One thing that Americans love to do is retirement planning, who isn’t desperately waiting to switch to the life of no work and all relaxation? And when it comes to retirement planning, the financial aspect is the most important thing to look into. For those who are to retire soon or in the future, considering social security, pensions, savings account, and investments is not enough, expenses are generally anticipated to increase because of inflation, health care crisis, and unexpected expenditures.
Once you get done with your finances, the next question you need to answer is ‘where to live?’
A lot of people choose to stay where they are now, especially if their neighborhood is ideal and their house mortgages are paid off. However, some choose to get out of the nest and get rid of the empty space, especially when their children and grandchildren have moved away.
When you are retired and living alone or as a couple, things might start to seem like a burden. Keeping yourself invested in shopping, health care, social circles, and taking yoga classes wouldn’t be enough. Taking care of snow shoveling, landscape, front yard, and home heating would feel like hell. Considering these factors, it is ideal for you to move to a safer, more packed location.
When it comes to ideal retirement locations in the US, there are no right answers, because obviously, your taste, interest, and reasons to move can be different from everyone else. But there are some preferable answers. Taking into account basic criteria, like weather, health care, tax, affordability, social life, and security, there is a list of ideal places that serve as the best retirement cities for US residents.
Most of these cities are in the sunshine state of Florida. Florida serves as the top spot for retirees because of multiple reasons, including warm weather year-round, lack of state income tax, and people’s likeliness to retire to vacation cities. However, there are other destinations in other states as well.
Learn more about them below.
1. Fort Myers, Florida
Thriving on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers is the top-most vacation city for retirement and a commercial center of Florida’s Lee County. Fort Myers offers a wide range of different-priced houses for your retirement. Unemployment in Fort Myers is pretty low, which is because of the city’s low population of 87, 103, estimated in 2019.
Another reason behind the low unemployment in Fort Myers is the city being a tourist attraction. Similar to most of Florida’s resort cities, you will witness the annual influx of snowbirds in Fort Myers. Moreover, the Boston Red Sox games attract even more crowds.
Fort Myers is home to large retirement communities, and you will have every opportunity to socialize with like-minded people at art galleries, science museums, restaurants, and recreational centers.
2. Naples, Florida
The Second on our list is Naples. Located in the Gulf of Mexico, Naples is known for its ideally designed neighborhoods, beautiful landscapes, sophisticated atmosphere, and upscale lifestyle. Naples is home to high-end shopping centers and art galleries.
If you want to spend your retirement years relaxing on white-sand beaches, Naples has a lot of them. Undoubtedly, nature thrives in Naples. So, if you are a nature lover, Naples would give you access to the Ten Thousand Islands in Everglades National Park. Spend your life among over 35,000 acres of mangroves. Indulge in the wilderness with kayaking, fishing, and wildlife safari.
Naples will keep you busy and happily involved in recreations, including tennis, golf, swimming, museums, and friendly strolls on the piers.
3. Davenport, Florida
Davenport is a small city in Florida’s Polk County and it’s a part of Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. Davenport’s population is pretty low, counting to 2,888 according to the 2010 census. While the area is relatively smaller, the north area of the city has been going through explosive growth.
Davenport is a nice, small town with friendly people and little-to-none no crime. The lifestyle in davenport is upscale and posh, with the encouragement of pro-health choices. The landscape is a pleasure to the eyes, there’s a lot of greenery that keeps the year fresh and your mood enlightened.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of recreational centers, museums, and art galleries to keep you engaged. But parks and community centers are great places to meet with people and socialize with the close-knit community of Davenport. Davenport is landlocked and there are not elaborate bodies of water. However, the nearest ocean is just a 90-minute drive away.
In all the things that Davenport lacks, it makes up for them with its affordable and luxury housing. Your retirement will be spent happy, busy, and safe in a luxury home in Davenport FL.
4. Nashville, Tennessee
Hearing about Nashville brings the thought of entertainment and music industry in mind at first, of course, who can ignore the legendary Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium. But apart from the abundance of live music venues and a long stretch of honky-tonks, Nashville is a great place to live.
With the great, moderate weather of four seasons and abundance of outdoor activities, Nashville will keep you social and involved with the community. Florida’s city contains over 100 parks, 2 professional sports teams for you to cheer for, dozens of museums about science, music, and art, great restaurants, and amazing nightlife in musical bars.
Nashville doesn’t only offer a wide range of affordable housing, but the absence of state income tax is what attracts retirees to Nashville, Tennessee. Three and a half-hour away from Nashville is Pigeon Forge, an ideal vacation spot to spend your weekends at.
5. Myrtle Beach, North Carolina
South Carolina is one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees in the US. It not only exempts social security benefits, but taxpayers over the age of 65 can exclude about 10,000 USD of retirement income, combine that with other tax benefits. All of it makes housing in South Carolina pretty affordable. Property taxes in SC are low with the homeowners’ exemption for people over 65 years of age. And one of the best vacation spots to live in South Carolina is Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach is a vacation spot for US residents, but it is also home to over 30,000 permanent residents. The biggest perk of living in Myrtle Beach is that you are basically living in your own private resort, and the best restaurants, golf courses, hotels, festivals, concerts, and entertainment centers are all near you.
When you are living in Myrtle Beach, you will have access to the close-knit community of residents that will provide you countless opportunities to socialize, have fun, and relax.
6. Fort Worth/Dallas, Texas
Fort Worth and Dallas, located side by side in North Central Texas, are modern suburban cities and commercial and cultural hubs of the state. Fort Worth contains international art institutions with culturally significant places to tribute cowboys.
On the other hand, a modern metropolis, Dallas, contains everything that a big city should contain for the ease and convenience of retirees. The range of housing is widely available with no state income tax. The seniors are eligible for exemptions of property tax.
Fort Worth/Dallas is a fast-growing destination where suburban lifestyle and small-town convenience go hand in hand. There are a lot of things to keep yourself engaged and entertained, including classic restaurants and shopping malls. The place has a professional sports team in football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and hockey.