The Sunshine State continues to shine brightly as the top place to retire in WalletHub’s annual Best and Worst Places to Retire report.
Cities in Florida swept the top three spots in WalletHub’s 2026 survey. Orlando topped the list, followed by Miami and then Tampa, after researchers considered 45 key measures, from the cost of living and tax laws to the availability of activities and the quality of health care. WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities for its report.
With retirees on fixed incomes still grappling with elevated inflation, it’s important to find somewhere affordable with enough perks to enjoy the golden years, WalletHub said.
“The best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income, if they choose to do so,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “In addition, the top cities provide high-quality health care and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”
What Makes Each Florida City Attractive to Retirees?
Low taxes are a common thread between top-rated Orlando, Miami and Tampa, according to WalletHub. They all benefit from Florida’s lack of estate, inheritance or income tax.
But there’s more to these cities than tax-friendliness, WalletHub said.
- Orlando: While the city’s cost of living isn’t particularly low, it’s the 15th-cheapest city for homemaker services and the 20th-cheapest for adult day health care. It ranks second-best for recreation, with an especially high number of music venues, fishing facilities, art galleries and adult volunteer activities. It also ranks 21st for gerontologists and eighth-highest for home health care facilities per capita. It has the fourth-best hospitals for geriatrics, WalletHub said.
- Miami: Miami ranks at the top of the country for adult volunteer activities, art galleries and fishing facilities per capita. It has the 17th-most museums and 11th-most recreation and senior centers. It’s also the sixth-most walkable city in the country, and most residents live within walking distance of quality public transportation, the report said.
- Tampa: Tampa has the 19th-lowest property crime rate among cities examined by WalletHub. It ranks fifth for recreation nationally and has the ninth-most bingo halls per capita. It also has the 11th-highest rate of adult volunteer activities, giving retirees opportunities to stay active and engaged.
What if You Don’t Want to Live in Florida?
Florida has ranked as the top state to retire in every year but two since WalletHub launched its state survey in 2016. Not everyone may want to move to the Sunshine State, though.
In 2023, Florida slipped to second-best, partly because of high health care costs. This year, Wyoming overtook Florida for No. 1, partly because Florida’s overall cost of living was higher.
Scottsdale, Arizona, and Casper, Wyoming, ranked fourth and fifth among cities. Scottsdale ranked lower for affordability but took first for quality of life. Casper ranked third overall for affordability, which gave it a boost.
Where Are the Worst Cities to Retire?
Of the five lowest-ranked cities, four are in California, WalletHub said:
- Stockton, California: Last in activities and in the bottom third for affordability, quality of life and health care.
- San Bernardino, California: Ranked 171st of 182 for health care, 166th for quality of life and 140th for activities.
- Newark, New Jersey: Ranked 168th for quality of life but 86th for activities.
- Fresno, California: Weighed down by a 176th-place ranking for activities.
- Rancho Cucamonga, California: Ranked 171st for activities and 163rd for affordability.
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Retirement Location?
Activities are just as important as financial considerations when choosing where to retire, experts said.
“Planning should include considering lifestyle as well as financial issues,” said Phyllis Moen, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota and Cornell University. “People are living longer, and need to think about how they want to spend these bonus years, including the possibility of another, often part-time, job, involving either paid work or unpaid volunteering.”
Government programs may also be important to watch. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid can affect retirees’ budgets, as can state and local programs that serve older adults.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Reporting by Medora Lee, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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