The Best Places to Retire in 2019

U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2019 Best Places to Retire in the U.S. The rankings offer a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s 100 largest metropolitan areas based on how well they meet Americans’ expectations for retirement, with measures including housing affordability, desirability, health care and overall happiness.

Up from No. 2 last year, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, tops the list at No. 1 due to increases in housing affordability and the overall happiness of its residents. Fort Myers, Florida, jumps from No.15 to No. 2 due to increases in desirability and happiness scores. Sarasota, Florida, falls from No. 1 to No. 3 this year due to a decline in both overall happiness and desirability. Austin, Texas, jumps to No. 4 from No. 9 due to an increase in desirability, followed by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, rounding out the top 5.

“Deciding where to retire is a big decision,” says Emily Brandon, senior editor for Retirement at U.S. News. “The Best Places to Retire offers a way for future retirees to make a more informed decision based on what matters the most to them. Whether that be housing affordability, access to quality hospitals or the desirability of a place in general, the rankings offer a comprehensive list that can point people in the best direction for their needs.”

This year, U.S. News increased the weight of the desirability metric from 10 to 15 percent, as it provides a more balanced understanding of the opinions gathered through consumer surveys. Desirability is one of the six factors in the 2019 Best Places to Retire methodology that includes housing affordability, desirability, retiree taxes, the happiness index, job market and health care quality. These measures were selected and weighted based on a public survey of pre-retirees (age 45-59) and retirement-age (age 60+) individuals across the U.S to find out what matters most when considering a place to retire. Data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News rankings of the Best Hospitals.

Best Places to Retire is part of U.S. News’ expanding Real Estate channel, which provides rankings, tools and advice to help individuals navigate the housing market, from getting a mortgage and working with an agent to buying and selling a home.

2019 U.S. News Best Places to Retire Rankings – Top 10