15 Best Cities for Retirees: 2022

14. The Bronx, New York

This New York City borough has a diverse population of 1.4 million people, 12% of whom are 65 and older. It is home to world-famous attractions, such as the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens. Seniors live near an extensive public transportation network that offers them reduced fares. Five dedicated senior centers cover a wide range of needs, from exercise and nutrition classes to computer training and health services. The nonprofit New York Foundation for Eldercare lists a wide variety of senior-specific resources and financial assistance from national, state and regional chapters in the area.

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13. St. Paul, Minnesota

About 10% of this capital city’s 285,000 residents are 65 and older. The DARTS program offers seniors resources and services that include low-cost transportation and light housekeeping. The city has a high walk score, which means errands and downtown attractions are very walkable. It also has a number of senior centers that provide opportunities for socialization and events. Museums, such as the Minnesota History Center, offer senior discounts.

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12. Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill is home to a campus of the University of North Carolina, and as a college town has a relatively small senior population. Still, retirees can find many things to enjoy here. For example, the Ackland Art Museum features European and Asian art (free admission), and the North Carolina Botanical Garden, with 1,000 acres of trails and gardens. Historic Franklin Street is replete with more than 200 restaurants and shops. A free shuttle takes seniors to local grocery stores, shopping centers and the city’s senior center.

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11. Cincinnati, Ohio

Home to world-class museums and several professional sports teams, Cincinnati has a lot to offer retirees. Senior centers operated by the Cincinnati Recreational Commission offer residents age 60 and older a chance to gather with peers for meals, pickleball tournaments and the annual Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics. To help its 39,000 senior residents navigate efficiently, the city has a variety of street car, shuttle and bus routes, including Metro, which offers half-price fares.

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10. Boston

More than 76,000 seniors live in the Massachusetts capital, and the demographic is projected to comprise one-fifth of the population by 2030. Leading health care facilities, low crime rates and overall quality of life make Boston a top retirement destination. Its vibrant downtown area has numerous historic sites, entertainment venues and other attractions that are walkable for active seniors. Boston Centers for Youth and Families manages two stand-alone senior centers, which are dedicated spaces at local venues, and various partnership programs with local senior-focused services.

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9. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Rapids, a city of some 19,000 residents, is an important location for the cranberry industry. The area is a golf mecca, with courses to suit players of all skill levels, and its 25-mile network of trails is ideal for active seniors. Throughout the year, the city hosts such events as art showcases, farmers’ markets and an annual Cranberry Blossom Festival. The Lowell Center provides the town’s 3,700 seniors fitness classes, personal interest clubs and monthly bus trips.

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8. Wilmington, Delaware

Delaware’s largest city is home to some 15,000 seniors, who enjoy low property taxes and no sales tax, among other perks. Outdoorsy seniors can enjoy Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Redden State Forest, and gain access to the Delaware River via Wilmington’s Riverwalk. History buffs can enjoy the city’s historic sites, some of which date back to the 1600s. Residents get around town on DART transit; seniors pay less than half price for bus fares. And nearby lie major cities — New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. — accessible through Amtrak’s Acela Express.

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7. Lancaster, California

This charter city of 156,000 residents in northern Los Angles County is inviting to retirees looking for hot summers and mild winters. As part of the county, the 15,000 older adults who live here have access to a large number of resources and programs to support them as they age. Seniors receive discounts on public transport, giving them easy access to special events such as the Poppy Festival. Those who enjoy the outdoors can explore the city’s 450 acres of parks.

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6. Madison, Wisconsin

The state capital is home to the University of Wisconsin, which offers both the state’s best hospital system and the Wisconsin Badgers college varsity teams, several of which offer discounted tickets for the city’s 33,000 seniors. Older residents pay half price for bus service. In addition to the events and activities available at the Madison Senior Center, the city offers them numerous free cultural opportunities, including the Chazen Museum of Art, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and the walking trails of the university’s Arboretum.

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5. Minneapolis

One of Minnesota’s Twin Cities (along with #13 St. Paul), Minneapolis offers an abundance of entertainment opportunities and numerous resources specific to its 42,000 senior residents. The city is known for both its majestic parks and lakes and its cultural landmarks, including the Walker Art Center and the Minnesota Sculpture Garden. By design, the city is very walkable, allowing seniors with limited access to transportation to maintain a sense of independence in their daily activities. Its walkability also supports the Minneapolis Active Living for Seniors initiative, which encourages older people to keep physically and socially active.

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4. Portland, Oregon

Portland, 12% of whose residents are 65 and older, is a member of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities. As well, its senior recreation centers offer exercise programs, day trips and arts and crafts. Retirees are also eligible for discounted rates at the Portland Art Museum and other attractions throughout the city. Portland gets lots of rain throughout the year, but very little snow. Older people who enjoy the outdoors can generally expect comfortable temperatures and a good number of days between 70 and 80 degrees.

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3. Burlington, Vermont

Burlington is full of shops and old homes set on streets lined with trees that turn stunning shades of orange and red each fall. Some 11% of its 43,000 residents are seniors, with 37 assisted living facilities in the city and surrounding lands of Chittenden County to serve them. Crime rates are more than 20% below the national average, making outings to Church Street stores and snack shacks safe for seniors of any age or physical condition. Those who like to hike can enjoy sunsets over Lake Champlain from Battery Park or Mount Mansfield, about an hour outside town.

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2. Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has grown in popularity over the last decade and is now home to some 308,000 residents, 14% of whom are 65 and older. The city is anticipating their upcoming needs with a variety of programs, such as Health Active Living. Citiparks Community Services operates 13 HAL Centers weekdays all year with the goal of improving seniors’ cultural, physical, social, intellectual and financial life, and these centers provide low-cost lunch for those who need it. Sports fans can enjoy watching the city’s college and professional teams in all major fields, including the Steelers, the Pirates and the Penguins.

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1. Hartford, Connecticut

Connecticut’s capital is home to nearly 14,000 older citizens, and as such provides a number of services and resources to meet their needs, including four senior centers and world-class medical facilities, such as Hartford Hospital. With its many historical attractions, entertainment venues and proximity to state parks, the city offers seniors year-round recreational opportunities. In warmer months, they can enjoy strolls through Hartford’s many walkable neighborhoods, and in colder weather get around on discounted fares on CTtransit.

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