8 Great Places for a Happy, Healthy Retirement Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Longevity 8 Great Places for a Healthy Happy Retirement One of the best ways to turn your retirement dreams into a reality is to choose the right place to live. Here are eight potential retirement spots where researchers say the living is especially easy for seniors. By Vanessa CaceresMedically Reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPHReviewed: March 15, 2019Medically Reviewed Location Location Location Is Key in RetirementPaul Burns/Getty ImagesWhere you retire can determine how vibrant your golden years will be. It turns out that some areas around the globe are better suited than others for older adults looking to make a move. And where you live can have a profound effect on your health and mortality, according to the 2018 County Health Rankings of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a national organization dedicated to building healthier communities. Here’s a rundown of some of the best cities worldwide for staying youthful. New York City Joe Daniel Price/Getty ImagesThe Big Apple may not be the first place that comes to mind for older, active adults. But New York City has many advantages, says Audrey K. Chun, MD, associate professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. People can get around easily on foot, or hail a cab, or get a ride from government-based resources, she says. There are also hundreds of social activities for older adults. Plus, the city’s offerings are relatively close together, so it’s not an ordeal to visit the doctor or a friend. Madison Wisconsin Henryk Sadura/Getty ImagesThis Midwestern city has several factors going for it, says economist Anusuya Chatterjee, an adjunct fellow at the Milken Institute in Santa Monica, California, who specializes in aging and demographics. “There’s really great quality healthcare. There’s also a strong economy and educational environment,” says Chatterjee. Intellectual stimulation was an important part of the rankings used in the Milken Institute’s 2017 report, Best Cities for Successful Aging, says Chatterjee. “Our ranks weren’t just about playing golf and having a good time,” she says. In fact, of 381 U.S. locations researched, Madison earned the No. 2 slot for large metro areas. Okinawa Japan Ian Trower/CorbisIt may seem far flung, but Okinawa Japan, was one of the cities identified by a decade-long research project called The Blue Zones as having the largest number of people living to 100. What gives Okinawans such longevity? “Diet plays a huge role,” Dr. Chun says. “There’s lots of fish and plant-based foods.” Like folks in other Blue Zones that have exceptional numbers of people leading healthy, happy, longer lives, Okinawans maintain a physically active lifestyle even into older age. Nicoya Costa Rica Stefano Amantini/CorbisThe country of Costa Rica has a good economy and healthcare system, two factors that can help sustain an active and long life, while also making it easier to live a high-quality life at a lower cost than in the United States. And one of the top locations in the Blue Zones research for residents living to 100 is Nicoya, an 80-mile-long Costa Rican peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. The area wins points because people living there maintain strong connections with family and friends. Maintaining social connections is a pillar in the quest to live longer, Chun says. Those in Nicoya also benefit from an unprocessed diet that’s rich in a variety of fruits. Omaha Nebraska Denis Tangney Jr./Getty ImagesAfter all the data was sifted and sorted, Milken Institute researchers placed Omaha Nebraska, among their top 10 big cities ideal for retirement. Seniors eager to make their retirement savings go further will find the city especially attractive. “Omaha has more work opportunities,” says Chatterjee. The cost of living is low when compared with other cities, and conveniences like grocery stores are easy to access. Omaha also has an impressive number of well-funded programs and public spaces where older adults can come together, such as libraries and YMCAs, Chatterjee says. What’s more, the strong economy and low unemployment rate make it more likely that children or grandchildren may choose to live and work close by, enhancing social ties. Iowa City Iowa iStockAn excellent healthcare system, a strong economy, and the University of Iowa within its borders — these are some of the key factors that gave Iowa City the No. 1 spot for small metro areas in the Milken Institute report. Iowa City’s unemployment rate is among the lowest for small cities, with lots of job opportunities for older adults. A large number of residents rely on public transportation (cutting down on traffic problems), and there are fewer fast-food chain restaurants compared with other areas. Access to healthy foods and easy ways to prepare them are other keys for longevity, Chun says. Ikaria Greece Sakis Papadopoulos/CorbisCalled by the Blue Zones project “the island where people forget to die,” Ikaria Greece is a place where residents are almost entirely free of the chronic diseases common in other parts of the world. The long lives seen there appear to be the result of a plant-based diet, strong social connections, and an active lifestyle. Residents of Ikaria typically garden, walk to neighbors’ homes, and do lots of yard work. The more movement you can maintain daily, the better your chances of improving your health and antioxidant defenses, according to research published in June 2015 in the journal Applied Physiology Nutrition, and Metabolism. Gainesville Florida iStockWith year-round temperate weather and low taxes, Florida has long been a hugely popular retirement destination. And Gainesville, a vibrant city in north central Florida, is one of the Sunshine State’s top spots for retirees, according to the Milken Institute report. Gainesville has a well-established healthcare system with accredited hospitals. Plus, the city is home to the University of Florida, where it’s easy to take advantage of public lectures, performances, and other intellectually stimulating activities, Chatterjee says. The report also lauded the area’s air quality, as well as its excellent public transit system. 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