10 best places to retire in the US

This list of cities and towns has both well-known and lesser-known names, but all can boast that they offer a high quality of life for retirees.

By Robert Powell, MarketWatch

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Ron
Apr 27, 2012 7:45AM
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One of the best list's out there. Sarasota and Venice FL are excellent picks. According to the Florida Move Guide half the people that move to FL move back home and that's expensive. Probably the best place to retire for many people is right where they live now.
Retired in Carolina
Apr 20, 2012 9:36PM
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Retire where you want to. Just make sure you got what you want where  you choose to live.
Stephen Palm
Apr 20, 2012 9:36PM
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who the heii can retire in this market....maybe years  after Obama is gone......
N Dina (NjHAHA)
Apr 20, 2012 9:17PM
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How about New Jersey, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N Dina (NjHAHA)
Apr 20, 2012 9:15PM
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How about New Jersey, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N Dina (NjHAHA)
Apr 20, 2012 9:05PM
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How about New Jersey, NOT!
CW40
Apr 20, 2012 7:09PM
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Anywhere is a good place to retire!  But it depends on how you wish to spend your retirement years.  Yes, if you love the ocean, beaches, Arizona is not your place.  If you love snow skiing, you won't enjoy Florida.   But who says when you retire that you have to move to another city?   I recently retired, and everyone keeps asking me, where are you going to move to?   I say I'm staying here, and they think I'm nuts for not selling out and packing off to some unknown city.
RetiredDIY
Apr 20, 2012 7:06PM
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Having retired already, I find I agree with a few of the previous comments.  First, by the time you retire, you do need to be sure you will have the medical care close by that you will need one day.  Second, if your wife isn't happy with the place, you probably won't be either and she almost always wants to be part of the kids and grandkids life where they live.  Finally, if you didn't plan your finances right, you will probably work all your retilrement years and some folks are happier and live longer doing just that.  You might also plan to have a hobby to stay involved in because you can only fish and golf so much and then what are you going to do to fill like you are enjoying your "golden years".  Just remember, "To a great extent, the rest of your life is pretty much what YOU make of it".
bh7166
Apr 20, 2012 6:39PM
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Seriously, Florida and Arizona, Carolinas?  Such a cliche....there are dozens if not hundreds of places in the United States that would be greater to retire and every year but in survey after survey the same tired over hyped cities come up.  How about Santa Fe/Albuquerque?  How about Austin?  How about the Oregon coast?  How about coastal Mississippi and Louisiana?  You guys seriously need to expand your scope.  This list was lame in its predictability.....
Educated_American_Pauper
Apr 20, 2012 6:31PM
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Florida, like everywhere else is has its positives and negatives.  Negatives include:  crime; no jobs or very low paying jobs; racial discrimination either against non-hispanics in some areas or against minorities in others; oppressively hot and humid Summers and Falls; and low levels of education.  Positives:  always warm; the ocean is always nearby; cost of living in most places is cheap compared to other parts of US; no state inspections for vehicles; no state income tax; and a lot of outdoor activities to choose from.
manhattanron
Apr 20, 2012 6:31PM
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They missed Delray Beach, FL - great walkable downtown and beaches.  Lots of education opportunities, golf, boating, fishing.  Right now housing prices range from under $50K to low 100's for gated community properties (there are really top end properties in the 250--500K range as well).  As in any city trhere are high crime areas - but not where you would go to shop or eat.  Lots of museums, theatre, events . . . .

 

It should be # 1 - come visit, I bet you'll agree.

Rick1217
Apr 20, 2012 6:07PM
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Somebody said FL was low in crime; obviously they dont live in FL or at least Orlando and Central FL or Miami.
And Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota great places to retire? Well yes, IF your retirement account is at least $8 mil. Who does these columns? Certainly somebody who does NOT live in any one place mentioned. To retire in any of the towns listed better have at least 7 figures in gold. Just essentials plus property taxes will cost you $48000 and you are NOT doing anything but breathing.
If you live in a small town anywhere, STAY THERE! Get the neighbors to build a militia as the 2d amendment states, surround your town with detection when the next Wall Street slammer hits the ground--like in next year!
Realist.com
Apr 20, 2012 5:31PM
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Obama's  effective rate is lower than Warren Buffet's secretary's effective rate, what a hypocrite!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!
Realist.com
Apr 20, 2012 5:28PM
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Did anyone see Obama's tax return posting on the internet, AGI of almost 900,000, he promotes having others pay at the top 35% tax rate, his effective tax rate was only 20% on almost a million dollars of earnings!!!  What a hypocrite!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mojo Hand
Apr 20, 2012 5:24PM
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Funny how they forgot to mention how HOT Tuscon is in the summer!  Sure 50 degree winters may sound great, but 100+ (closer to 110) degree days for over half the month in June, July, August?  I don't think that would appeal to most folks!
CJin CT
Apr 20, 2012 5:18PM
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Florida is nice to visit in January.  But most of the year it is unbearably hot.
I would not retire there even if the housing were free, and there were no taxes.
Joe455
Apr 20, 2012 5:17PM
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You can not beat Florida, the best prices for real state, good weather and taxes, good airports,

Oceans, becheas, lakes, and more...how you can go wrong?......

don quix dik
Apr 20, 2012 5:16PM
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i would like to see a $130000 home in sarasota? they must be including bradenton in that demographic because there are none? OW great place to live and visit.
MrMuscle
Apr 20, 2012 5:12PM
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For those of you all poo pooing floirda it is clean, warm, low on crime, and full of people their own age.  These are key factors in the golden years you will evolve to see.   Warm weather

does wonders for the joints.  

treeman99
Apr 20, 2012 5:12PM
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The author needs to do moe research and get  spellcheck. Looking at the best places to retire in Arkansas, he total loses all credibility. He lists Pinebluff, texarcana, and Eufala Springs. ALL INCORRECT. Pine Bluff(two words) is not a retirement community. Texarkana (correctly spelled) is not either. No such place as Eufala Springs...its Eureka Springs idiot. Many other great retirement ares not listed...Heber Springs on Greers Ferry lake, Mt. View, Mt.Home between Bull Shoals lake and Lake Norfork as well as many others.

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