How to Choose Where to Retire

What to Consider When Finding the Best Place to Retire

Staying busy is important in retirement because the only thing that may be worse than working a nine-to-five, is boredom. People want to know where to live in retirement. Retirees want to live somewhere that offers them stimulation and will keep them busy doing what they love, whether hiking in nice weather, going to good restaurants, or visiting museums in the city. Road Scholar has compiled a where-to-live-in-retirement checklist, including which qualities make the best place to retire. 

1. Cultural Stimulation

Access to music, theater, and the arts is very important to people in the comforts of retirement. Being active in the cultural scene of your city or town by attending art shows, old movie theaters with an orchestra, and music concerts brings joy and fulfillment. 

As a retiree, immersing yourself in the local culture of your location can also help build a sense of community. Not only can you enjoy cultural experiences like music, art and festivals, but you’re also able to connect with community members and establish lasting relationships that you can enjoy throughout retirement.

2. Proximity to Nature 

Retirees often crave the peaceful, restorative qualities of nature. When asked where they want to live in retirement, they want to live near green spaces and parks, near mountains or the ocean. 

Some of the best places to live in the USA for retirees are those with easy access to nature, whether rivers, forests or parks. Areas with outdoor exercise opportunities, such as gardening, hiking, biking, walking and kayaking, can help retirees form healthier lifestyle choices that make enjoying retirement easier. Connecting with nature also has many mental and physical benefits, such as enhancing cognitive function and promoting cardiovascular health and flexibility. 

3. Recreational Opportunities 

Staying fit and busy in retirement is essential to mental well-being. Retirees want to move somewhere that offers easy access to recreational activities like biking and hiking trails. Perhaps there is a community center nearby that offers year-round swimming and exercise programs. 

As you look into where to retire, consider the proximity of recreational centers, as many have amenities like swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts and gyms. Maintaining your physical health through enjoyable recreational activities that bring joy can help you live a healthy and prosperous retirement that allows you to connect with nature, yourself and those around you. 

4. Moderate Weather

Cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers are not ideal. Older people do not want to be shoveling snow from their driveways and scraping off ice from their windshields. People in retirement are looking for a place that is permanently comfortable. Mild weather allows for year-round outdoor activities. 

The best place to live in the USA for retirees is one that allows you to live comfortably and also be able to enjoy the outdoors year-round. Areas with moderate weather have fewer temperature extremes, such as heat waves and snowstorms, making it easier to maintain physical and mental well-being.

5. Strong Sense of Community 

Many retirees want to move closer to family in retirement to spend quality time with their grandchildren. Others rely on finding a home with a senior center that holds activities throughout the year. Regardless of your preference, finding a retirement location with a strong sense of community is essential for a variety of reasons.

To start, a strong sense of community can help aging populations combat feelings of loneliness, which can be detrimental to physical and emotional health. With a strong support network, retirees can build meaningful friendships and join micro groups that share similar values and interests.

6. Educational Resources 

It is important to keep your brain active and stimulated as you age. Some find the best places to retire are near a university or a city, offering museums and large libraries or Lifelong Learning Institutes 

As you consider where to retire, having access to these educational resources like libraries, universities and museums is vital for numerous reasons. Continuing your education promotes better cognitive health by keeping your brain engaged, which can help reduce the potential for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. It can also help you develop a sense of purpose, as it enables you to develop your professional and personal skills.

7. Walkability 

Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a community where you could walk to restaurants and recreational activities? Retirees are looking for a place to live where they can leave their car at home. Walkable streets away from traffic, along with trails and paths, make walking a fun way to get around town. In addition to the sense of community that walkable areas help create, they promote physical health by keeping your body active and immersed in the environment.

8. High-Quality Healthcare 

You will likely need more healthcare services as your body and mind age. It’s important to consider living near a doctor, pharmacy and major hospital in case your health takes a turn for the worse.

One of the top considerations on any retirement location checklist is the access and quality of local healthcare. From timely and comprehensive healthcare services to well-equipped hospitals and clinics, healthcare should be top of mind when deciding where to retire. Also, consider access to specialized geriatric services, as not every area has professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to treat aging populations. Maintaining your health is a top priority to enjoy retirement, so keep healthcare at the forefront when researching your retirement destination.

9. Great Restaurants and Food

Retirees want to move to a town with great farm-to-table restaurants, a weekly farmers market for locally grown produce and baked goods, and a diverse selection of cuisine. Retirement should be a time to explore new things and enjoy what you like, and food is often at the top of that list. When it comes to how to decide where to retire, comb through local restaurant reviews to assess the quality, as well as the access to restaurants, grocery stores and specialty markets to ensure you can easily enjoy the meals you love most.

10. Affordable

After you retire from work, you don’t want to have to worry about having enough money to pay the rent or mortgage or shop for quality food. Try to retire in a town or city where you can comfortably pay your bills. It helps if the local community has a library, senior center or sponsors. Find a community that offers free activities like concerts in the park, rooftop movie nights or senior activities. 

11. Accessible to Airport

Retirees like to travel, so living somewhere with easy access to air or train transportation is important. Choose a place to retire with a major international airport as a gateway to the world. 

With easy accessibility to transportation, you can visit some of the top destinations on your bucket list. For many retirees, a leading retirement goal is spending their newfound free time exploring the world and new destinations. Accessibility to airports makes it much easier to get to areas of the world you’re excited to see, whether medieval towns in Europe or tropical waters in the Caribbean. 

12. Volunteer Opportunities

You may lack opportunities to leave the house and socialize without a job to go to every day. Some communities have senior centers that plan activities or meals that allow older residents to stay engaged with others. Volunteer work is another way to meet new people and serve the community. Moving to an area with other retirees can help you connect with people who are free during the day. Some retirement communities host outings and social events for residents.

13. Financial Considerations

One of the most important factors to consider when deciding where to retire is your finances. As you review your retirement location checklist, assess your retirement income and how far it can stretch in various locations. To do this, look at the cost of living in multiple areas you’re considering, such as gas prices, grocery prices and average rent or home prices. Additionally, map out your retirement income streams, including income from Social Security, pensions, retirement plans like an IRA or 401(k) and potential part-time job income.

Other financial considerations include the tax environment for the area you’re considering. Each state and local jurisdiction has varying tax structures, with some areas having more favorable tax-friendly exemptions and rates on retirement income. It’s also important to look into healthcare costs as a retiree and evaluate the healthcare systems of the potential area in which you’re looking to retire.

14. Cost Of Living

When researching the best places to live for single retired females, families and partners, affordability is crucial. As mentioned, when it comes to financial considerations, it’s essential to research the cost of living for various destinations, as overall costs can vary significantly by location. Assess housing costs, transportation, groceries, utilities and other daily expenses, and compare these expenses to your retirement income to ensure you can live comfortably.

Getting a general sense of the region’s economic stability is another factor to consider as well. Consider the historical and current economic environment and how inflation rates can affect your retirement income.

15. Safety and Security

Our final tip on how to decide where to retire is to assess the safety and security of your desired location. As a retiree, many popular destinations offer safe communities for aging populations. To ensure you’re ending up in a desired area, look into local crime rates and the quality of the law enforcement system to assess the overall security of the community. 

Safety and security go far beyond crime. As you explore how to choose a retirement location, research the prevalence of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes. Natural disasters can pose a significant health and financial risk, and as a retiree, it’s important to ensure you have access to a safe and easy evacuation and recovery. Also, ensure a high-quality healthcare system is in place with easy access and prompt emergency services in the area.

Road Scholar Offers You the Best Travel Opportunities in Retirement 

At Road Scholar, we offer a range of educational and adventure programs for seniors. Join Road Scholar’s expert instructors on trips around the world to places like Europe, America, Antarctica, and more. Please check each trip's details to determine the activity level and whether it is suitable for traveling seniors.

Learn more about tours offered around the world and enroll with Road Scholar today.