Slideshow - Best Cities for Successful Aging 2014, Milken Institute - AARP Livability in Action

Cities That Want to Be Great for Older Adults

The overall U S population is becoming much older every year By 2030 one in five Americans will be 65-plus Smart communities nationwide are getting ready — now

Great Places for All Ages

As part of the Milken Institute's 2014 "Best Cities for Successful Aging Index," the places featured here — all members of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities — have pledged to make their cities "work for older adults."

Atlanta Georgia

Members of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities are working to become great places for older adults and people of all ages. The Atlanta region ranks 83rd out of 100 on the Milken Institute's 2014 best large cities index.

Washington D C

Mayors who signed the Milken pledge promise to "ensure that the well-being of [the] aging population is addressed throughout their city's government. D.C. ranks 20th out of 100 large cities in the Milken best cities index.

Lexington Kentucky

Milken signers pledge to "improve access to transportation and mobility options for older adults." Lexington, a city with both urban and rural areas, ranks 50th among the small cities included in the Milken Institute Index.

New York New York

Milken pledge signers promise to make their "city safe, affordable and comfortable for ... older residents." The Big Apple's walkability and public transit options helped it place 14th on the Milken Institute list.

Honolulu Hawaii

Access to outdoor spaces is among the that help make a community age-friendly. Honolulu ranked 12th in the Milken Institute Index of the best large cities for successful aging.

Portland Maine

Both Milken and the AARP network emphasize the importance of hiring older adults as workers and volunteers. Maine has a median population age of 42.8. Portland ranks 135 on the Milken Institute Index.

Portland Oregon

One of the original cities in the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Communities program (which was established in 2006 and of which AARP's program is an affiliate), Portland ranks 34th on Milken's large cities list.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania

The City of Brotherly Love joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities when the program launched in April 2012. The region (which includes parts of Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland) ranks 57th on the Milken Institute's list.

Fayetteville Arkansas

Housing in age-friendly cities suits the diverse needs and incomes of people of all ages. This college town is 116th on the Milken small cities index. (In 1975, Bill and Hillary Clinton were married in the house at left.)

San Antonio Texas

"Just as our future is tied to folks who are sitting in a classroom right now, [it] is also tied to ... people who are turning 50, and older, and still have a long life to live and a lot to give," said then-mayor Julian Castro. His city is 54th on the list.

Austin Texas

The better a community is for older residents, the more appealing it is for people of all ages. (Millenials are drawn to the convenience and community life that walkable, livable cities provide.) This state capital is 9th on the large cities list.

Houston Texas

"As the fourth largest city in the nation, it's important that Houston leads in providing opportunities that successfully accommodate our city's aging population," says Mayor Annise Parker. Houston is 42nd on the Milken Institute list.

Boston Massachusetts

Ranked in fourth place among the Milken Institute's best large cities for successful aging, Boston, is topped by only (#3) Provo-Orem, Utah; (#2) Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nevada — and, in the #1 spot, Madison, Wisconsin.

Macon Georgia

One of the first cities to join the AARP network in April 2012, Macon is working to revitalize its downtown core. The city is 120th on the Milken Institute list of 250 small cities.

Get in the Game

Every city can become age-friendlier in some way. Learn more by visiting the , the and the . Published November 2014

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