Best places to retire in United States
Top retirement cities in United States
- Salem — retire score 67/100 (cost 49, climate 96, safety 61)
- Las Vegas — retire score 67/100 (cost 55, climate 85, safety 64)
- Honolulu — retire score 66/100 (cost 47, climate 94, safety 63)
- Portland — retire score 66/100 (cost 55, climate 83, safety 63)
- Sacramento — retire score 64/100 (cost 46, climate 100, safety 53)
- Hartford — retire score 64/100 (cost 50, climate 80, safety 67)
- Providence — retire score 64/100 (cost 49, climate 82, safety 65)
- Atlanta — retire score 63/100 (cost 46, climate 88, safety 62)
- Tallahassee — retire score 63/100 (cost 48, climate 83, safety 63)
- Jackson — retire score 63/100 (cost 49, climate 84, safety 62)
- Columbia — retire score 63/100 (cost 49, climate 84, safety 62)
- Richmond — retire score 63/100 (cost 48, climate 84, safety 61)
Why these cities rank for retirement in United States
The retire score weights affordability at 40%, climate comfort at 30% and safety at 30%, because fixed-income retirees feel cost most, then weather, then security. In United States, Salem leads at 67/100 — cost 49, climate 96, safety 61 — while Las Vegas is the most affordable base (cost 55/100). Cost is anchored to United States's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals (so you can judge whether winters and summers suit you), and safety blends natural-disaster exposure with crime. Two things our score deliberately omits — healthcare quality and retirement-visa eligibility — are decisive for retirees, so treat this as the affordability-climate-safety shortlist and verify health cover and residency rules for United States separately before you commit.
The shortlist, by the numbers
Salem scores 67/100 (cost 49, climate 96, safety 61; warmest-month highs ~19.2°C, coldest-month lows ~4.3°C). Las Vegas scores 67/100 (cost 55, climate 85, safety 64; warmest-month highs ~20.0°C, coldest-month lows ~-0.8°C). Honolulu scores 66/100 (cost 47, climate 94, safety 63; warmest-month highs ~25.3°C, coldest-month lows ~21.5°C). Portland scores 66/100 (cost 55, climate 83, safety 63; warmest-month highs ~25.6°C, coldest-month lows ~1.8°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Salem leads overall, while a city like Las Vegas wins purely on budget — so rank them by what your pension stretches to and the climate your health prefers.
FAQ
Where is the best place to retire in United States?
Salem ranks highest in our retirement score (67/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is United States a good place to retire?
United States's best retirement city scores 67/100; the most affordable is Las Vegas (cost 55/100). We weigh cost, climate and natural-disaster + crime safety — not healthcare or visas, which you should check separately.
What's the cheapest place to retire in United States?
Las Vegas has the lowest cost of living in United States in our data.
All cities in United States → Best places to retire worldwide →