10 Best Cities for a Healthy Retirement
Despite a high cost of living, Seattle tops the list thanks to a moderate climate and ample outdoor recreational opportunities for residents. Plus, the booming tech industry makes for a strong economy. The unemployment rate in Seattle is just 3.9 percent.
Flickr/Wonderlane
The weather may be less than appealing to some retirees but strong scores in social and emotional support categories push the Twin Cities up to second place. Minnesotans also have a higher-than-average percentage of workers contributing to a retirement plan, high retirement account balances, and relatively low Medicare out-of-pocket costs.
Flickr/Dan
The Mile High city ranks third thanks to a bevy of outdoor recreational opportunities as well as a bustling arts scene. One downside: While they’re low now, property taxes are on the rise thanks to booming home prices.
Flickr/Michael Levine Clark
Hipsters may love this cool city, but it’s apparently a great spot for their parents as well. The Oregon Health and Science University Hospital offers top-notch care, helping push the city up to fourth place.
Flickr/Stuart Seeger
Residents of the Connecticut capital pay among the lowest prices for home health care. The city also scores well on community engagement and volunteering.
Flickr/J Stephen Conn
This city appears on the list thanks to a strong economy, low cost of living, and low housing prices. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment there averages less than $700 per month.
Flickr/Jon
Thanks to facilities like Johns Hopkins Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center, the medical facilities in Baltimore put this port city on the list. The city also got a good score for social amenities.
Flickr/Brian Moran
The low cost of living here, combined with low crime and lots of culture make Pittsburgh an ideal place for Boomers to spend their retirement. The city has become a small tech hub in recent years, and its 88 distinct neighborhoods help build a sense of community.
Flickr/Brook Ward
Retirees here have access to health care that’s among the best in the country, thanks to the Cleveland Clinic. The cost of living is also among the lowest in the nation.
Flickr/Chris Cappell
This city makes it onto the list thanks to the health of its residents, who boast low rates of smoking, cancer and heart disease. The crossroads of the West has a strong economy that’s more accessible than many other cities: 41 percent of the jobs here don’t require a college degree.
Flickr/Ron Reiring