The Milken Institute’s Center for the Future of Aging ranked the best U.S. cities for aging based on dozens of factors, including living arrangements, community engagement, general livability, health care, wellness, education, transportation and employment.
The 20 Best Cities for Older Americans
The Milken Institute’s Center for the Future of Aging ranked the best U.S. cities for aging based on 83 factors, including living arrangements, community engagement, general livability, health care, wellness, education, transportation and employment. Click through to see the top 20 cities
Reuters / Mike Blake
Strengths:
* Low cost of living
* Good special-needs transportation
* Many primary-care clinicians
Weaknesses:
* Sluggish employment growth
* Long waits in the ER and too few caregivers
* Expensive long-term care and poor nursing-home quality
Strengths:
* High employment among older adults
* High volunteerism in 65-plus population
* Many hospitals associated with med schools
Weaknesses:
* Long commutes and high transit fares
* Expensive housing and assisted living
* Few Alzheimer’s and geriatric units
Strengths:
* Good transport for older adults
* Medical school-affiliated hospitals
* Many nursing homes with top ratings
* Low rates of chronic disease, including obesity and diabetes
Weaknesses:
* High home prices and taxes
* Expensive nursing homes
* High unemployment among older residents
Strengths:
* Affordable housing, walkable environment, low crime
* Good nursing-home capacity and many home-health providers
* Well-planned health-care system
Weaknesses:
* Low employment, high tax burden
* Expensive nursing homes
* Low -quality nursing homes
Strengths:
* Wide access to primary-care physicians
* High-quality nursing homes
* Low rates of obesity, smoking and depression
Weaknesses:
* Costly living, many older adults in poverty
* Long commutes
* Expensive hospitals, few geriatric centers
Strengths:
* Numerous community colleges, libraries
* Good access to geriatric facilities
* Good transportation for older riders
Weaknesses:
* High living costs, high tax burden, high senior poverty
* Few recreational amenities and high crime
* Costly assisted living and poor-quality nursing homes
Strengths:
* Transit-friendly environment
* Abundant volunteer, recreation and arts options
* Many primary-care physicians, home health providers
Weaknesses:
* Not enough hospital beds, diagnostic centers
* High Alzheimer’s rates, few treatment facilities
Strengths:
* Cost-effective options for long-term care
* Many recreation options: golf courses, marinas, bowling alleys
* Good investment in transit for older adults
Weaknesses:
* Low growth in employment
* Too few grocery stores, too many fast food chains
* Low physical activity rates, high obesity rates
Strengths:
* Low poverty rates among older adults
* Low rates of diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s
* Well-funded transit for older adults
Weaknesses:
* Expensive hospitals
* Small older population
* Meager funding to support independent aging
Strengths:
* Long life expectancy, low obesity rates
* Medical-school affiliation for over half of hospitals
* Walkable neighborhoods, low crime, good funding for older-adult programs
Weaknesses:
* Long commute times
* Few continuing-care facilities and caregivers
* Pricey living, high poverty and unemployment among seniors
Strengths:
* Walkable communities and mild weather
* Abundant primary care, many continuing-care facilities
* Many libraries and cultural opportunities
Weaknesses:
* Expensive living, high taxes
* Too few home health-care providers
* Significant unemployment among older adults
Strengths:
* Abundant home health-care options and high-quality nursing homes
* Low Alzheimer’s, obesity rates and long life expectancy
* Ample transit options, excellent walkability
Weaknesses:
* Costly housing, assisted living, nursing homes
* High tax burden, expensive hospital care
* High levels of depression in Medicare population
Strengths:
* Low home and rental prices and low tax burden
* Many nurses, nurse practitioners, and orthopedic surgeons
* Many geriatric facilities and easy access to dialysis and diagnostic centers
Weaknesses:
* High income inequality and low employment growth
* Few older adults with Internet access
* Low levels of Medicare enrollment
Strengths:
* Plentiful geriatric services
* Affordable cost of living
* Ample jobs, low poverty among older people
* Substantial funding for older-adult programs
Weaknesses:
* Limited transit and walkability options
* Few hospitals and dialysis centers
* Low life expectancy, few adults age at home
Strengths:
* Internet-savvy older population and
* High employment for seniors
* Many primary-care providers
* Inexpensive nursing homes and adult day services
Weaknesses:
* Pricey housing
* Too few grocery stores, lack of walkability
* Few community colleges
Strengths:
* Affordable living and medical costs
* Leader in geriatric services
* Many libraries and recreational facilities
Weaknesses:
* Few five-star nursing homes
* Sparse public transit
* Comparatively high Alzheimer’s rates
Strengths:
* Ample geriatric and Alzheimer’s services
* Many cultural and recreational amenities
* Low older-adult poverty and strong employment
Weaknesses:
* Low funding for older-adult programs
* Expensive housing with many reverse mortgages
* High crime rate
Strengths:
* Nation’s best hospitals and top-notch aging-related providers
* Many civic and religious organizations
* Low unemployment and good volunteer opportunities
Weaknesses:
* Crime and traffic accidents
* Inadequate walkability, low spending on transit
* High chronic illness and few grocery stores
Strengths:
* Ample health care services
* Walkable environment, many recreation options
* Many libraries and cultural opportunities
Weaknesses:
* High cost of living, higher taxes
Strengths:
* Active population with low rates of diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s
* High levels of volunteerism
* Good job growth and low poverty among older adults
Weaknesses:
* Meager funding for older-adult programs
* Few options for specialized health needs
* Too few gyms and grocery stores
1 / 21