When you think of a good place to retire, Boston may not necessarily come to mind.
But you might want to reconsider your assessment, according to this national report.
U.S. News & World Report, the world’s leading authority on rankings and consumer advice, announced this week that Boston ranks 29th on its list of the best places to retire for 2024-25. Not bad considering 150 cities were comprehensively reviewed.
U.S. News’ list of best places for retirees says Boston has world-class schools, health care, and cutting-edge technology and medical care.
That’s no surprise since Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was ranked as one of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals in 2024-2025.
Is Boston a good place to retire?
The US News article about Boston makes a clear case for Boston as a retirement city, emphasizing the historic importance of the hub while also highlighting the city’s modern infrastructure, such as the MBTA bus and subway system. We are also improving our facilities.
U.S. News said, “Boston’s tenacious spirit was born of acts of revolution, and the drive to innovate and pursue progress is built into Boston’s DNA.”
What keeps Boston from ranking as a retirement home is its affordability, with a median home price of $744,221 and a median monthly rent of $1,984.
Still, other amenities make it attractive.
“From Old North Church to the Institute of Contemporary Art and everything in between, Boston is full of culture and pride,” the report states. “For new families, recent college graduates, retirees or seasoned professionals, Boston is the place where you can nurture the next stage of your life.”
How is U.S. News and World Report’s Best Places to Retire list determined?
To rank cities, U.S. News and World Report looked at key metrics.
“The overall retirement score and each indicator score were calculated on a 10-point scale,” the website states. “The six indicators are affordability, well-being, desirability, retirement taxes, the job market, and quality of care.”
The Happiness Index weighed the most in the score at 27%, while the Job Market Index weighed the least at 8%.
Top 10 Best Places to Retire in 2025
Naples, Florida Virginia Beach, Virginia New York City, Florida Sarasota, Idaho Boise, North Carolina Jacksonville, Florida Huntsville, Alabama Charlotte, Indiana Fort Wayne
Lynn Velasco is a trends reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.
