Sarasota Tops the List for the Second Consecutive Year
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2021-2022 Best Places to Retire in the United States. Florida metro areas captured 11 of the top 20 spots this year. Despite decreases in health care, housing and happiness scores, Sarasota maintained the No. 1 spot due to increases in desirability, retiree tax and job market scores.
“After over a year of staying at home, many people are dreaming about a Florida beach retirement. Florida dominates this year’s ranking of the Best Places to Retire, taking eight of the top 10 spots on the list,” said Emily Brandon, U.S. News senior editor for retirement.
“Deciding where to live is an important retirement decision,” Brandon said. “When comparing potential places to retire, look for affordable housing, proximity to health care services and a strong economy, especially if you plan to work part-time.”
U.S. News & World Report’s Top 20 Places to Retire
1. Sarasota
2. Naples
3. Daytona Beach
4. Melbourne
5. Lancaster, PA
6. Tampa
7. Fort Myers
8. Port St. Lucie
9. Ann Arbor, MI
10. Pensacola
11. Allentown, PA
12. Lakeland
13. Harrisburg, PA
14. Asheville, NC
15. Reading, PA
16. Ocala
17. York, PA
18. Orlando
19. Philadelphia, PA
20. Knoxville, TN
To identify the best places to retire, 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.