NerdWallet Compares the Best Small Cities to Spend Your Retirement Savings NerdWallet
NerdWallet Compares the Best Small Cities to Spend Your Retirement Savings - NerdWallet Advertiser Disclosure
age 65 and older Average house sale price June 2014- May 2015 Favorable score in Medicare hospital rating State tax on Social Security benefits Median household income in 2013 Median household income growth 2011-2013 Average unemployment rate April 2014-March 2015 Non-car commuters Score 1 Fort Lee, New Jersey 23.7% $375,033 71.8% No $70,374 3.2% 4.1% 24.6% 67.44 2 Bethel Park, Pennsylvania 20.1% $172,254 68.8% No $71,229 3.2% 4.2% 13.2% 65.75 3 Sarasota, Florida 23.4% $256,864 74.5% No $42,782 6.0% 5.1% 5.3% 63.37 4 Oro Valley, Arizona 28.0% $245,738 72.0% No $75,368 6.2% 5.3% 2.8% 63.31 5 Prescott, Arizona 34.2% $267,922 74.0% No $42,181 -1.6% 6.6% 8.6% 61.66 6 Walnut Creek, California 26.6% $579,996 75.5% No $80,192 -5.4% 3.9% 19.4% 61.45 7 Brookfield, Wisconsin 21.0% $264,967 77.5% No $86,703 -2.1% 4.1% 1.9% 61.29 8 Saratoga Springs, New York 17.2% $300,513 74.0% No $68,233 4.4% 4.4% 12.8% 61.07 9 Bloomington, Minnesota 19.5% $215,008 73.5% Yes $61,885 0.5% 3.6% 6.4% 60.82 10 Northampton, Massachusetts 15.7% $266,853 71.0% No $57,908 5.0% 3.9% 14.5% 60.75 11 Roseville, Minnesota 21.2% $213,474 69.8% Yes $62,161 -4.2% 3.3% 6.1% 60.62 12 Orland Park, Illinois 21.3% $211,329 64.0% No $77,582 0.8% 5.6% 7.9% 60.07 13 Chesterfield, Missouri 20.6% $320,811 85.0% Yes $92,837 -6.3% 4.0% 1.2% 59.89 14 Northbrook, Illinois 23.4% $478,771 64.0% No $106,922 0.2% 4.8% 15.4% 59.83 15 Jupiter, Florida 21.9% $293,600 77.0% No $68,068 3.3% 4.1% 1.0% 59.81 16 Wooster, Ohio 17.0% $129,390 79.0% No $39,022 -6.0% 4.2% 12.1% 59.64 17 Deerfield Beach, Florida 22.7% $113,316 69.5% No $38,629 5.5% 5.1% 4.4% 59.62 18 Park Ridge, Illinois 17.2% $365,917 78.0% No $87,055 -1.8% 5.1% 14.2% 59.61 19 Westlake, Ohio 19.1% $202,427 75.0% No $77,274 5.7% 4.5% 2.5% 59.55 20 Monroeville, Pennsylvania 22.1% $132,988 69.5% No $59,145 1.0% 4.9% 4.2% 59.53 21 Highland Park, Illinois 20.2% $467,836 71.0% No $112,686 4.5% 4.6% 13.7% 59.52 22 Watertown, Massachusetts 15.9% $376,298 69.5% No $89,414 5.5% 3.7% 18.8% 59.42 23 Newton, Massachusetts 16.1% $711,076 79.0% No $120,496 6.9% 3.9% 16.9% 59.41 24 Downers Grove, Illinois 15.6% $287,975 74.0% No $83,545 -0.7% 4.7% 12.2% 58.96 25 Harrison, New York 13.3% $179,200 65.6% No $104,340 -4.0% 5.1% 30.0% 58.43 26 Wheeling, West Virginia 21.5% $179,200 69.5% Yes $35,702 -0.3% 5.8% 7.5% 58.14 27 North Olmsted, Ohio 19.0% $136,410 70.4% No $61,296 7.5% 5.1% 5.0% 58.08 28 Niles, Illinois 25.4% $222,746 64.0% No $43,707 -8.3% 5.8% 8.7% 57.91 29 Hackensack, New Jersey 13.5% $203,238 78.0% No $53,903 -4.2% 6.3% 25.8% 57.81 30 Arlington Heights, Illinois 18.1% $298,788 73.0% No $77,280 2.0% 5.0% 7.8% 57.79
NerdWallet Compares the Best Small Cities to Spend Your Retirement Savings
Courtney Miller Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Methodology City summaries Full rankings You spent decades saving for retirement and now the end goal is in sight. Where you choose to spend your golden years can help stretch retirement savings and maximize your investments, so NerdWallet crunched the numbers to find some of the best small cities for retirees. To do so, we compared the data for cities with under 100,000 residents and factored in affordability, state taxes, local economic strength, transportation, health care quality and the size of the senior community. Not sure you’ll be able to afford retirement in the best small cities listed below? Check out NerdWallet’s guides on the best IRA accounts, best Roth IRA accounts, 401(k)s and consolidation.Best small cities to spend your retirement savings
1 Fort Lee New Jersey
Nestled along the Hudson River, across from Manhattan, Fort Lee is an option for retirees who want access to a major metropolitan area. Nearly a quarter of Fort Lee’s roughly 36,000 residents are 65 or older and a robust public transportation system makes it easy for retirees to get around Fort Lee and neighboring areas, including New York City. Here, you can quickly escape to nature, too, for fishing, hiking or boating at Palisades Interstate Park.2 Bethel Park Pennsylvania
Bethel Park offers retirees an affordable price without sacrificing access to activities, art and entertainment. The area’s average home price over the past 12 months was about $172,300, compared with an average of over $255,200 for the cities in this study. Bethel Park’s community center offers an indoor walking track and classes and clubs ranging from zumba to woodcarving. A light rail connects Bethel Park with downtown Pittsburgh, giving residents easy access to the city’s cultural district and the many theaters and galleries, as well as world-class museums in the Steel City.3 Sarasota Florida
Retirees flock to Sarasota for the sun and sandy beaches, not to mention Florida’s favorable tax structure. Nearly a quarter of the city’s residents are 65 or older, and those collecting Social Security pay no state tax on that income. Almost 80% of patients surveyed rated Sarasota Memorial Hospital a 9 or 10 out of 10.4 Oro Valley Arizona
Oro Valley is an established resort city and growing tech hub. This combination has helped the Tucson suburb build a strong economy and amass a sizable retiree population. Nearly 30 percent of Oro Valley’s estimated population of 42,000 are 65 or older, and the city’s economy grew 6% from 2011 to 2013. Retirees settling in Oro Valley can perfect their golf or tennis game at one of over a dozen courses and courts in the area.5 Prescott Arizona
Prescott sits near the Bradshaw Mountains, bordering the Prescott National Forest. The natural beauty and open space make Prescott perfect for retirees looking for access to trails and camping. In addition to a sizable community of retirees — 34% of residents are 65 or over — the area’s median home sale price from June 2014 to May 2015 was $267,922, just above the figure for all the places in our study.6 Walnut Creek California
Located just east of San Francisco, suburban Walnut Creek boasts access to urban amenities and rural beauty. Retirees in the city will find an extensive regional parks system, miles of hiking trails and Mount Diablo State Park. Walnut Creek’s temperate climate, stellar hospitals, easy access to public transportation — buses and trains — make the city a great option for retirement.7 Brookfield Wisconsin
Brookfield has an active retiree community, thanks in part to a local senior center that hosts fitness classes, movie nights, weekday meals and bus trips to attractions such as wineries and the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The Greenway Trail System connects many of the city’s parks and community centers with bike trails and footpaths. Local hospitals get a thumbs-up from residents, too. On average, 77.5% of patients surveyed gave hospitals a rating of 9 or 10 out of 10.8 Saratoga Springs New York
Saratoga Springs isn’t just one of the best cities in New York for young families, it’s also a place families can grow into. A strong local economy — median household income grew 4% from 2011 to 2013 — combined with ample cultural and outdoor activities make Saratoga Springs a great city for retirees. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center hosts a variety of performances and the Adirondacks are just a short drive away. An added bonus for retirees: Nearly 75% of patients rated Saratoga Hospital a 9 or 10 out of 10.9 Bloomington Minnesota
Bloomington gives retirees access to strong medical facilities, cultural activities and sports leagues. On average, 73.5% of patients rated area hospitals either a 9 or 10 out of 10. The Bloomington Center for the Arts curates more than a dozen art exhibits annually and stages several performances at the center’s two theaters. The city’s 50+ Program offers softball, tennis, yoga and other activities.10 Northampton Massachusetts
Dubbed “Paradise City,” Northampton is a utopia for retirees who want to immerse themselves in the art, music and progressive culture of this New England city. The city hosts an annual independent film festival and the local Academy of Music Theatre presents movies, ballets, operas and other productions. Retirees can also indulge their green thumb at Northampton’s community garden, which rents plots to residents.Best small cities to spend your retirement savings
Rank City Percentage of residentsage 65 and older Average house sale price June 2014- May 2015 Favorable score in Medicare hospital rating State tax on Social Security benefits Median household income in 2013 Median household income growth 2011-2013 Average unemployment rate April 2014-March 2015 Non-car commuters Score 1 Fort Lee, New Jersey 23.7% $375,033 71.8% No $70,374 3.2% 4.1% 24.6% 67.44 2 Bethel Park, Pennsylvania 20.1% $172,254 68.8% No $71,229 3.2% 4.2% 13.2% 65.75 3 Sarasota, Florida 23.4% $256,864 74.5% No $42,782 6.0% 5.1% 5.3% 63.37 4 Oro Valley, Arizona 28.0% $245,738 72.0% No $75,368 6.2% 5.3% 2.8% 63.31 5 Prescott, Arizona 34.2% $267,922 74.0% No $42,181 -1.6% 6.6% 8.6% 61.66 6 Walnut Creek, California 26.6% $579,996 75.5% No $80,192 -5.4% 3.9% 19.4% 61.45 7 Brookfield, Wisconsin 21.0% $264,967 77.5% No $86,703 -2.1% 4.1% 1.9% 61.29 8 Saratoga Springs, New York 17.2% $300,513 74.0% No $68,233 4.4% 4.4% 12.8% 61.07 9 Bloomington, Minnesota 19.5% $215,008 73.5% Yes $61,885 0.5% 3.6% 6.4% 60.82 10 Northampton, Massachusetts 15.7% $266,853 71.0% No $57,908 5.0% 3.9% 14.5% 60.75 11 Roseville, Minnesota 21.2% $213,474 69.8% Yes $62,161 -4.2% 3.3% 6.1% 60.62 12 Orland Park, Illinois 21.3% $211,329 64.0% No $77,582 0.8% 5.6% 7.9% 60.07 13 Chesterfield, Missouri 20.6% $320,811 85.0% Yes $92,837 -6.3% 4.0% 1.2% 59.89 14 Northbrook, Illinois 23.4% $478,771 64.0% No $106,922 0.2% 4.8% 15.4% 59.83 15 Jupiter, Florida 21.9% $293,600 77.0% No $68,068 3.3% 4.1% 1.0% 59.81 16 Wooster, Ohio 17.0% $129,390 79.0% No $39,022 -6.0% 4.2% 12.1% 59.64 17 Deerfield Beach, Florida 22.7% $113,316 69.5% No $38,629 5.5% 5.1% 4.4% 59.62 18 Park Ridge, Illinois 17.2% $365,917 78.0% No $87,055 -1.8% 5.1% 14.2% 59.61 19 Westlake, Ohio 19.1% $202,427 75.0% No $77,274 5.7% 4.5% 2.5% 59.55 20 Monroeville, Pennsylvania 22.1% $132,988 69.5% No $59,145 1.0% 4.9% 4.2% 59.53 21 Highland Park, Illinois 20.2% $467,836 71.0% No $112,686 4.5% 4.6% 13.7% 59.52 22 Watertown, Massachusetts 15.9% $376,298 69.5% No $89,414 5.5% 3.7% 18.8% 59.42 23 Newton, Massachusetts 16.1% $711,076 79.0% No $120,496 6.9% 3.9% 16.9% 59.41 24 Downers Grove, Illinois 15.6% $287,975 74.0% No $83,545 -0.7% 4.7% 12.2% 58.96 25 Harrison, New York 13.3% $179,200 65.6% No $104,340 -4.0% 5.1% 30.0% 58.43 26 Wheeling, West Virginia 21.5% $179,200 69.5% Yes $35,702 -0.3% 5.8% 7.5% 58.14 27 North Olmsted, Ohio 19.0% $136,410 70.4% No $61,296 7.5% 5.1% 5.0% 58.08 28 Niles, Illinois 25.4% $222,746 64.0% No $43,707 -8.3% 5.8% 8.7% 57.91 29 Hackensack, New Jersey 13.5% $203,238 78.0% No $53,903 -4.2% 6.3% 25.8% 57.81 30 Arlington Heights, Illinois 18.1% $298,788 73.0% No $77,280 2.0% 5.0% 7.8% 57.79