Forbes recently released their list of the top 25 best places to enjoy your retirement, after screening more than 800 U.S. locales for various factors. Among the top picks are Eugene, Oregon, a city known for its outdoor activities and arts scene, and Austin, Texas, which offers a wide range of leisure pursuits. The list includes cities that excel in arts/culture, fine dining, lifelong learning, outdoor water and land activities, and golf.
One couple, Jill and David DeForest Colvig, recently retired and moved from Des Moines, Iowa to Eugene, Oregon. They were looking for a retirement haven with cleaner water, a better environment, and more outdoor activities. Other top picks on the list include Annapolis, Maryland for water activities; Flagstaff, Arizona for land activities; and Pinehurst, North Carolina for golf. Each city offers a unique combination of leisure opportunities for retirees to enjoy.
The selection process for the top 25 places to enjoy retirement included factors like availability of primary care doctors, serious crime rates, air quality, and walkability. Locations with high susceptibility to natural hazard and climate change risk were excluded. The list represents a diverse range of cities spread across 16 states and all four continental time zones, each offering something unique for retirees to enjoy.
The Colvigs found Eugene to be a perfect fit for their retirement priorities, with outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking readily available. They downsized from their home in Des Moines and found a smaller, more affordable home in Eugene. Other retirees, like Rosetta Cohen and Sam Scheer, chose to move to New York City for its cultural offerings and vibrant energy. Each retiree has their own criteria for choosing the best place to enjoy their retirement.
In addition to providing information on the top 25 retirement destinations, the list also includes details on housing and living costs for each city. While some locations may have higher median home prices, there are also more affordable options available. Overall, the list highlights cities that offer a high quality of life and a range of leisure activities for retirees to enjoy in their golden years.
Whether you’re looking for a city with a vibrant arts scene, gourmet dining options, or outdoor activities like hiking and golf, the top 25 places to enjoy your retirement offer something for everyone. From the picturesque coastal town of Annapolis, Maryland to the bustling metropolis of Boston, Massachusetts, there are plenty of options for retirees to explore and find their perfect retirement haven.
