This City Was Just Named the No. 1 Place to Retire in the U.S. for Its Tax Policies, Great Weather, and Senior Health Care
- - This City Was Just Named the No. 1 Place to Retire in the U.S. for Its Tax Policies, Great Weather, and Senior Health Care
Katie NadwornyOctober 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
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Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
A beautiful home in Orlando, Florida.Key Points
Orlando is the most retiree-friendly city in the U.S., mainly because of its lack of taxes. The city has excellent geriatric hospital services and offers a plethora of outdoor activities.
While some retirees prefer to move to a quiet small town or experience life abroad, others opt for the lively pace of city living. However, not every large urban community offers the same level of retiree-friendly amenities.
WalletHub recently evaluated 182 of the most populated cities in the U.S. for factors such as cost of living, health infrastructure, and benefits for retired taxpayers to identify the best places for retirement.
According to WalletHub's findings, the top city is Orlando. The main reason for its excellent performance is its senior-friendly tax policies, as the city (and Florida, as a state) doesn't charge inheritance or income tax.
Despite its relatively high cost of living, Orlando remains a hot spot for retirees, ranking as the ninth-most affordable city for homemaker services and the 20th for adult day health care. Additionally, it has excellent geriatric hospital services—the seventh-best in that category—and ranks sixth highest among home health care facilities. With its abundant sunshine and excellent weather, Orlando is a pleasant place for retirees and offers many recreational activities, including music venues, galleries, and, of course, theme parks.
“It’s important to choose wisely when picking where to retire, as many retirees are on a fixed income,” says Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “As a result, 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. In addition, the top cities provide high-quality health care and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”
Orlando is followed by Scottsdale, Arizona, which ranks best for adult volunteer activities, art galleries, and the number of golf courses per capita. Minneapolis is the third-best place to retire because of its elderly-friendly labor market. Miami comes in at No. 4, and Tampa, Florida, at No. 5.
At the bottom of the ranking are three California cities: Rancho Cucamonga (No. 180), Stockton (No. 181), and San Bernardino (No. 182).
To see the full list, visit WalletHub.com.
on Travel & Leisure
Source: “AOL Money”
