10 of the best cities to retire in the U.S.

Imagine yourself in your beautiful retirement paradise. It could be a pristine beach, an RV on the edge of an enchanted forest or a cabin high up on a snowy mountain. Sure, this all sounds amazing, but it might not be a great place to spend the Golden Years of your life. After all, there’s something even more magical about being close to family, having great health care facilities within minutes and other amenities that aren’t usually found in these remote “idyllic” retirement spots.

Because of the Great Recession and other reasons, some retirees are extending their working lives past the traditional age of retirement. According to a report from WalletHub and a survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), 25 percent of respondents said they can’t afford to retire when they want or plan to. “Eighteen percent cited ‘inadequate finances’ as a primary hurdle to retiring on schedule,” says the survey.

And, more than half of workers surveyed cited cost of living and daily expenses as impediments to saving — or saving more — for retirement. What are some options for workers wanting to retire or retirees struggling to pay their daily bills? The report posits that relocating to a cheaper, yet comfortable, area might help out.

WalletHub analyzed the 150 largest cities in the U.S. across 25 key metrics, such as cost of living, job prospects for workers aged 65 and older and the availability of recreational activities.

Here are 10 of the best cities to retire in the U.S. And if your city didn’t make the top 10 list, you can find out your city’s rank on WalletHub’s interactive map at the end of this article.

10. Peoria, AZ

Overall Rank: 10

Affordability Rank: 89

Jobs Rank: 67

Activities Rank: 43

Quality of Life Rank: 5

Health Care Rank: 10

 (AP Photo/Darron Cummings – Baseball teams the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies play during Spring training.)

9. Plano, TX

Overall Rank: 9

Affordability Rank: 40 

Jobs Rank: 54

Activities Rank: 109

Quality of Life Rank: 29

Health Care Rank: 1

(Photo: A train car in Haggard Park and the Interurban Railway Museum in Plano, TX.)

8. Cape Coral, FL

Overall Rank: 8

Affordability Rank: 54

Jobs Rank: 86

Activities Rank: 84

Quality of Life Rank: 4

Health Care Rank: 38

7. Port St. Lucie, FL

Overall Rank: 7

Affordability Rank: 5

Jobs Rank: 62

Activities Rank: 56

Quality of Life Rank: 17

Health Care Rank: 51

(AP Photo/David Goldman – The Washington Nationals and the New York Mets baseball teams play in Port St. Lucie during Spring training.)

6. Overland Park, KS

Overall Rank: 6

Affordability Rank: 77

Jobs Rank: 5

Activities Rank: 91