Best places to retire in United States
Top retirement cities in United States
- Seattle — retire score 56/100 (cost 19, climate 97, safety 66)
- San Diego — retire score 56/100 (cost 15, climate 100, safety 65)
- Los Angeles — retire score 52/100 (cost 9, climate 100, safety 61)
- Boston — retire score 51/100 (cost 13, climate 82, safety 72)
- Miami — retire score 51/100 (cost 20, climate 80, safety 64)
- San Francisco — retire score 50/100 (cost 0, climate 100, safety 65)
- Las Vegas — retire score 50/100 (cost 9, climate 85, safety 70)
- Portland — retire score 50/100 (cost 10, climate 83, safety 69)
- Honolulu — retire score 49/100 (cost 0, climate 94, safety 69)
- Salem — retire score 49/100 (cost 0, climate 96, safety 67)
- Sacramento — retire score 48/100 (cost 0, climate 100, safety 59)
- Atlanta — retire score 47/100 (cost 0, climate 88, safety 68)
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, Seattle leads at 56/100 — cost 19, climate 97, safety 66 — while Miami is the most affordable base (cost 20/100). 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
Seattle scores 56/100 (cost 19, climate 97, safety 66; warmest-month highs ~18.6°C, coldest-month lows ~4.5°C). San Diego scores 56/100 (cost 15, climate 100, safety 65; warmest-month highs ~22.5°C, coldest-month lows ~13.9°C). Los Angeles scores 52/100 (cost 9, climate 100, safety 61; warmest-month highs ~23.9°C, coldest-month lows ~13.9°C). Boston scores 51/100 (cost 13, climate 82, safety 72; warmest-month highs ~22.5°C, coldest-month lows ~-2.3°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Seattle leads overall, while a city like Miami 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?
Seattle ranks highest in our retirement score (56/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is United States a good place to retire?
United States's best retirement city scores 56/100; the most affordable is Miami (cost 20/100). 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?
Miami has the lowest cost of living in United States in our data.
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