After several years in a row of drops in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the best U.S. cities for retirees, Sarasota is back in the top five.
Sarasota (No. 1 in 2020 and 2021) was ranked the No. 4 best place to retire this year. For the Washington, D.C.-based media company known for its consumer ranking information, which highlighted happiness as a top concern for seniors this year, the city ranked ahead of Naples at the top, Virginia Beach at No. 2 and New York at No. 3. It was ranked second only to the city.
Downtown Sarasota skyline including Sarasota Bay.
According to U.S. News, affordability has become a top concern among retirees in recent years, so the scoring matrix has put more emphasis on affordability. Expensive Sarasota fell to 11th place in 2022 and 18th place in 2023 as real estate prices in the area soared due to changes in migration patterns after the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the media, the national average cost of housing in the United States is $281,900, and the cost of housing in Sarasota is $430,600.
Despite losing points for affordability, other factors such as happiness, health care, desirability, retiree taxes and the job market put Sarasota back in the top five for the first time since 2021.
Many other cities with warm climates and entertainment options also received high scores.
“The 2025 Best Places for Retirement rankings reflect the top cities across the country that best meet the needs and desires of retirees,” said Dawn Bradbury, U.S. News’ deputy editor for real estate, in a news release. said. People are looking for places they can not only spend money on, but also have fun, which is why the Midwest and South dominate the top 25. ”
Florida cities in particular ranked highly, taking eight of the top 25 spots. Naples and Sarasota are followed by Jacksonville (7th), Pensacola (17th), Tampa (18th), Port St. Lucie (19th), Melbourne (20th) and Fort Myers (24th) in Florida. Ranked in the top 25 in the city.
Other changes to this year’s scoring included a focus on city-level data rather than surrounding metropolitan area data.
“U.S. News rankings are constantly evolving to meet the needs of consumers,” Bradbury said in a news release. “This year’s shift from metropolitan statistical area data to city-based data will allow consumers to consider factors that directly impact the livability and overall experience associated with a city on a more local level. It will be.”
The rankings are calculated annually by U.S. News & World Report after conducting a national survey of people 45 and older nearing retirement age. The answers determined how much weight each factor weighed in a city’s final score.
This year, the “well-being” factor accounted for 27% of the final score, followed by affordability at 25%, quality of care at 15%, retiree taxes at 13%, desirability at 12%, and job market at 8%. It became.
This article originally appeared in the Sarasota Herald Tribune: After a fall, Sarasota rises in rankings of best places to retire in 2024
