Americans, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on indicators that best captured the social, health, and economic climate of each metropolitan statistical area specifically for the population 65 years and older. The number of institutions that are popular among this demographic (golf courses, fitness centers, bowling centers, and nursing care facilities) per 100,000 comes from the U.S Census’ County Business Patterns for 2016. Primary care physicians, dentists, and social associations per 100,000, as well as the percentages of adults who report fair or poor health, come from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program. Mean retirement income, population living in poverty, median monthly home ownership costs, and gross rent for the population 65 years and over are from the U.S Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 1-year estimates for 2016.
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