You’ll find families and retirees alike in every size city – small, medium and large. Not every person immediately packs up and moves to a new location when they finally walk out of work for the last time. Many people want to stay surrounded by family, familiar places and the doctors and health care options they’ve known all their lives.
But there’s no question that certain places are more livable, particularly for those who are nearing or at retirement age. To help people evaluate their options, AARP’s Public Policy Institute recently released its updated AARP Livability Index.
This web-based resource scores every neighborhood and community in the U.S. based on services and amenities that most affect the lives of people as they age. Transportation, health and housing are just a few of the seven categories and 61 characteristics considered by the index.
The following are the top communities in each of the four size categories: large, medium and small cities and, this year for the first time, small towns.
Large cities
San Francisco
Ranking: No. 1 large city
Overall score: 65 out of 100
None of the top three large cities in the AARP Livability Index are cheap places to live, and San Francisco is a prime example. But AARP points out that cities with good transportation, or where residents can easily walk to services, have an increased overall livability despite their pricey housing. However you get around the City by the Bay, be sure to make time for a drive across the breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge, the city’s famous symbol.
New York City
Ranking: No. 2 large city (tie)
Overall score: 63 out of 100
As with San Francisco, no one will ever claim it’s cheap to live in New York City. But the AARP index points out that 52% of New Yorkers get by without a vehicle, thanks to having many established transportation options. And maybe you’ll take one of those options to a Broadway show — New York’s live theater scene is tough to match.
Washington, D.C.
Ranking: No. 2 large city (tie)
Overall score: 63 out of 100
You don’t have to be the president to call Washington, D.C., home. With so many museums, theaters and other ways to stay busy, the nation’s capital scored 93 out of 100 for engagement, which measures cultural options as well as civic involvement and voting rates. Speaking of cultural options, the world-famous Smithsonian Institution offers 17 museums and galleries across the metro.
Midsize cities
Alexandria, Virginia
Ranking: No. 1 midsize city (tie)
Overall score: 67 out of 100
Historic Alexandria was one of three midsize cities tying for first place. Like its nearby big-city neighbor of Washington, D.C., Alexandria scored high for engagement, landing 96 out of 100 points in that category. You may just want to block off some time to wander Alexandria’s quaint streets and marvel at its acclaimed architecture.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Ranking: No. 1 midsize city (tie)
Overall score: 67 out of 100
You may know Cambridge as home to Harvard University, but it appeals to more than just scholars and professors. Yet perhaps thanks to those college kids, Cambridge scored 85 out of 100 in the transportation category. And you don’t need to be accepted to Harvard to tour its vaunted campus – in-person tours are offered daily.
Arlington, Virginia
Ranking: No. 1 midsize city (tie)
Overall score: 67 out of 100
Arlington rounds out the three cities that tied for first place in the midsize city category. Arlington scored especially high in the health category, which looks at such factors as access to exercise opportunities, patient satisfaction and the prevalence of smoking and obesity. Of course, Arlington is also home to one of the nation’s most moving landmarks, the historic Arlington National Cemetery.
Small cities
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Ranking: No. 1 small city (tie)
Overall score: 66 out of 100
St. Louis Park is a suburb of Minneapolis, tucked in right next to the city’s famous Chain of Lakes. St. Louis Park scored especially high in the health and engagement categories. One engaging attraction: the Pavek Museum, which celebrates the history of electronic communication.
Watertown, Massachusetts
Ranking: No. 1 small city (tie)
Overall score: 66 out of 100
Watertown, a part of Greater Boston, tied with St. Louis Park for the top spot among small cities. As you might expect from a city near so many colleges, it scored high in transportation. Watertown also scored high in the neighborhood category, which looks at such factors as the crime rate, access to parks and diversity of destinations. One special destination: The Armenian Museum of America, which celebrates the history of the Armenian people.
Seven-way tie
Ranking: No. 3 small city
Overall score: 65 out of 100
Seven cities tied for the No. 3 spot among small cities. They are:
- Belmont, Massachusetts
- Arlington, Massachusetts
- Somerville, Massachusetts
- Bergenfield, New Jersey
- Richfield, Minnesota
- Roseville, Minnesota
- North Bethesda, Maryland
Small towns
Aspen, Colorado
Ranking: No. 1 small town
Overall score: 72 out of 100
The mountain town of Aspen appeals to skiers and nature buffs, for sure, but it’s got more going for it than that. Aspen scored 97 out of 100 points in the engagement category, meaning there is plenty to keep residents busy. That includes the music and related fun of the Aspen Music Festival and Aspen Food & Wine Classic, both of which come to town in the summer.
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Ranking: No. 2 small town (tie)
Overall score: 71 out of 100
You may have heard of Los Alamos because of its World War II history — it was home to the nuclear weapons research of the Manhattan Project. Now, it scores high on the livability index in part because of its high opportunity score, which refers to age diversity, jobs per worker, high-school graduation rate and more. Seek out the Los Alamos History Museum to learn about the city’s role in history, from homesteading through WWII and the Cold War.
Great Neck Plaza, New York
Ranking: No. 2 small town (tie)
Overall score: 71 out of 100
The village of Great Neck Plaza sits in New York’s Nassau County, on the north shore of Long Island. It earned its highest score in the transportation category, coming in with 89 out of 100 points there. And if you live in this quaint community, join your neighbors for summer concerts at charming Firefighters’ Park.
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