Gina Pricope/Getty Images
- WalletHub ranked the best US cities for affordability, activities, quality of life, and healthcare.
- The best cities for retirement in 2021 include Orlando, Charleston, and Scottsdale.
- Other cities on the list include Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Fort Lauderdale, and Atlanta.
- Read more Personal Finance Insider coverage »
If you're considering a move for retirement, there's a lot to think about before you start packing.
Things like taxes, cost of living, healthcare availability, and what the area has to offer are going to be incredibly important in your final decision.
New data from WalletHub looks at the best places in the US for retirement, based on affordability, quality of life, retirement-friendly activities, and healthcare.
In scoring affordability, WalletHub considered the adjusted cost of living, taxpayer friendliness for retirees, and costs of adult-care services. The activities category factored in popular retirement activities per capita, like fishing, golf courses, recreation and senior centers, and cultural activities.
Quality of life included factors like the share of people over age 65, walkability, weather, and air and water quality. Healthcare included factors like the prevalence of the coronavirus, the number of doctors and specialists per capita, and the number of hospitals and healthcare centers.
Here are the 15 US cities that came out on top, with their respective scores and percentage of the population over age 60, according to Census Bureau data.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
St. Petersburg, Florida, scored relatively high overall, with a combination of good quality of life, a number of activities, and good affordability.
Overall score: 56.59
Percentage of population over age 60: 26.9%
14. Tempe, ArizonaTim Roberts Photography/Shutterstock
Tempe ranks highly for affordability and quality of life.
Overall score: 56.67
Percentage of population over age 60: 21.6%
13. Casper, WyomingDenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Casper, Wyoming, is a very affordable place to retire.
Overall score: 57
Percentage of population over age 60: 21.6%
12. San Francisco, CaliforniaJosh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
San Francisco ranks very highly for the number of available activities and healthcare for retirees, but the cost of living can be very high.
Overall score: 57.10
Percentage of population over age 60: 22%
11. Columbia, South CarolinaDenis Tangney Jr / Getty Images
Columbia, South Carolina, is one of the most affordable states for retirement.
Overall score: 57.68
Percentage of population over age 60: 21.8%
10. Atlanta, GeorgiaRaymond Boyd/Getty Images
Atlanta ranks highly for the number of available activities.
Overall score: 58.04
Percentage of population over age 60: 18.1%
9. Miami, FloridaJeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Miami ranks just higher than Atlanta on number of activities for retirees.
Overall score: 58.05
Percentage of population over age 60: 24.9%
7. Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati ranks third-highest for retiree activities of all the cities considered.
Overall score: 58.70
Percentage of population over age 60: 22.6%
6. Denver, ColoradoLaser1987/Getty Images
Denver's balance of a variety of activities for retirees and good quality of life rankings make it an ideal place to retire.
Overall score: 59.45
Percentage of population over age 60: 19.2%
5. Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis ranks very highly for healthcare availability, along with activities for those who are retired.
Overall score: 59.98
Percentage of population over age 60: 20.6%
4. Tampa, FloridaJohn Coletti/Getty Images
This Florida city offers retirees an exciting life that's relatively affordable.
Overall score: 60.38
Percentage of population over age 60: 26.9%
3. Scottsdale, ArizonaCre8 design/Shutterstock
Scottsdale ranks very highly in terms of quality of life for retirement.
Overall score: 60.58
Percentage of population over age 60: 21.6%
2. Charleston, South Carolinaf11photo/Shutterstock
Charleston's variety of retirement activities, relative affordability, and good healthcare availability make this city a great place to retire.
Overall score: 61.97
Percentage of population over age 60: 21.4%
1. Orlando, Florida
Gina Pricope/Getty Images
Orlando offers retirees lots of things to do, coupled with an affordable cost of living to take the top spot.
Overall score: 62.14
Percentage of population over age 60: 21.1%
source https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-places-to-retire-us-2021-9